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Region 11 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced in San Francisco, California


4/20/2015


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 11. The MOE Awards honor the best of collegiate journalism from a calendar year.

SPJ’s Region 11 comprises Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of April 18 at the Region 11 Spring Conference in San Francisco, California. 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 to 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 11 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.

ART/GRAPHICS
Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Stenner street standoff - by Morgan Butler, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Finalist: UC students protest tuition increase - by Stephen De Ropp, University of California, Santa Cruz
Finalist: Businesses, community members respond to passage of religious service refusal bill - by Connor Radnovich, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Students protest police brutality - by Max Westerman, Santa Clara University
Finalist: Clay promises consistent policy enforcement - by Jeremy Bloom, Occidental College

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Distrust among faculty and administration deepens - by Anthony Mata, City College of San Francisco
Finalist: Really metro, Not again; Smokers light up off campus; Dream weaver - by Jose Tobar, Los Angeles City College

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Wake of the storm - by Neil Bedi, UCLA
Finalist: Camp Texas - by Jim Tuttle, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: A story of ALS - by Connor Radnovich, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Church members pray for Liberia's healing from Ebola - by Jessica Wardarski, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Test of strength - by Brandon Choe, UCLA

General News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Obama declares part of San Gabriel Mountains a national monument - by Helen Arase, University of La Verne
Finalist: Dalai Lama Makes Historical Appearance - by Malu Veltze, Santa Clara University

Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Net neutrality - by Megan Heddinger, Joseph Pack, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Finalist: Breaking the silence - by Julien Brundrett, Erin Ng, Tim Bradbury, UCLA

Photo Illustration (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Finalist: Santa Clara will clear the air - by Malu Veltze, Vishakha Joshi, Santa Clara University

Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Shaquielle McKissic’s double-double powers ASU men’s basketball past Pepperdine - by Ben Moffat, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Cold Water Classic - by Stephen De Ropp, University of California, Santa Cruz
Finalist: Sacked for Territorial Cup - by Rebecca Sasnett, University of Arizona

Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Leopards lose third straight game - by Helen Arase, University of La Verne

MAGAZINES
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Brink - by Alana Levinson, Erica Hellerstein, Carly Nairn, University of California at Berkeley
Finalist: TUSK Magazine - by Arnold Holland / Jeff Brody, CSU Fullerton
Finalist: The Osprey - by The Osprey, Humboldt State University

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Fever of unknown origin - by Brittany Patterson, University of California at Berkeley
Finalist: The Call of the wild - by Carly Nairn, University of California at Berkeley
Finalist: Chosen - by Erica Hellerstein, University of California at Berkeley

NEWSPAPERS
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: March 3, Oct. 9, Dec. 5 issues - by Daily Bruin staff, UCLA
Finalist: Daily Titan - by Staff, Cal State Fullerton
Finalist: The Daily Californian - by Staff, University of California, Berkeley

Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: Three Occidental Weekly issues - by Staff, Occidental College
Finalist: The Lumberjack - by The Lumberjack, Humboldt State University
Finalist: City on a Hill Press - by City on a Hill Press staff, University of California, Santa Cruz

Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Wildcat clash with police officers - by Staff of The Daily Wildcat, University of Arizona
Finalist: Black Student Union members encounter racism - by JoshuOne Barnes, Santa Rosa Junior College
Finalist: UC Regents Committee approves tuition increase - by Samantha Hamilton, Pamela Avila, Susana Alvarez, University of California, Santa Cruz

Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Allies, trustees clash over college policy - by Juliet Suess, Occidental College
Finalist: Race too close to call - by Collin Baker, Santa Clara University

Editorial Writing
Winner: Students deserve a voice - by Nathan Quast, Santa Rosa Junior College
Finalist: ASU State Press - Editorial Writing - by State Press Editorial Board, Arizona State University
Finalist: Daily Bruin editorial board - by Daily Bruin editorial board, UCLA

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: UCLA, student groups combat sexual assault - by Kate Parkinson-Morgan, UCLA
Finalist: Coming up for air - by Elizabeth Case, UCLA
Finalist: Beyond stereotypes: Homeless yet hopeful in Sonoma County - by Julie Lee, Nate Voge, Jeanine Flaton-Buckley, Estefany Gonzales, Santa Rosa Junior College

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Demystifying disabilities - by Mariela Patron, University of La Verne
Finalist: Eating disorders: It's more than just the food - by Katie Callahan, Point Loma Nazarene University
Finalist: 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' opens in Warehouse Theater - by Maureen Wolff, Azusa Pacific University

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Americans influenced more by YA; #getoverit; Ruined by emails - by Trey Ross, University of Arizona
Finalist: Conflict of interest, academic freedom and culture of litigation - by Eitan Arom, UCLA
Finalist: Know justice, Know peace - by Salina Nasir, Cal Poly Pomona

General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Back to Black - by Marissa Black, Azusa Pacific University
Finalist: No rest; Hero; Halo - by Will Westwater, Occidental College

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Facing a waning future - by Virgie Hoban, University of California, Berkeley
Finalist: Research keys on building stockpiles of organs - by Patrick O’Connor, University of Arizona School of Journalism
Finalist: Students seek clarity, closure in student-professor relationship investigations - by Nicholas Palomino Mendoza, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Looking mental illness straight in the eye - by Katie Callahan, Point Loma Nazarene University
Finalist: Housing law faces student opposition - by Mallory Miller, Santa Clara University
Finalist: Adjunct faculty unionization coverage - by Mariela Patron, Kristina Bugante, University of La Verne

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Wake of the storm - by Katie Shepherd, UCLA
Finalist: Love thy sister - by Sara Grossman, University of California, Berkeley
Finalist: Central American minors pushed north by poverty, violence, hopes for refuge - by Emilie Eaton, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: The courage to heal - by Katie Madden, University of La Verne

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Bo knows - by Kevin Bowman, UCLA
Finalist: NFL's moral battle; NCAA; NBA's gamble - by Joe Siegal, Occidental College
Finalist: Anaheim a cursed city; Wildcats scratch and claw; Arizona's win over Oregon - by James Kelley, University of Arizona

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Phoenix-area golf courses continue to struggle - by Kristen Hwang, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Athletic trainer finds lifelong friend and "Coach" at UCLA - by Andrew Erickson, UCLA
Finalist: Coaches and companions - by Aubrey Yeo, UCLA

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Hoops program continues run of mediocrity - by Brendan Weber, Santa Clara University
Finalist: McFeely journeys from Ireland to Eagle Rock - by Margaret Su, Occidental College
Finalist: Constructing a program from the ground up - by Katie Richcreek, Azusa Pacific University

ONLINE
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: MustangNews.net - by Mustang News, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Finalist: Lomabeat.com excels in student-generated content - by Loma Beat staff, The Point staff, Point Loma Nazarene University
Finalist: Spectrum - by Daily Bruin Photo staff, UCLA

Best Digital-Only Student Publication
Winner: The State Press - Best Digital-Only Publication - by Danielle Grobmeier, Julia Shumway, Sean Logan, Arizona State University
Finalist: Gun Wars - by News21 staff, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Scientific Tucsonan - by Scientific Tucsonan, University of Arizona School of Journalism

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: The Downtown Devil - by Downtown Devil staff, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Intersections South LA - by Intersections South LA, University of Southern California

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Coming up for air - by Elizabeth Case, Lexy Atmore, Ryan Hansberry, Connie Chiou, UCLA
Finalist: Gun wars - by News21 staff, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Leimert Park's Third Renaissance - by Intersections South LA, University of Southern California

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: A way of Life - by Laura Sposato, Yihyun Jeong, Arizona State University
Finalist: Midwives combine tradition and science to curb maternal deaths in Chiapas - by Lauren Loftus and Alex Lancial, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Stories heard around the world - by Bianca Broszus, UCLA

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Arizona's water future - by Cronkite News, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Downwind - by Jessica Boehm, Arizona State University
Finalist: Women emerge as a forceful voice in the business of defending firearms - by Lauren Loftus, Natalie Krebs, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

Online News Reporting
Winner: Rare illness in California afflicts children with Polio-like symptoms - by Jake Nicol Sally Schilling, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
Finalist: Department of Defense military gear in Arizona - by Emilie Eaton, Camaron Stevenson, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Crisis in El Bordo: Record number of deportations contribute to homeless influx in Tijuana Canal - by Cyrus Saatsaz, San Diego State University

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: From the Editor's Desk - by Francesca Bessey, Will Federman, University of Southern California
Finalist: Theatrical and film commentary - by David Dixon, San Diego State Universtiy
Finalist: The Curtain Critic - by Molly Bilker, Julie Akerly, Faith Miller, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Lost in the lights - by Jacob Lauing, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Finalist: Team manager series - by Daily Bruin staff, UCLA
Finalist: Landon's last stand: The Final Home Game - by Paolo Uggetti, University of Southern California

RADIO BROADCAST
Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: ARN Live Show - November 5, 2014 - by Carrie Poppy, Camile Requiestas, Victor Figueroa, Andy Vasoyan, University of Southern California
Finalist: Long Story Short - by Jonaki Mehta, Chirag Govardhan, UCLA
Finalist: The Evening Update - by KCSN News Staff, California State University-Northridge

Radio Feature
Winner: Me, my dad and Marvin Gaye - by Sarah Zahedi, University of Southern California
Finalist: Carl the bartender keeps Santa Monica laughing - by Victor Figueroa, University of Southern California
Finalist: Divided love: a nanny's story - by Bryony Inge, University of Southern California

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Bad apps target smartphone users - by Peter Haden, Arizona State University
Finalist: Hash tag yes all women - by Daniel Max, California State University-Northridge
Finalist: College graduate career options - by Samantha Benitz, California State University-Northridge

Radio News Reporting
Winner: LAFD aims to recruit more women firefighters - by Sarah Zahedi, University of Southern California
Finalist: Young musicians prepare for 'World Series of High School Bands' - by Mariana Dale, University of Arizona School of Journalism
Finalist: The high cost of inmate phone calls - by Sukey Lewis, University of California Berkeley

Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Race fans flock for the ‘Almost-Crashes’ - by Peter Haden, Arizona State University
Finalist: How draft insurance is changing college football - by Matt Levin, University of Southern California
Finalist: Coaches' friendship transcends the playing field - by Rebecca Rankin, UCLA

TELEVISION BROADCAST
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Cronkite News - by Kelsey Tardio, Brittany Ducksworth, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Valley View News - by Valley View News, California State University, Northridge
Finalist: ATVN Broadcast - by Faith Miller, Hannah Button, Christina Schoellkopf and Andrea Edoria, University of Southern California

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Record rainfall in the desert - by Megan Thompson, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Secret Service director gets grilled - by Brittany Bade, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Same-sex marriage now legal in Arizona - by Mackenzie Scott, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Broadway blues - by Rachel Witte, UC Berkeley
Finalist: Harrison McIntosh - by Christian Reina, Scott Feuerhelm, Armando Tapia, University of La Verne
Finalist: Armless athlete rides in El Tour de Tucson - by Megan Guthrie, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Mesa Police Body Camera - by Tara Molina, Arizona State University
Finalist: Airport pollution - by Hector Mejia, California State University, Northridge
Finalist: Investigation: Prescription pills can be gateway drug to heroin addiction - by Vivian Padilla, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Arizona's water future - by Vondalynn Dias, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Depression: The hidden struggle - by Jetske Wauran, University of La Verne
Finalist: Maxlove - by Eldrin Masangkay, Francesca Manto, UCLA

Television News and Feature Photography
Winner: Depression: The hidden struggle - by Jetske Wauran, University of La Verne
Finalist: Backyard Bike Shop- by Shayne Dwyer, Arizona State University
Finalist: Local dairy takes a page from the past for future products - by Megan Thompson, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

Television Sports Photography
Winner: The greener golf ball - by Kari Osep, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Witt twins - by Robby Baker, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Concussions: It's a girl thing, too - by Kari Osep, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Cal Poly pitcher's love of the outdoors goes beyond the diamond - by Lisa Diaz, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Finalist: Phoenix sports Mecca - by Arianna Grainey, Arizona State University

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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