CONTACT:
Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, lharry@spj.org
Kimberly Tsuyuki, SPJ Communications Coordinator, ktsuyuki@hq.spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 7 with 2022 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 7 comprises Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at the SPJ’s 2023 convention in Las Vegas, Sept. 28-30.

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 7 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards Lou Harry by email.

This list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award entries.

Print/Online

Breaking News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Lawmakers denounce Herbster after eight women accuse him of sexual misconduct — by Zach Wendling, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Home to history — by Kloee Sander, 10/11 KOLN, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Student’s parents demand to know SIUE’s plan to address Kappa Sigma racist, homophobic harassment — by staff, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

General News Reporting
Winner: Two federal investigations into SIUE racism incident launched — by Gabriel Brady, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Finalist: Smith Hall demolition — by Sara Maloney, University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
Finalist: The state of abortion in Kansas — by Abby Shepherd, University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas

In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: A ‘wicked problem’: Policies, technology change the agriculture industry, rural life — by Jessica Blake, Columbia Missourian, University of Missouri
Finalist: Documented dreamers: Navigating an unclear path to citizenship — by Hannah Pinski, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Faculty with tenure decline — by Nicole Klevanskaya, University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas

Feature Writing
Winner: 'No other option': Afghans put trust in strangers from Missouri before harrowing escape to safety — by Eli Hoff, Columbia Missourian, University of Missouri
Finalist: The importance of Drake’s wrongful convictions clinic — by Lia Reichmann, Times-Delphic, Drake University
Finalist: Healing from hate — by Cela Migan, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri

Sports Writing
Winner: Behind ‘The Bull’: An unfractured look at Iowa men’s wrestler Alex Marinelli — by Austin Hanson, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Broadcasting in a pandemic: Four sportscasters reflect on two years of chaos — by Grant Hansen, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Iowa Heartlanders growing hockey in Johnson County — by Isaac Goffin, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Editorial/Opinion Writing
Winner: Editorials — by staff, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large)
Winner: The Daily Iowan — by staff, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: The Alestle — by staff, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Best Student Magazine
Winner: Vox Magazine — by staff, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Finalist: Drake Political Review — by staff, Drake Political Review, Drake University

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: dailyiowan.com — by staff, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: VoxMagazine.com — by staff, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Finalist: Nebraska News Service — by staff, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: Lindenlink — by staff, Lindenlink, Lindenwood University

Art/Graphics/Multimedia

General News Photography
Winner: Roe v. Wade protest — by Grace Smith, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Feature Photography
Winner: Piglet — by Grace Long, Drake Political Review, Drake University
Finalist: The steaks are high — by Amy Schaffer, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Finalist: Rodeo — by Grace Smith, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Photo Essay/Slideshow
Winner: 27,000 days of love — by Tanishka R., Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Finalist: FHSU men's basketball vs. Northeastern State slideshow — by Madison Shapland, Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University
Finalist: Local farmers, Hays community members make 1,700 pounds of sauerkraut — by Caitlin Leiker, Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University

Illustration
Winner: The American family update — by Princess Hart, Drake Magazine, Drake University

Photo Illustration
Winner: Suffering in silence — by Kate Trabalka and Moy Zhong, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri

Sports Photography
Winner: Balance beam — by Ayrton Breckenridge, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Steeplechase — by Jerod Ringwald, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

News Videography
Winner: Cy-Hawk Run: ROTC united — by Daniel McGregor-Huyer and Ayrton Breckenridge, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Feature Videography
Winner: Daydream and draw: Cartoonist continues to create new work every day out of a passion for his craft — by Jordan Opp, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Audio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Wildfires burn across Nebraska — by Hallie Gutzwiller, 90.3 KRNU, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: ‘We're ready to test’: State holds drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic in Columbia — by Lauren Hines, KBIA-FM, University of Missouri
Finalist: MU students lead health care efforts for Spanish speakers — by Tadeo Ruiz and Erik Galicia, KBIA-FM, University of Missouri

Radio Feature
Winner: Mid-Missouri's Indigenous communites are showing the state who they are — by Sarah Petrowich, KBIA-FM, University of Missouri
Finalist: At Cedar Creek, riding brings fun, health and healing — by Katelynn McIlwain, KBIA-FM, University of Missouri
Finalist: Libraries: Parental consent or censorship? — by Holly Fischer, 90.3 KRNU, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Advocates urge Missourians to remember that abortions aren’t just a cisgender women’s issue — by Abigail Ruhman, KBIA-FM, University of Missouri
Finalist: One year later: A reporter reflects on the Atlanta spa shootings and anti-Asian violence — by Moy Zhong, KBIA-FM, University of Missouri
Finalist: Mid-Missouri's Indigenous communities are showing the state who they are — by Sarah Petrowich, KBIA-FM, University of Missouri

Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: The Show-Me Swine Racers — by Briana Heaney, KBIA-FM, University of Missouri
Finalist: Rob Stone profile — by Grant Hansen, KRNU, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: Election night newscast — by staff, 90.3 KRNU, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Podcast (Narrative)
Winner: In Our Nature: Nebraska — by Emma Krab, KRNU, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Overdosed: Digital drugs — by Jenna Thompson, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Broadcast

Television General News Reporting
Winner: UNL forensics — by Jill Lamkins, Nebraska Nightly, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: New bridge planned — by Bethany French, Jaden Lester, Clancy Callahan and Matthew Clark, The Point, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: Value Them Both Amendment — by Kerrigan Hutton, Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: A vision for clay — by Abby Riffel, Alexander Olson, Clancy Callahan and Bethany French, The Point, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: Auction — by Aric Avey and Matthew Clark, The Point, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: 9/11 survivor — by Aric Avey, Clancy Callahan, Bethany French and Sarah Best, The Point, College of the Ozarks

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: The spirit of coaching — by Clancy Callahan, Anna Ginnings, Aric Avey and Bethany French, The Point, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: Matt Ruhle comes to Lincoln — by Nathan Hawkins, Nebraska Nightly, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: DITV — by staff, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Nebraska Nightly — by Lance Vie, Jill Lamkins, Macy Neumeister and Alaina Tomesh, Nebraska Nightly, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: The Point — by staff, The Point, College of the Ozarks

All Platforms

Arts/Entertainment/Fashion Journalism
Winner: Against the current — by Austin Woods, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Finalist: The Missouri rag — by Evan Musil, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri

Food/Restaurant Journalism
Winner: More than a meal: Omaha couple unites connection with cooking — by Audrey Hertel, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Metro East Eats — by staff, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Finalist: A chef's story — by Alexander Olson, Bethany French and Cienna Romines, The Point, College of the Ozarks

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