Shoot for the win

Western Kentucky University’s prize-winning images from its first place win in the Hearst Foundation Intercollegiate Journalism Awards, considered the college level Pulitzer Prize

By John Van Vleet, jvanvleet@bgdailynews.com — 270-783-3256

Friday, April 22, 2005

Most college students dont go on a 6,000-mile road trip for a school photography project. Most dont try to expose social injustices through the lens of a camera or document on film the effects of a devastating hurricane several states away.

Then again, most college students arent enrolled in the Western Kentucky University photojournalism program, one of the most highly decorated collegiate photography programs in the country.

Now in its 29th year, the WKU program has dominated the college photography awards, repeatedly winning the Intercollegiate Hearst Competition, considered by most to be the Pulitzer Prize of undergraduate journalism.

After placing first in the three main rounds at the competition this year, with other students placing second and third in addition, Western has now won the top prize in 15 of the 17 years the award has been presented. For the top prize, the school received $10,000. WKU received another $9,500 on top of that due to the order Western students placed in the competitions.

James Kenney, director of the photojournalism program, said the success of the program lies in the quality of the people involved.

Its about producing not just people that can make good pictures, but good people, period, he said. Were as interested in their attitudes as we are their pictures.

One aspect of the program that Kenney mentioned as a key ingredient to its success is the friendly, yet competitive, culture that has grown throughout the years.

There has been a culture developed here, a community, that goes way beyond how to take pictures, he said. Theres a lot of support, theres a lot of people that think just like they do and are as excited as they are about photography.

Western senior Jim Winn, who had several pictures submitted to the Hearst competition, said his experience in the program has been beneficial and enjoyable.

For me, its a great opportunity, its really special, he said. Having the ability, the opportunity, to try and make lasting images that someday hopefully will be remembered for having some sort of effect.

His photo essay submitted to the competition was on Jack Kerouacs On the Road, and it sent him traveling across the country capturing snippets of life along the way.

I covered about 6,000 miles altogether for that project, he said. The idea was to shoot an essay of pictures that reflected that book.

Winn said standing on the shoulders of the graduates of the photo program has been humbling for him.

Its a real honor, he said. To be kind of following in their footsteps is a real privilege.

Melanie Blanding, a junior in the program, said the faculty is one of the reasons for its wonderful reputation.

Theyre actively helpful, not only in the classroom, but outside the classroom, she said. Theyre all seasoned professionals and have a lot of experience and can convey what theyve learned to us.

The photos she submitted were originally never going to see the light of day. The subject matter was difficult for her to photograph.

Its a story about poverty, she said. It was never intended to be published.

She said being nominated for the awards has been a report card of sorts.

Its a real confidence booster to have been nominated to begin with, she said. It tells me that the judges, that these professors, think Im on the right track.

Kenney said winning awards is nice, but hes more interested in the things that dont get recognized.

(The award) is an outward sign that something good and something right is going on in our program, he said. We are extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish, but I am extremely proud of all our students because they are doing things that dont get seen.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700