Main Hill Media Continues Winning Streak With ACP Advertising & Business Awards

Riley Atkinson and Lauren Beavers, Main Hill Media manager and assistant manager (respectively), with awards received at the ACP Spring National College Media Conference.

The Associated Collegiate Press honored Main Hill Media, the university’s student-run advertising agency, with eight awards at the association’s Spring National College Media Conference held March 7-9 in La Jolla, California, continuing a winning spree from the fall convention in Atlanta.

According to an ACP press release, the nation’s top collegiate print, digital, video and audio advertisements were among the 2024 Advertising and Business Individual Awards presented. This marks the first time these awards have been announced at the spring conference.

ACP recognized the full agency team, manager Riley Atkinson, graphic designer Jules Yeary and staff photographer Sarah Wittenburg.

“I am thrilled that Riley and her team were recognized nationally,” said Robyn Ledbetter, director of student media. “She has worked hard to build an amazing team and is creating innovative programs for Main Hill.”

The staff of Hill Magazine was also honored with a second place finish in Best of Show for the Feature Magazine category for four-year campuses.

“This is Hill‘s third national finish since the magazine was created in 2011,” said faculty adviser Bret Schulte. “Awards like this are a testament to the publication’s in-depth reporting and first-class storytelling.”

The U of A winners are detailed below, and the full list of awardees is available on ACP’s website.

• Riley Atkinson, first place, Media Kit — for Main Hill Media Kit

• Hill Magazine, second place, Best of Show in Feature Magazine

• Riley Atkinson and Sarah Wittenburg, third place, Digital Advertisement — for Main Hill Media house ad

• Jules Yeary, fourth place, Best Advertising Graphic Designer

• Main Hill Media, fourth place, Best of Show in Advertising Media Kit

• Riley Atkinson, fifth place, Best Advertising Representative

• Main Hill Media, honorable mention, Audience Engagement Event — for Synergy Summit

• Main Hill Media, honorable mention, Social Media Campaign — for Synergy Summit event promotion

• Main Hill Media, honorable mention, Video Advertisement — for Campus Influencer Program

Gary Lundgren, former director of student publications at the U of A and former director of the Arkansas High School Press Association, was inducted into the first class of ACP Pioneer Awards. A six-member committee of retired and active advisers from across the nation selected 101 journalism advisers and educators who have gone above and beyond their own distinguished careers to nurture the future of journalism for the inaugural awardees.

About Main Hill Media: Main Hill Media, the student-run advertising agency formed in 2017, helps clients craft a message and reach target audiences through graphic design, video production, social media, event marketing and public relations. One of six University of Arkansas student media outlets, the staff provides connections by selling advertisements in the university’s student newspaper, magazine and yearbook.

About Hill Magazine: Hill Magazine is publication of literary, in-depth journalism, created in 2009, is published each fall and spring by students. Located in the Office of Student Media in Kimpel Hall at the University of Arkansas, all reporters and staff members are current students at the university, covering subjects of interest to the local community and the student body. 

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.