Student News

Kentucky Kernel, Staffers Selected as Pacemaker Finalists

Sports Game/ Action photo finalist "Volleyball vs Ol Miss" photo by Jack Weaver.
Sports Game/ Action photo finalist "Volleyball vs Ol Miss" photo by Jack Weaver.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 11, 2021) — The University of Kentucky’s independent student newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel, has been selected as a Pacemaker finalist in the prestigious Associated Collegiate Press Competition.

Often referred to as “the Pulitzer Prize of student journalism,” the National Pacemaker Award is the highest honor in collegiate journalism. Each year, the Associate Collegiate Press recognizes the finest broadcast, magazine, online, newspaper and yearbook publications.

“The students from the Kernel and KRNL have made a very fine showing with this many national finalists,” Kentucky Kernel Advisor Ryan Craig said. “The UK community should be proud of all of the students who work hard in what I feel are two of the best collegiate publications in the nation. I wish them all the best in the upcoming national Pacemaker competition.”

Additionally, 12 Kentucky Kernel and KRNL staffers have been announced as finalists for individual awards.

Kendall Boron

  • Magazine Page/Spread finalist, “Back to Their Roots” and “Rewind To Nostalgia”

Michael Clubb

  • Sports Game/Action Photo finalist, “NC State Bowl Game vs. Kentucky”
  • Sports Feature Photo finalist, “NCAA Volleyball National Championship”

Sydney Hill

  • Multimedia Sports Story finalist, “Homefield

Isaac Janseen

  • Environmental Portrait finalist, “Skater Park”

Martha McHaney

  • News/Breaking News Photo finalist, “Honoring those lost to COVID-19”

Kennedy Miller

Natalie Parks

Natalie Parks, Sarah Michels, Gillian Stawiszynski

Akhira Umar

Jack Weaver

  • News/Breaking News Photo finalist, “Vaccine Clinic”
  • Sports Game/Action Photo finalist, “Volleyball vs. Ole Miss”

Justin Williams

The winners will be announced at 6.p.m EDT Thursday, Oct. 14, during Associate Collegiate Press’ virtual Fall National College Media Convention.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.