During an awards ceremony on April 19, three student leaders from WKU Student Publications were recognized by College Media Business & Advertising Managers. Emma Bayens, a senior photojournalism major from Louisville, took home first place in the Best Multimedia Content Creator category. Rhiannon Johnston, a junior photojournalism and advertising major from Louisville, received third place in the same category. Abby Loftus, a senior advertising and strategic communications major from Troy, Illinois, also received third place in the Best Sales Representative category.

The talented photojournalism major Emma Bayens serves as the co-director of Cherry Creative and excels in multimedia content creation. The video editor for Cherry Creative, Rhiannon Johnston, is recognized for her skills in this area. Abby Loftus, the Student Publications advertising manager, excels in sales representation.

The winning entries of these students can be viewed at https://www.cmbam.org/past-contest-winners/. The student staffs of Student Publications Advertising and Cherry Creative work together to generate advertising revenue that sustains the operations of student publications. Assistant Director Sam Oldenburg advises both groups.

WKU Student Publications encompasses four student-led areas: Talisman, a life and culture magazine established in 1924; College Heights Herald, a news organization founded in 1925; Student Publications Advertising, a sales team established in 1925; and Cherry Creative, a branded content studio launched in 2018. These divisions work collaboratively to create engaging content and provide advertising opportunities for clients aiming to reach the WKU community.