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Categories2023 Honorees
Enter OnlineRules & EligibilityCategories2023 Honorees

2010 Mark of Excellence
National Winners and Finalists

Four-Year Colleges/Universities | Two-Year Colleges/Universities


2010 Regional Winners

Click on each region's number to read a press release that contains a complete list of winners from that region.

Region 1
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Region 3
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Region 7
Region 8
Region 9
Region 10
Region 11
Region 12

The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the national winners of the 2010 Mark of Excellence Awards, recognizing collegiate work published or broadcasted during 2010. This year, student journalists submitted almost 4,000 entries.

National Mark of Excellence Award judges choose one national winner in each category and two national finalists (runners-up).

Winners and finalists were previously recognized by receiving first place in one of the SPJ’s 12 regional competitions. Each first place regional winner advanced to the national competition.

First-place national winners will be recognized at the Excellence in Journalism 2011 conference Sept. 25-27 in New Orleans. Click here for conference information.


Four-Year College/University
Winners and Finalists

Breaking News Photography

National Winner: “Littleton community in shock after school shooting,” Sean Mullins, The Metropolitan, The Metropolitan State College of Denver
— National Finalist: “Armed suspect arrested near campus,” Martin McCallister, The Daily Reveille, Louisiana State University
— National Finalist: “Fire causes approximately 2,100 to lose power early Saturday morning,” Chelsi Baker, The Daily Athenaeum, West Virginia University


Editorial Cartooning

National Winner: Editorial Cartoons, Willus Branham, The Daily Utah Chronicle , University of Utah
— National Finalist: Editorial Cartoons, Molly Snee, The Daily Orange, Syracuse University
— National Finalist: Editorial Cartoons, Sarah Quinn, The Red and Black, University of Georgia


Feature Photography

National Winner: “Helping Haiti,” Libby March, Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
— National Finalist: “Students Mourn Death,” Sarah Andrews, The Times-Delphic, Drake University
— National Finalist: “Catching Snowflakes,” Andy Colwell, College of Communications website, Penn State University


General News Photography

National Winner: “County Jail Bloated with Inmates,” Carey Rose, The Western Front, Western Washington University
— National Finalist: “Violinist Eric Stanley,” Kyle Laferriere, The Commonwealth Times, Virginia Commonwealth University
— National Finalist: “Roman rider,” Drew Jaynes, The Metropolitan, Metropolitan State College of Denver


Photo Illustration

National Winner: “Who is No. 43?,” Jake May, Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
— National Finalist: “Nude Models Cover,” Alex Zamora, City on a Hill Press, University of California Santa Cruz
— National Finalist: “I'm Real: The Faces of Breast Cancer,” Henrique Ruiz, The Bison, Harding University


Sports Photography

National Winner: “Intercepted by the knees,” Robert Boag, The Breeze, James Madison University
— National Finalist: “Just A Little Hurling,” Jeffrey Basinger, The Daily Barometer, Oregon State University
— National Finalist: “Cyclone Stampede: Kickin' Up Dust,” Kelsey Kremer, Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University


Best Student Magazine
National Winner: Handshake, Handshake Staff, Syracuse University
Visit website [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: The Burr, The Burr Staff, Kent State University
— National Finalist: Curb Magazine, Curb Staff, University of Wisconsin-Madison


Non-Fiction Magazine Article
National Winner: “No Remorse,” Lucy Leitner and Faith Cotter, Justice magazine, Point Park University
Read article online [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: “Beltway Beginnings,” Catherine Newhouse, The Chicago Reporter, University of Missouri
— National Finalist: “Siberian Summer,” Max Wilbert, The Planet Magazine, Western Washington University


Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
National Winner: Minnesota Daily, Minnesota Daily Staff, University of Minnesota
Download sample issue [PDF, 13.4 MB]
— National Finalist: The Daily Pennsylvanian, The Daily Pennsylvanian Staff, University of Pennsylvania
— National Finalist: The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Rocky Mountain Collegian Staff, Colorado State University


Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
National Winner: The Marquette Tribune, The Marquette Tribune Staff, Marquette University
Download sample issue [PDF, 24.7 MB]
— National Finalist: The Maine Campus, The Maine Campus Staff, University of Maine
— National Finalist: The Maroon, The Maroon Staff, Loyola University New Orleans


Breaking News Reporting
National Winner: “Dwight Clark Remembered,” Benjamin Woodard and Adrienne Woods, The Western Front, Western Washington University
Download article [PDF, 391 KB]
— National Finalist: “Election Coverage 2010,” Carolina Reporter Staff, The Carolina Reporter, University of South Carolina
— National Finalist: “"Hundreds of students protest budget cuts at State Capitol",” Matthew Albright, The Daily Reveille, Louisiana State University


Editorial Writing
National Winner: “Showing the Real Harvard,” “Just Ignore Them,” “For-Profit or For-Loss?,” The Harvard Crimson, The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University
Download articles [PDF, 495 KB]
— National Finalist: Editorials on a campus in turmoil, Brennan Stebbins, The Chart, Missouri Southern State University
— National Finalist: “Transparency, standardized tests and freedom of information,” Sommer Ingram, Liz Foreman and Nick Dean, Baylor Lariat, Baylor


Feature Writing
National Winner: “Driven, visible mayor sparks interest in Braddock's revival,” Alexandria Belculfine, The Lion's Roar, Penn State University
Download article [PDF, 270 KB]
— National Finalist: “Hank Skinner's last fight ,” Edwin Rios , North by Northwestern, Northwestern University
— National Finalist: “As climate warms, deserts, forests, cities face uncertain futures,” Grant Martin, Cronkite News, Arizona State University, Cronkite School


General Column Writing
National Winner: “Trashed but not trashy,” Karla Bowsher, University Press, Florida Atlantic University
Download article [PDF, 7.2 MB]
— National Finalist: “‘Undercover’ in hijab: unveiling one month later,” Cassidy Herrington , The Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
— National Finalist: Three entries from “Cancel the Apocalypse,” weekly series of columns by Andrew Robertson, Andrew Robertson, The Daily Reveille, Louisiana State University


General News Reporting
National Winner: “CSULB student officials earn third highest pay in CSU,” Alexandra Baird and Katrina Guevara, Daily 49er, Cal State Long Beach
Read article online [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: “Missoula shaken baby conviction relied on science, expert,” Jayme Fraser, The Missoulian, University of Montana
— National Finalist: “Bedbug treatment too expensive for some S.C. residents,” Gwendolyn Weiler, The Carolina Reporter, University of South Carolina


In-Depth Reporting
National Winner: “Over and Back,” Matt Stevens and Maya Sugarman, UCLA Daily Bruin, UCLA
Read series online [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: “University makes millions off credit card debt ,” Daniel Burnett, The Red and Black, University of Georgia
— National Finalist: “Audit: high-level administrator squandered funds,” Benjamin Woodard, The Western Front, Western Washington University


Sports Column Writing
National Winner: “Savidge Nation,” Nico Savidge, The Daily Cardinal , University of Wisconsin-Madison
Read columns online [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: “yeah...I said it,” Tim Chapman, The Breeze, James Madison University
— National Finalist: Traveler Sports Columns, Jimmy Carter and Matt Watson, The Arkansas Traveler, University of Arkansas


Sports Writing
National Winner: “They Call Him Shoelace: The story of Denard Robinson,” Ryan Kartje, The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan
Read article online [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: “Shipley Field of Dreams,” Michael Lemaire, The Diamondback, University of Maryland
— National Finalist: “Athletics finances: a balancing act,” Mike Mullen, Minnesota Daily, University of Minnesota


Best Affiliated Website
National Winner: wkuherald.com, Herald Staff, College Heights Herald, Western Kentucky University
Visit website [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: SUU News Online, SUU News Staff, SUU News, Southern Utah University
— National Finalist: The New Paltz Oracle Online Edition, SUNY New Paltz Staff, The New Paltz Oracle , SUNY New Paltz


Best Independent Online Student Publication
North by Northwestern, North by Northwestern Staff, Northwestern University
Visit website [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: TommieMedia.com, TommieMedia.com Staff, University of St. Thomas
— National Finalist: “Living sicker, dying younger,” Native News Team, Native News Honors Project, University of Montana


Online Feature Reporting
National Winner: “Now What Argentina?,” Carolina Photojournalism and Universidad Pontifica Catolica de Argentina, University of North Carolina , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Visit website [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: “In the Mix,” Slade Kepler, Andy Mesin, Stephanie Swendsen and Becca Dixon, Ball Bearings, Ball State University
— National Finalist: “Battle Over Judge Retention In Iowa,” Tyler Kingkade, Huffington Post, Iowa State University


Online In-Depth Reporting
National Winner: “Apart from War,” The News21 Team, The News21 team at Syracuse University, Syracuse University
Visit website [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: “Over and Back,” Matt Stevens, Maya Sugarman and Millie Tran, UCLA Daily Bruin, UCLA
— National Finalist: “Searching for Healthy Meals in D.C.'s Food Deserts,” Kendra Desrosiers, Simone Pringle, Sophia Adem and Makula Dunbar, HUNewsService.com, Howard University


Online News Reporting
National Winner: “CampusCrime.net,” CampusCrime.net Staff, CampusCrime.net, University of Illinois
Visit website [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: “How Clean Are San Francisco Restaurants?,” Mission Loc@l, Mission Loc@l, University of California, Berkeley
— National Finalist: “St. Thomas sophomore killed in house fire Saturday morning,” Theresa Malloy, John Kruger and TommieMedia.com Staff, TommieMedia.com, University of St. Thomas


Online Opinion and Commentary
National Winner: “A Welcome Home for All,” “Ban the Shackling of Pregnant Inmates,” “Doing Away with Lines,” Rhoda Feng, The Guardian and The Statesman, Stony Brook University
Read article online [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: “Great Lakes Smackdown! ,” Alice Rossignol and Rachael Gleason, Great Lakes Echo, Michigan State University


Online Sports Reporting
National Winner: “NCAA Probe: Staying in Bounds,” Pressley Baird, Kristen Long and Seth Wright, Reese News, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Read article online [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: “Home in Harlem,” Lance Madden and Colin Darland, Arizona Daily Wildcat (dailywildcat.com), University of Arizona
— National Finalist: “Tracking the 200,” Jeremia Schrock, UAF Sun Star, University of Alaska-Fairbanks


Best All-Around Radio Newscast

National Winner: Carolina Connection, Carolina Connection Staff, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
— National Finalist: The Evening Update, KCSN-FM News Staff, California State University-Northridge
— National Finalist: Newsline, WRHU News Team, 88.7 FM WRHU Radio, Hofstra University


Radio Feature

National Winner: “Stickball Days,” Kate McGee, WFUV FM, Fordham University
— National Finalist: “Art Exhibition Circles the Loop,” Lizzie Schiffman, Chicago Public Radio, Northwestern University
— National Finalist: “Little Rock Bike Polo,” Nathan Vandiver, KUAR Public Radio, University of Arkansas at Little Rock


Radio In-Depth Reporting

National Winner: “Tracking Stimulus Dollars in Southwest Ohio,” Emily Atwood, Katie Morgan, Joe Sampson and Josh Messerly, Cincinnati Public Radio- WMUB 88.5 FM, Miami University
— National Finalist: “A Brief History of Horror,” Camille Whiteley, Classical 89 - KBYU, Brigham Young University
— National Finalist: “Blind Students,” Chris Eudaily, KTSW-FM 89.9, Texas State University-San Marcos


Radio News Reporting

National Winner: “LGBT Homeless Youth,” Sara Kugel, WFUV Radio 90.7, Fordham University
— National Finalist: “Coping with Disaster: Montcoal, WV,” Leannda Carey, WMUL-FM, Marshall University
— National Finalist: “Circle the Wagons,” Storee Powell, Utah Public Radio, Utah State University


Radio Sports Reporting

National Winner: “The Mitch Express,” Adam Cavalier, WMUL-FM, Marshall University
— National Finalist: “Hellgate Rollergirls,” Emily Creasia, KUFM- Montana Public Radio, University of Montana
— National Finalist: “It’s in the Cards: John Skelton's Chance of a Lifetime,” Brian Clark, WFUV, Fordham University


Best All-Around Television Newscast
National Winner: Cronkite NewsWatch, Cronkite NewsWatch Staff, Arizona State University
View newscast [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: UT: 10 News, UT: 10 News Staff, University of Toledo
— National Finalist: BCN, BCAT Staff, Brooklyn Cable Access Television, Brooklyn College


Television Breaking News Reporting

National Winner: “Cronkite NewsWatch: Winter Storm Special Report,” Cronkite News Staff, Cronkite News, Arizona State University-Cronkite School
— National Finalist: “Governor Tours Area Hit Hard By Storm,” Evan Millward, William Tapper and Michael Locklear, WOUB, Ohio University
— National Finalist: “Tornado Aftermath,” Kelsey Roseth, KVRR-TV, Minnesota State University Moorhead


Television Feature Photography

National Winner: “Garage Boxing,” Natalie Podgorski, KAET DT 8.3, Arizona State University
— National Finalist: “BRECPARK,” Leah Ellsworth, Tiger TV, Cox Cable, Louisiana State University
— National Finalist: “Mountain Biking in Missoula,” Vince Bagby, UM News, University of Montana


Television Feature

National Winner: “Secret Elixir,” Garrett Tenney, ElevenNEWS - KBYU, Brigham Young University
— National Finalist: “Tibetan Sand Mandala ,” Kelly Carpenter, UATV, University Of Arkansas
— National Finalist: “Eco-Friendly Grad Gowns,” Melanie Torre, KEYE-TV, University of Texas at Austin


Television General News Reporting

National Winner: “New Signs for Boomer Eyes,” Jennifer Meckles, KOMU TV8 (NBC), University of Missouri
— National Finalist: “Trout,” Bobby Brooks, ComMedia, The Pennsylvania State University
— National Finalist: “Freezing Manatees,” Erica Rakow, WUFT-TV, University of Florida


Television In-Depth Reporting

National Winner: “The War at Home,” Our American Journey Staff, Norwich University, Norwich University
— National Finalist: “Target 8: Fulton State Hospital,” Jennifer Meckles and Scott Schaefer, KOMU TV8 (NBC), University of Missouri
— National Finalist: “‘Lost Boy’ Graduates,” Vic Micolucci, WUFT-TV (+ABCNews On Campus), University of Florida


Television News Photography

National Winner: “Please Come to Mexico!,” David Gonzalez, Cronkite Newswatch; KAET-TV, Arizona State University
— National Finalist: “Winter Delivery,” John Henry, KOMU-TV, University of Missouri-Columbia
— National Finalist: “Trout,” Bobby Brooks, ComMedia, The Pennsylvania State University


Television Sports Photography

National Winner: “Frontier States Wrestling,” Cody Johnson and Kaelyn Kelly, KPAX-TV, University of Montana
— National Finalist: “The Heart of the Game,” Abbey Niezgoda, EIV News, Emerson College
— National Finalist: “Go Pink With Dragons,” Cole Ryg, MSU Moorhead's Campus News, Minnesota State University Moorhead


Television Sports Reporting

National Winner: “Cost of Athletics,” Justin Page, Carolina Week, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
— National Finalist: “One Family's Marathon,” Abbey Niezgoda, EIV News, Emerson College
— National Finalist: “Too Short?,” Adam Balinski, ElevenNEWS - KBYU, Brigham Young University


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Two-Year College/University Winners and Finalists

Breaking News Photography

National Winner: “Congressman Bob Filner at Election Central,” Daniela Padilla, Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
— National Finalist: “Alex Sink visits Lake Worth Campus,” Luana Goncalves, Beachcomber online, Palm Beach State College


Editorial Cartooning

National Winner: “Crazy Pat,” “Minimum Grading Policy,” “Naughty Santa,” Michael Beckom, The Index-Journal, Piedmont Technical College
— National Finalist: “Bullying,” “Don't Ask,” “Interaction,” Nate Woeber , The Collegian, Tarrant County College
— National Finalist: The Communicator Editorial Cartoons, Geoff Lang, The Communicator, Spokane Falls Community College


Feature Photography

National Winner: “ASL,” John Monnier, The Sentinel, North Idaho College
— National Finalist: “Rape,” Dominic Benintende, Wingspan, Laramie County Community College
— National Finalist: “Indian culture days,” Diana Inocencio, Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College


General News Photography

National Winner: “Will write for food/What we learned,” Ashley Crane, Homeless Voice, Palm Beach State College
— National Finalist: “Wind storm batters aviation fleet,” Jason Pomerantz, The College VOICE, Mercer County Community College
— National Finalist: “Under Pressure,” Diana Inocencio, Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College


Photo Illustration

National Winner: “Relay for Life to walk on campus,” Seneca Riggins, Wingspan, Laramie County Community College


Sports Photography

National Winner: “Vikings take Essex 2-1,” CJ Harker, The College VOICE, Mercer County Community College
— National Finalist: “Hang Loose ,” Tim Sorenson, The Sentinel, North Idaho College
— National Finalist: “Volleyball,” Mackenzie Ashton, The Collegian, Tarrant County College


Best Student Magazine
National Winner: El Sol, Southwestern College Sun Staff, Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
— National Finalist: The Pioneer, The Pioneer Staff, Volunteer State Community College


Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
National Winner: The College VOICE, The College VOICE Staff, Mercer County Community College
Download sample issue [PDF, 11.6 MB]
— National Finalist: Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College Staff, Southwestern College
— National Finalist: Wingspan, Wingspan Staff, Laramie County Community College


Breaking News Reporting
National Winner: “Chopra resigns,” Sean Campbell and Lyndsay Winkley, Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
Download article [PDF, 793 KB]
— National Finalist: “Murder and manhunt in Mercer County,” Dmitry Gurvits and Sara Gatling, The College VOICE, Mercer County Community College
— National Finalist: “Fake Facebook alias targets Brenda Pierce in an anti-candidate campaign,” Eric Ercanbrack, Jon Wilcox and Don Iler, The Broadside, Central Oregon Community College


Editorial Writing
National Winner: Courier student newspaper staff editorials, Vikaas Shanker, Courier, College of DuPage
Download sample page [PDF, 221 KB]
— National Finalist: “Take Heed,” “Budget & Taxpayers,” “Government Censorship,” Shelly Williams and Joshua Knopp, The Collegian, Tarrant County College
— National Finalist: Series of editorial on student government's actions, Eric Ercanbrack, Kirsteen Wolf and Broadside Staff, The Broadside , Central Oregon Community College


Feature Writing
National Winner: “Students dissect cadavers,” Mike McCall, The Sentinel, North Idaho College
Download article [PDF, 7.2 MB]
— National Finalist: “Dealing With Depression,” Liza Porter, Aztec Press, Pima Community College
— National Finalist: “Censorship, Let the student voice be heard,” Ashley Crane, Beachcomber student newspaper, Palm Beach State College


General Column Writing
National Winner: “Appreciate your mother,” “Selfless service,” “Vegetarian democrat out of place,” Deborah Cobb, Northwest Trail, Northwest College
Download sample page [PDF, 291 KB]
— National Finalist: “Cutting,” “Hate Graffiti,” “Citizens Have Right,” Shelly Williams, The Collegian, Tarrant County College


General News Reporting
National Winner: “The Forgotten Genocide,” Eric Aikin, Joseph Douglas, Andrea Royals and Anna Nowotny, The Montage, St. Louis Community College - Meramec
Download article [PDF, 291 KB]
— National Finalist: Free Speech Lawsuit Series, Shelly Williams, The Collegian, Tarrant County College
— National Finalist: “Law and Disorder: Sheriff interrupts class,” Dmitry Gurvits, The College VOICE, Mercer County Community College


In-Depth Reporting
National Winner: “15 years after Megan's Law, are we any safer?,” Daniela Rocha with The College VOICE Staff, The College VOICE, Mercer County Community College
Download section [PDF, 750 KB]
— National Finalist: Coverage of student government spending, possible law violations and behavior, Don Iler, Eric Ercanbrack, Kirsteen Wolf and Tobey Veenstra, The Broadside, Central Oregon Community College


Sports Column Writing
National Winner: “The Quick Slant,” Anthony Dacong, Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
Download article [PDF, 4.4 MB]
— National Finalist: “Heisman/NBA Fouls/Jones' Selection,” Marley Malenfant, The Collegian, Tarrant County College
— National Finalist: “Sports Editor's View,” Brett Miller, The Triton Review, Edmonds Community College


Sports Writing
National Winner: “Have you heard about our Morgan?,” Cody Tucker, Wingspan, Laramie County Community College
Download section [PDF, 8.1 MB]
— National Finalist: “Samoan Warriors,” Amanda Abad, Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
— National Finalist: “Deaf Basketball Player,” Marley Malenfant, The Collegian, Tarrant County College


Best Affiliated Website
National Winner: The Southwestern Sun Online, Southwestern College Sun Staff, Southwestern College
Visit website [opens in new window]
— National Finalist: The Collegian Online, The Collegian Staff, Tarrant County College
— National Finalist: The Communicator Online, The Communicator Staff, Spokane Falls Community College


Online Feature Reporting
National Winner: “A class of their own,” Sarah Radmer, The Communicator Online, Spokane Falls Community College


Radio News Reporting

National Winner: Campus in Brief Podcast, The Communicator Staff, The Communicator, Spokane Falls Community College


Television Feature
National Winner: “K.C. Pedicabs,” Jason Gould, KCPT, channel 19, Johnson County Community College


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