MCKEESPORT, Pa. — In its first time entering the College Media Association’s (CMA) Pinnacle Awards competition, Penn State Greater Allegheny’s student newspaper, The GA-Zette, received five finalist awards in five different categories. The CMA is a professional association that represents the people who advise the nation’s collegiate media newspapers, yearbooks, magazines and electronic media.

Melanie Kawai McGinnis led the way with four of five finalist recognitions in the categories of Editorial, Best General News Photo, Best Feature Story, and Best Overall Periodic Newspaper, publishing fewer than three times per month. McGinnis earned a bachelor of arts in communications this year. She served as the GA-Zette managing editor.

Also receiving finalist recognition was Samuel Adekola for his collective editorial cartoons and comic strips published by the newspaper this past year. Adekola is pursuing a degree in multidisciplinary studies. 

Winners will be announced in late October at the CMA conference in New Orleans.

Founded in 1954 as the National Council of College Publications Advisers, CMA now has more than 600 members from coast to coast. It supports both new and veteran advisers of collegiate media programs with conventions, workshops, publications and national networking.  Rosemary Martinelli, assistant teaching professor of marketing and communications serves as faculty adviser for the GA-Zette.