The Wildcat Wire, Culver-Stockton College’s student newspaper, recently earned three awards at the Missouri College Media Association (MCMA) Awards Ceremon, including second place honors for Best Website and Special Section, and a third place award for Feature Writing.
The Wildcat Wire took second place for Best Website in Division 3, which includes 8–10 schools annually. Tyler Tomlinson, lecturer of communication and adviser to the Wildcat Wire, credited the student staff’s dedication for the recognition.
“The students’ dedication to increasing our volume and coverage was a big reason why they placed in this category,” Tomlinson said. “I’m proud of the work they did to clean up older sections and keep things up-to-date.”
Editor-in-Chief Libby Skaggs earned two individual honors. She won second place in the Special Section category for her story “My Classroom is Belize and Guatemala,” which chronicled her experiences in Culver-Stockton’s three-week travel course.
“This story was so unique compared to the usual nominees,” Tomlinson said. “Libby’s piece was honest and interesting, highlighting an opportunity that’s special to C-SC.”
Skaggs also placed third in Feature Writing for her article “Culver-Stockton College Welcomes its 28th President.” Tomlinson praised her professionalism and storytelling ability.
“Libby remained professional in her coverage while capturing the essence of the situation,” he said. “She is a naturally skilled writer with a good pulse on the campus.”
Tomlinson also acknowledged the contributions of other student staff members, particularly Halle Jennex, who played a major role in upgrading and maintaining the website.
“Our entire student staff should be credited with this honor,” Tomlinson said. “The landscape of online journalism moves quickly, and our students have adjusted well by focusing on deeper, unique perspectives that campus readers want to consume.”
Tomlinson emphasized that while the recognition is rewarding, the staff sees it as a foundation for future growth.
“We know we are on the road to being even better,” he said. “Our staff has grown a lot in the last year, and we are putting together much stronger pieces. The students are excited to see how much better we can get going into the 2025-26 school year.”
Coming up, the Wildcat Wire will feature articles from students traveling to Germany, the Netherlands, and Washington, D.C. Other planned coverage includes profiles on the college’s playoff-bound lacrosse and baseball teams, as well as an in-depth look at Culver-Stockton College’s financial responsibility score compared to schools in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
Visit the Wildcat Wire at https://wildcatwire.culver.edu/.
The MCMA awards represent a significant measure of excellence for college journalism in Missouri. The organization, dedicated solely to college newspapers and yearbooks in the state, offers the only formal opportunity to compare work among peer institutions.
About Culver-Stockton College
Culver-Stockton College, situated on 140 acres in Canton, Missouri, atop The Hill overlooking the Mississippi River, was founded in 1853 by members of the Disciples of Christ Church. Today, more than 1,000 students from around the world shape their futures in academic excellence with opportunities in 80 majors and minors, five graduate programs, 21 NAIA inter-collegiate athletics, 35 diverse student organizations, and many campus-life events.
Contact the Marketing & Public Relations Office, at pr@culver.edu or 573-288-6000 ext. 6728 for more information.
NOTE: A number that appears immediately after a person’s name (i.e. Jane Doe ’18) is a reference to the year that person earned their bachelor’s degree from Culver-Stockton.