The University of Kentucky’s student newspaper has received an award known as the “Pulitzer Prize of college journalism.”
The announcement marks the third time the Kentucky Kernel has taken home the Pacemaker, a highly coveted award handed out by the Associated Collegiate Press.
"It is very rewarding just to know that all of our hard work can get recognition," Kernel Editor-in-Chief Marjorie Kirk adds. "We know it pays off. We see its effect in the community, but it's nice to be nationally recognized too."
In addition to accepting the prize at a ceremony in Washington D.C., Kirk participated in a panel discussion focusing on the investigation of sexual assault cases on college campuses. The Kernel is currently locked in a legal dispute with UK administrators over documents pertaining to a former professor accused of sexual assault.
"I was glad that I had some expertise that was useful to other students," she says. "There were other students that came up to me at the conference, like, 'I really loved your talk.'" Her response: "Thank you. You have no idea what I went through to be able to talk about it."
UK sued the publication to keep the records from going public, arguing victims' privacy rights are at stake. The independent paper has since received a flood of support from journalism advocacy groups and other donors. Kirk says the award testifies to the importance of the paper’s work.
Laura Widmer with the ACP says the prize puts the Kernel in the top one percent of student newspapers in the country.
