FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Abbi Martzall, SPJ Awards Coordinator, 317-920-4791, awards@spj.org
Taylor Carlier, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, tcarlier@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the 2014 Mark of Excellence Awards winners from Region 12. The MOE Awards honor the best of collegiate journalism from a calendar year.

SPJ’s Region 12 comprises Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of April 11 at the Region 12 Spring Conference in Lake Charles, Louisiana. First-place winners will move on to the national MOE competition among category winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at Excellence in Journalism 2015 (EIJ15) in Orlando, Florida, Sept. 18-20.

Entries are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience. The awards honor the best in student journalism. As such, judges were directed to choose only those entries they felt were outstanding work worthy of such an honor. If the judges determined that none of the entries rose to the level of excellence, no award was given. Any category not listed has no winner.

School divisions are based on student enrollment, which includes both graduate and undergraduate enrollment: Large schools have at least 10,000 students and small schools have 9,999 or fewer students.

See the list below for details on the Region 12 winners, and direct any MOE Awards questions to Awards Coordinator Abbi Martzall: awards@spj.org and 317-920-4791.

Note: The list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award-entry process.

ARTS/GRAPHICS
Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Harding remembers - by Grant Schol, Harding University
Finalist: Arms raised - by Zach Brien, Loyola University New Orleans

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Nobeezy #3 - by Nobel Michael, Grambling State University
Finalist: Editorial cartoons - by Ian Cleary, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Nobeezy - by Nobel Michael, Grambling State University

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: That old Voodoo magic - by Zach Brien, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: CMA Fest - by Erin Turner, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Groovin' down Main Street - by Katrina Harris, Grambling State University

General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Hoping for a better tomorrow - by Cady Herring, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Consuming Fire comes to Tech - by Deepanjan Mukopadhyay, Louisiana Tech University

General News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Dan + Shay - by Erin Turner, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Lighting of the Green - by Erin Turner, Lipscomb University
Finalist: After 14 year hiatus, Knights ... - by Henry Gonzalez, Harding University

Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Birds and bees - by Anne Lipscomb, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Blame game - by Anne Lipscomb, Louisiana State University

Photo Illustration (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: The 2014 Spring Sing hosts... - by Jewelya Williams, Harding University

Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Ole Miss by Damn - by Thomas Graning, University of Mississippi

Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Track Shines... - by Grant Schol, Harding University
Finalist: Softball celebration - by Erin Turner, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Inches from Houston - by Katrina Harris, Grambling State University

MAGAZINES
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Wolf Magazine - by Shannon Donaldson, Melanie Potter, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Arkansas Traveler Magazine - by Jocelyn Murphy, The University of Arkansas

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Birds and bees - by Logan Anderson, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Girls with guts - by Katherine Hunt, The University of Arkansas
Finalist: Behind the gloves - by Jocelyn Murphy, The University of Arkansas

NEWSPAPERS
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Daily Mississippian - by Staff, University of Mississippi
Finalist: February 28, 2014; October 9, 2014; December 5, 2014 Issues - by The Daily Reveille Staff, Louisiana State University

Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Arkansas Traveler - by William Bowden, Editor in Chief, The University of Arkansas
Finalist: Maroon - by Aaren Gordon, Topher Balfer, Loyola University New Orleans

Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Louisiana goes to runoff elections - by John Sadler, Louisiana Tech University
Finalist: LSU student requires four staples after being struck with projectile during Alabama game - by Trey Labat, Louisiana State University
Finalist: New communications VP named in discrimination lawsuit - by The Daily Reveille Staff, Louisiana State University

Editorial Writing
Winner: Sexual Assault and Students' Right to Vote - by The Daily Reveille Editorial Board, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Mike Francingues Editorials - by Mike Francingues, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Finalist: Loyola editorials - by Karla Rosas, Loyola University New Orleans

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Aspiring Politician Uses Youth as an Asset - by Kristin Coppola, The University of Arkansas
Finalist: End of an Era: Diner fans remain loyal as Louie's Cafe prepares for move - by Olivia McClure, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Remembering fallen brothers - by Lacey Russell, University of Mississippi

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: A day with Google Glass - by Emily Andras, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: One Walton Scholar's story: From city dump to college dorm - by Alexis Hosticka, Harding University
Finalist: Town & gown - by Matt Ryan, Harding University

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Just to Claire-ify - by Claire Dodson, University of Tennessee
Finalist: The question of natural birth, The circus of Louisiana politics, A step back for workplace equality - by John Sadler, Louisiana Tech University
Finalist: Column writing - by Sierra Mannie, University of Mississippi

General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: I was raised by a television - by Cole Mokry, Harding University
Finalist: Columns writing - by DeQuanna Alexander, Grambling State University

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Noose and flag with Confederate symbol on Meredith statue - by Adam Ganucheau, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Landrieu rallies support in hopes of a fourth term - by Quint Forgey, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Remembering Wiley Hilburn - by Kaleb Causey, Louisiana Tech University

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: We the ... people - by Lester Duhe, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: GSU student displaced for administration housing - by Tierra Smith, Grambling State University
Finalist: Lookout for layoffs - by Alicia Serrano, Loyola University New Orleans

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: LSU discrimination policy unclear, causing controversy in student organizations - by Quint Forgey, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Shopping center displaces families - by Emily Guess, University of Mississippi
Finalist: University resources attempt to combat sexual assault - by Renee Barrow and Quint Forgey, Louisiana State University

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Uncertain future - by Tierra Smith, Grambling State University
Finalist: Out of 'Sync': Rates of student participation in Student Government Association elections continue to fall - by Ashley Fruge, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Contract stipulations could stop Warrick - by Tierra Smith, Grambling State University

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Column: Richard Sherman, Michael Sam's announcement and Donald Sterling - by James Moran, Louisiana State University
Finalist: LSU football, fans and lack of women in sports media - by Tommy Romanach, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Schock Talk - by Shane Schock, Harding University

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Keep moving: Difficult past helps Jordan fall into perspective - by David Gray, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Just Bo - by Dylan Rubino, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Tradition matters - by Chandler Rome, Louisiana State University

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: A passing pioneer - by Diana Sepulveda, Grambling State University
Finalist: Reinventing the game - by Tierra Smith, Grambling State University
Finalist: Inches from Houston - by Kassandra Merritt, Grambling State University

ONLINE
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: The Maroon Online - by Topher Balfer and Nia Porter, Loyola University New Orleans

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: Lumination Network - by Cory Woodroof, Logan Butts, Brianne Welch and Erin Turner, Lipscomb University

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Children in Charleston, Miss. use poetry to reach elderly patients - by Ji Hoon Heo, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Parish Press offers fresh look and coffee - by Catherine Burke, Brennen Lege, Louisiana Tech University
Finalist: Kindergarteners join the circus - by Burke Bischoff, Loyola University New Orleans

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Trans Mississippi - by Jessi Hota, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Depression increasing on campus, including Ole Miss - by Nicole Bounds, University of Mississippi

Online News Reporting
Winner: The Medal of Honor Project's coverage of the 2014 Medal of Honor Convention - by Staff of the Medal of Honor Project, University of Tennessee
Finalist: Students protest Ferguson decision - by Collen Dulle, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Gretna launches recycling program - by Burke Bischoff, Loyola University New Orleans

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: "Guardians," "Mockingjay," farewell column - by Cory Woodroof, Lipscomb University

RADIO BROADCAST
Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: Louisiana Focus - by William Davie, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Finalist: Lumination Radio -- McGee with Craig - by Sarah McGee and Jamin Craig, Lipscomb University

Radio Feature
Winner: Fork's drum closet - by Jamin Craig, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Live Oak Tree - by Heather Hailar, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Lipscomb 2020 gala - by Erin Turner, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Food stamp revamp - by Heather Hailar, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

TELEVISION BROADCAST
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Northshore News - by The Southeastern Channel staff, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: Lumination Newscast 11/29/2012 - by Janice Ng and Brianna Langley, Lipscomb University
Finalist: The Maroon MInute - by The Maroon Minute, Loyola University New Orleans

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Tupelo, MS tornado aftermath - by Ian Cowart, University of Mississippi

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Series from Togo, West Africa - by Sudu Upadhyay, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Arkansas professor training for American Ninja Warrior - by Logan Jung, University of Arkansas
Finalist: MMA Fitness - by Morgan Beard, Louisiana State University

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Fracking on the North Shore - by Paul Rivera, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: Bayou Fountain - by Sydney Kern, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Oxford schools struggle with cyberbullying - by Natalie Moore, Wiley Anderson, University of Mississippi

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: McCrea 1971: Louisiana's forgotten rock festival - by Nicholas Brilleaux and Scott Caro, Southeastern Louisiana University

Television News and Feature Photography
Winner: Inglewood CSA - by Benjamin Papac, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Bayou Fountain - by Sydney Kern, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Manufacturing on the North Shore - by Paul Rivera, Southeastern Louisiana University

Television Sports Photography
Winner: Amber Sather - by Nicholas Authement, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: New season, new stadium - by Johnny Lombardi, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Spring training report - by Nicholas Authement, Southeastern Louisiana University

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Tyler Stoddard - by Kati Morse, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: Boykin battles back - by Patrick Clay, Louisiana State University
Finalist: New concussion center at U of A - by Brett Rorie, University of Arkansas

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 spj.org.

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