Contacts:
Matthew Kent, SPJ Program Coordinator, 317-920-4788, mkent@spj.org
Zoë Berg, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, zberg@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 11 with 2019 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 11 comprises Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands and Nevada. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other regional MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

Regional winners would normally be recognized at regional conferences, however, all SPJ Regional Conferences have been either canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Regional winners have been notified by email and will receive their award certificates via mail.

National winners will be notified in the late spring.

MOE Awards entries are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience. Judges were directed to choose entries they felt were among the best in student journalism. If no entry rose to the level of excellence, no award was given. Any category not listed has no winner.

School divisions are based on student enrollment, including both graduate and undergraduate: Large schools have at least 10,000 students and small schools have 9,999 or fewer students.

The list below details all Region 11 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact Program Coordinator Matthew Kent via email or 317-920-4788.

This list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award entries. New categories this year include Immersion Journalism, Data Visualization and Collaborative Journalism.

Newspapers
Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Getty fire reaches 39% containment as most evacuation orders are lifted – by David Gray and Martin Bilbao, UCLA
Finalist: UH Manoa Bachman Hall occupiers make their final exit from 24/7 sit-in – by Cassie Ordonio and Chavonnie Ramos, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Finalist: Homeless encampment removed – by Fernando Haro, Omar Rashad and Jun Ueda, El Camino College

Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: FBI, LVPD investigate hate crimes – by Danielle De Luna, Layla Abbas, Jocelyn Arceo and Aryn Plax – University of La Verne
Finalist: Law school to downgrade to California Bar accreditation – by Layla Abbas, University of La Verne
Finalist: Inquiry finds ASO advisors at fault in case – by Brittany Cruz-Fejeran, Southwestern College

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Tucson’s ubiquitous shopping cart – by Laura Fuchs, University of Arizona
Finalist: Ka Leo’s Maunakea coverage – by Ka Leo O Hawaii staff, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Finalist: Arizona charges less than almost anyone else to graze cattle. Public schools miss out on the money. – by Staff, Arizona State University

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 students
Winner: HSU police chief under investigation – by Carlos Holguin, Humboldt State University
Finalist: Art student pushes boundaries with nude photography exhibit, administrators push back – by Vernie Covarrubias, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Student back after charges dropped – by Jocelyn Arceo, University of La Verne

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Coach under investigation – by Arielle Zolezzi, Pierce College
Finalist: 123 have unexpectedly died in nursing homes, but Arizona still gives them top grades – by Ethan Millman, Molly Stellino, Erica Block and Megan Boyanton, Arizona State University
Finalist: Pedestrians die every 90 minutes in the U.S., and low-income areas are hurt most – by Arren Kimbel-Sannit, Derek Hall, Lindsay Walker and Kailey Broussard, Arizona State University

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 students
Winner: Youth mental health in Oregon – by Casey Chaffin, Soka University of America
Finalist: Scholars within the walls of Pelican Bay – by Tony Wallin, Humboldt State University
Finalist: Freedom Wall saga casts light on relationship between Pepperdine and LGBTQ+ students – by James Moore and Alex Neis, Pepperdine University

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Young, small, but mighty: Skateboarder Sky Brown shreds path toward Olympics – by Jack Harris, Arizona State University
Finalist: Housing Impossible: California community colleges address student homelessness – by Casey Ticsay, City College of San Francisco
Finalist: Bachman Hall sit-in coverage – by Ka Leo O Hawaii staff, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Two countries, six hours – one long commute to school – by Fernando A. Martinez, Southwestern College
Finalist: The story behind the birth of the internet on the third floor of Boelter Hall – by Kate Nucci, UCLA
Finalist: Stranded in Tijuana – by Julia Woock, Southwestern College

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Andrew Raychawdhuri, UCLA
Finalist: Anne Snyder, Arizona State University
Finalist: Devyn Smith, El Camino College

General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Justin Dottery, Southwestern College
Finalist: Jocelyn Arceo, University of La Verne

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Associate head coach Rance Brown fosters diversity, brings passion to tennis court – by Dylan D’Souza, UCLA
Finalist: California dunks on the NCAA, passes Fair Pay to Play Act – by Andres Soto, California State University, Northridge

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Bill would let college athletes profit – by Joey Matsuzawa, University of La Verne
Finalist: Student athletes fight back against burnout – by Rex Sample, University of La Verne

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Sam Connon, UCLA

Editorial Writing
Winner: The Campus Times editorials – by Staff of the Campus Times, University of La Verne
Finalist: The Daily Bruin editorials – by The Daily Bruin Editorial Board, UCLA

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Daily Bruin – by Staff of The Daily Bruin, UCLA

Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Sun – by Staff of The Sun, Southwestern College
Finalist: City on a Hill Press – by Staff of City on a Hill Press, University of California, Santa Cruz
Finalist: The Guardsman – by Staff of The Guardsman, City College of San Francisco

Magazines

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Designed to fail – by Molly Stellino, Arizona State University
Finalist: Rashad Shabazz’s Chicago – by Chase Hunter B., Arizona State University
Finalist: Finding Home – Osprey Magazine Fall 2019 – by James Wilde, Abel Anaya, Freddy Brewster and Michael Weber, Humboldt State University

Best Student Magazine
Winner: Currents Magazine – by Milan Loiacono, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Osprey Magazine – Fall 2019 – by Osprey Magazine staff, Humboldt State University
Finalist: La Verne Magazine, Winter 2019 – by La Verne Magazine staff, University of La Verne

Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Getty fire – by Jintak Han, UCLA
Finalist: Fighting for a better future – by Delia Johnson, Arizona State University

Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Vigil honors grief and healing after hate crimes – by Ariel Torres, University of La Verne

Data Visualization
Winner: Men’s basketball guard David Singleton’s freshman year statistics – by Ben Brill, UCLA
Finalist: Manoa by the numbers – by Amy Lowe, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Kings, queens and in-betweens – by Delia Johnson, Arizona State University
Finalist: Seeking stability: Venezuelans in Peru – by Nicole Neri, Arizona State University
Finalist: Dancers backstage – by Nicole Neri, Arizona State University

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Chicken Charlie – by Jaren Cyrus, University of La Verne
Finalist: Fashioning a fabulous quinceañera – by Ashley Villavicencio, University of La Verne
Finalist: Bring the storm – by Molly Garry, University of La Verne

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Editorial cartooning entry – by Danielle De Luna, University of La Verne
Finalist: Freedom – by Andrea Grigsby, UCLA
Finalist: UCSC’s stake in 30 meter telescope – by Rose Collins, University of California, Santa Cruz

General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: A 21st century migration – by Chloe Jones, Arizona State University
Finalist: Bernie Sanders Los Angeles rally – by Niveda Tennety, UCLA
Finalist: Defiance and pride – by Nicole Neri, Arizona State University

General News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Finalist: Cultural graduation – by Molly Garry, University of La Verne

Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Cost of crossing – by Connor Wodynski and Kevin Hurley Arizona State University
Finalist: Federal judge dissolves restraining order – by Lluvia Moreno and Manne Green, University of California, Santa Cruz
Finalist: Borders issue cover – by Alex Czaja and Stella Atzenweiler, Arizona State University

Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Making the pitch – by Mari Inagaki, El Camino College
Finalist: Sun Devil softball celebration – by Nicholas Badders, Arizona State University
Finalist: Arizona State baseball Alika Williams throw – by Nicholas Badders, Arizona State University

Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Ortega leads Leos in SCIAC victory – by Veronyca Norcia, University of La Verne

Immersion Journalism

Immersion Journalism
Winner: Homeless realities – by JOVRNALISM Staff, USC Annenberg
Finalist: Trashed: The Tijuana River Valley pollution crisis – by Alexandrea Bell, Jose Castillo and Justino Mora, USC Annenberg
Finalist: Migrant artifacts: Found items from a deadly journey – by Sara Rigatelli, USC Annenberg

Radio

Radio Feature
Winner: The world’s first-ever LGBTQ mariachi band – by Jesus Alvarado, University of Southern California
Finalist: A defense of pop – by Cate Young, University of Southern California
Finalist: How Chamorros in the diaspora are taking back their culture – by Melissa Duenas, University of Southern California

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Vegas massacre effects – One year later – by Austin Westfall, Arizona State University
Finalist: Homeless head count and services – by Christopher Lindsay, Arizona State University

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Students plan protest in response to new sexual assault allegations – by Sasha Urban, University of Southern California
Finalist: Kaiser Permanente mental health care workers go on strike in Pasadena – by Jon Reed, University of Southern California
Finalist: Tent city protesters deliver five demands to USC president’s office – by Jaeha Joshua Chang, University of Southern California

Radio Sports Reporting
Finalist: Lower the rims – by Brittany Smith, California State University, Northridge

Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: From Where We Are: From the ashes of the Woolsey Fire, Malibu’s true colors shine through – by ZaZu Lippert, Aiyonna White, Isaiah Murtaugh and Yuki Liang University of Southern California
Finalist: From Where We Are: Tragedy at Saugus High School – by Jaeha Joshua Chang, Luke Scorziell, Yuki Liang and Evan Jacoby, University of Southern California
Finalist: From Where We Are: Live at Grand Park Earth Day 2019 -= by Sabby Robinson, Rennie Svirnovskiy, Katherine Wiles and Sarah Soutoul, University of Southern California

Television

Television General News Reporting
Winner: El Paso community check-up – by Frankie McLister, Arizona State University
Finalist: Safford mayor – by Bryce Newberry, Arizona State University
Finalist: Return to paradise – by Kylie Miller, Natalie Rawson, Scott Andrews and Jared Bosnan, Chapman University

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Migrant caravan arrives in Tijuana – by Jessica Cardenas and Xochilt Lagunas, California State University Fullerton
Finalist: Pedestrian deaths – by Howard Center for Investigative Journalism staff, Arizona State University
Finalist: Students and parents weigh in on the Saugus High School shooting – by Chace Beech and Colin Taylor, University of Southern California

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Amputation inspires runner – by Scotty Gange, Arizona State University
Finalist: Blind courage – by Kynan Martin, Dustin Pare, Luke Forstner and Grace Fuerte, Arizona State University
Finalist: Wilderness of the world – by Oskar Agredano, Arizona State University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Native suicides – by Jennifer Alvarez, Arizona State University
Finalist: Sexual tourism goes high-tech south of the border – by Dominic Torres, California State University Fullerton
Finalist: A son’s legacy – by Jennifer Alvarez, Arizona State University

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Basketball abroad – by Bailey O’Carroll, Arizona State University
Finalist: Pursuit of nameless greatness – by Anthony Totri, Arizona State University
Finalist: Fight of a lifetime – by Kynan Marlin, Arizona State University

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Finalist: Anchorless newscast – by Cronkite News staff, Arizona State University

Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: Cronkite Sports Report: Season 12, Episode 5 – by Staff of Cronkite News – Phoenix Sports Bureau, Arizona State University
Finalist: Al Dia: A border emergency – by Al Dia Border staff – California State University Fullerton

Online

Online News Reporting
Winner: McCain Institute head Kurt Volker steps down as US diplomat – by Andrew Howard, Arizona State University
Finalist: USC senior assistant director assigned to counsel students from Olivia Jade’s high school left the admissions office in February – by Kaidi Yuan, University of Southern California
Finalist: ‘Historical trauma’: Native communities grapple with missing and murdered women – by Kelsey Mo, Arizona State University

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Deported U.S. veterans find aid, comfort in a Tijuana ‘bunker’ – by Madeline Ackley and Mara Friedman, Arizona State University
Finalist: Arcosanti: Grand experiment in sustainable living approaches its 50th year – by Lauren Schieler and Meg Potter, Arizona State University
Finalist: Suble Asian traits – by Kaia Sherry, UCLA

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: 48 male patients say campus doctor sexually abused them – and USC was warned - by Sasha Urban, University of Southern California
Finalist: ASU abandoned most of its operational sustainability goals – by Molly Stellino, Arizona State University
Finalist: Seeking stability: Venezuelans in Peru – by Southwest Borderlands Initiative staff, Arizona State University

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: ‘Chaotic, beautiful thing’: The story behind Party Hard Wrestling – by Tyler Dunn, Arizona State University
Finalist: ASU esports seeks official program status with more institutional support – by Jason Krell, Arizona State University
Finalist: Why are so many horses dying? Turf Paradise looks to find answers – by Jake Goodrick, Arizona State University

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: Faith Bonds, University of Southern California
Finalist: Alex Coil, Arizona State University
Finalist: Daniel Rubio, Arizona State University

Best Affiliated Web Site
Finalist: The Union – by Staff, El Camino College

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: The Cronkite News – by Staff of the Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: The State Press – by Staff of The State Press, Arizona State University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Death of a dream: Two responses to migrants who go missing in the desert – by Nicole Ludden, Julia Hernandez, Meg Potter and Erica Figueroa, Arizona State University
Finalist: A different border crisis: It’s not security or immigration, it’s about sewage – by Chloe Jones, Austin Westfall, Jonah Hrkal and Mia Armstrong, Arizona State University
Finalist: Generations of activism – by Tyler Aquilina, Loyola Marymount University

Podcast

Podcast
Winner: The Freedom Wall, Crossroads, and Pepperdine’s relationship with its LGBTQ+ students – by James Moore and Alex Neis, Pepperdine University
Finalist: State Press Play: How effective is Tempe’s Orbit system? – by Balin Overstolz-McNair, Arizona State University
Finalist: In the know: Money talks, NCAA walks – by Omar Said and Sam Cannon, UCLA

Videography

Online/Digital News Videography
Winner: On the border of a new future: Young Venezuelans in Peru – by Molly Duerig, Arizona State University
Finalist: Hostel without borders – by Allie Barton, Arizona State University

Online/Digital Feature Videography
Winner: Homeless on the Joe Rodota Trail – by Rebecca Bell and Heather Murray, Santa Rosa Junior College
Finalist: Desert WAVE robotics team makes a splash for women in STEM – by Connor Child, Arizona State University
Finalist: Dirty business – by Yutao Chen and Francesca Fenzi, University of California, Berkeley

Broadcast Feature Videography
Winner: Homeless pets – by Samantha Gebers, Arizona State University

Broadcast Sports Videography
Winner: Life’s curveball – The Stallard story – by Kynan Marlin, Arizona State University
Finalist: Chapman football home opener – by Bradley Benson, Chapman University

SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to informing citizens; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and fights to protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know. Become a member, give to the Legal Defense Fund, or give to the SPJ Foundation.

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