INDIANAPOLIS – Three Marian University communication students took home four awards at the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters’ 2025 college competition Saturday at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.
The students earned first-place honors in the Radio Air Personally category and third-place awards in Podcast, Radio News Anchor, and Music Video—each based on assignments from Dr. Jackie Liu’s Media Production, Digital Journalism, and Capstone courses.
Sylvia Vanderburgh, a senior in Global Studies and Theology, won first place for her entry in Radio Air Personally. Vanderburgh also teamed with 2024 graduate Mariangel Morales Aparicio of Communication and Public Health to secure third place in Podcast. Aparicio also took home third place for Radio News Anchor.
“Really happy. This was really unexpected, but it was a great experience. I’m very glad that I was able to make it,” Aparicio said. “I’m really excited that even after graduation, I got a chance to come back to an area that I feel gave me a lot. I’m really thankful for all the opportunities that I got during college, and I think this shows that it doesn’t have to end after graduation.”
Jordan Pohl, pursuing a second degree in Communication, received third place in Music Video. This is his second time winning an award from the IASB – he took home first place in Radio Air Personality last year.
Marilda Oviedo, chair of the communication department, praised the recognition the students received. “I was pleasantly surprised. I think you’re doing a great job of highlighting our students’ work and giving them recognition outside of the Marian classroom,” she said. “We are a small university, but you get to know us, and we will help you succeed as much as possible, giving you opportunities like this to showcase your work in the real world.”
Assistant Professor Jackie Liu added that the awards are a testament to the students’ resourcefulness. “I think this is quite a fruitful result, showcasing the talent of our students who have been devoted to media production,” Liu said. “Although the equipment and resources we have are not as abundant as other institutions, we try to make it work. I always design assignments based on industry needs and professional competitions. This year, we already achieved more than last year, and in the end, this is an incentive to encourage our students to work harder and step further.”
