FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Abbi Martzall, SPJ Awards Coordinator, 317-920-4791, awards@spj.org
Maggie LaMar, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, mlamar@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists gladly recognizes the 2015 Mark of Excellence Awards winners from Region 10. The MOE Awards honor the best of collegiate journalism from a calendar year.

SPJ’s Region 10 comprises Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. 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 2016 Sept. 18-20 in New Orleans. The awards 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 which 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 more than 10,000 students and small schools have fewer than 9,999 students.

See the list below for details on the Region 10 winners, and direct any MOE Awards questions to Awards Coordinator Abbi Martzall.

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

Art / Graphics
Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: DISCUSSION - BLM Protest - by Jonathan Glover, Central Washington University

Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Crash - by Ben Walker, Gonzaga University

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Alexa Calder editorial cartoons - by Alexa Calder, University of Washington Tacoma
Finalist: Anna Fern editorial cartoons 2nd Entry - by Anna Fern, University of Washington Tacoma
Finalist: Danielle Burch editorial cartoons - by Danielle Burch, University of Washington Tacoma

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Seattle group’s training program saves lives of moms and babies in Kenya - by Paul Nevin, University of Washington
Finalist: Dueling saxophones - by Olivia Vanni, University of Montana
Finalist: Christopf the Lamb - by Loren Benoit, University of Montana

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Okinawa, Japan - by Matt Weigand, Gonzaga University
Finalist: SPU Theater - Scranton - by Andrew Haskell, Seattle Pacific University
Finalist: Life imitates art - by Christina Bjarvin, Gonzaga University

General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Student Vigil - by Evan Frost, University of Montana

General News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: SPU John Perkins - Chapel - by Christopher Yang, Seattle Pacific University
Finalist: Waiting - by Libby Kamrowski, Gonzaga University

Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Thin Walls - by Derrick Clarit, Central Washington University
Finalist: Don't be a rapist - by Cary Wilton, Washington State University
Finalist: No means no - by Ryan Pearce, Washington State University

Photo Illustration (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Are we prepared? - by Nathan DeVaughn, Hannah Baade, University of Portland
Finalist: Allison Pham photo illustration - by Allison Pham, University of Washington Tacoma
Finalist: Where does your trash go? - by Rebekah Markillie, University of Portland

Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Chasing the ball - by Will McKnight, University of Montana
Finalist: Shrine all-star football game - by Evan Frost, University of Montana
Finalist: Soccer header - by Loren Benoit, University of Montana

Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Lose ball - by Ryan Sullivan, Gonzaga University
Finalist: Gonzaga womens basketball - by Ryan Sullivan, Gonzaga University
Finalist: Falling - by Matt Weigand, Gonzaga University

Magazines
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Pulse Magazine - by Brielle Rutledge, Mackenzie Loete, Vanessa Cruz, Kyle Kuhn, Central Washington University
Finalist: The Planet Magazine, The Justice issue, Spring 2015 - by Staff, The Planet Magazine, Western Washington University
Finalist: Mast Media Issue 2 - by Samantha Lund, Brooke Thames, Molly Undall, McKenna Morin, Pacific Lutheran University

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: The gong show: Lobby day - by Jess Macinko, Laurel Fisher, Derrick Clarit, Lindsey Wisniewski, Central Washington University
Finalist: Not your fault - by Katelyn Doggett, Western Washington University
Finalist: Toxic turf - by Elise Dresel, Western Washington University
Newspapers
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Daily Barometer - by Staff of The Daily Barometer, Oregon State University

Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper - by Staff, North Idaho College
Finalist: The Argonaut Best All-Around Non Daily - by The Argonaut Staff, University of Idaho
Finalist: The Western Front - by The Western Front staff, Western Washington University

Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: UM to cut 29 graduate assistant positions - by Kasey Bubnash, University of Montana
Finalist: Suspect apprehended after high speed chase ends at Oregon State - by Sean Bassinger, Brian Rathbone, Oregon State University
Finalist: Moscow shooting coverage - by Amber Emery, Kaitlyn Krasselt, Claire Whitley, University of Idaho

Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: No swiping new Lute Cards - by Matthew Salzano, Pacific Lutheran University

Editorial Writing
Winner: Argonaut Editorial Board Editorials - by Katelyn Hilsenbeck, Claire Whitley, Erin Bamer, University of Idaho

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Growing up, coming out Navigating sexual and gender identity as a youth on the Blackfeet reservation - by Kolby Kickingwoman, University of Montana
Finalist: Kelsey Jones' sports features - by Kelsey Jones, Washington State University
Finalist: The bridge to recovery - by Sarah Sharp, Western Washington University

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Zag refugee rises from the flames - by Kiki Serantes, Gonzaga University
Finalist: Witnessing tragedy, working through the aftermath - by Haley Pitto (reporter) Cassandra Calderon (editor), Seattle Pacific University
Finalist: NIC gets squirrelly - by Annie Stonebreaker, North Idaho College

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Gender and race issue columns - by Sophia Stephens, Washington State University
Finalist: Calley Hair columns - by Calley Hair, Washington State University

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Pursuit's over - by Hannah Ray Lambert, Washington State University
Finalist: Historic Fire Season leads to millions in damage - by Julia Moreno, Central Washington University
Finalist: Social media posts leave local Islamic Center on alert for potential attacks - by Zachary Anders, Washington State University

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Students safe after Paris attacks - by Clare Duffy, Malika Andrews, Luke Loranger, University of Portland
Finalist: Serving the Tent City 3 homeless encampment - by Alex Cnossen Manola Secaira Tori Hoffman , Seattle Pacific University
Finalist: Faculty to admin: I'm underpaid - by Cheyenne Schoen, Clare Duffy, Malika Andrews, University of Portland

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Left behind: New veterans dorm community has little support, fewer veterans - by Erin Loranger, University of Montana
Finalist: A brutal tradition: Combating domestic and sexual violence on the Fort Peck reservation - by Jesse Flickinger, University of Montana
Finalist: Disaggregating data on Asian Pacific Islanders reveals hidden stories of disparity - by Chetanya Robinson, University of Washington

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Transition: Transgender student finds a home/ Transphobic Incident Spurs Pain, Action - by Cheyenne Schoen, Lydia Laythe, University of Portland

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Brian Rathbone sports columns - by Brian Rathbone, Oregon State University
Finalist: Brenden Slaughter sports columns - by Brenden Slaughter, Oregon State University
Finalist: Sports for dummies - by Michelle Fredrickson, Washington State University

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Kicking and breathing: Daniel Sullivan's body quit football, but Sullivan couldn't quit the game - by Sojin Josephson, University of Montana
Finalist: Unsportsmanlike conduct: From NCAA regs to local laws, UM Athletics faces questions over violations - by Peregrine Frissell, University of Montana
Finalist: The scintillating six, Tebeau's freshman basketball class - by Josh Worden, Oregon State University

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: No fear: The Lauren Joseph story - by Eden Laase, Gonzaga University
Finalist: Coaching legend bids farewell - by Josh Horton, Gonzaga University
Finalist: Australian guard making an impact - by Brittney Bulawa, Gonzaga University

Online
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: umnews.jour.umt.edu - by UM News class, fall 2015, University of Montana
Finalist: The Argonaut - by The Argonaut, University of Idaho

Best Digital-Only Student Publication
Winner: OR Magazine Spring 2015 Issue - by Fahmo Mohammed Kyle Hentschel Staff of OR Magazine., School of Journalism and Communication

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: Cuba Creatives - by Staff of Cuba Creatives. , School of Journalism and Communication
Finalist: Intertwined: Stories of Detachment and Connetion on Montana's Reservations - by Native News 2015 Staff, University of Montana
Finalist: LUTETIMES - by The Staff of LUTETIMES, Maxine McDade, Genny Boots and Rhiannon Berg, Pacific Lutheran University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Out of the shadows: Cuban improv actor Carlos Borbon - by Garrett Guinn Dana Bredeweg Andrew Spangler, School of Journalism and Communication
Finalist: 5,588 Miles, One Love - by Seth Lonborg, Mackenzie Loete, Lindsey Wisniewski, Central Washington University

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Bernard "Barney" Myers - by Bronte Wittpenn, University of Montana
Finalist: White House peace vigil - by Kyle Simchuk, Washington State University
Finalist: Beyond the lens - by Chad Sokol Megan Murnane McKayla Fox David Palmer, Washington State University

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Feathers and the cross - by Sam Waldorf and Bethany Blitz, University of Montana
Finalist: Legislative reporting 2015 - by Chad Sokol, Washington State University

Online News Reporting
Winner: Legalization - by Nicky Ouellet and Kristin Kirkland, University of Montana
Finalist: Schoolhouse Brought Back to Life - by Brenna Kelly, Washington State University
Finalist: CPS caseworker missed chances to intervene - by Chelsea Keyes Jaclyn Logsdon, Washington State University

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: His way out: story, video and photos - by Malika Andrews, Hannah Baade, Parker Shoaff, University of Portland
Finalist: Fast and fearless, Colton shoots for seventh straight state title - by Dustin Brennan Jim Crawford, Washington State University

Radio Broadcast
Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: Planet Radio Winter 2015 - by Planet Radio staff of Winter 2015, Western Washington University

Radio Feature
Winner: Martian miasma - by Sam Carlos, Western Washington University
Finalist: An 80s cover band with global dreams - by Nicky Ouellet, University of Montana

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Cutting healthcare costs for seniors - by Cheri Trusler, University of Montana

Television Broadcast
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Murrow News 8 - Dec. 4th - by Evan Baron David Palmer, Washington State University
Finalist: Murrow News 8 - Dec. 3rd - by Amanda Beltran Ryan Gonce, Washington State University
Finalist: News @ Nine - by Mast TV Staff, Pacific Lutheran University

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: NW Stories - Artist and "Bug Guy" Christopher Marley - by Nicolas Walcott Dana Bredeweg Chloe Huckins, School of Journalism and Communication
Finalist: Behind the uniform: Air Force ROTC - by Helen Capron, Washington State University
Finalist: One-button video studio - by Sojin Josephson and Peter Riley, University of Montana

Television General News Reporting
Winner: UM professor studies sea spiders in Antarctica - by Sean Robb, University of Montana
Finalist: Veteran dogs work with campus police - by Sojin Josephson and Andy Anderson, University of Montana
Finalist: Sexual assault at WSU - by Kaila Lafferty, Washington State University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Changing home: Small town survival - by University of Montana Student Documentary Unit, spring 2015, University of Montana
Finalist: One hundred and counting - by Montana Journal class, fall 2014, University of Montana
Finalist: Returning to oso - by McKayla Fox Marc Wai Calley Hare, Washington State University

Television News and Feature Photography
Winner: Veteran dogs work with campus police - by Andy Anderson, University of Montana
Finalist: PEAS farm - by Peter Riley, University of Montana

Television Sports Photography
Winner: Cross country runner Makena Morley - by Peter Riley, University of Montana
Finalist: Key log rolling - by Ryan Groh, University of Montana

SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to informing citizens; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and fights to protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know. Become a member, give to the Legal Defense Fund, or give to the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation.

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