HAYS, Kan. -- Thirty-nine communication studies students from Fort Hays State University won awards recently at the annual Kansas Professional Communicators conference in Council Grove.

Awards were won for fall 2009 and spring 2010 service learning projects in journalism and public relations, taught by Linn Ann Huntington, associate professor, and Jennie Straight, assistant professor.

In addition, a departmental scholarship committee selected journalism major Lindsey Stieben, Jetmore junior, to receive a $500 KPC scholarship. Each year KPC awards a $500 scholarship to a student at FHSU, Wichita State University, Kansas State University and the University of Kansas.

Kansas Professional Communicators is a statewide organization for college students and professionals in the areas of journalism, public relations, advertising and marketing. Contest director Rebecca Funke, editor of "Active Aging" newspaper in Wichita, said the contest drew more than 100 entries this year, which were judged by members of North Dakota Professional Communicators.

Six journalism students won for articles published in The Hays Daily News and The University Leader, FHSU's student newspaper:

Two teams won first-place awards. One, in the Non-Profit Organizations category, developed media kits and videos for the statewide Watershed on Wheels project. Another, in the For-Profit Business category, developed a pubic relations campaign and collateral materials for the Tea Rose Inn Bed and Breakfast of Hays.

Two teams won second-place awards: a non-profit category team that developed a public relations campaign and collateral materials for the Watershed on Wheels project and a business category team that developed a crisis communications plan for the Sweet Traditions Bed and Breakfast, Rozel.

Two other teams won third-place awards. One developed a crisis communications plan for FHSU's Sternberg Museum of Natural History, and the other developed a crisis communications plan for Gella's Diner and Lb. Brewing Co., both in Hays.

Students are listed by hometown, classification, award, category and project.

ABILENE: Kendra Callihan, senior,first, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels project team.

CEDAR, Minn.: Ashley Carpenter, senior, first, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels project team; first, business, Tea Rose public relations team; andthird, business, Gella's crisis plan.

COLBY: Christina Schmid, senior,first, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels project team; first, business, Tea Rose public relations team; andsecond, business, Sweet Traditions crisis plan.

COLWICH: R.J. Meyer, fall 2009 graduate,second,non-profit, Watershed on Wheels public relations team.

ELLSWORTH: Chanel Hand, graduate student,second,non-profit, Watershed on Wheels public relations team.

FLAGLER, Colo.: Malinda Arensdor, senior,first, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels media kit team.

GREAT BEND: Sloan Folk, junior,third, non-profit, Sternberg Museum crisis plan team.

GRINNELL: Courtney Schoendaler, spring 2009 graduate,third, non-profit, Sternberg Museum crisis plan team.

HAYS: Crystal Bruntz, 2009 masters graduate, first, business, Tea Rose public relations team; andthird, non-profit, Sternberg Museum crisis plan team.

Haley Charles, senior,first, feature writing.

Kelsey Colglazier, senior,second, business, Sweet Traditions crisis plan team.

Kindra Degenhardt, senior,first, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels project team.

Christy Gerstner, senior,first, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels project team.

Afton Krien, senior,first, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels project team.

Ashli Kuntz, spring 2009 graduate,second,non-profit, Watershed on Wheels public relations team.

Yesenia Ramirez, senior, third place and honorable mention, feature writing.

HILLSBORO: Brady Peters, senior,first, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels project team.

HOOKER, Okla.: Riley Voth, senior,first, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels project team.

LIBERAL: Jose Castillo, spring 2009 graduate,first, business, Tea Rose public relations team.

LINDSBORG: Klint Spiller, senior,first, sports writing.

LUDELL: Ashley Wolters, junior,first, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels project team.

NANYANG, China: Xi "Lacy" Jing, graduate student,first, business, Tea Rose public relations team; and third, business, Gella's crisis plan team.

NORTON: Karlie Jones, senior,first, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels project team; and third, business, Gella's crisis plan team.

OGALLALA, Neb.: Leanna Roberts, spring 2009 graduate,third, business, Gella's crisis plan.

PALCO: Tiffany Lovelady, spring 2009 graduate,third, non-profit, Sternberg Museum crisis plan team.

PLAINS: Logan Argo, senior,first, news writing.

RUSSELL: Krista Pasek, junior,second and third, news writing.

ST. FRANCIS: Kelsey Dunn, special student,second,non-profit, Watershed on Wheels public relations team.

WAKEENEY: Amy Benisch, fall 2009 graduate, second, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels public relations team.

WALDO: Bessie Harp, junior,second, feature writing.

ZHENGZHOU, China: Shine Li Yi, special graduate student,first, business, Tea Rose public relations team.

XINZHENG, China: Tianyi (Lena) Zhao, special student,third, non-profit, Sternberg Museum crisis plan team.

Yang Xu, special student,first, non-profit, Watershed on Wheels project team.

Zhignan (Edicus) Zhang, fall 2009 Masters graduate,second, business, Sweet Traditions crisis plan.

ZURICH: Josh Keller, senior,second, business, Sweet Traditions crisis plan.