Southeast Missouri State University
10/20/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/20/2026 17:50
SEMO Arrow Students Nominated for College Media Association's 2026 Pinnacle Awards
Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Mass Media, Art, and Design Arrow students have once again earned national recognition for their creativity and journalism from the College Media Association (CMA)'s Pinnacle Awards, one of the most prestigious nationwide competitions for collegiate media.
The Arrow has been nominated for awards in six different categories, showcasing their diverse abilities in audio/video, sports reporting and photography, among other categories. The following students and their projects are being recognized:
- Audio/Video Produced Sportscast: "Hawk's Nest: 5/4/26," Kyler Messenger, Molly Foust, Tryston Duby
- General Newsletter: "Arrow Newsletter 3/18/26 - Women's basketball OVC, spring career expo and more," Arrow Staff
- Investigative Sports Story: "SEMO football under scrutiny after viral tackling drill," Matt Fitzgerald
- Podcast: "Louise Isenberg, sole freshman assistant costume shop director," Ella Tinsley
- Special Section: "SEMO of Tomorrow," Arrow Staff
- Sports Feature Photo: "Photo Gallery: SEMO vs. Tennessee State," McKenzie Nelson
Kyler Messenger is a current multimedia journalism major employed as Arrow Staff. Molly Foust, Tryston Duby, Matt Fitzgerald and Ella Tinsley are all recent graduates with journalism and advertising related degrees. All awards labeled 'Arrow Staff' were a collaborative effort by the entire staff.
"Getting nominated for the Pinnacle Awards really shows that our students are producing work on par with the best college newsrooms around the country," said Dr. Emmanuel Maduneme, faculty advisor to the Arrow and assistant professor of Mass Media at SEMO. "Most of these finalists have now graduated, and this recognition goes with them into their careers."
SEMO is classified as a Division II school for the Pinnacles, having between 3,000-9,999 students enrolled. This puts them among schools including Vanderbilt, Rice University, Gonzaga and Hofstra, among others.
Winners will be announced during the College Media Association/Associated Collegiate Press Joint National Convention. This year's convention will be held in Kansas City from Nov. 4-7.
"These nominations confirm that what these students did at the Arrow was more than just student work," said Maduneme. "It is real, professional journalism, and they have been rewarded for it."
Students interested in developing their skills through hands-on journalism and media experiences at SEMO can learn more and apply at semo.edu/apply.
Southeast Missouri State University published this content on October 20, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 20, 2026 at 23:50 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]