Learn more about the Trevecca students nominated for Associated Press awards and the inspiration behind their stories.
Andrew Preston
How does it feel to be nominated?
Last year, I kind of was just there to see what happens at the AP awards, and I didn’t really know what was going on but I knew that in the following years I wanted to get one of my stories in the running. I feel that it’s a big honor. It’s kind of cool to be recognized as one of the top sports writers in the state of Tennessee.
What was the inspiration behind the story?
I was inspired to write [the Bryon Sanford story] because from a sporting perspective I saw how good of a player he was, and I wanted to know more personally, which lead to an actual story.
Bailey Basham
How does it feel to be nominated?
It feels really cool because the Associated Press is a really huge deal. Whenever I’m writing a story, I don’t write to hope that my work gets nominated. So, it’s cool that they go through all the stories I write and pick out one they think is good.
What was the inspiration behind the story?
The inspiration behind that was that the election has just happened and emotions were heightened especially around campus. Trevecca had been trying to diversify the student body, and I felt the only thing I could do at that point was to use my writing to left up the voices that were being ignored. I wanted to use what I knew how to do to try to help in some way.
Brooklyn Dance
How does it feel to be nominated?
It feels amazing. This is my first year being nominated, and I had no idea that this would happen. I think it’s the most random story to be nominated. However I’m still excited and can’t wait to see what happens.
What inspired you to write this story?
I was never inspired to write this story. Jess and I were talking about chapel and how everybody was on their phones while we were in class. JoEllen [Werking-Weedman, journalism instructor and Trevechoes adviser] and had overheard us talking and told us to write that as a trend story, so we did. It plopped in my lap, and, sometimes, those are the best stories.
Olivia Kelley
How does it feel to be nominated?
It’s definitely always an honor, and it was a little surprising. This year was especially surprising for me because last semester I was gone studying abroad. So, I didn’t think that I would have a chance of getting an award this year. It’s always just exciting to know that the work we are doing is good quality work and people are appreciating that.
What inspired you to write this story?
That story was such a last-minute thing. I was so surprised that that story was the one that got nominated. I was walking to class one day and saw that the Quad was TP’d and instead of being like, “ooh, who did that’ I was like, “We have to write a story about this.” So, I started taking pictures of it and sent it to JoEllen gave me the go to write it. I was really proud of myself that day because I got the story out in one day.
Jess Plyler
How does it feel to be nominated?
Being nominated for these awards was surprising to me. But I definitely feel honored that they enjoy my writing enough to recognize it.
What inspired you to write these stories?
I was nominated for two different stories. One was on Tabitha Sookdeo and her status as an undocumented immigrant. I was inspired to write this because Tabitha was my roommate, and I was personally uneducated on the issue. It was a great learning experience for me to be able to see where the immigration system can be improved and how the flaws in the system are affecting people I come in direct contact with. Additionally, Brooklyn Dance and I wrote about chapel at Trevecca and the lack of enthusiasm that comes with it. I wrote that piece because it was very obvious to me, but seemed to be ignored by administration and chapel leaders.