For immediate release
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 6 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 6 includes Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. This year, the contest received more than 4,000 entries across SPJs 12 regions.
The honorees were awarded certificates on March 31 during the Region 6 SPJ Spring Conference held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Bloomington, Minn. 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 6 WINNERS
Four-year collegesBreaking News Photography First Place: Stabbings, arrest March 2011 block party by Ben Pierson, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Second Place: Accident by Anthony Kwan, University of Minnesota
Third Place: Kostal accosted by Austin McDowell, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Feature Photography First Place: Ramadan by Mark Vancleave, University of Minnesota
Second Place: The achiever: Vanessa Harris by AJ Trela, Marquette University
Third Place: The short life of a gauge by Chris Franz, Minnesota State University Moorhead
General News Photography First Place: Students salute snow by Jessica Fleming, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Photo Illustration First Place: Literary eVolution by Kathleen Stogin, Marquette University
Second Place: Focus by AJ Trela, Marquette University
Third Place: No award*
Sports Photography First Place: Fall by Anthony Kwan, University of Minnesota
Second Place: Jennie Sunnarborg shoots over Western Illinois' Jackie Rieger in the first half on Feb. 12 by Andrew Turner, South Dakota State University
Third Place: Welcome to the B1G show by Mark Kauzlarich, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Best Student Magazine First Place: Curb Magazine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Second Place: Figments of Imagination, Bismarck State College
Third Place: The Marquette Journal, Marquette University
Non-Fiction Magazine Article First Place: Breathing new life into rural Wisconsin by Valerie Klessig, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Second Place: Finding independence in Green Bay by Kayla Jensen, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Third Place: Dreamers and dream makers by Kevin Griffin, Marquette University
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper First Place: Minnesota Daily, University of Minnesota
Second Place: The Badger Herald, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Third Place: The Daily Cardinal, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper First Place: The Marquette Tribune, Marquette University
Second Place: The Spectator, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Third Place: No award*
Breaking News Reporting First Place: SA president resigns amid scandal by John Parnon and Zach Brooke, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Second Place: UW students support, protest Hu Jintao visit by Kathryn Weenig and Kayla Johnson, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Third Place: Sviggums roles ruled a conflict of interest by Conor Shine, University of Minnesota
Editorial Writing First Place: Daily editorial staff, University of Minnesota
Second Place: UWM Post editorial board, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Third Place: Badger Herald editorial board, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Feature Writing First Place: Generation 9/11 by Nico Savidge, Alex DiTullio and Alison Bauter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Second Place: Family honors by Charly Haley, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Third Place: Failing at fashion by Andy Ambrosius, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
General Column Writing First Place: Christopher Meyer, University of Minnesota
Second Place: Matt Lech, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Third Place: Kelly White, Marquette University
General News Reporting First Place: Wisc. protesters settle in as labor battle drags on and Walker seeks to split UW colleges by Jessie van Berkel, University of Minnesota
Second Place: Egyptian students cope with strife at home by Grace Webb, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Third Place: Health care benefits cost more for GLBT employees by Jill Jensen, University of Minnesota
In-Depth Reporting First Place: SA official admits to newspaper theft, implicates former President Kostal by Steve Garrison and Zachary Brooke, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Second Place: Sources: School of Dentistry must change by James Nord and Kathryn Elliott, University of Minnesota
Third Place: Dealer by Christian Hagen, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Sports Column Writing First Place: Derek Wetmore, University of Minnesota
Second Place: Andrei Greska, Marquette University
Third Place: Nico Savidge, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Sports Writing First Place: Fight Club by Kevin Meagher, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Second Place: The captain and his father by Nico Savidge, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Third Place: Living to swim by Drue Aman, South Dakota State University
Best Affiliated Web Site First Place: MN Daily (www.mndaily.com), University of Minnesota
Second Place: Badger Herald (www.badgerherald.com), University of Wisconsin-Madison
Third Place: No award*
Best Independent Online Student Publication First Place: UTVS News (www.utvsnews.com), St. Cloud State University
Second Place: Media Milwaukee (www4.uwm.edu/mediamilwaukee), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Third Place: Tommie Media (www.tommiemedia.com), University of St. Thomas
Online Feature Reporting First Place: Greek houses pay to maintain their history by Kaitlin Walker, University of Minnesota
Second Place: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep by John Enger, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Third Place: Waldvogel lets his play do the talking by TommieMedia staff, University of St. Thomas
Online In-Depth Reporting First Place: September 11: The day and decade that changed a skyline, security, relationships and us by Katherine Lymn, University of Minnesota
Second Place: Vacancy by Kevin Griffin, Marquette University
Third Place: Specialists help patients through grieving process by Kelsie O'Keefe, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Online News Reporting First Place: New rules: Wisconsin teachers grapple with post-union landscape by Michael Meidenbauer, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Second Place: Student dies after semitruck accident in Dinkytown by the Daily staff, University of Minnesota
Third Place: No award*
Online Sports Reporting First Place: Jerry Kill collapses from seizure during game by Derek Wetmore, University of Minnesota
Second Place: Mens basketball wins NCAA Division III championship by Miles Trump, University of St. Thomas
Third Place: Whitewater crushes Tommies championship hopes 20-0 by Ryan Shaver, University of St. Thomas
Editorial Cartooning First Place: Grant Ertl, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Second Place: Anna Ferris, University of Minnesota
Third Place: No award*
Radio In-depth Reporting First Place: The journey by Christopher Duffy, St. Cloud State University
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Radio News Reporting First Place: UW-Eau Claire Foundation purchases St. Bede Monastery by Megan Roltgen and Lacey Weninger, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Second Place: Renewable energy generator by Grace Webb, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Third Place: No award*
Radio Sports Reporting First Place: Titan football outlook: Homecoming by Brandon Kinnard, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Best All-Around Television Newscast First Place: UWM PantherVision, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Second Place: Campus News, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Third Place: UTVS News, St. Cloud State University
Television Feature Photography First Place: Sign language workshop by Poonam Girdhar, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Second Place: Sand mandala by Kaitlyn Teske, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Third Place: Cowboy chiropractor by Dylan Reichstadt, University of North Dakota
Television In-depth Reporting First Place: Budget battle by UWM PantherVision news staff, University of Wisonsin-Milwaukee
Second Place: Paralympian uses AARC pool to train, aspires to win gold by Rita Kovtun, University of St. Thomas
Third Place: No award*
Television General News Reporting First Place: E-mail investigation by Taylor Thompson, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Second Place: No TV for tots by Stephanie Scheurer, University of North Dakota
Third Place: Students seek work, find North Dakota by Jennifer Austin and Brandon DeRoo, St. Cloud State University
Television Feature Reporting First Place: CLIMB program by Amanda Tyler, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Second Place: Deputy overcomes challenges by Julie Bech, University of North Dakota
Third Place: Sand mandala by Lane Zyvoloski, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Television News Photography First Place: NDSU Professor Sandbags by Cole Ryg, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Television Sports Reporting First Place: Sports rivalries by David Folske, University of North Dakota
Second Place: Spotlight on SCSU wrestling by Jim Bothun, Alec Ausmus, Chelsea Johnson and Lindsey Branwall, St. Cloud State University
Third Place: MSUM spring football by C.J. Pierre, Minnesota State University Moorhead
* 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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