Student broadcasters at Pittsburg State University earned national recognition this month, bringing home two first-place honors from the 2026 National Student Media Convention. 

The 2026 NSMC Production Awards were sponsored by College Broadcasters, Inc.  

Media Production major Xavier Ruiz traveled to Philadelphia on Oct. 17 on behalf of the university to accept the awards while many of his classmates were working on campus to broadcast Pitt State’s Homecoming game against Missouri Western on the MIAA Network. 

Ruiz, who is from Joplin, earned first place in Best General Entertainment Program for The Frame: Episode 1, which was produced in Comm 733 Independent Video Production Class and aired on the student-led TV station CAPS 13. 

Pitt State also earned first place in Best Live Sports Broadcast for Pittsburg State vs. Fort Hays Women's Basketball Game of the Week, produced Feb. 21, 2026, by students in the COMM 490 Sports Broadcasting II class and aired on the MIAA Network. 

These award-winning productions highlight the hands-on learning experiences available to students in Pitt State's Media Production major, which gives students practical experience in live sports production, reporting, directing, videography, editing, and entertainment programming. 

CAPS 13 is led by Assistant Instructional Professor Kate Allred, while the sports broadcasting course is taught by Professor Troy Comeau. 

"These awards reflect the talent, creativity, and professionalism of our students," Allred said. "To be recognized at the national level by industry professionals is a testament to the hard work our students put into every production and the collaborative environment we've built within our programs." 

It’s not unusual for Pitt State to win in state and regional competitions. In the early 2010s, the university earned several first-place national finishes in documentary production and PSA production, in 2017 earned first place nationally in documentary production, and in 2020 earned a first-place finish in sports broadcasting. 

Comeau said the competitions are highly competitive. 

"Our students consistently perform at a high level in real-world production environments," Comeau said. "Earning national recognition for both live sports and entertainment programming speaks to their versatility and dedication, as well as the opportunities they have to develop those skills here at Pitt State." 

The National Student Media Convention annually brings together student journalists, broadcasters, content creators, and media professionals from colleges and universities across the nation to celebrate excellence in student media. 

Award Winners 

Best Live Sports Broadcast (LINK TO YOUTUBE IF AVAILABLE) 

Pittsburg State vs. Fort Hays Women's Basketball Game of the Week (Feb. 21, 2026) 

Best General Entertainment Program https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJfEcKyY2QA 

1st Place: Pittsburg State University, CAPS 13 

The Frame: Episode 1