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SPJ announces 2011 Region 3 Mark of Excellence Winners
For immediate release
3/26/2012
Contacts:
Lauren Rochester, SPJ Awards Coordinator, 317-927-8000 ext. 210, lrochester@spj.org
Abby Henkel, SPJ Communications Manager, 317-927-8000 ext. 215, ahenkel@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the Region 3 Mark of Excellence Award winners for the 2011 calendar year. The Mark of Excellence Awards honor the best collegiate journalism in the U.S.
SPJ Region 3 includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. This year, the contest received more than 4,000 entries across SPJs 12 regions.
The honorees were awarded certificates on March 24 during the Region 3 SPJ Spring Conference held at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. First-place regional winners will advance to the national round of judging. National winners will be announced in late April.
The winners are listed below. For additional information on the Mark of Excellence awards, please contact Awards Coordinator Lauren Rochester at lrochester@spj.org.
REGION 3 WINNERS
Four-year colleges
Breaking News Photography
First Place: Funeral procession for fallen officer by Sara Caldwell, University of Georgia
Second Place: Students, residents feel tornados effects by Drew Hoover, University of Alabama
Third Place: No award*
Feature Photography
First Place: Fenced in: Superfund refugees by Henry Taksier, University of Florida
Second Place: In remembrance of April 27, 2011 by Caitlin Trotter, University of Alabama
Third Place: Multi-faceted by Sarah Hopkins and Olamma Oparah, Savanna College of Art and Design Atlanta
General News Photography
First Place: Gas mask by Britney Buchanan, Florida A&M University
Second Place: Graffiti artist by Michael Barone, University of Georgia
Third Place: College students help Habitat for Humanity on spring break by Dana Edwards, University of Florida
Photo Illustration
First Place: Mending soles Paul Bowers, University of South Carolina
Second Place: In living color by Marlena Skrobe, University of Miami
Third Place: Polishing up for spring by Emily Hoefer, University of South Carolina
Sports Photography
First Place: Victory slips through Alabamas fingers by John Michael Simpson, University of Alabama
Second Place: Knights sweep Siena in opening series of season by Katie Dees, University of Central Florida
Third Place: Shooting stars by Zach Beeker, University of Miami
Best Student Magazine
First Place: Journey Magazine, Florida A&M University
Second Place: District Quarterly, Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah
Third Place: No award*
Non-Fiction Magazine Article
First Place: Bioluminescence by Daniel F. Alvarez, Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah
Second Place: His greatest catch by Lisa Glaser, University of Georgia
Third Place: Saltwater taffy baby rock candy blues by Christen Gresham, Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
First Place: The Crimson White, University of Alabama
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
First Place: Central Florida Future, University of Central Florida
Second Place: The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami
Third Place: The Red & Black, University of Georgia
Breaking News Reporting
First Place: Students, residents feel tornados effects by Taylor Holland, Jonathan Reed, Kelsey Stein and Hannah Mask, University of Alabama
Second Place: Candidate arrested by Laura Edwins and Alexandra Leon, University of Miami
Third Place: No award*
Editorial Writing
First Place: Tray Smith, University of Alabama
Second Place: Central Florida Future staff, University of Central Florida
Third Place: The Miami Hurricane staff, University of Miami
Feature Writing
First Place: Tuscaloosa looks to rebuild by Jonathan Reed, Kelsey Stein, Hannah Mask and William Evans, University of Alabama
Second Place: Despite war, young couple perseveres by Alex Bonus, Flagler College
Third Place: Osceola in the making by Turner Cowles, Florida State University
General Column Writing
First Place: Caitlin Wilson, University of Georgia
Second Place: Erich Hilkert, University of Alabama
Third Place: Anna Eskamani, University of Central Florida
General News Reporting
First Place: Of football and fees by Ryan Cortes and Christopher Persaud, Florida Atlantic University
Second Place: Beneath it all by the University Press staff, Florida Atlantic University
Third Place: Alcohol in Athens by Jacob Demmitt, Kathryn Ingall, Polina Marinova and Tiffany Stevens, University of Georgia
In-Depth Reporting
First Place: Nobody listened: Former student built history of abuse by Jacob Demmitt, University of Georgia
Second Place: Are kids at risk near sex offenders? by Rachel Kaylor, University of South Florida
Third Place: UAs segregated Greek system by Will Tucker, Stephen Natanial Dethrage, Jonathan Reed and Amanda Sams, University of Alabama
Sports Column Writing
First Place: Zach Dillard, University of Georgia
Second Place: Matt Weaver, University of South Alabama
Third Place: Ryan Cortes, Florida Atlantic University
Sports Writing
First Place: Former walk-on waits for chance by Zach Dillard, University of Georgia
Second Place: LIVING IT: Religion now a part of tradition for Georgia football team by Jacob Demmitt, University of Georgia
Third Place: Walking the walk: Brad Schneider overcomes obstacles by Jessica Gillespie, University of Central Florida
Best Affiliated Web Site
First Place: Red & Black Online (redandblack.com), University of Georgia
Second Place: The Crimson White Online (cw.ua.edu) by The Crimson White staff, University of Alabama
Third Place: The Current Online (TheOnlineCurrent.com), Eckerd College
Best Independent Online Student Publication
First Place: Flagler College Gargoyle Online (gargoyle.flagler.edu), Flagler College
Second Place: The Connector Online (SCADConnector.com), Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta
Third Place: No award*
Online Feature Reporting
First Place: Running through life by Jared Misner, University of Florida
Second Place: A Clerical Error: Homeless health care difficult for patients, caregivers by Alex Bonus, Flagler College
Third Place: Zunzis: How a tiny startup became a local favorite by Susan Kemp, Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah
Online In-Depth Reporting
First Place: Unredacted harassment: Where everyone knows your name by The Red & Black staff, University of Georgia
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Online News Reporting
First Place: Sexual harassment by UGA professor by Julia Carpenter, University of Georgia
Second Place: Wordsmith Pamela Poetter remembered for perennial compassion by Kenneth Rosen, Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah
Third Place: Operation Giveback raises more than $50k by Katie Dees and Katie Kustura, University of Central Florida
Online Opinion and Commentary
First Place: Michael Newberger, Flagler College
Second Place: Eliza Jordan, Flagler College
Third Place: District staff, Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah
Online Sports Reporting
First Place: Coach Meyer works to find balance between daughters illness and job by Mari Pothier, Flagler College
Second Place: UCF to Big East: Big East presidents reportedly vote to invite Knights for all sports by Allen Levin and Nick Wilke, University of Central Florida
Third Place: No award*
Editorial Cartooning
First Place: Colin Tom, University of Georgia
Second Place: Tom Rogers, Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah
Third Place: Barry Lee, Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta
Radio Feature Reporting
First Place: Animation students work through the night for peace, piece and
peas? by Joe Molinelli and Jessi Gilbert, Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah
Second Place: Without a roof but still filled with hope by Stephanie Bechara, University of Florida
Third Place: Tate Plaza preachers by Jacob Demmitt, University of Georgia
Radio News Reporting
First Place: Execution of Manuel Valle by Steven Gallo, University of Florida
Second Place: State senator fans airboat noise controversy by Trent Kelly, University of Florida
Third Place: Tornado spotters Dominique Bivins, University of Alabama
Best All-Around Television Newscast
First Place: WUFT News, University of Florida
Second Place: NewsVision, University of Miami
Third Place: Troy TrojanVision Nightly News, Troy University
Television Feature Reporting
First Place: Molly and Marias excellent adventure by Kelsey Peck, University of Florida
Second Place: Bullet proof vest donation by Alex Heaton, University of South Carolina
Third Place: UGA Accidentals by Luke Galloway, Justin Rogers and Jacob Demmitt, University of Georgia
Television In-depth Reporting
First Place: Ka Nako by Wandoo Makurdi, Florida A&M University
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Television General News Reporting
First Place: Holt damage by Matt McCoy, University of Alabama
Second Place: Texting while driving in Camden by Jonathan Rodriguez, University of South Carolina
Third Place: Immigration laws affect on students by Rachel Ellis, Troy University
Television Breaking News Reporting
First Place: Tuscaloosa tornado Bradley Whittington, University of Alabama
Second Place: Occupy protesters arrested by Ashley Burgess, University of South Carolina
Third Place: Adams Glass Fire by Courtney N. Steele, Troy University
Television Feature Photography
First Place: Canyons zipline by Ricardo Navarro and Kelsey Peck, University of Florida
Second Place: Commuters by Drew Appolonia, University of Miami
Third Place: No award*
Television News Photography
First Place: Controlled burn by Katie Keene and Gabe Mandler, University of Florida
Second Place: Making wildfires by Jonathan Rodriguez, University of South Carolina
Third Place: Occupy protesters arrested by Ashley Burgess, University of South Carolina
Television Sports Reporting
First Place: SCAD Equestrian at the ANRC Equitation Championship by Emily Van Horn and Josh Wolfe, Savanna College of Art and Design at Savannah
Second Place: Sunshine numbers by Samantha Herstine, University of South Carolina
Third Place: Morgan Hastys battle by Danielle Percival, Troy University
Television Sports Photography
First Place: Conor Dwyer by Katie Gillen, University of Florida
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Two-year/community colleges
General News Reporting
First Place: Lake Worths club questions budget shortfalls by Erin Hayes, Palm Beach State College
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Sports Writing
First Place: He came, he saw, he conquered: The House that Schnellenberger built by Pedro Heizer, Palm Beach State College
Second Place: Gone with the win by Tracy Harris, Palm Beach State College
Third Place: No award*
* Mark of Excellence Awards honor the best in student journalism. Judges are not required to select first, second or third place winners.
Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.
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