From the Nominator

College is changing. College students are changing. Rising costs, growing public skepticism, and competitive enrollment pressures are forcing more people to question the value of higher education. Major Insight, therefore, is more than just a podcast. It’s a multimedia engine that demonstrates why higher education matters, why belonging matters, and why truly listening to the authentic voices of students may be one of the most important things we can do for the future of our institutions. What it is, really, is a way to help save higher education one student story at a time. So it isn’t meant to be about a single university. It’s designed to be about college itself, and about the transformative journey college offers. And who better to speak that truth than the students who can offer first-hand inspiration, peer validation, and guidance for all those coming behind them. Since last year, it has evolved into an integrated campus platform. Partnerships across Residence Life, Media & Journalism, Alumni Relations, Admissions, Enrollment Communications, Provost’s Office, and Student Life allow episodes to support orientations, experiential learning, anti-melt campaigns, faculty recognition, alumni engagement, and more. Downloads have exceeded 25,000, with a 327% spike during a summer miniseries. Cross-promotion via digital campaigns, social media, state-wide newsletters, and high school guidance counselors have expanded regional and national reach, while students have amplified content through organic advocacy. Major Insight shows how student-driven media can inspire, strengthen engagement, build trust, and reshape higher education communications by elevating the voices of those whose stories it shares.

From the Judges

This entry stood out for its authentic student voice, strong engagement, and clear connection to the first-year experience. By involving students as hosts, producers, and content creators, the project felt relevant, inclusive, and highly relatable to its target audience. Its strong reach, scalable format, and effective use of existing resources made it a well-executed and impactful initiative.