Dr. Luling Huang, Kendall Warren and Kiana Martinez (l-r) at the CMA convention.
March 12, 2026–Griffon Media, the student-led news organization at Missouri Western State University, received three national awards at the College Media Association Spring Convention held in New York City this month.
Griffon Media students Kiana Martinez, senior graphic design major from Kansas City, Missouri; Kendall Warren, sophomore applied communication and journalism major from Kansas City, Missouri; and faculty adviser Dr. Luling Huang attended the convention March 4-7. They organized and presented a session titled “Beyond the Questions: Audio and Video Essentials for Interviews.” Students also toured the headquarters of Spectrum News and Sirius XM.
At the conference, Griffon Media won three David L. Adams Apple Awards. The Apple Awards are the flagship honors that recognize the best work from college media across the nation. MoWest honorees were:
- Best News Website, Second Place, Division III, Griffon Media staff
- Best Multimedia Package, Third Place, Divisions II & III, Charlie Sample
- Best News Photography, Third Place, Division III, Kylee Leach ‘25
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.