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 7 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 7 includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. 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 7 SPJ Spring Conference held at the Iowa State University Memorial Union in Ames, Iowa. 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 7 WINNERS
Four-year collegesBreaking News Photography First Place: Osama bin Ladens death by Kelsey Kremer, Iowa State University
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Feature Photography First Place: Destination Iowa State: fight song by Kelsey Kremer, Iowa State University
Second Place: Jazz and blues ring through old Webster by Brittany Ruess, Webster University
Third Place: No award*
General News Photography First Place: Madison protest: Speaking out by Kelsey Kremer, Iowa State University
Second Place: Iowa Republican presidential debate by Yue Wu, Iowa State University
Third Place: Madison protest: Standing watch by Kelsey Kremer, Iowa State University
Photo Illustration First Place: Amber Connett by Kelsey Kremer, Iowa State University
Second Place: Back to the top: 2011 Creighton men's basketball preview by Dominic Dongilli and Scarlett Blake, Creighton University
Third Place: Scammed by Jason Oelmann, Drake University
Sports Photography First Place: Coach celebrates victory by Matt Kile, Missouri State University
Second Place: Volleyball victory by Brittany Ruess, Webster University
Third Place: Pinstripe Bowl: Jawan Jamison by Tim Reuter, Iowa State University
Best Student Magazine First Place: Vox Magazine by the Vox Magazine staff, University of Missouri
Second Place: Drake Magazine by the Drake Magazine staff, Drake University
Third Place: Detours Magazine by the Detours Magazine staff, Truman State University
Non-Fiction Magazine Article First Place: The secret life of mules by Eric Holmberg, Caitie Carter and Mike Jenner, University of Missouri
Second Place: Scammed by Joe Stych, Drake University
Third Place: Turned away by Ellen Jean Hirst, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper First Place: Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper First Place: The Standard, Missouri State University
Second Place: Creightonian, Creighton University
Third Place: No award*
Breaking News Reporting First Place: Prospective K-State student comes forward in Syracuse abuse scandal by Caroline Sweeney and Mark Kern, Kansas State University
Second Place: Kahler murder trial: Son tells court his father 'shot my mom' by Sangeeta Shastry, University of Missouri
Third Place: Timothy Wolfe named UM System President by Zach Murdock and Raymond Howze, University of Missouri
Editorial Writing First Place Kirsten Jacobsen, University of Iowa
Second Place: Taysha Murtaugh and John Lonsdale, Iowa State University
Third Place: Vikaas Shanker and Joel Petterson, University of Kansas
Feature Writing First Place: Citizens for Justice by Brad Racino, University of Missouri
Second Place: Fulfilling her dream to be a mom by Emily Nohr, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Third Place: Teen ran out of miracles by Ellen Jean Hirst, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
General Column Writing First Place: Jessica Bruning, Iowa State University
Second Place: James Castle, Mandy Matney and Vikaas Shanker, University of Kansas
Third Place: Jessica Bruning, Iowa State University
General News Reporting First Place: Small-town residents saddened by prospect of post offices closing by Sarah Hoffman, University of Missouri
Second Place: Ames Straw Poll serves as Republican Party of Iowa's biggest fundraiser by Jessica Opoien, Iowa State University
Third Place: Aggieville invaded by staggering zombies hunting for food by Karen Ingram, Kansas State University
In-Depth Reporting First Place: Residents of Regency trailer park trapped between city, park management by Brad Racino, University of Missouri
Second Place: In testimony in Ryan Ferguson case, a question of memory by Sangeeta Shastry, University of Missouri
Third Place: Department of Mental Health faces overtime issues from understaffing by Victoria Guida, University of Missouri
Sports Column Writing First Place: Matt Entringer, Creighton University
Second Place: Josh Sellmeyer, Webster University
Third Place: No award*
Sports Writing First Place: Barnett leads Cyclones to biggest upset in school history by Jake Calhoun, Iowa State University
Second Place: Tiny celebrity inspires mom by Harrison Keegan, Missouri State University
Third Place: Former Webster University student, TV actor returns to field of dreams by Daniel Bauman, Webster University
Best Affiliated Web Site First Place: The Iowa State Daily (www.iowastatedaily.com), Iowa State University
Second Place: The Baker Orange (www.thebakerorange.com), Baker University
Third Place: No award*
Online Feature Reporting First Place: 30 under 30 by Ileana Llorens, Kristin Kellogg and Rhonda Prast, University of Missouri
Second Place: A passion for philanthropy by Rachel Dannen and Allysha Newton, Baker University
Third Place: Ni Hao, Iowa City! by Guannan Huang, University of Iowa
Online News Reporting First Place: Student veterans by Ileana Llorens, Kristin Kellogg and Rhonda Prast, University of Missouri
Second Place: Moving on: Exploring the Baldwin City USD 348 consolidation by Genevieve Des Marteau, Xiomara Nunez and Meagan Thomas, Baker University
Third Place: Iowans fall through gaps in splintered mental health system by Lauren Mills and Jim Malewitz, University of Iowa
Online Sports Reporting First Place: BU wrestling by Reina Murphy and Marlee Johnson, Baker University
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Radio Feature Reporting First Place: Human trafficking by Telene Jordaan, Johnson County Community College
Second Place: Lucky You Bakery by Becky Sullivan, University of Kansas
Third Place: Midget wrestling by Tommy Strauser, University of Kansas
Radio In-depth Reporting First Place: Joplin rebuilding, with faith by Matt Evans, University of Missouri
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Radio News Reporting First Place: Fire destroys historic Boonville restaurant by Elizabeth Trovall, University of Missouri
Second Place: Remembering Libya, remembering Ghadafi by Nick Gass, University of Missouri
Third Place: Girls Rock! summer camp by Lindsey Peterson, University of Nebraska-Omaha
Radio Sports Reporting First Place: WFTDA roller derby by Rebecca Fensholt, University of Kansas
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Best All-Around Television Newscast First Place: Ozarks News Journal, Missouri State University
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Television Feature Reporting First Place: Keeping his cool by Jonah Javad, University of Missouri
Second Place: What Missouri fans can expect from SEC tradition: Bulldogs style by Kylie McGivern, University of Missouri
Third Place: Missouri veteran finds hope in the Perfect Fit by Kylie McGivern, University of Missouri
Television In-depth Reporting First Place: The price of parking b y Brian Johnson, University of Missouri
Second Place: Missouri automotive industry makes a comeback by Kylie McGivern, University of Missouri
Third Place: MU alumni in KC root to keep rivalry alive by Emily Spain, University of Missouri
Television General News Reporting First Place: Keep on truckin by Jonah Javad, University of Missouri
Second Place: Three-year-old tells experience of Joplin tornado by Brian Johnson and Todd Tumminia, University of Missouri
Third Place: Target 8 Investigation: The history of Peppers Nightclub by Jessica Smith, University of Missouri
Television Breaking News Reporting First Place: President Obama visits Joplin by Jonah Javad, University of Missouri
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Television Feature Photography First Place: Mental health in the Johnson County prison system by Joshua Browning, Johnson County Community College
Second Place: New bike trail by Grant Bochantin, Missouri State University
Third Place: No award*
Television News Photography First Place: Volunteers send care packages to Marines by Emily Spain, University of Missouri
Second Place: Keep on truckin by Jonah Javad, University of Missouri
Third Place: No award*
Television Sports Reporting First Place: Striking chords by Jonah Javad, University of Missouri
Second Place: A weekend for the aces by Jonah Javad, University of Missouri
Third Place: Pierre DeClue: A slideshow of life by Christopher Saunders, University of Missouri
Two-year and community collegesBest All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper First Place: The Montage Student Newspaper, St. Louis Community College - Meremac
Second Place: The Campus Ledger, Johnson County Community College
Third Place: No award*
Editorial Writing First Place: The Campus Ledger, Johnson County Community College
Second Place: Camillya Blount, Joshua Golden and Jessica Penland, St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley
Third Place: No award*
Feature Photography First Place: Homemade Halloween by Michael House, Johnson County Community College
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Feature Writing First Place: Kicking the habit by Mackenzie Clark, Johnson County Community College
Second Place: Welcome home DJ Kut by Camillya Blount, St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley
Third Place: A Battle Worth Passing Over by Anthony Pickens, St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley
General News Photography First Place: Japan festival by Hannah Hunsinger and Aaron Wagner, Johnson County Community College
Second Place: Storms in St. Louis by Bradley Rayford, St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley
Third Place: No award*
General News Reporting First Place: Budget cut series by staff, St. Louis Community College - Meramec
Second Place: TRIO grant awards $47.7 million by Christine Willbrand, St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley
Third Place: Student reports kidnapping in parking garage by Tasha Cook, Johnson County Community College
Photo Illustration First Place: "In Focus: National Depression Awareness Month..." by Hannah Hunsinger, Johnson County Community College
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Sports Writing First Place: An athletic dilemma: Cost versus accountability by Kurt Oberreither and Spencer Gleason,
Second Place: Volleyball team wraps up successful season by Tasha Cook, Johnson County Community College
Third Place: Setting the pace and leaping bounds by Anthony Pickens, St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley
* 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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