EAU CLAIRE — University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire journalism student Jay Olstad placed among the top 20 students in the radio competition of the national Hearst Journalism Awards Program.
          Olstad, a senior from Mound, Minn., earned 17th place for his stories on a UW-Eau Claire women’s hockey game and an old steam engine that was put on the tracks after a year of repairs.
          Olstad said the competition’s judging criteria included writing, producing, reporting, sound and presentation.
          “The main draw was the sound,” Olstad said of his two stories.
          He thinks the sound of the train on the track and the cheering crowd during the hockey game were crucial to his placing in the competition.
          “Jay Olstad has a dedication to news,” said Henry Lippold, professor of communication and journalism and Olstad’s adviser. “He works hard at it and has demonstrated considerable skills at doing it.”
          In past years, several UW-Eau Claire students have placed in the top 20 of the competition, which is open only to those schools that have an accredited journalism program.
          Olstad will receive an award certificate for his accomplishment. His name also will be published in a book that will be distributed to the schools that submitted entries and to the top 20 people in the competition.
          “It’s nice to know you’re somewhere in the vicinity of being on track,”Olstad said.
-30-
RM/BW

[Administrative Offices] [News Bureau]

Updated: Feb. 14, 2001