Aspiring journalists at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater take advantage of multiple opportunities to tell stories and cover newsworthy events as they hone their craft and prepare for their profession.
Chase Keller, editor-in-chief of the Royal Purple, a student-run, independent newspaper supported by the university, was honored by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association with the 2026 Collegiate Journalist of the Year Award for his excellent writing and leadership.
The journalism major also received the second place Breaking News Reporting Award, the third place Sports Story Award and an honorable mention for Sports Photography.
“It feels amazing,” Keller said, “but I think the biggest thing that I take away from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association is [that] individual awards are nice, but we had 15 awards as an organization this year.”
Dedication and passion have paid off for the writers and editors of the Royal Purple, which marked its 125th anniversary with award-winning leadership, writing and photography.
At the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Convention, the Royal Purple staff won a total of 15 awards for their outstanding journalism, including a second place award in Page Design and an honorable mention for their website. Individual contributors were honored for their photography and stories on sports, arts, business, health and the environment.
Former Royal Purple advisor Sam Martino was also inducted, posthumously, into the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Hall of Fame.
“Individual accolades don’t keep me going — it’s the love from other people and seeing other people succeed that I’m mentoring as well,” Keller said. “I’m so proud, and being editor and kind of overseeing all of [the Royal Purple staff] and watching them all [succeed] was great.”
In Keller’s words, the Royal Purple offers a quasi-professional experience for students interested in journalism and similar career paths. The newspaper’s student staff is responsible for writing, photographing and editing 15 stories about campus and community events for their weekly publication.
Keller discovered his passion for journalism in high school when he served on his school’s news magazine, The Voice. The summer before Keller’s senior year of high school, he attended the Kettle Moraine Press Association Journalism camp at UW-Whitewater.
The camp exposed him to all the opportunities UW-Whitewater offers budding journalists, including the Royal Purple.
While Keller is also involved with the campus radio station, 91.7 The Edge, and the campus TV station, UWW-TV, the Royal Purple has become one of the most important activities in his college life — often requiring Keller to put in 15 or more hours per week to ensure the newspaper is published on time and operations are running smoothly.
“Something that I value is involvement,” Keller said. “I valued it in high school and definitely value it now.
“Just the ease of getting involved here at UW-Whitewater really helps prepare me for my career. It’s the fact that this school gives you those quasi-professional experiences. It’s unlike many others across the country.”
During his first semester, Keller started as the newspaper’s men’s sports journalist. He worked his way up the ranks to assistant men’s sports editor and men’s sports editor, and, during the 2025-26 academic year, Keller served as editor-in-chief.
Keller’s leadership and hard work have pushed the Royal Purple to greater success.
“What sets Chase apart as an exceptional journalist is his ability to foster a positive working and learning environment within the newsroom,” Keith Zukas, professor of journalism and Royal Purple advisor wrote. “Through his guidance, student journalists experienced a culture of respect, creativity, and growth, which translated to outstanding journalistic work reflecting both the reporters’ individual skills and the collective mission of the Royal Purple.”
After graduating in December 2026, Keller plans to pursue a career in social media while freelance writing.
Classes like Marketing for Influencers and Creators or Social Media Optimization and The New Web, coupled with opportunities the university offers for practical application, have thoroughly prepared Keller for his future.
“The entire journalism curriculum is well designed to prepare students for the professional world. Most classes have their own unique real-world opportunities. Even though I am going into social media for my profession, I think these courses and experiences have helped me understand how to report on different topics, which may help me in the social media realm,” Keller said.
Written by Abigail Dotzler | Photos by Craig Schreiner
Link to original story: https://www.uww.edu/news/archive/2026-07-chase-keller