By Bradley Radu / Staff Writer

Staff members of the MVC Delta recently participated in the Missouri College Media Conference, which offers a day of practical seminars and judges student work in media fields. The event was held at Missouri State University in Springfield on April 11.

A group of seven students, along with Delta adviser Chris Post, attended the conference. They participated in a variety of sessions focused on media topics and skill development.

Raychael Moseley, managing editor of The Delta, attended a leadership session.

“I gained a stronger understanding of what it means to be a role model and came away with practical activities I can use to better engage and support The Delta staff,” Moseley said.

The session, led by Hannah Claywell, MCMA president; Sadie Staker, MCMA vice president; and Dakota Oswalt, MCMA secretary, focused on being a positive role model and effectively managing staff on a larger scale. The presenters also discussed servant leadership in the media field and shared activities designed to build stronger newsroom connections, such as “Headline or Hoax,” a game in which editors alter headlines and staff members guess which version was published.

Other sessions included Advising 101, Premiere Pro 101, Photoshop 101, backpack journalism and best practices in breaking news, among others.

Delta reporter Ace Grado also reflected on the experience.

“I really enjoyed the ‘Advice from a First-Year Pro’ seminar because it felt realistic and aligned with what I expect stepping into my first job,” Grado said. “Hearing about an actual first day gave me valuable insight into what the transition into a professional role can look like and helped me better understand potential career paths.”

Sports Editor Daijah White also shared her experience.

“Hearing my name called for my sports story was a pleasant surprise. As both my first and last time attending, it was a valuable experience that I needed before entering the professional field,” White said.

Following the sessions, the conference concluded with an awards ceremony. Valley students were nominated for 30 awards across 20 categories, placing in three categories and earning an additional five honorable mentions.

Daijah White placed second in the yearbook/magazine division for sports story. Harrison James IV placed second in Newspaper Division 3 for both entertainment review and opinion column.

The Delta staff received an honorable mention for Newspaper Division 3 website. Kylian Galtier earned an honorable mention for Newspaper Division 3 sports photography. Aidan Bearden received an honorable mention for Newspaper Division 3 entertainment review. Ace Grado earned an honorable mention for Newspaper Division 3 sports column. Daijah White also received an honorable mention for Newspaper Division 3 sports writing.

Several students in the broadcast focus also received awards. Queralt Carbo placed second for script writing (news). Ylenia Expósito placed third in script writing (news) and also placed third in multicamera live sports event video.