News
Tech communication students win top SCJ awards
From left: Carson Crouch, first place winner for the best television sports package
with "The Tip Off," Eagle View Productions; Alex Rinks and Franklin McCarthy pictured
with Eagle Eye Magazine, first place winner in the general interest magazine overall
excellence category; and Megan Reagan, third place winner in the individual writing
and media awards category.
The communication department at Tennessee Tech University recently won several awards
in the Society for Collegiate Journalists competition, including first place wins
for both the magazine and television sports package.
“It is so encouraging to see our students' hard work, commitment and talents recognized.
Students produce this work in addition to their coursework,” Brenda Wilson, communications
chair, said. “They have busy, sometimes very hectic, schedules, so this is a nice
reminder to them that the overtime they put into their student media jobs is being
noticed.”
The SCJ promotes exceptional and ethical journalism through annual contests and awards.
It connects students in more than 100 nationwide chapters of the oldest organization
dedicated solely to serving college media leaders.
“We encourage students to participate in student media opportunities so they can gain
valuable workplace experience while they are getting their degree,” Wilson said. “These
students will be able to list their awards on their resumes and build a portfolio
of quality examples to show potential employers."
Eagle Eye magazine won first place in the "general interest magazine overall excellence"
category for its spring 2022 edition.
"We were thrilled to hear we had won first place for Eagle Eye magazine. This is the
second year in a row we have received that top national distinction,” Wilson said.
First place for the best television sports package was won by Carson Crouch for “The
Tip Off,” Eagle View Productions. 
Carson Crouch, winner of the best television sports package award for "The Tip Off,"
Eagle View Productions.
“We are so excited for Carson Crouch,” Wilson said. “He is only a sophomore and recently
also received a top award from the College Media Association.”
Tech’s yearbook brought home several organizational awards including an honorable
mention in the yearbook concept of the book for the 2022 edition, “Your Growth Starts
Now” theme; honorable mention in yearbook best photography for the 2022 edition, “Your
Growth Starts Now” theme; and second place for yearbook overall excellence, The Eagle,
for the second year in a row. 
Tech student Alex Rinks with The Eagle, Tech's yearbook which won second place for
overall excellence, among other awards.
“We received five organizational awards, which recognize the overall quality of the
work,” Wilson said. “It takes a lot of strong teamwork to create these publications,
and the experience builds students' interpersonal communication and problem-solving
skills.”
The Oracle newspaper earned an honorable mention in the organizational awards for
newspaper overall excellence.
In individual writing and media awards, Megan Regan earned a third place finish.
“The award recognizes her work keeping the campus informed of important issues,” Wilson
said. 
The 2022 - 2023 staff of The Oracle, Tech's student newspaper.
The SCJ was formed on June 1, 1975, when two Greek-letter journalism societies, Pi
Delta Epsilon and Alpha Phi Gamma, combined.
Pi Delta Epsilon, established in 1909, was the oldest national honorary collegiate
journalism fraternity in the country. Through its Pi Delta Epsilon roots, the SCJ
has that distinction. Pi Delta Epsilon always taught service and sacrifice of self.
Alpha Phi Gamma, established in 1919 had two principal purposes: to honor individual
achievement in journalism, as shown through a student’s participation in a campus
media organization, and to help maintain and improve the quality of student publications.
“Receiving seven top tier awards from the SCJ is a tribute to the quality of our journalism
program here at Tech,” Wilson said. “It's national recognition of the students who
take part in student media activities and the dedicated faculty who advise them. We
are very proud of these accomplishments.”
For more information about the communication department at Tech visit https://www.tntech.edu/cis/communication/index.php.
