FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Students from Marshall University’s public radio station, WMUL-FM, received three (3) Platinum Awards, six (6) Gold Awards and six (6) Honorable Mention Awards in the International AVA Digital Awards 2020 Competition. The winners were named in an email dated Monday, February 3, 2020. This year marks WMUL-FM’s eighth time competing in this particular contest.
The AVA Digital Awards contest is an international competition that recognizes outstanding creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design, and production of media that is part of the evolution of digital communication. Work ranges from audio and video productions – to websites that present interactive components such as animation, blogs and podcasts – to interactive social media sites – to other forms of user-generated communication. Entries are judged by members
of the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). There were approximately 2,500 entries from throughout the United States and other countries in the International AVA Digital Awards 2020 Competition.
The AVA’s prestigious Platinum Award is presented to those entries judged to be among the most outstanding submissions in the competition. Platinum Winners are recognized for their excellence in terms of quality, creativity and resourcefulness. About 16 percent of the entries won this award with a score between 90-100. Platinum and Gold Winners are listed on the International AVA Awards website at www.avaawards.com.
The Gold Award is presented to those entries judged to exceed the high standards of the industry. Approximately 21 percent of the entries received this award with a score between 80-89. Honorable Mention certificates are granted to those entries that meet the expectations of the judges. About eight percent of the entries received this award with score between 70-79.
Dr. Chuck G. Bailey, professor of radio – television production and management in the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University and faculty manager of WMUL-FM, said, “This is an outstanding accomplishment to be recognized for producing another one in a long line of solid newscasts, an insightful sports report and as having broadcast excellent play-by-play of Marshall men’s basketball. In addition, WMUL-FM student
broadcasters and community volunteers were acknowledged with gold awards for having created a compelling weekly statewide high school basketball talk program and its video simulcast, a news package, a sports package, a weekly sports program that sums up the week in Marshall athletics and the FM 88 Sports Staff’s use of social media through Twitter. Plus other WMUL-FM student broadcasters received honorable mention awards for their news and sports reporting, a weekly sports programing about Marshall Olympic sports teams, sports play-by-play of Marshall football and men’s basketball and the FM 88 Sports Staff’s use of social media through Instagram. I am proud and grateful for the honor these AVA Platinum, Gold and Honorable Mention Awards bestow on WMUL-FM, the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications, the College of Arts and Media and Marshall University. These AVA Awards are a tribute to the continual quality and commitment to the news and sports coverage, creative programming, station promotion, and having an online presence that our broadcast students exhibit in competition with professional practitioners.”
The Platinum Award winning entries by WMUL-FM are in the following categories:
AUDIO NEWSCAST
The “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” broadcast Friday, April 06, 2018. The students who participated in this newscast are:
Spencer DuPuis, a senior from Leesburg, Virginia; (Producer)
Adam Rogers, a graduate from Milton; (Anchor)
Makaylah Wheeler, a junior from Huntington; (Anchor)
Tristan Poston, a senior from Huntington; (Weather)
Nick Verzolini, a junior from Stewartstown, Pennsylvania.
(Sports Anchor)
AUDIO SPORTS PACKAGE/PODCAST
“Men’s Basketball Prepares for the Big Dance” written and produced by Spencer DuPuis, a senior from Leesburg, Virginia, broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Wednesday, March 14, 2018, and also made available online.
AUDIO SPORTS PLAY-BY-PLAY PROGRAMMING
WMUL-FM’s broadcast of Marshall men’s basketball versus Western Kentucky University at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington, Saturday, January 12, 2018. The students calling the men’s basketball game broadcast over FM 88.1 were:
Play-by-Play announcer – Spencer DuPuis, a senior from
Leesburg, Virginia;
Color Commentator – Nick Verzolini, a junior from
Stewartstown, Pennsylvania;
Engineer — Wesley Steele, a sophomore from
Flatwoods, Kentucky;
Engineer — Tyler Kennett, a sophomore from Rock.
The Gold Award winning entries are in the following categories:
AUDIO PODCAST
“Young Lego Builders” written and produced by Olivia Zarilla, a senior from Ona, broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Monday, February 19, 2018.
AUDIO PODCAST
“Malik Thompson Feature” written and produced by Savanah Matney, a senior from South Point, Ohio, broadcast during “Herd Roundup,” Friday, October 26, 2018.
AUDIO PROGRAM
“Herd Roundup” with host Spencer DuPuis, a senior from Leesburg, Virginia, broadcast Friday, April 6, 2018.
AUDIO PROGRAM
The Friday, March 08, 2019, edition of a collaborative high school sports radio program between WMUL-FM and WFGH-FM in Fort Gay, West Virginia that is broadcast to a statewide audience. “Basketball Friday Night in West Virginia” runs from 9 p.m. to midnight each Friday night during the high school basketball season with its audio signal originating from the studios of WMUL-FM, but includes a high definition video signal coming from the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s Television Studio A. Volunteer hosts Ryan Epling, Ric Morrone, Joe Linville, and guests provide fans with continual score updates, interviews and analysis of the evening’s games.
SOCIAL MEDIA SITE/TWITTER OVERALL
WMUL’s FM 88 Sports Twitter account is recognized for its use during sporting events and continual coverage of Marshall sports throughout the academic year. One may follow it at @WMUL_Sports. The Twitter account is overseen by all members of the FM 88 Sports Staff.
VIDEO PROGRAM
The Friday, March 08, 2019, edition of a collaborative high school sports radio program between WMUL-FM and WFGH-FM in Fort Gay, West Virginia that is broadcast to a statewide audience. “Basketball Friday Night in West Virginia” runs from 9 p.m. to midnight each Friday night during the high school basketball season with its audio signal originating from the studios of WMUL-FM, but includes a high definition video signal coming from the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s Television Studio A. Volunteer hosts Ryan Epling, Ric Morrone, Joe Linville, and guests provide fans with continual score updates, interviews and analysis of the evening’s games.
The Honorable Mention Award winning entries are in the following categories.
AUDIO PODCAST
“Game Jam” written and produced by Landon Mitchell, a senior from Ottawa, broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Monday, April 9, 2018.
AUDIO PODCAST
“Ajdin Peneva Profile” written and produced by Spencer DuPuis, a senior from Leesburg, Virginia, broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Tuesday, March 6, 2018.
SOCIAL MEDIA SITE: INSTAGRAM OVERALL
WMUL’s FM 88 Sports Instagram account is recognized for its use during sporting events and continual coverage of Marshall sports throughout the academic year.
The Sports Instagram account for 2019 was overseen
by Spencer DuPuis, a senior from Leesburg, Virginia,
Nick Verzolini, a junior from Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, and Tyler Kennett, a sophomore from Rock. One may find it at http://www.instagram.com/wmul_sports/.
AUDIO SPORTS PROGRAM
“Sportsview featuring Marshall Women’s Basketball Head Coach Tony Kemper along with players Taylor Porter and Ashley Saintgene” with host Luke Creasy, a graduate from Huntington. The program was produced by Spencer DuPuis, a senior from Leesburg, Virginia and was broadcast Wednesday, April 25, 2018.
AUDIO SPORTS PLAY-BY-PLAY PROGRAMMING
WMUL-FM’s broadcast of Marshall football versus University of Texas at San Antonio played at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia, Saturday, November 17, 2018. The students calling the college football game broadcast over FM 88.1 were:
Play-by-Play announcer — Nick Verzolini, a junior from
Stewartstown, Pennsylvania;
Color Commentator – Andrew Rogers, a sophomore from
Clarksburg;
Engineer — Spencer DuPuis, a senior from Leesburg, Virginia.
AUDIO SPORTS PLAY-BY-PLAY PROGRAMMING
WMUL-FM’s broadcast of Marshall men’s basketball versus University of Toledo played at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington, West Virginia, Saturday, December 8, 2018. The students calling the men’s basketball game broadcast over FM 88.1 were:
Play-by-Play announcer – Spencer DuPuis, a senior from
Leesburg, Virginia;
Color Commentator – Nick Verzolini, a junior from
Stewartstown, Pennsylvania;
Engineer – Austin Hinkle, a sophomore from Eleanor.