MCKEESPORT, Pa. — Student journalists from the GA-Zette at Penn State Greater Allegheny continue to add to their “Award Wall” in the Main Building thanks to their showing at the 60th Golden Quill Awards. Sponsored by the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania, the Golden Quill Awards honor outstanding reporting, writing and multimedia work produced by professionals and students in the region. It represents significant achievement, showcasing a commitment to high journalistic standards and impactful storytelling.

The GA-Zette was established in 2020 to provide a platform for students to engage with current events, campus news, and a variety of topics that resonate with the campus community. The paper is printed bimonthly and updated biweekly on its website. This year’s editorial and reporting team earned Golden Quill Awards in several categories.  

Melanie Kawai McGinniss, a 2024 communications graduate and former managing editor of the GA-Zette, received a Golden Quill for her cover image used on the December 2023 edition of the newspaper. She also received an award for her piece titled “Lessons From My Grandmother” and was a finalist for her news coverage on the National Museum of Broadcasting press conference, and for a feature photo of spotted lanternflies.

“It’s nice to see the effort and appreciation that still exists when it comes to journalism,” McGinnis said. “It’s nice to know that students from a smaller campus like Greater Allegheny have as much of a chance as others [to win awards].”

Two additional Golden Quills were awarded to Noah Patrick Hill and Samuel Adekola. Hill received a Golden Quill for his concert review titled “A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – Petersen Events Center Packed with Fans.” Adekola, who is the GA-Zette comic artist, received a Golden Quill for editorial comics published last year. 

Brandon Schuetz was a finalist for his review of a concert held at the Roxian Theater in McKees Rocks.   

Rosemary Martinelli, assistant teaching professor of marketing and communications, serves at the faculty adviser to the GA-Zette. She has been instrumental in guiding Greater Allegheny’s student journalists, encouraging them to pursue stories with integrity and passion.

“The judges in these student competitions are professional journalists and media communicators from across the country,” said Martinelli. “For the students' work to be deemed outstanding is a testament to the importance of local news in our society and to the work of the individual students.”

Martinelli herself took home two awards, along with internationally award-winning videographer Paul Ruggieri. They won for a collaborative journalistic project titled “Humanities Works,” showcasing the value of humanities in the professional world.

“My initial focus that night was on my students,” Martinelli said. “When I realized that I had won for my project, that was truly a humbling experience.”

View the 2024 Golden Quill award winners here.

Students who are interested in writing for the GA-Zette can contact Martinelli at rum31@psu.edu.