Dr. Ian Punnett Award for Media Educators

The Dr. Ian Punnett Media Educator Award is an annual honor recognizing exceptional Kansas educators who inspire a passion for media careers and make a transformative impact on their students. Named in memory of the late Dr. Ian Punnett—renowned Kansas State University professor, media professional, and KAB Hall of Famer—the award debuted in 2024 with Dr. Punnett as the inaugural (posthumous) recipient.

Eligible for college and high school educators alike, the “KAB Dr. Ian Punnett Media Educator Award” seeks to celebrate educators who embody Punnett’s spirit of excellence in media education. Recipients will be selected based on their exceptional contributions to media education, their profound impact on students, innovative teaching methods, and unwavering commitment to excellence in the field.

Each year, the honoree is announced and celebrated at the KAB Student Broadcast & Sports Seminar, spotlighting their achievements and commitment to shaping the future of the media industry. 

How to Nominate
Nominations should be filed through the form linked below. Nominations are due March 1 each calendar year.

Dr. Ian Punnett was a professor of practice at Kansas State University, specializing in Media Business, Entrepreneurship, Media History, and podcasting. As faculty advisor for Wildcat 91.9, named the Best College Radio Station in the nation, he earned over three dozen honors for his creative work across audio, video, digital, and print platforms.

With a 35-year career in radio, Dr. Punnett achieved success in hard rock morning radio before transitioning to talk radio at WGN/Chicago, WGST/Atlanta, and the syndicated Coast to Coast AM, where he continues to appear monthly.

An expert in True Crime narratives, his groundbreaking dissertation, Toward a Theory of True Crime, has been widely cited in scholarly works, and he was a sought-after speaker at international symposia. Dr. Punnett, who joined K-State in 2018, is also the author of five books.