Contacts:
Christine Cordial, SPJ Program Coordinator, 317-920-4788, awards@spj.org
Anna Gutierrez, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, communications@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 8 with 2017 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 8 comprises Oklahoma and Texas. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of March 3 at the Region 8 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 Baltimore.

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 Christine Cordial via email or phone at 317-920-4788.

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

Newspapers

Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Boren resigns - by The Staff of The OU Daily, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Student death under investigation - by Shayan Faradineh, Texas State University

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Texas’ attempt to reform foster care system: privatization - by James Norman and Hannah Lauritzen, University of North Texas
Finalist: Confronting history - by Dana Branham, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: '...not prepared for what we walked into' - by Elisabeth Tatum, Lamar University

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Sidelined by the legal system - by Haley Remenar, Abilene Christian University
Finalist: Controversy over work-study funds - by Danial Conrad and Kathleen Creedon, Trinity University
Finalist: Williams runs for mayor 20 years after mentor McCaleb - by Haley Remenar, Abilene Christian University

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: In OU’s shadow - by Kayla Branch, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Make TCC great again - by Katelyn Needham, Isabelle Zhu, Jason Middlebrooks and Hannah Lathen, Tarrant County College
Finalist: Presidential power - by Will Clark, Ellie Breed and Paul Cobler, University of Texas at Austin

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Crash course - by Lauren Franco, Abilene Christian University
Finalist: The certification struggle - by Michaela Flonard, University of Tulsa
Finalist: Tragedy strikes all too close to home - by The Staff of Lake Front, Our Lady of the Lake University

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Cropped out - by The Staff of Mayborn School of Journalism, University of North Texas
Finalist: Struggle in paradise - by Diamon Garza, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist: Living for now - by Hannah Lathen, Tarrant County College

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Run, Jonathan, run - by Haley Remenar, Abilene Christian University
Finalist: Rep. Carol Bush discusses challenges and hopes for women - by Kayleigh Thesenvitz, University of Tulsa

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Baker Mayfield - by Joe Buettner, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: UTA athletics honors Nancy Baker's memory - by Arianna Vedia, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist: Guyton’s love for college gameday becomes reality at North Texas - by The Staff of North Texas Daily, University of North Texas

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Wildcat Stadium benefitting more than ACU fan base - by Jonathan Raitz, Abilene Christian University
Finalist: 17-year streak - by Elise Hester, Trinity University
Finalist: Rams win national title - by Matt Smith, Texas Wesleyan University

Editorial Writing
Winner: North Texas Daily editorials - by The Staff of North Texas Daily, University of North Texas
Finalist: LGBT policies; Burke best option; First of all - by Allison Brown, Haley Remenar and Optimist editorial board, Abilene Christian University
Finalist: The Shorthorn editorials – by The Staff of The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: A campus with no Greek life; Texas State lacks cultural infrastructure necessary for student success; Underachieving football programs should be cut like public schools - by Tafari Robertson, Texas State University
Finalist: Trump Jr. event barring press implies distrust; Here’s to the young people; Gender expectations are dead - by The Staff of North Texas Daily, University of North Texas
Finalist: Stop calling me bossy — just call me boss; The perspective of a figure-drawing model: our bodies are art, not objects; Calexit goes against the American dream - by McKenna Middleton, Kristina Valdez and Meredith Wagner, Baylor University

General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Talking politics with the deplorables; Absorbing experience, modern distraction; Balancing rationality and empathy - by Gabriel Levine, Trinity University
Finalist: Reporter's notebook - by Tatyana Nyborg, Tulsa Community College

Sports Column Writing
Winner: On suspensions, the NBA and being no. 1 - by Ben Everett, Darrell Harris and Gavin Rodger, Baylor University
Finalist: Bleacher creature - by Justin Guglielmetti, University of Tulsa
Finalist: We are Astros, Astros are us; Girls just wanna have… a Falcons victory; Standing room only? - by Cassandra Jenkins and Olivia Malick, Lamar University

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Baylor Lariat - by The Staff of the Baylor Lariat, Baylor University
Finalist: Daily Texan - by The Staff of the Daily Texan, University of Texas at Austin

Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: OU daily - by The Staff of OU Daily, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: The Daily Toreador - by The Staff of The Daily Toreador, Texas Tech University
Finalist: The University Star - by The Staff of The University Star, Texas State University

Magazines

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Misfit - by Tyler Hicks, University of North Texas

Best Student Magazine
Winner: Focus Magazine: Rebuild - by The Staff of Focus Magazine, Baylor University
Finalist: UPbeat - by The Staff of University Press, Lamar University

Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Sheltered - by Noah Dawlearn, Lamar University

General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: ‘…not prepared for what we walked into’ - by Hannah LeTulle, Lamar University
Finalist: Pride - by Deandra Gonzalez, San Antonio College
Finalist: Officer Floyd East Jr.'s memorial - by Ciara Perozzi, Texas Tech University

General News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Women’s march draws hundreds of people - by Jose Arredondo, Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: A mighty 'rice' time - by Shane Proctor, Lamar University
Finalist: Mascots by firelight - by Liesje Powers, Baylor University

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Concert glow - by Lauren Franco, Abilene Christian University
Finalist: Sing song warm-up - by Erika Bolado, Abilene Christian University

Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Me & her - by Aadil Sheikh, Baylor University
Finalist: Shattered - by Ryan Barrett, Baylor University

Photo Illustration (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Debuting Dorrel - by Lauren Franco, Abilene Christian University
Finalist: Tragedy strikes all too close to home - by J.C.Wollslager, Our Lady of the Lake University

Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Morris takedown - by Jessica Hubble, Baylor University
Finalist: Cards demolish Falcons - by Matt Beadle, Lamar University
Finalist: Volleyball celebration - by Alexis Austin, University of Texas at Arlington

Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Eyeing upfield - by Lauren Franco, Abilene Christian University
Finalist: Trinity ultimate frisbee - by Allison Wolff, Trinity University
Finalist: Congratulate - by Lauren Franco, Abilene Christian University

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Putin; Dangerous; Press - by Nate Wells, Texas Tech University
Finalist: War on the press; Cries of voter fraud lead to suppression of minority votes; Career ending joke, or media overreaction - by Alyssa Stevens, Lamar University
Finalist: Hefner; Trump; Good news vs. bad - by Rewon Shimray, Baylor University

Radio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Mother of slain journalist James Foley looks back - by Storme Jones, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: City forms new plan to help Abilene police reach full staff - by Haley Remenar, Abilene Christian University

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Autism and police - by Storme Jones, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: In the public interest - past presidents - by Staff, Texas State University

Radio Sports Reporting
Finalist: Big 12 Championship returns - by Storme Jones, University of Oklahoma
Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Finalist: NPR One - by Storme Jones, University of Oklahoma

Television

Television Breaking News Reporting
Finalist: Budget rally - by Harlee Toothman, University of Oklahoma

Television General News Reporting
Winner: High school sexual assault - by Grant Tosterud, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: A face with the numbers - by Jake Odgers, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Monument protest - by Mishal Niha, University of North Texas

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Picture this - by Elisabeth Tharp, Baylor University
Finalist: Antique collector - by Blake Hardman, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: No strings attached - by Austin Dane, University of Oklahoma

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Routes TV: Dirty little secrets—sexual assault on campus - by Jstyn Strain, University of Oklahoma

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Knocking out addictions - by Jennifer Yacuta, Lamar University
Finalist: Welcoming our boys back home - by Sachiko Jayaratne, Texas Wesleyan University
Finalist: OU golf national champs - by Carson Williams, University of Oklahoma

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: OU Nightly - by Pamela Ortega, Rebecca Walters, Torii Bicondova and Devon Gadberry, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Global news relay: solutions journalism - by Jessica Babb, Christy Soto, Morgan Kilgo and Elisabeth Tharp, Baylor University

Online

Online News Reporting
Winner: Anti-discrimination rally - by Madelyn Edwards, University of Texas at Arlington

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Bola in the barrio - by Jose Arredondo, Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Finalist: The rise and fall of Hillcrest - by Travis Pettis and Colby Farr, Del Mar College
Finalist: Recent Tarleton graduate and recipient of DACA remains hopeful - by Quanecia Fraser, Tarleton State University

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: College town - by Kayla Branch, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Small town boy to Texas Senator: a younger brother recalls the legacy of Frank Madla Jr. - by Josiah Cuellar, Aaron Perez, Seth Ruiz and Marcellius Caviness, Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Online Sports Reporting
Winner – Heisman history - by Joe Buettner, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: An enduring rivalry with roots in community - by Rene Orozco, Brittany Denayer, Jose Arredondo and Victoria Martinez, Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Finalist: Voice of the Mavs recalls journey to sportscasting - by Arianna Vedia, University of Texas at Arlington

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: CommUNITY voices - by CommUNITY Voices Staff, University of Texas at Arlington

Best Affiliated Website
Winner – theshorthorn.com - by The Staff of The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist – OU daily - by The Staff of the OU Daily, University of Oklahoma
Finalist – Baylorlariat.com - by The Staff of The Baylor Lariat

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Hydrogen car project crosses finish line in Detroit - by Brianna Rodrigue and James Dusek, San Antonio College
Finalist: In memory of Officer East - by Justin Rex, Texas Tech University
Finalist: Thousands rally at Women's March, - by The Staff of The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington

Videography

Online/Digital News Videography
Winner: Trump visits with first responders - by Brittany Claramunt, Del Mar College
Finalist: March for science at San Antonio College - by Nicole M. Bautista, San Antonio College
Finalist- PETA protest - by Quanecia Fraser, Arynn Tomson and Danny Hernandez, Tarleton State University

Online/Digital Feature Videography
Winner: Canstruction 2017 - by Nicole M. Bautista, San Antonio College
Finalist- The rise and fall of Hillcrest - by Col- by Farr, Del Mar College
Finalist: National Compliment Day - by Shay Cohen, University of Texas at Arlington