In case you missed it: Slideshow of the Eastern Echo Student Media Gala 2024

Editor-in-Chief Aaron Hughes presents the employee awards at the gala.

Photographed by Hunter Johnstone

Employee of the Year winner Marie White (left) shares a moment with Photographer of the Year winner Madison Cantrell.

Photographed by Hunter Johnstone

Rylee Curley, one of the Echo team artists, is honored as Staff Artist of the Year.

Photographed by Hunter Johnstone

Blake McQueary, sports editor of the Echo, is honored for the article of the year because he wrote the text and it is considered by the audience to be the best work of the editorial team.

Photographed by Hunter Johnstone

Echo alumnus Russ Kenyon is named a “Friend of The Echo” for his support of the current staff. Kenyon, a photographer, donated cameras and other equipment to the team. The Echo staff then named the photography studio in Kenyon's honor.

Photographed by Hunter Johnstone

The Echo staff voted former editor-in-chief Layla McMurtie an Echo Legend.

Photographed by Hunter Johnstone

Echo consultant Christine Uthoff introduces the 2023 Hall of Fame inductee, shortly before the 2024 inductee is announced.

Photographed by Hunter Johnstone

Rob Musial, a 2024 inductee into the Echo Hall of Fame, addresses the crowd at the annual banquet. He praised The Echo's staff and said journalism is as valuable today as it ever was.

Photographed by Hunter Johnstone

Alumni Anne Lindner receives the Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award from her alumni colleagues Rob Musial and Dino Lampron.

Photographed by Hunter Johnstone

Cellar Roots Editor-in-Chief Ameera Salman talks about the future of the student-run literary magazine Cellar Roots.

Photographed by Hunter Johnstone