The student newspaper at Sul Ross State University earned eight awards at the annual Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) Convention this weekend, marking the program’s strongest showing in recent years.
Skyline advisor Sid Balman and Copy Chief Viviana Sanchez traveled to Denton to represent the publication at the statewide gathering, which draws between 300 and 600 student journalists and faculty advisors each spring.
The convention, established in 1909, is one of the largest collegiate journalism organizations in the country. It features workshops, presentations, live contests, a career fair and an awards ceremony recognizing student media excellence across Texas.
This year’s performance represents the highest number of awards earned by the Skyline staff during Balman’s five-year tenure.
“Awards, although at eight this is the most ever, are a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our staff,” Balman said. “I can’t think of another time in our history when the transparency of a robust media is more important. We at The Skyline know that, and clearly so does the administration at Sul Ross.”
The awards spanned multiple categories in Division 4 competition, which includes similarly sized institutions.
Alyn Covington received first and third place honors in Cartoon Strip/Panel. Maya Tinajero earned second place in Critical Review, while Eliya Alvidrez placed second in Breaking News and received an honorable mention in General Column.
Sanchez earned second place in General Column and also took first place in the All Divisions Spanish News Story category for a piece translated by Carles Guerrero.
The Skyline staff also received an honorable mention for Overall Design–Newspaper, with recognition shared by Alvidrez, Tinajero and Balman.
The results highlight the continued growth and recognition of Sul Ross State University’s student media program, underscoring a period of momentum and achievement for the Skyline staff.
Image Credit: Sul Soss Skyline
