MSPR Awards History

2024 - 30th Communicator Awards, Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts

Excellence in Editing (1st Place) - Paul Hitchcock (Golden Age of Radio: V-J Day)
Distinction in Production (2nd Place) - Paul Hitchcock (Golden Age of Radio: V-J Day)
Distinction in Program (2nd Place) - Paul Hitchcock (Golden Age of Radio: V-J Day)

2023 - Kentucky Broadcasters Association Impact Broadcast Awards

Radio Professional Division:

1st Place – Best Long Newscast, Leeann Akers ("WMKY News")
1st Place – Best Sports Reporting, Leeann Akers ("WMKY Sports")
2nd Place – Best Long Newscast, Tanner Boyd ("WMKY News")

Radio College Division:

1st Place – Best Newscast, Mary Clare Carr and Clay Wallace ("WMKY News")
1st Place – Best Radio Reporter, Hallie Adams
1st Place – Best Feature Story, Anabel Peterman ("MSU Hosts Metropolitan Opera Dramatic Soprano Alexandra Lobianco")
1st Place – Best Sports Coverage, Kennealy Jenkins ("WMKY Sports")
1st Place – Best Public Affairs, Clay Wallace ("Ginseng Harvesting Prohibited”)
1st Place – Best Website, Morehead State University (“wmky.org”)
2nd Place – Best Digital Journalist, Hallie Adams
2nd Place – Best Sports Coverage, Mary Clare Carr ("Morehead State University Athletes for Team USA")
2nd Place – Best Newscast, Hallie Adams ("WMKY News")
2nd Place – Best Feature Story, Ethan Jenkins ("Cave Run Symphony Orchestra Saluting Romance in Feb. 20 Concert")
2nd Place – Best Public Affairs, Hallie Adams ("Sport Balls Donated")

2022 - Kentucky Broadcasters Association Impact Broadcast Awards

Radio Professional Division:

1st Place – Best Sports Reporting, Leeann Akers ("WMKY Sports")
2nd Place – Best Long Newscast, Leeann Akers ("Mountain Edition News")
2nd Place – Best Sports Reporting, Tanner Boyd ("WMKY Sports")
2nd Place – Best Political Coverage, Leeann Akers, Tanner Boyd and Sarah Meade ("Candidates for Morehead Mayor")

Radio College Division:

1st Place – Best Newscast, Sarah Meade ("WMKY News")
1st Place – Best Radio Reporter, Rachel Turner
1st Place – Best Feature Story, Ethan Jenkins ("Dr. Russ Zokaites Presents Bootleg: Appalachian-Inspired Music")
1st Place – Best Sports Coverage, Alyssa White ("WMKY Sports")
1st Place – Best Website, Morehead State University (“wmky.org”)
2nd Place – Best Digital Journalist, Kennealy Roberts
2nd Place – Best Newscast, Rachel Turner ("WMKY News")
2nd Place – Best Sports Coverage, Ethan Jenkins ("WMKY Sports")
2nd Place – Best Public Affairs, Rachel Turner ("MSU Professor Researches Pop Culture Problems")
3rd Place – Best Digital Journalist, Rachel Turner
3rd Place – Best Radio Reporter, Kennealy Roberts
3rd Place – Best Newscast, Sha’Maurie Mosley ("WMKY News")
3rd Place – Best Sports Coverage, Kennealy Roberts ("WMKY Sports")

2021 - Kentucky Broadcasters Association Impact Broadcast Awards

Radio Professional Division:

1st Place – Best Long Newscast, Leeann Akers ("Mountain Edition News")
2nd Place – Overall Excellence, WMKY
2nd Place – Best Short Newscast, Tanner Boyd ("WMKY News")
2nd Place – Best Sports Reporting, Leeann Akers and Tanner Boyd ("WMKY Sports")
2nd Place – Best Investigative Reporting, Tanner Boyd ("Church Sex Scandal")
3rd Place – Best Digital Coverage, Leeann Akers, Tanner Boyd and Kennealy Roberts

Radio College Division:

1st Place – Best Newscast, Kennealy Roberts and Sarah Meade ("Mountain Edition News")
1st Place – Best Website, Morehead State University (“wmky.org”)
2nd Place – Best Radio Reporter, Sarah Meade
3rd Place – Best Radio Reporter, Kennealy Roberts
3rd Place – Best Feature Story, Kennealy Roberts ("The Ritual of Food in Appalachia")
3rd Place – Best Sports Coverage, Johnathan Burton ("Rush Off-Road")
3rd Place – Best News Story, Michael Green ("Kentucky Court System Pandemic Changes")

2020 - Kentucky AP Awards: Radio

Radio Professional Division:

1st Place – Best Long Newscast, Leeann Akers and Chas Jenkins ("Mountain Edition News")
1st Place – Best Sports Reporting, Tanner Boyd ("WMKY Sports")
3rd Place – Best Long Public Affairs, Leeann Akers ("This is My Heart for You")
3rd Place – Best Short Newscast, Tanner Boyd ("WMKY News")
3rd Place – Best Sports Reporting, Leeann Akers ("Mountain Edition Sports")

Radio College Division:

1st Place – Best Newscast, Kenzie Thompson and Nacogdoches Miller ("Mountain Edition News")
1st Place – Best Radio Reporter, Nacogdoches Miller
1st Place – Best Feature Story, Licia Henneberg, ("MSU Summer Camp")
1st Place – Best Sports Coverage, Ty Martin ("Mountain Edition Sports")
2nd Place – Best News Story, Kennealy Roberts ("Active Shooter Drills")
2nd Place – Best Radio Reporter, Kennealy Roberts
2nd Place – Best Sports Coverage, Nacogdoches Miller ("MSU Cheer Squads to Compete at Nationals")
3rd Place – Best Public Affairs, Logan Pemberton ("Public Pension Working Group")
3rd Place – Best Sports Coverage, Sha'Maurie Mosley ("Mountain Edition Sports")
3rd Place – Best News Story, Nacogdoches Miller ("Department for Public Health Investigates Vaccination Associated Infections")

2019 - Kentucky AP Awards: Radio

Radio Professional Division:

1st Place - Long Newscast, Leeann Akers and Logan Pemberton ("Mountain Edition News")
1st Place - Short Light News Feature, Leeann Akers ("The Smokey Valley Horse")
1st Place - Short Public Affairs, Leeann Akers ("New Grants Will Assist the Drug Epidemic")
2nd Place - Sports Reporting, Leeann Akers ("Mountain Edition Sports with Leeann Akers")
2nd Place - Sports Feature/Special, Leeann Akers ("Rowan County Boys’ Basketball Team 2018-19 Season Preview")
2nd Place - Use of Sound, Leeann Akers and John Flavell ("Kentucky Center for Traditional Music")

Radio College Division:

1st Place – Newscast, Jacob Lindberg, Peyton Stewart and Logan Pemberton ("Mountain Edition News")
1st Place – Feature Story, Chas Jenkins ("Chuck Mraz Retirement")
2nd Place – News Story, Jacob Lindberg ("Animal Abuse Charges in Elliott County")
2nd Place – Feature Story, Julianna Leach ("Sardis Church Rebuilt")
2nd Place – Sports Coverage, Tildon Johnson ("WMKY Sports")
2nd Place – Newscast, Logan Pemberton
2nd Place – Radio Reporter, Jacob Lindberg

2018 - Kentucky AP Awards: Radio

Radio Professional Division:

1st Place - Long Newscast, Leeann Akers and Arlo Barnette ("Mountain Edition News")
1st Place - Sports Reporting, Chuck Mraz ("WMKY Sports with Chuck Mraz")
1st Place - Use of Sound, Leeann Akers ("Vivaldi's Gloria")
2nd Place - Political Coverage, Leeann Akers ("Rowan County Clerk Race")
2nd Place - Radio Anchor (Chuck Mraz)
2nd Place - Long Newscast, Chuck Mraz ("WMKY Morning News")
2nd Place - Long Public Affairs, Chuck Mraz ("United Way of Northeast Kentucky")

Radio College Division:

1st Place - Newscast (Jacob Lindberg and Bryan Courtney)
1st Place - Sports Coverage, Braxton Howard ("2017 Regional High School Football Preview")
1st Place - Feature Story, Chas Jenkins ("Hogwarts Yule Ball")
1st Place - Public Affairs, Samantha Morrill ("Deer Tick Concerns")
2nd Place - Public Affairs, Arlo Barnette ("Crooked Creek Preserve")
2nd Place - Sports Coverage, Tildon Johnson ("WMKY Sports")
2nd Place - News Story, Sean Delaney ("Saudi Arabia Pulls Scholarships")
2nd Place - Radio Reporter (Jacob Lindberg)
2nd Place - Newscast (Arlo Barnette)

2017 - Kentucky AP Awards: Radio, Open Class

Best in Show, College Division (Samantha Morrill)
1st Place - Best Newscast Radio, College Division (Samantha Morrill and Arlo Barnette, "Mountain Edition News")
1st Place - Best Feature Story, College Division (Samantha Morrill, "Einstein’s Dreams, MSU Theatre Recognition")
1st Place - Best News Story, College Division (Ashley Chapman, "Fentanyl-Laced Heroin")
1st Place - Best Sports Coverage, College Division (Nathan Gutierrez, "Win the Day")
2nd Place - Best Long Newscast, Professional Division (Dan Conti, Arlo Barnette and Samantha Morrill, "Mountain Edition News")
2nd Place - Best Sports Reporting, Professional Division (Chuck Mraz, “MSPR Sports”)
2nd Place - Best Feature Story, College Division (Courtney Howell, "PAC Summer Arts Camp")
2nd Place - Best News Story, College Division (Tanner Boyd, "Former President Bill Clinton at MSU")
3rd Place - Best Long Public Affairs, Professional Division (Paul Hitchcock, "MSU’s Social Work Internship Program")
3rd Place - Best Radio Anchor, Professional Division (Dan Conti)

2016 - Kentucky AP Awards: Radio, Open Class

1st Place - Best Long Newscast, Professional Division (Chuck Mraz, “Morning Edition News”)
1st Place - Best Play-By-Play, Professional Division (Chuck Mraz, “MSU Eagles”)
1st Place - Best Newscast Radio, College Division (Tanner Boyd and Arlo Barnette, "Mountain Edition News")
1st Place - Best News Story, College Division (Joshua Grandison, “Rowan County Clerk Davis Firm Against Marriage Protesters”)
1st Place - Best Feature Story, College Division (Patrick Davis, “Kentucky Craft Beer”)
2nd Place - Best Radio Reporter, College Division (Jordan Simonson)
2nd Place - Best News Story, College Division (Arlo Barnette, "Drone Crash")
2nd Place - Best Feature Story, College Division (Samantha Morrill, "SYMBIOSISDUO")
2nd Place - Best Public Affairs, College Division (Arlo Barnette, "Chuck it for Charity")
2nd Place - Best Sports Coverage, College Division (Michael Gustin, “MSPR Sports”)
3rd Place - Best Sports Coverage, Professional Division (Chuck Mraz, “MSPR Sports”)
3rd Place - Best Long Serious News Feature, Professional Division (Dan Conti, “Kim Davis Released from Jail”)
3rd Place - Best News Story, College Division (Jordan Simonson, “Dangerous Drug in Appalachia”)
3rd Place - Best Sports Coverage, College Division (Jarrod Wesley, “MSPR Sports”)

2015 - Kentucky AP Awards: Radio, Open Class

1st Place - Best Newscast Radio, College Division (Tanner Boyd, "Mountain Edition News")
1st Place - Best Sports Coverage Radio, College Division (Chase Scott, "MSPR Sports")
2nd Place - Best Radio Reporter, College Division (Joshua Grandison)
2nd Place - Best Feature Story Radio, College Division (Shelby Steele, "Damascus Road Quartet")
2nd Place - Best Public Affairs Radio, College Division (Joshua Grandison, "Summer Heat")
2nd Place - Best Long Light News Feature, Professional Division (Paul Hitchcock, "Headstone to Honor 1920's Blues Singer Sara Martin")
2nd Place - Best Radio Website, Professional Division (Greg Jenkins, "wmky.org")
3rd Place - Best Newscast Radio, College Division (Joshua Grandison and Shelby Steele, "Mountain Edition News")
3rd Place - Best Feature Story Radio, College Division (Jordan Simonson, "Commonwealth Curiosities")
3rd Place - Best News Story Radio, College Division (Zachary Senvisky, "Fivco Area Drug Enforcement")
3rd Place - Best Sports Coverage Radio, College Division (Chase Scott, "BBCOR Baseball Bats")
Honorable Mention - Best Long Newscast, Professional Division (Dan Conti, Arlo Barnette, Joshua Grandison, "Mountain Edition News")

2014 - Kentucky AP Awards: Radio, Open Class

Best in Show, College Division (Tyler Kline)
1st Place - Best College Radio Reporter, College Division (Tyler Kline)
1st Place - Best Newscast Radio, College Division (Tyler Kline, "MSPR News")
1st Place - Best Public Affairs Radio, College Division (Joshua Grandison, "Electric Shock Drowning")
1st Place - Best Sports Coverage Radio, College Division (Chase Scott, "MSPR Weekday Sports")
2nd Place - Best College Radio Reporter, College Division (Carly Lacey)
2nd Place - Best Newscast Radio, College Division (Carly Lacey, "MSPR News")
2nd Place - Best News Story Radio, College Division (David Gillum, "Postal Service Ending")
2nd Place - Best Sports Coverage Radio, College Division (Shelby Steele, "Best High School Football Coach")
3rd Place - Best College Radio Reporter, College Division (David Gillum)
3rd Place - Best Feature Story Radio, College Division (Tanner Boyd, "University of Kentucky Explosives Research Team - UKERT")
Honorable Mention - Best Radio Sports Coverage (Chuck Mraz, "MSPR Weekday Sports")
Honorable Mention - Best Website (Greg Jenkins, "wmky.org")

2013 - Kentucky AP Awards: Non-commercial

Best in Show, College Division (Tyler Kline, "Adult Spelling Bee")
1st Place - Best Radio Feature Story, College Division (Tyler Kline, Adult Spelling Bee)
1st Place - Best Radio Sports Coverage, College Division (Tyler Smith, "MSU Rifle Team")
1st Place - Best Radio News Story, College Division (Matthew Rand, "Carter County School District")
1st Place - Best Radio Newscast, College Division (Tanner Hesterberg, "MSPR News")
1st Place - Best Play-By-Play (Chuck Mraz, "Eagle Sports Network")
2nd Place - Best Use of Sound (Tyler Kline, "Adult Spelling Bee")
2nd Place - Best Continuing Coverage (Dan Conti, "West Liberty Tornado Coverage")
2nd Place - Best Newscast (Mountain Edition News - Tanner Boyd, Kelsey Bond, Tanner Hesterberg)
2nd Place - Best Radio Feature Story, College Division (Tyler Kline, "Guest Composer")
2nd Place - Best Radio Sports Coverage, College Division (Tanner Hesterberg, "16th Region Tournament Preview")
2nd Place - Best Radio News Story, College Division (Tanner Hesterberg, "Cuts to Governor's Scholars")
2nd Place - Best Radio Newscast, College Division (Kelsey Bond, "MSPR News")
Honorable Mention - Best Sports Feature (Tanner Hesterberg, "Storm the Court")
Honorable Mention - Best Political Coverage (Front Page with Chuck Mraz, "Congressional Candidates Debate Coal")
Honorable Mention - Best Website (Greg Jenkins, "msuradio.com")
Honorable Mention - Best Radio Feature Story, College Division (Carly Lacey, "Doughboy Statue")
Honorable Mention - Best Radio Sports Coverage, College Division (Tanner Hesterberg, "Storm the Court")
Honorable Mention - Best Radio News Story, College Division (David Gillum, "Northeast Jail Authority")

2013 - American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons: 2013 National Media Award

Health Matters, WMKY-FM Public Radio "A Musical Journey to Your Anus"

2012 - Kentucky AP Awards: Non-commercial

1st Place - Best College Audio Radio, Soft News Feature (David Gillium, "Flooding of Olive Hill")
1st Place - Best College Audio Radio, Sports Feature (Tanner Hesterberg, "New Viking Football Coach")
2nd Place - Best Political Coverage (Chuck Mraz, "Kentucky Gubernatorial Race 2011")
2nd Place - Best Sports Feature (Tanner Hesterberg, "New Viking Football Coach")
Honorable Mention - Best Radio Newscast (Chuck Mraz, "MSPR Morning News")
Honorable Mention - Best Website (Greg Jenkins, "msuradio.com")
Honorable Mention - Best College Audio (Tanner Boyd, "STEM Spacelab")

2011 - Kentucky AP Awards: Radio Class II

1st Place - Best Newscast (Chuck Mraz, "MSPR Morning News")
1st Place - Best Sports Reporting (Chuck Mraz, "MSPR Weekday Sports")
1st Place - Best Sports Reporting (Chuck Mraz)
1st Place - Best College Audio (Matthew Rand)
2nd Place - Best Radio Reporter (Shayla Menville)
2nd Place - Best Sports Reporting (Tyler Smith, "MSPR Weekday Sports")
2nd Place - Best Website (Greg Jenkins, "msuradio.com")
Honorable Mention: Best Public Affairs ("Health Matters" Dr. Tony Weaver, Rick Phillips /hosts, Brandon McCleese /producer "Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy")
Honorable Mention: Best Political Coverage (Chuck Mraz, "KY Senate Race")
Honorable Mention: Best Sports Feature / Special (Tanner Hesterberg, "Josh Teater")

2010 - Kentucky AP Awards: Radio Class II

1st Place - Best Newscast ("Mountain Edition", Dan Conti, Shayla Menville & Tanner Hesterberg)
1st Place - Best Sports Reporting (Tanner Hesterberg, "MSPR Sports")
1st Place - Best Website (Greg Jenkins, "msuradio.com")
2nd Place - Best Newscast (Chuck Mraz, "MSPR Morning News")
2nd Place - Best Sports Reporting (Chuck Mraz, "MSPR Sports")
Honorable Mention: Best Sports Reporting (Tanner Hesterberg, "MSPR Sports")
Honorable Mention: Best Radio Anchor (Chuck Mraz)
Honorable Mention: Best Political Coverage (Tanner Hesterberg, "Rowan Sheriff's Race")

2009 - Kentucky AP Awards

1st Place - Best Newscast ("Mountain Edition", Dan Conti, Tanner Hesterberg & Whitney Evans)
1st Place - Best Sports Reporting (Chuck Mraz)
1st Place - Best Sports Feature / Special ("Darius Miller", MacKenzie Bates)
1st Place - Best Use of Sound ("Save The Queen", Nicole Back )
2nd Place - Best Newscast ("MSPR Morning News", Chuck Mraz)
2nd Place - Best Sports Reporting (MacKenzie Bates)
2nd Place - Best Radio Reporter (Nicole Back)
Honorable Mention - Best Public Affairs ("Guardian", Nicole Back)

2008 - Kentucky AP Awards

1st Place - Nicole Back (Best Light News Feature - "Liberty Bell")
1st Place - MacKenzie Bates (Best Sports Feature - "Raceland vs. Russell")
1st Place - Chuck Mraz (Best Sports Reporting - "MSPR Morning Sports")
2nd Place - Chuck Mraz (Best Newscast - "MSPR Morning News")
Honorable Mention - Shayla Menville (Best Hard News Feature - "State Treasurer Candidates")
Honorable Mention - Dan Conti, Nicole Back and Shayla Menville (Best Newscast - "MSPR's Mountain Edition")

2007 - Kentucky Public Radio Awards

1st Place - Nicole Back (Best Public Service - "Cervical Cancer")
1st Place - Nicole Back (Best Soft News Feature - "Sasha Colette")
2nd Place - Brandon Robinson (Best Sports Reporting - "Preview of Morehead State Football Team")
Honorable Mention - Brandon Robinson (Best Public Service - "Coal Mining")

2006 - Kentucky AP Awards

1st Place - Nicole Back (Best Newscast)
1st Place - Leeann Tanner (Best News Report)
1st Place - Aaron Breeze (Best Sports Reporting)
2nd Place - Nicole Back (Best Feature - "The Grove")
2nd Place - Leeann Tanner (Best News Report - "Appalachian Oil")

2005 - Kentucky AP Awards

1st Place - Chuck Mraz (Class Two Radio - Sports Reporting)
1st Place - Morehead State Public Radio (Class Two Radio - Best Newscast)

2004 - Kentucky AP Awards

1st Place - Jeremy Hicks (Feature/Human Interest - "Main Street Music")
1st Place - Stephanie Sanders (Best Reporter)
1st Place - Michael Clark (Sports Reporting - "Mountain Edition Sports")

2004 - PRNDI Awards

2nd Place - Morehead State Public Radio (Division D News Feature - "Political Harrassment")

2003 - Kentucky AP Awards

1st Place - Megen George (Radio Newscast)
1st Place - Jonese Franklin (Radio Sports - "Ancient Sportscasting")
1st Place - Jeremy Hicks (Feature/Human Interest - "Don Rigbsy")
1st Place - Megen George (Radio - Best Reporting)
1st Place - Nelson Gullett (Feature Reporting - "Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival")
1st Place - Jeremy Hicks (Radio News Report)
1st Place - Chuck Mraz (Sports Reporting - "The Front Page")
2nd Place - MSPR Staff (Newscast)
Honorable Mention - Jeremy Hicks (Radio Feature - "Leftover Salmon")
Honorable Mention - Megen George (Radio News Report - "Crowded College")
Honorable Mention - Aaron Arnold (Sports Reporting)

2003 - National Federation of Community Broadcasters

Finalist - Paul Hitchcock, Local Music/Entertainment Series (Americana Crossroads Live)

2002 - Kentucky AP Awards

1st Place - Megen George (News Report - "Barge Traffic")
1st Place - Megen George (Feature/Human Interest - "Images from the Mountains")
1st Place - Stuart Osborne (Best Student Sportscast)
2nd Place - Jonese Franklin (News Report - "Recycling")

2002 - PRNDI Awards

1st Place - Morehead State Public Radio ("Mountain Edition" News)

2001 - Kentucky AP Awards

1st Place - Stuart Osborne (Best Student Sportscast)
2nd Place - Stuart Osborne (Student Newscast)
Honorable Mention - Stuart Osborne (Student Long Form Feature)

2000 - PRNDI Awards

2nd Place - WMKY (Division D Soft Feature - "New Old Building")

2000 - National Federation of Community Broadcasters

1st Place - Paul Hitchcock, Local Music/Entertainment Series (US 23 Showcase)
Finalist - Paul Hitchcock, Local Music/Entertainment Series (Gathering of Traditional Musicians)

1998 - East Kentucky Leadership Foundation

Outstanding "Media" Award: WMKY Radio (1998 Annual Conference - Ashland, Kentucky)

1995 - Kentucky Broadcasters Association

Best of the State Award, Cities of less than 20,000: WMKY-FM (Coverage of the homes in Rowan County)

1994 - Kentucky Broadcasters Association

Best Local Involvement, Cities of less than 20,000: WMKY-FM (Broadcasts about the Rowan County search for a public school superintendent)

1980 - Corporation For Public Broadcasting

Local Radio Program Award for Excellence: WMKY-FM (Public Affairs - Child Abuse: Society's Silent Problem)

1977 - Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Local Radio Development Award for Excellence in Public Awareness: WMKY-FM