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 5 with 2016 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 5 comprises Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of April 7 at the Region 5 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 5 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: Peaceful Anti-Trump Protests Continue in Chicago - by Grace Runkel, Loyola University Chicago
Finalist: Students Protest Trump – by Quentin Shaw, University of Illinois
Finalist: Shut down: campus tensions spill over protests – by Josh Leff, DePaul University

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Ball State of mind – by Mikey Higgins, Ball State University

Feature Photography (Large)
Winner: Unmasked: The stigma of meth – by Emma Rogers, Ball State University
Finalist: Magic in the Mud – by Gabriel Scarlett, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Urbana Sweet Corn Fest – by Brian Bauer, University of Illinois

General News Photography (Large)
Winner: Glowing Rose - Gabriel Scarlett, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Do Better, DePaul – by Madeline Kranz, DePaul University
Finalist: Advocate’s Annual Drag Show Is Anything But Boring – by Michen Dewey, Loyola University Chicago

General News Photography (Small)
Winner: Activist Bree Newsome speaks of racial inequality – by Cassie Reverman, University of Indianapolis

Photo Illustration (Large)
Winner: Homecoming Guide Cover – by Michelle Tam, Hannah Auten, University of Illinois
Finalist: The Mental Cost of College – by Katie Grieze, Ball State University
Finalist: The Academic Athlete – by Jessika Zachary, Ball State University

Photo Illustration (Small)
Winner: Four wrestlers head to Nationals – by Laken Detweiler, University of Indianapolis

Sports Photography (Large)
Winner: Football Touchdown – by Austin Yattoni, University of Illinois
Finalist: Heartbreak City – by Jeff Brown, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Northwestern cheerleaders perform during NU loss to Nebraska – by Mia Zanzucchi, Northwestern University

Sports Photography (Small)
Winner: Women’s basketball wins on Senior Night, prepares for GLVC Tournament – by Cassie Reverman, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: Men’s basketball wins on Senior Day, 87-86 – by Kameron Casey, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: Men’s soccer defeats Prairie Stars 2-1 – by Jennifer Ulrey, University of Indianapolis

Magazines
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Al Bayan Magazine – by Al Bayan Magazine Staff, Northwestern University
Finalist: Ball Bearings Fall 2016 Issue: Why We Think We're Right – by Ball Bearings Staff, Ball State University
Finalist: North by Northwestern Fall 2016 Magazine – by North by Northwestern Staff, Northwestern University

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: More than just a house: A symbol of hope and solidarity for Northwestern’s Black Community – by Naib Mian, Northwestern University
Finalist: Next Steps – by Lila Reynolds, Northwestern University
Finalist: Where the Path May Lead – by Ellen Glover and Allison Chaplin, Indiana University

Newspapers
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Daily Northwestern – by The Daily Northwestern Staff, Northwestern University

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: Full issues – by Herald staff, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Ball State Daily News – by Ball State Daily News, Ball State University
Finalist: Loyola Phoenix – by Phoenix staff, Loyola University Chicago

Breaking News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Shots fired near University on Green Street – by Daily Illini Staff, University of Illinois
Finalist: UIPD investigates death of infant on campus – by Daily Illini Staff, University of Illinois
Finalist: Ball State President Ferguson resigns – by Kaitlin Lange, Kara Berg, Ball State University

Editorial Writing
Winner: Our View – by Editorial Board, Ball State University
Finalist: Julia Dake Editorial Writing – by Julia Dake, Eastern Kentucky University
Finalist: Daily Illini Editorial Board – by The Daily Illini Editorial Board, University of Illinois

Feature Writing (Large)
Winner: ‘I found myself’: Being transgender at NKU - by Emily Osterholz, Northern Kentucky University
Finalist: ‘I won’t give up’: Single parent perseveres through the holidays – by Emily Sherry, Hannah Hagedorn, Northern Kentucky University
Finalist: A Day with the President – by Grace Runkel, Loyola University Chicago

Feature Writing (Small)
Winner: Survivors: Speaking out against sexual assault – by Ashlea Alley, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: 140.6 miles to be an Ironman – by Zoë Berg, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: Human beings before disabilities – by Jessica Hoover & Abby Land, University of Indianapolis

General Column Writing (Large)
Winner: Tim Balk column entry – by Tim Balk, Northwestern University
Finalist: Kalyn's Corner – by Kalyn Johnson, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Isabella Winkler Columns – by Isabella Winkler, University of Illinois

General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Behind closed doors: Students forced to live with an accused rapist – by Rachel Hinton, DePaul University
Finalist: Racial crime victims disappointed with WKUPD – by Emma Collins, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: It happened here: Student witnesses reflect on a night of violence – by Claire Hettinger, Joseph Longo, and Samantha Jones Toal, University of Illinois

General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Officer, UIndy alum shot in line of duty – by Kylee Crane, University of Indianapolis

In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: Breaking the Silence: Sheryl Swoopes Allegations Revealed – by Nader Issa; Madeline Kenney, Loyola University Chicago
Finalist: In Focus: As Lyrica profits dry up, Northwestern seeks another 'blockbuster' drug – by Peter Kotecki, Northwestern University
Finalist: More Than a Black Engineer – by James Boyd, University of Illinois

In-Depth Reporting (Small)
Winner: Students, university handle mold in Crowe – by Kylee Crane, University of Indianapolis

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Peter Bailey-Wells Columns – by Peter Bailey-Wells, University of Illinois
Finalist: Kevin McCarthy Columns – by Kevin McCarthy, University of Illinois
Finalist: The DePaulia Sports Column Writing – by Matthew Paras, DePaul University

Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: Payment day: $82.5 million for new DePaul arena due next month- by DePaulia Investigation, DePaul University
Finalist: An in-depth look at concussions and Ball State's safety measures against them – by Jake Fox, Ball State University
Finalist: The marvelous Mavriplis: Baseball’s emotional leader – by Christopher Decker, Northern Kentucky University

Sports Writing (Small)
Winner: UIndy alum Reece Horn pursues dream in NFL – by Laken Detweiler, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: Men’s lacrosse winning streak continues – by Laken Detweiler, University of Indianapolis

Online
Best Affiliated Website
Winner: Ball Bearings Online – by Ball Bearings Staff, Ball State University
Finalist: WKUTalisman.com – by Talisman Staff, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: ncclinked – by Staff, North Central College

Best Digital-Only Student Publication
Winner: 14 East Magazine – by Staff, DePaul University
Finalist: REaD – by WKU SJB Journalism, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Politics & the Presidency – by WKU Fleischaker-Greene Scholars, Western Kentucky University

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: 14 East Magazine – by Staff, DePaul University
Finalist: Ball Bearings Online – by Ball Bearings Staff, Ball State University
Finalist: The Medill Justice Project – by Staff, Northwestern University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: #BlackScienceMatters – by University of Illinois Multimedia Journalism Students, University of Illinois
Finalist: 14 Speaks Podcast: Femdot – by Jack Ladd, Bea Aldrich, DePaul University
Finalist: Breaking the Gender Binary – by Shelley K. Mesch, Hannah Hoffman, Kiersten Hickman, DePaul University

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: A Hidden Home – by Kaitlyn Arford, Ball State University
Finalist: 'A heart of gold' – by Carli Scalf, Samantha Brammer, Ball State University
Finalist: Cultural student groups grapple with multicultural representation – by Lila Reynolds, Northwestern University

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Lights Out/Lights On – by Ivana Rihter, DePaul University
Finalist: Unmasked: The stigma of meth – by Unmasked Team, Ball State University
Finalist: Kentucky’s Coal-Colored Climate Change Denial – by Tanner Cole, Western Kentucky University

Online News Reporting
Winner: Billion Dollar Story: Campaign Finance in Indiana – by Indiana University Media School, Indiana University
Finalist: The life of a Saudi Student at NKU – by Carrie Crotzer, Lindsey Rudd, Derek Daley, Northern Kentucky University
Finalist: The Mental Cost of College – by Katie Grieze, Ball State University

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: The Spectrum: Whitewashing of Asians in media represents a bigger issue – by Weizhe (Rachel) Yang, Northwestern University
Finalist: Free Speech and Presidential Politics – by Brendan Pedersen, DePaul University
Finalist: The Netflix Club – by Steven Long, DePaul University

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Franko's House – by Robby General, Ball State University
Finalist: The Academic Athlete – by Samantha Stevenson, Ball State University
Finalist: Foreign-born tennis players find family at NKU – by Matt Sexton, Northern Kentucky University

Radio
Radio News Reporting
Winner: Non-Tenure Faculty Strike – by Zila Renfro, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Finalist: Democratic National Convention – by Haley Kosik, Illinois State University
Finalist: Dakota Access Pipeline Protests – by Baylee Steelman, Illinois State University

Radio Feature
Winner: Norteño Music Among Efforts To Get Latinos to the Polls – by Kate Stein, Northwestern University
Finalist: Ask NBN S.2 Ep. 4: why do NU undergraduates go without free CTA? – by Jakob Lazzaro, Heather Budimulia, Northwestern University
Finalist: EIU Funding Feature – by Mike Miletich, Illinois State University

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Death Denied (Episode Four): The Medill Justice Project podcast – by Fallon Schlossman, Northwestern University
Finalist: Unmasked: The stigma of meth – by Nick Siano, Ball State University
Finalist: Bird's I View- Election Preview – by WZND News Staff, Illinois State University

Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: On the Hunt: Python Challenge About More Than Enormous Snakes – by Kate Stein, Northwestern University
Finalist: Gender Equity in Sports – by Jade Hilton, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Finalist: ISU Pep Band – by Carie Kuehn, Illinois State University

Television
Television Broadcast
Winner: WKU News Channel 12 – by Will Puckett, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Northwestern News Report Chicago Show – by Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Ben Shapiro - Lorraine Taylor – by Lorraine Taylor, DePaul University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Unmasked: The stigma of meth – by Unmasked Team, Ball State University

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: The Man Behind the Lens: Justin Barbin - by Jesse Kirsch, Northwestern University
Finalist: Chicago's street musicians discuss perceptions from CTA and public – by Michelle Baik, Northwestern University
Finalist: Pumpkin Picking – by Reporter: Amelia Mugavero, University of Illinois

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Homeless Protest - Daniel Beedie, Reporter – by Daniel Beedie, DePaul University
Finalist: Milo Yiannopoulos Protest - Eric Traphagen, Reporter – by Eric Traphagen, DePaul University
Finalist: Homer Tornado – by Reporter: Cassidy Williams, University of Illinois

Television News and Feature Photography
Winner: Cornhole – by Reporter: Jeffrey Ohmer, University of Illinois
Finalist: Connections Live Torch Relay – by Suzy Smith, Jana Lowery, Evan Like, Ball State University

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Memorial Soccer Match – by Reporter: Cassie Chaplinsky, University of Illinois
Finalist: Cubs Celebration – by Adam Chalifoux, DePaul University
Finalist: The Math Behind March Madness – by Catharine Gardner, Western Kentucky University

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