Contacts:
Abbi Martzall, SPJ Events Coordinator, 317-920-4791, awards@spj.org
Rachel Semple, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, rsemple@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 12 with 2016 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 12 comprises Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of March 31 at the Region 12 Conference. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other regional MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at the Excellence in Journalism conference in Anaheim, California.

MOE Awards entries are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience. Judges were directed to choose entries they felt were among the best in student journalism. If no entry rose to the level of excellence, no award was given. Any category not listed has no winner.

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

The list below details all Region 8 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact Abbi Martzall via email or phone at 317-920-4791.

This list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award entries.

Art / Graphics
Breaking News Photography (Large)
Winner: Occupy the Ole Miss Lyceum – by Ariel Cobbert, University of Mississippi

Breaking News Photography (Small)
Winner: Election results are in – by Kanesha Douglas, Grambling State University
Finalist: Students spend day away from classes with largest Nashville snowfall since 2003 – by Erin Turner, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Rain, rain, go away! – by Miniya Shabazz, Grambling State University

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Candidates trade blows during first debate – by Jeff B. Carter, University of Memphis
Finalist: Jake Thrasher editorial cartoons – by Jake Thrasher, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Nobel Michael cartoons – by Nobel Michael, Grambling State University

Feature Photography (Small)
Winner: Singarama dancers – by Erin Turner, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Students raise awareness for suicide prevention.- by Amanda Floyd, Harding University
Finalist: Arcadian Wild – by Erin Turner, Lipscomb University

General News Photography (Large)
Winner: Parish participates in peaceful protest – by Kailey Broussard, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

General News Photography (Small)
Winner: Bagpipes at convocation – by Ben Davis, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Immunity Clause opens door for communication – by Amanda Floyd, Harding University

Photo Illustration (Small)
Winner: To Afraid to Ask – by Sawyer Hite, Harding University
Finalist: Homecoming Musical – by Amanda Floyd, Sawyer Hite, Harding University
Finalist: Working in Washington – by Amanda Floyd, Harding University

Sports Photography (Small)
Winner: G-Men romp to win in season opener - Keion Hayes, Grambling State University
Finalist: Lady Tigers drop season opener – by Keion Hayes, Grambling State University
Finalist: 2K16 Cross Country Championship – by Wesley Love, Grambling State University

Magazines
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Hill Magazine – by Ashton Eley, editor, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Mississippi Miracle – by Meek School of Journalism & New Media, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Legacy – by The Legacy staff, Louisiana State University

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Silencing the Monsters Within – by Julia Trupp, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Jaded Conquest of Cannabis – by Isabel Dobrin, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Taking Care of Their Own – by Lana Ferguson, University of Mississippi

Newspapers
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Daily Mississippian – by The Daily Mississippian staff, University of Mississippi
Finalist: The Daily Helmsman – by Staff of The Daily Helmsman, University of Memphis
Finalist: The Daily Reveille – by The Daily Reveille Staff, Louisiana State University

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: Loyola Maroon – by Mary Graci and Colleen Dulle, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: The Arkansas Traveler – by Ginny Monk, Isabel Dobrin, University of Arkansas
Finalist: The Xavier Herald – by The Xavier Herald staff, Xavier University of Louisiana

Breaking News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Toby Aguillard Appointed As Police Chief – by Dan Boudreaux, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Finalist: US Investigators Scrutinize Title IX Cases – by Ginny Monk, Shelby Evans, Alex Gladden, The University of Arkansas
Finalist: UA Student Dies – by Ginny Monk, University of Arkansas

Breaking News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Protest rocks Senate debate – by Nick Reimann, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Donald Trump visits Louisiana before primary – by Marie Simoneaux, Gabriel Garza, Zach Brien, Loyola University New Orleans

Editorial Writing
Winner: Maroon editorials – by Staff, Loyola University New Orleans

Feature Writing (Large)
Winner: They Never Stopped Searching – by Clara Turnage, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Student Organization, Local Non-Profit Prepare for Refugees' Arrival – by Andrea Johnson, The Arkansas Traveler
Finalist: A beautiful multitude: The ordination of Reverend Gail Stratton – by Clara Turnage, University of Mississippi

Feature Writing (Small)
Winner: Escaping from the 'puppet master' – by Savanna DiStefano, Harding University
Finalist: Loyola professor and Bernie Sanders share an unlikely background – by Nick Reimann, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Loyola student crowd funds entire Loyola education – by Dannielle Garcia, Loyola University New Orleans

General Column Writing (Small)
Winner: It's Complicated – by Hannah Moore, Harding University
Finalist: Same song, second verse – by Joshua Johnson, Harding University

General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Confronting The Trust Deficit – by Clara Turnage, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Graduation Crashers – by Dan Boudreaux, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Finalist: Lafayette’s Freetown-Port Rico neighborhood named to National Register of Historic Places – by Holly Duchmann, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Immunity Clause opens door for communication – by Jordan Doyle, Harding University
Finalist: Grambling marches for MLK – by Kyrea Booker, Grambling State University
Finalist: Jesuits to elect new superior – by Colleen Dulle, Loyola University New Orleans

In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: Vast majority of LSUPD rape reports since 2010 fall on gamedays, gameday weekends – by Sarah Gamard, Louisiana State University
Finalist: U of A slow-moving as State Implements Unplanned Pregnancy Prevention Act – by Ashton Eley, University of Arkansas
Finalist: University of Memphis paid more than $2.3 million to run mostly empty buses – by Jonathan Capriel, University of Memphis

In-Depth Reporting (Small)
Winner: Racial Diversity Series – by Jordan Doyle, Harding University
Finalist: Would you know what to do? – by Jordan Doyle, Hannah Moore, Harding University
Finalist: Why is Louisiana red? – by Nick Reimann, Loyola University New Orleans

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Hurler on the Ditch – by Caleb Rowan, Harding University
Finalist: Kelly leaves a legacy as one of the best – by Brian Scott Rippee, University of Mississippi

Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: Yates finds faith, family at Harding – by David Salley, Harding University
Finalist: Okeke adjusts to cultural differences, battles for a starting spot – by Josh Thorton, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Soccer Senior Leave Mark on Program – by Connor Lane, University of Arkansas

Sports Writing (Small)
Winner: Local man with disability runs in the Crescent City Classic – by Marie Simoneaux, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Lady Tigers soccer wins first game – by Brandon-Michael LaGarde, Grambling State University
Finalist: College athletes strive to go pro – by Gabriel Garza, Loyola University New Orleans

Online
Best Affiliated Website
Winner: The Vermilion – by The Vermilion, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Finalist: The Daily Mississippian's affiliated website – by The Daily Mississippian staff, University of Mississippi
Finalist: The Link – by The Link staff, Harding University

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: Lumination Network – by Erin Turner, Becca Risley and Anna Rogers, Lipscomb University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: GMA Dove Awards shine for fourth year under Lipscomb lights – by Lumination Network, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Do you feel like an adult: faculty thoughts on the millennial generation – by Zach Hailey, Rachel Brackens, Harding University
Finalist: 12th annual Lighting of the Green spreads Christmas spirit in community – by Lumination Network, Lipscomb University

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Inside the Mind of a Murderer – by Chelsea Yaeger Heather Osbourne Karley Nugent, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Finalist: Coming Out in the Christian South – by Payton Green, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Inside the Food Fight - World Food Championship coverage – by Inside the Food Fight staff, University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Our Muslim Neighbors – by Staff of Our Muslim Neighbors, University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Online News Reporting
Winner: TOPS hits bottom: Students will self-fund more than half of spring tuition – by Kailey Broussard, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Finalist: Ole Miss Lyceum Protest – by Daily Mississippian staff, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Gator Escapes Cypress Lake – by Karley Nugent, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Ponway: A Lafayette Alternative to Racquetball – by Garrett Ohlmeyer, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Online Opinion and Commentary
Finalist: X's and O's from a rookie quarterback coach – by Patrick Carpenter, Lipscomb University

Television
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: NewsWatch Ole Miss – by NewsWatch Ole Miss staff, University of Mississippi
Finalist: UATV Live News Broadcast – by Tiffany King, Journalism Instructor, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Lumination News, December 1, 2016 – by Lumination News, Lipscomb University

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: ASB Resolution – by Payton Green and Lauren Layton, University of Mississippi

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Theater professor interprets local concerts for the hearing-impaired – by Patrick Carpenter, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Jazz Ensemble – by Ellen Butterfield, Lipscomb University
Finalist: "Lucky the Horse" – by Maria Goddard, Southeastern Louisiana University

Television General News Reporting
Winner: "Strawberry Fest Financial Impact" – by Tyler Waggenspack, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: Louisiana Homeowners Rebuild after Food – by Hunter Lovell, Louisiana State University
Finalist: "Florida Parishes Juvenile Center" – by Tyler Waggenspack, Southeastern Louisiana University

Television News and Feature Photography
Winner: Livestock Show – by Raina LaCaze, Louisiana State University
Finalist: "Strawberry Fest Financial Impact" – by Tyler Waggenspack, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: Jazz Ensemble – by Ellen Butterfield, Lipscomb University

Television Sports Photography
Winner: Beckwith and his Horses – by Taylor Curet, Louisiana State University

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Beckwith and his Horses – by Taylor Curet, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Football and Hair – by Hunter Lovell, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Football at Lipscomb? – by Patrick Carpenter, Lipscomb University

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