CSU students recognized with national award for multimedia piece sharing trans experiences

The award recognized the Trans Awareness Week special edition of The Rocky Mountain Collegian, which prominently featured a piece that tells the story of Kaz Smith, a transgender CSU student.

Studley wrote the article, and photographer Colin Shepherd spent nearly a year following Smith and chronicling his transition. The final story heavily features his photography in addition to intimate self-portraits from Smith, a talented photographer himself.

"A lot of people don't know the struggles of people who are transgender," Shepherd, a May 2021 business administrationgraduate, said. "It's something that's not often represented in today's media, and we were lucky to shine a light on it."

Smith's story was also featured in an award-winning documentaryby Tree Stump Films, the documentary arm of Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation.

"I hope that through highlighting not only his story, but everyone's story in the entire special edition, we created a space where trans people felt less alone," Studley said.

Read the full story at col.st/d7O7O.

And see the full Trans Awareness Week special edition: col.st/eP6Xj.