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 9 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 9 includes Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. This year, the contest received more than 4,000 entries across SPJs 12 regions.
The honorees were awarded certificates on April 14 during the Region 9 SPJ Spring Conference held at the Tivoli Student Union in Denver, Colo. 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 9 WINNERS
Four-year collegesBreaking News Photography First Place: Bash gone bad by Hunter Thompson, Colorado State University
Second Place: Denver under occupation by Jessica Wacker, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Third Place: End of the standoff by Hunter Thompson, Colorado State University
Feature Photography First Place: Games fuse athletics, services by Richard Payson, University of Utah
Second Place: Inversion models could help predict formations by Richard Payson, University of Utah
Third Place: Inside Ramadan by Mike Fabricius, Rachel Fuenzalida and Brian T. McGinn, Metropolitan State College of Denver
General News Photography First Place: Denver shows its pride in style by Rachel Fuenzalida, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Second Place: High on the hill by Michael Bettis, Colorado State University
Third Place: A closer look at Ramadan by Rachel Fuenzalida, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Photo Illustration First Place: Caitlan Stem by Hunter Thompson, Colorado State University
Second Place: From notebook to playbook by Hunter Thompson, Colorado State University
Third Place: Shelter from the storm by Chris Bunker, Brigham Young University
Sports Photography First Place: Apo scores touchdown!! by Luke Hansen, Brigham Young University
Second Place: Football: The slump continues as a depleted offense strains Ute defense by Nathan Sweet, University of Utah
Third Place: Softball sweeps away Regis by Ryan Borthick, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Best Student Magazine First Place: Horizon Magazine, Colorado Mesa University
Second Place: CSU-Pueblo TODAY, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Third Place: College Avenue Magazine, Colorado State University
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper First Place: The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University
Second Place: The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah
Third Place: No award*
Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper First Place: The Metropolitan, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Breaking News Reporting First Place: Blown Over by Spencer Garn, Weber State University
Second Place: Millner to pledge raise by Spencer Garn, Weber State University
Third Place: Two women groped Friday by Lindsey Wilbur, University of Utah
Editorial Writing First Place: The University Journal Editorial Board, Southern Utah University
Second Place: Jade McDowell, Brigham Young University
Third Place: The Signpost staff, Weber State University
Feature Writing First Place: Graffiti: Acts of art or of vandalism by David Knight, University of Wyoming
Second Place: On the Rebound: Cougar student and basketball player Kaufusi fighting strong against her cancer by Brooke Ward, Brigham Young University
Third Place: Day Trippin': Leave holiday stress, catch North Pole Express in Heber by Allie Jeppson, Utah State University
General Column Writing First Place: Kory Wood, Weber State University
Second Place: Matt Miller, Colorado State University
Third Place: Daniel Whitney Smith, Utah State University
General News Reporting First Place: U student organizes protest at Chick-fil-A by Nic Dunn, University of Utah
Second Place: Bash gone bad at Ram's Pointe by Erin Udell, Colorado State University
Third Place: No award*
In-Depth Reporting First Place: Center: Policy or politics? by Jordyn Dahl, Colorado State University
Second Place: Utahs wage gap between men and women largest in nation by Daniel Whitney Smith, Utah State University
Third Place: Grim future for higher ed by Allison Sylte, Colorado State University
Sports Column Writing First Place: Daniel Laverty, Thomas Belinski and Matt Hollinshead, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Second Place: Jake Hibbard, University of Utah
Third Place: Cris Tiller, Colorado State University
Sports Writing First Place: Across the pond, Aggie legends together once again by Rhett Wilkinson, Utah State University
Second Place: UW football player saddles up for first time by Mike Morris, University of Wyoming
Third Place: Football: Utes' loss breaks hearts by Matthew (Bubba) Brown, University of Utah
Nonfiction Magazine Article First Place: Don't Ask, Don't Tell by Jaime Pritchard, Colorado State University
Second Place: Leading lady by Jaime Pritchard, Colorado State University
Third Place: No award*
Best Affiliated Web Site First Place: SUU News (www.suunews.com), Southern Utah University
Second Place: The Metrosphere (www.mscd.edu/~msphere), Metropolitan State College of Denver
Third Place: The Signpost (www.wsusignpost.com), Weber State University
Best Independent Online Student Publication First Place: Hard News Cafι (hardnewscafe.usu.edu), Utah State University
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Online Feature Reporting First Place: JCOM prof is no-nonsense, respected, loved, sometimes dreaded by Shirrel Cooper, Utah State University
Second Place: From Africa to the WNBA, Logan couple works to help Senegal by Daniel Smith, Utah State University
Third Place: Ten years later: Everyone remembers where they were on 9/11 by Heidi Hansen, Utah State University
Online In-Depth Reporting First Place: Notebook to playbook by Cris Tiller, Kevin Lytle and Hunter Thompson, Colorado State University
Second Place: USU Gay-Lesbian Center regroups as longtime director departs by Daniel Whitney Smith, Utah State University
Third Place: College grads seek other options with fewer jobs in struggling economy by Mandy Morgan, Utah State University
Online News Reporting First Place: "The Dream of Helen" dance drama by Sarah Webber and Matthew Montgomery, Southern Utah University
Second Place: Mingi: Lournalists bring the story of Ethiopian infanticide to USU by Heidi Hansen, Utah State University
Third Place: Half-naked, accepting and proud: Undie Run Utahans are not uptight by Heidi Hansen and Cathy Morgan, Utah State University
Online Opinion and Commentary First Place: Stephen Worthington, Max Parker Dahl and Jakob Asplund, Utah State University
Second Place: Ben Zaritsky, Utah State University
Third Place:
Online Sports Reporting First Place: Injured seniors provide leadership to SUU gymnastics team by Carter Williams, Southern Utah University
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Radio In-depth Reporting First Place: Forgotten by technology, again by Brian Grimmett, Brigham Young University
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Radio News Reporting First Place: Hunting for poachers by Brian Grimmett, Brigham Young University
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Radio Sports Reporting First Place: Inside 'NFL Blitz' by Colton Denning, Ryan Garbarino and Jon Lander, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Best All-Around Television Newscast First Place: Weber State News, Weber State University
Second Place: KRWG News22, New Mexico State University
Third Place: The Met Report, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Television Feature Reporting First Place: Mock disaster make-up by Jenne Anderson, Brigham Young University
Second Place: Dig this by Anna Hayes, Brigham Young University
Third Place: High school quarterback reaches beyond his limits by Simone VonRivenburgh, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Television General News Reporting First Place: Fishing vs. fashion by Anna Hayes, Brigham Young University
Second Place: Dump truck accident by Britta Anderson, Utah State University
Third Place: Obama talks student debt at Auraria by staff, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Television Sports Reporting First Place: What's a Libero? by Christine Assily, Brigham Young University
Second Place: An oft overlooked trio by Kevin Hall, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Third Place: Little League Flag Football by Stephanie Flores, New Mexico State University
Two-year and community colleges Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper First Place: Wingspan, Laramie County Community College
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Breaking News Photography First Place: The walking dead by William Hebert, Laramie County Community College
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Breaking News Reporting First Place: Senate: Armed service does not count as community service by Jessica Keller, Northwest College
Second Place: Proposed public records rule postponed by William Hebert, Laramie County Community College
Third Place: No award*
Editorial Writing First Place: Wingspan staff, Laramie County Community College
Second Place: Mark Keierleber, Gigi Hoagland and Danny Menig, Northwest College
Third Place: No award*
Feature Photography First Place: Runaway train by Cody Tucker, Laramie County Community College
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Feature Writing First Place: Leaving Las Vegas by Cody Tucker, Laramie County Community College
Second Place: A mother's love for sons and agriculture benefits NWC club by Reed T. Tobol, Northwest College
Third Place: 'Shamrock'ing in the USA by Cody Tucker, Laramie County Community College
General Column Writing First Place: William Hebert, Laramie County Community College
Second Place: Shawn Havel, Laramie County Community College
Third Place: No award*
General News Photography First Place: 'Empty Bowls' help feed the hungry by Neal Hines, Northwest College
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
General News Reporting First Place: Pulpit of propaganda by Cody Tucker, Laramie County Community College
Second Place: B.O.T. hears concerns on policy adherence by Jessica Keller, Northwest College
Third Place: College's low graduation rate misleading by William Hebert, Laramie County Community College
In-Depth Reporting First Place: Student mothers embrace heavy load by Deborah Cobb, Northwest College
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Online In-Depth Reporting First Place: LCCC's master plan by Will Hebert, Jeffrey Pallak, Susann Robbins and Katie Blaser, Laramie County Community College
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Online News Reporting First Place: Schaffer named as next college president by Will Hebert, Jeffrey Pallak, Courtney Tray and Amy Walker, Laramie County Community College
Second Place: Follow-up morale discussion sheds more light on campus issues by William Hebert, Laramie County Community College
Third Place: Trustees postpone public records rule approval by William Hebert, Laramie County Community College
Photo Illustration First Place: Zombies: Brains on the plains by William Hebert, Laramie County Community College
Second Place: Lucky number seven by Neal Hines, Northwest College
Third Place: Veterans' Day flag by Jeffrey Pallak, Laramie County Community College
Sports Column Writing First Place: Cody Tucker, Laramie County Community College
Second Place: No award*
Third Place: No award*
Sports Photography First Place: Takin' it to the mat by Neal Hines, Northwest College
Second Place: Blast off by Jessie Jo Witte, Laramie County Community College
Third Place: No award*
Sports Writing First Place: Runaway train by Cody Tucker, Laramie County Community College
Second Place: Men's soccer continues work in the off-season by Danny Menig, Northwest 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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