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 national winners of the 2011 Mark of Excellence Awards recognizing collegiate work published or broadcast during 2011. This year, student journalists submitted more than 4,000 entries.

National Mark of Excellence Award judges choose one national winner in each category and two national finalists (runners-up).

Winners and finalists were previously recognized by receiving first place in one of SPJ’s 12 regional competitions. Each first-place regional winners advanced to the national competition.

First-place national winners are showcased on SPJ’s website. Click here to review the winners’ work.

For additional information on the Mark of Excellence awards, please contact Awards Coordinator Lauren Rochester at lrochester@spj.org.

2011 Mark of Excellence National Winners and Finalists

Four-year colleges

-Newspapers

Breaking News Reporting
• National Winner: Students, residents feel tornado's effects - by Taylor Holland, Jonathan Reed, Kelsey Steinand and Hannah Mask, University of Alabama
• National Finalist: Sandusky charged with sex abuse - by Anna Orso, Pennsylvania State University
• National Finalist: SA president resigns amid scandal - by John Parnon and Zach Brooke, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

General News Reporting
• National Winner: For those 'killed' by Social Security Administration error, life's hard - by Samantha Bryson, University of California, Berkeley
• National Finalist: Small-town residents saddened by prospect of post offices closing - by Sarah Hoffman, University of Missouri
• National Finalist: Kerksick series - by Kathleen Evans, University of Oklahoma

In-Depth Reporting
• National Winner: Series on sexuality - by Precious Esie, Carl Harrison, Leslie Gamboni and Jamie Futral, Loyola University New Orleans
• National Finalist: Salmonella investigation - by Jeffrey Benzing, Esther French and Judah Ari Gross, University of Maryland
• National Finalist: Domestic silence revisted – by Alex Stuckey, Ohio University

Feature Writing
• National Winner: The girl I killed - by Billie Loewen, University of Montana
• National Finalist: Back from Libya - by Devin Kelly, The University of California, Los Angeles
• National Finalist: Citizens for Justice - by Brad Racino, University of Missouri - Columbia

Sports Writing
• National Winner: Knile Davis: Strength to carry on - by Jimmy Carter, University of Arkansas
• National Finalist: Growing into the spotlight: The inconceivable rise of Shawn Hunwick - by Everett Cook, University of Michigan
• National Finalist: Former walk-on waits for chance - by Zach Dillard, University of Georgia

Editorial Writing
• National Winner: Lexi Belculfine and Jourdan Cole, Pennsylvania State University
• National Finalist: Tray Smith , University of Alabama
• National Finalist: John Nero, Ohio University

General Column Writing
• National Winner: Christopher Haxel , University of Maryland
• National Finalist: Imani Jackson, Grambling State University
• National Finalist: Kory Wood, Weber State University

Sports Column Writing
• National Winner: Trey Scott, University of Texas at Austin
• National Finalist: Jeremy Schneider, University of Maryland
• National Finalist: Jesse Severson, Oregon State University

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
• National Winner: The Daily Orange, Syracuse University
• National Finalist: University Star, Texas State University
• National Finalist: The State News, Michigan State University

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
• National Winner: The Ithacan, Ithaca College
• National Finalist: The GW Hatchet, George Washington University
• National Finalist: No winner*


-Magazines

Best Student Magazine
• National Winner: Brink Magazine, University of California, Berkeley
• National Finalist: Curb Magazine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• National Finalist: 30 Under 30, University of Missouri

Nonfiction Magazine Article
• National Winner: The secret life of mules - by Eric Holmberg, Caitie Carter and Mike Jenner, University of Missouri
• National Finalist: Fear and ammo in a Texas suburb – by Spike Johnson, University of North Texas
• National Finalist: In an instant: How former Kent State basketball star Malika Willoughby lost everything – by Joey Pompignano, Kent State University


-Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography
• National Winner: CSU students arrested in protest – by Stefan Agregado, California State University, Long Beach
• National Finalist: Gunshot – by Nick Gast, University of Montana
• National Finalist: Bash gone bad – by Hunter Thompson, Colorado State University

General News Photography
• National Winner: Denver shows its pride in style - by Rachel Fuenzalida, Metropolitan State College of Denver
• National Finalist: Occupy – by Andrew Kuhn, Central Michigan University
• National Finalist: National Go Topless Day – by Michelle Rattinger, George Washington University

Feature Photography
• National Winner: Fenced in: Superfund refugees – by Henry Taksier, University of Florida
• National Finalist: Games fuse athletics, services – by Richard Payson, University of Utah
• National Finalist: Cosmopolitan cowboy – by Jordan Stead, Western Washington University

Photo Illustration
• National Winner: Caitlan Stem – by Hunter Thompson, Colorado State University
• National Finalist: Surviving suicide – by Daniel Ethridge, Texas Christian University
• National Finalist: Smashing good time – by Jordan Stead, Western Washington University

Sports Photography
• National Winner: Awestruck - by Josh Radtke, Michigan State University
• National Finalist: Coach celebrates victory – by Matt Kile, Missouri State University
• National Finalist: Rolled over – by Ramon Dompor, Rutgers University

Editorial Cartooning
• National Winner: John Vestevich, Ferris State Univesrity
• National Finalist: Dan Nacu, Virginia Commonwealth University
• National Finalist: Colin Tom, University of Georgia


-Radio

Radio News Reporting
• National Winner: Execution of Manuel Valle - by Steven Gallo, University of Florida
• National Finalist: Wildfire rebuilding - by Reshma Kirpalani, University of Texas at Austin
• National Finalist: Occupy LA coverage - by Kyle Tabuena-Frolli, University of Southern California

Radio Feature Reporting
• National Winner: Who needs a guitar to be a rock star? - by Christopher Connelly, University of California, Berkeley
• National Finalist: Students’ 9/11 memories – by Michael Tomsic and Alletta Cooper, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• National Finalist: No winner*

Radio In-depth Reporting
• National Winner: Kentucky ag heavily dependent on migrant labor - by Cassidy Herrington, University of Kentucky
• National Finalist: Minding the meters: The Huntington Municipal Parking Board – by Leannda Carey, Marshall University
• National Finalist: The war on drugs - by Christopher Connelly, University of California, Berkeley

Radio Sports Reporting
• National Winner: Oh and one - by Paul Ofcharsky, King's College
• National Finalist: The Cato-Shuler connection – by Leannda Carey, Marshall University
• National Finalist: WFTDA roller derby – by Rebecca Fensholt, University of Kansas

Best All-Around Radio Newscast
• National Winner: Louisiana Focus - by Bill Davie, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• National Finalist: Carolina Connection - by Alletta Cooper, Michael Tomsic, Rheema Khrais and Lydia Wilson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• National Finalist: Annenberg Radio News - by staff, University of Southern California


-Television

Television Breaking News Reporting
• National Winner: Tuscaloosa tornado - by Bradley Whittington, University of Alabama
• National Finalist: ACU bus wrecks while traveling to service project - by Farron Salley, Abilene Christian University
• National Finalist: Tornado thrashes shaw - by David Hodges, Elon University

Television General News Reporting
• National Winner: Oil spill - by Gabe Giffin, Louisiana State University
• National Finalist: The Social Host Project: An in depth look at Long Island's Social Host Law - by Lauren Cioffi, Stony Brook University
• National Finalist: American border patrol - by Kylee Gauna, Arizona State University

Television Feature Reporting
• National Winner: Leah Green Thumb: Student artist gardens on the go - by Caitlin Bradford, Abilene Christian University
• National Finalist: Mock disaster make-up - by Jenne Anderson, Brigham Young University
• National Finalist: Crescent City - by Hunter Holcombe and Christopher Connelly, University of California, Berkeley

Television In-Depth Reporting
• National Winner: Ka Nako - by Wandoo Makurdi, Florida A&M University
• National Finalist: Budget battle - by UWM PantherVision news staff, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• National Finalist: The price of parking - by Brian Johnson, University of Missouri - Columbia

Television Sports Reporting
• National Winner: Striking chords - by Jonah Javad, University of Missouri-Columbia
• National Finalist: Iconic fans - by Mo Isom, Louisiana State University
• National Finalist: Cost of bowls - by Justin Page, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Television News Photography
• National Winner: Volunteers send care packages to marines - by Emily Spain, University of Missouri-Columbia
• National Finalist: A line in the sand: The story of two volunteers on the U.S.- Mexico border - by Dan Neligh, Arizona State University
• National Finalist: Deer Hunting - by Victoria Marzec, Michigan State University

Television Feature Photography
• National Winner: Pumpkins fly through the air at Punkin' Chunkin' contest - by Bernie Riggs and Emily Foster, University of Montana
• National Finalist: Outdoor movie theater - by Justin Page, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• National Finalist: Day and night, Santa Monica pier lights up lives of visitors - by Daily Bruin staff, University of California, Los Angeles

Television Sports Photography
• National Winner: 2nd annual Treasure State Shred Fest - by Maegan Simmons, University of Montana
• National Finalist: SEC championship game - by Troy Gaulden, Louisiana State University
• National Finalist: Haslett swim coach - by Jonathan McEmber, Michigan State University

Best All-Around Television Newscast
• National Winner: Cronkite NewsWatch, Arizona State University
• National Finalist: The Centre County Report , Pennsylvania State University
• National Finalist: UWM PantherVision, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee


-Online

Online News Reporting
• National Winner: Student veterans - by Ileana Llorens, Kristin Kellogg and Rhonda Prast, University of Missouri
• National Finalist: 24 hours at the border reveals region that defies stereotypes - by Cronkite News staff, Arizona State University
• National Finalist: Remembering 9/11 - by Jackie Smith, Adam Kaminski and Tyler Besh, Central Michigan University

Online Feature Reporting
• National Winner: Salmonella lurks from farm to fork - by Jeffrey Benzing, Esther French, Judah Ari Gross and Robyne McCullough, News21, University of Maryland & Arizona State University
• National Finalist: In the action - by Sam Aune, Nick Ritenour, Jared Windler and Valerie Carnevale, Ball State University
• National Finalist: Lessons from the land: An organic farm teaches by example - by Sarah Cumming, Sewanee: the University of the South

Online In-Depth Reporting
• National Winner: How safe is your food? - by News21 staff, Arizona State University & University of Maryland
• National Finalist: Kent's changing landscape: Redefining a college town - by Nathan Edwards, Kent State University
• National Finalist: No winner*

Online Opinion and Commentary
• National Winner: Vaughn Hillyard, Arizona State University
• National Finalist: Alex Klein, Yale University
• National Finalist: David Fink, Texas State University

Online Sports Reporting
• National Winner: Wildcat basketball preview 2011-2012 - by North By Northwestern staff, Northwestern University
• National Finalist: Injured seniors provide leadership to SUU gymnastics team - by Carter Williams, Southern Utah University
• National Finalist: BU wrestling - by Reina Murphy and Marlee Johnson, Baker University

Best Affiliated Web Site
• National Winner: Minnesota Daily, University of Minnesota
• National Finalist: Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University
• National Finalist: The Lantern, The Ohio State University

Best Independent Online Student Publication
• National Winner: Howard University News Service, Howard University
• National Finalist: Downtown Devil, Arizona State University
• National Finalist: Philadelpha Neighborhoods, Temple University


Two-year and community colleges

-Newspapers

Breaking News Reporting
• National Winner: Senate: Armed service does not count as community service - by Jessica Keller, Northwest College
• National Finalist: No winner*
• National Finalist: No winner*

General News Reporting
• National Winner: Teacher resigns - by Bethany Peterson, Tarrant County College
• National Finalist: Tuition rises for fall 2012 semester – by Rebecca Gross, SUNY Rockland Community College
• National Finalist: Two articles about Idaho gun bill – by Tala Wood, North Idaho College

In-Depth Reporting
• National Winner: Student mothers embrace heavy load - by Deborah Cobb, Northwest College
• National Finalist: Investigation into EducoSoft – by Emanuel Bergmann, Tanya Flowers, Thomas Pumphrey and Kalifia Madden, Los Angeles City College
• National Finalist: Prescription drug abuse – by Daniela Rocha, Mercer County Community College

Feature Writing
• National Winner: Leaving Las Vegas - by Cody Tucker, Laramie County Community College
• National Finalist: Student survives – by Karen Gavis, Tarrant County College
• National Finalist: Soccer star Irene Calabria learned to play with the boys – by Stephen Harrison, Mercer County Community College

Sports Writing
• National Winner: An athletic dilemma: Cost versus accountability - by Kurt Oberreither and Spencer Gleason, St. Louis Community College - Meramec
• National Finalist: Runaway train – by Cody Tucker, Laramie County Community College
• National Finalist: Winning the race of her life – by Albert Fulcher, Ernesto Rivera and Serina Duarte, Southwestern College

Editorial Writing
• National Winner: Tanya Flowers and Hyun Chung, Los Angeles City College
• National Finalist: Nick Davison, College of DuPage
• National Finalist: No winner*

General Column Writing
• National Winner: Albert H. Fulcher, Southwestern College
• National Finalist: Alyson Ann Cina, Bergen Community College
• National Finalist: William Hebert, Laramie County Community College

Sports Column Writing
• National Winner: Cody Tucker, Laramie County Community College
• National Finalist: Drew Williams, Eric Poe and Marley Malenfant, Tarrant County College
• National Finalist: No winner*

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
• National Winner: The Sun, Southwestern College
• National Finalist: The Sentinel, North Idaho College
• National Finalist: The Ranger, San Antonio College


-Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography
• National Winner: The walking dead - by William Hebert, Laramie County Community College
• National Finalist: No winner*
• National Finalist: No winner*

General News Photography
• National Winner: Japan festival - by Hannah Hunsinger and Aaron Wagner, Johnson County Community College
• National Finalist: Restaurant 230 – by Jason Pomerantz, Mercer County Community College
• National Finalist: Occupy Spokane – by Gabe Green, North Idaho College

Feature Photography
• National Winner: Lucha Vavoom - by Michael Yanow, Santa Monica College
• National Finalist: Homemade Halloween – by Michael House, Johnson County Community College
• National Finalist: Parkour – by Catherine Mullaney, North Idaho College

Photo Illustration
• National Winner: Adderall - by Casey Holder, Tarrant County College
• National Finalist: In Focus: National Depression Awareness Month – by Hannah Hunsinger, Johnson County Community College
• National Finalist: Arbor Vitae – by Chris Johnson, College of DuPage

Sports Photography
• National Winner: Rail jam wipeout - by Derek Oldham, Central Oregon Community College
• National Finalist: SE flag football – by David Reid, Tarrant County College
• National Finalist: Shrugged off – by Kat Boehle, Joliet Junior College

Editorial Cartooning
• National Winner: Phillip Temple, Solano Community College
• National Finalist: Tobey Veenstra, Central Oregon Community College
• National Finalist: No winner*


-Online

Online News Reporting
• National Winner: Schaffer named as next college president - by Will Hebert, Jeffrey Pallak, Courtney Tray and Amy Walker, Laramie County Community College
• National Finalist: Occupy Sacramento - by L.T. Clayton, Sacramento City College
• National Finalist: Coppola, Jordan named presidential finalists - by Bethany Peterson, Tarrant County College

Online In-Depth Reporting
• National Winner: LCCC's master plan - by Will Hebert, Jeffrey Pallak, Susann Robbins and Katie Blaser, Laramie County Community College
• National Finalist: No winner*
• National Finalist: No winner*

Best Affiliated Website
• National Winner: The Southwestern College Sun Online, Southwestern College
• National Finalist: The Collegian Online, Tarrant County College
• National Finalist: Prospectus News, Parkland College


* 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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