Sterling College student journalists made a bold statement at this year’s Kansas Collegiate Media Awards, bringing home eight top honors in writing and photography. The Sterling College Observer team, led by standout contributors Shaylee Gibbs and Tod Mastin, earned high marks in the state’s most competitive collegiate journalism contests, standing shoulder to shoulder with the best in Kansas.
The awards, presented this spring, recognized work submitted from the 2023–2024 academic year, showcasing the breadth and quality of student-produced content at Sterling.
Shaylee Gibbs, a 2024 Sterling College graduate from Amarillo, Texas, earned four awards across multiple writing categories:
• First Place – Event Coverage Writing for SC Thespians Solve the Mystery of “Baskerville”
• First Place – Feature Writing for Joshua Morris: Senior Thespian
• Honorable Mention – Breaking/General News Writing for SC Volunteers Extend Hand to Ukraine Refugees
• Honorable Mention – Profile Writing for Thespian Success: Wilson Cast into Legally Blonde
Gibbs, who is now working in Marketing at Friends University, made a lasting impression during her time at Sterling with her sharp reporting and storytelling range.
Tod Mastin, a junior from Oberlin, dominated the Sports Photography category with four awards of his own:
• First Place for Lady Warriors Finish 1-1 at Home Invitational
• Second Place for Sterling Warriors Fall to Friends Falcons
• Third Place for Warriors Vs Bears
• Honorable Mention for Sterling vs McPherson – Rushing
“I’m extremely proud of Tod and Shaylee,” said Todd Vogts, professor of Communication and Media at Sterling College. “Their hard work and dedication to the craft of journalism should serve as an inspiration for other Sterling College students.”
Vogts praised Mastin’s eye for the action: “Tod came to Sterling College with incredible camera skills, so it is nice to see his abilities recognized at the state’s highest level for collegiate journalists—especially since he nearly swept the entire sports photography competition for four-year private institutions.”
On Gibbs’ achievements, he added, “Shaylee is a rockstar. She can cover almost anything. That’s why she received four awards in four different writing categories. She’s amazing.”
The Sterling College Observer continues to be a vibrant platform for student voices, delivering thoughtful, engaging, and impactful journalism. The results from the Kansas Collegiate Media Awards affirm the strength of Sterling’s Communication and Media program and the promise of its emerging storytellers.
