UMKC Roo News took home nine awards at this year’s Missouri College Media Association (MCMA) awards.

In competition against the largest universities in Missouri, the newspaper has continued to build on its past success, notably earning first place in website design.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of our staff,” said Steve Kraske, chairman of Roo News’ Board of Publishers. “Winning these awards is a clear sign of our team’s commitment to quality news.”

Roo News has now won first place in website design for the second time in three years, having placed second in 2021. The paper has also placed second in best overall newspaper twice over the last four years.

“I’m especially pleased that we won best website for the second time in three years,” Kraske said. “As more and more news consumers gravitate online for their information, Roo News has shown that it’s meeting the challenge with the best collegiate news website in the state. That’s a major accomplishment and represents the efforts of so many of our editors and reporters.”

This year’s awards and their recipients are:

• First Place, Website, Adeta Chareunsab, Victoria Kenway and Caleb Wilson
• Second Place, Editorial Writing, Thomas White for “KC squandered taxpayer money on empty building”
• Second Place, Investigative Reporting, Daisy Garcia Montoya for “SGA to revive once rejected health referendum”
• Second Place, Entertainment Review, Alvar Negrete-Baños for “‘Dune’ gives sci-fi a hot new look”
• Third Place, Investigative Reporting, Emma Slump for “The future of Epperson House”
• Third Place, Entertainment Review, Yara Salamed for “The memoir of a Guantanamo prisoner”
• Honorable Mention, In-Depth News Reporting, Connor Stewart for “UMKC settles lawsuit with professor accused of stealing research, receives $6.45M”
• Honorable Mention, Entertainment Review, Caleb Robbins for “On “Solar Power,” Lorde attempts to enlighten listeners with actual light”
• Honorable Mention, Video, Roo News Team for “The future of the Kansas City Streetcar route”