Missouri School of Journalism students win honors for videography, artistic expression during Show Me Research Week

Poster for Emily Wilson’s video “We Are Not Just a Day.”

COLUMBIA, Mo. (April 22, 2024) — Missouri School of Journalism students had a major presence in the university-wide Show Me Research Week, which ran from April 8-12. Seven students were named as finalists in the Visual Arts and Design Showcase (VADS) and others presented their research, with two students coming away with competitive awards.

“Students at the School of Journalism have skills to create a wide variety of visual, written and multimedia works,” said David Kurpius, dean of the School. “Those are skills that will serve them well not just in newsrooms and ad agencies, but — as these awards show — in any situation that requires creative communication or design.”

Junior Emily Wilson took home the VADS People’s Choice Award for her video, “We Are Not Just a Day,” which is on display at the Columbia Art League with the other finalists’ projects until April 20. Sophomore Robin Crouch also earned third place in the 2024 Symposium Awards’ Artistic Expression category for her pen and ink artwork series, “Light and Shadow.”

“Between photography, video, strategic communication and graphic design, there are a lot of spots for journalism students to get in on this,” said Professor Emeritus Stacey Woelfel, a member of the jury panel. “This gives them a chance to see how their work stacks up against others from outside the J-School, and that’s valuable.”

Crouch was recognized for an interdisciplinary blend of research and art. As a member of the Mizzou Honors College’s ASH Scholars program, she took part in the Art of Death research program, which asks students to not only study how other artists have engaged with the subject of death but to create their own multimedia projects.

“My project, Light and Shadow, is a series of six pen and ink panels that represent my own process of coming to terms with the concept of death,” Crouch said. “Stemming from the passing of several people close to me over the past few years, I have been through a series of stages to try and understand loss and dying.”

Another project captured the attention of the public, with Wilson’s video celebrating the women of Mizzou Athletics earning more than 700 votes for the People’s Choice Award. In the video, Wilson hoped to convey that though National Girls and Women in Sports Day recognizes women in athletics once a year, the women deserve daily recognition.

“This is insane — that is a lot of votes,” said Wilson after learning of her win at a ceremony Friday afternoon at Mizzou’s Bond Life Sciences Center. “I loved the message behind this video and I wanted people to see it. Winning this award means I accomplished that goal.”

Show Me Research Week is just one opportunity for students at the School to flex their academic and artistic muscles — stay tuned to journalism.missouri.edu throughout the year as students participate in undergraduate and graduate research, create compelling campaigns at professional ad agencies and produce community journalism at the School’s Missouri News Network of newsrooms.