Butler Student Journalists Receive Kansas Collegiate Media Awards

The Lantern newspaper students earned individual awards for their work on the student-led paper. (Courtesy Photo)

May 18, 2026
Press Release

Journalists in Butler’s student newspaper and magazine, The Lantern and The Grizzly, received awards from the Kansas Collegiate Media conference. The publications earned just under 20 individual awards altogether.

The Grizzly magazine received two awards. Kaylin Bergeron of Overland Park earned second place for Journalist of the Year for both newspaper and magazine entries. Bergeron is a freelance journalist for the magazine.

The magazine is advised by faculty member Amy Hornbaker and produces a few issues during the school year. This year’s staff includes Bergeron, Isaac Rich and Josiah Rich, siblings from Augusta.

The Lantern newspaper earned 15 individual awards. The newspaper is advised by faculty member Amy Chastain and produces several issues in the academic year.

“This is a great learning opportunity for our students,” Chastain said. “The organization (KCM) brings in working professionals that our student journalists can hear from. They also bring in fellow student journalists from other institutions, so they can heed advice should they find themselves in similar situations. The awards, meanwhile, are a recognition of their hard work. By the end of the semester, our students are feeling burnt out, so to be acknowledged for their work is reaffirming.”

Both publications are long-time KCM members and earn awards each year. Wichita State University hosted this year’s conference in the Rhatigan Student Center April 12-13.

Below is the full list of winners, grouped by publication and hometowns.