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 6 with 2017 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 6 comprises Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of April 14 at the Region 6 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 6 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: MUPD responds to alleged sexual assault, video shows officer threatening to tase - by Jennifer Walter, Clara Janzen and McKenna Oxenden, Marquette University
Finalist: Report of shots fired on campus - by Clara Janzen, Marquette University
Finalist: SCSU interim president Ashish Vaidya accepts position at NKU - by Jessica Wade, Saint Cloud State University

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Governor’s budget could slash student fees for popular programs, require internships - by Staff of Media Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: We don't feel like a priority - by Makenzie Huber, South Dakota State University
Winner: Choosing not to sign the covenant - by Mady Fortier, Bethel University

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Breaking the silence - by Staff of Marquette Wire, Marquette University
Finalist: UWM profs, staff accused of sexual assault and harassment but details hidden - by Talis Shelbourne, Jennifer Rick and Miela Fetaw, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: DACA repeal looms, Marquette impact - by Clara Janzen, Marquette University

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Admissions move will cost $186,000 - by Hunter Andes and Alicia Larsgaard, Bismarck State College
Finalist: What is done cannot be undone - by Anna Landsverk, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Un/natural disaster? - by Talis Shelbourne, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: Water is life - by Dwayne Lee, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: Beehive installed on Engineering Hall rooftop - by Josh Anderson, Marquette University

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Lessons from a cross country traveler - by McKenzie Van Loh, Bethel University
Finalist: Reality check: Reporters talk real news - by Hunter Andes, Bismarck State College
Finalist: Keeping your distance - by Laura Grimm, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: One finger salute: Vulgar image captures peak of Marquette-Wisconsin rivalry - by Brendan Ploen, John Hand and Brian Boyle, Marquette University
Finalist: Approaching the stress of coaching - by Brianna Schreurs, South Dakota State University

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Reaching for a dream on her tiptoes - by Maddie DeBilzan, Bethel University
Finalist: Carr's last ride - by Martin Schlegel, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Editorial Writing
Winner: Universities have important role in enacting social change; MUPD must deliver on body camera promise; Intentionally provocative speech serves no one - by Morgan Hughes, Marquette University
Finalist: Collegian editorials - by Makenzie Huber, Katie Gebauer and Emily De Waard, South Dakota State University
Finalist: Why ‘fresh’ was a step too far, even for liberal Trinity; UCDSU is what happens when apathy prevails in student elections; Trinity’s new conservative publication isn’t off to a promising start - by Dominic McGrath, Edmund Heaphy, Eleanor O'Mahony and Róisín Power, Trinity College Dublin

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Good Girls Revolt cannot be silenced; Digital journalism brings change for University Chronicle; A tribute to a princess… - by Jessica Wade, Saint Cloud State University
Finalist: Is cryptocurrency too dramatic for us?; How men in hip-hop perpetuate mistreatment of women; Why you should spend more time with your family - by Madeline Matzinger, Kalan Taubner and Naomi Wilson, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Love series - by Maddie DeBilzan, Carlo Holmberg and Kellie Lawless, Bethel University

Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The University Times - by Dominic McGrath, Eleanor O'Mahony, Róisín Power and Sinéad Baker, Trinity College Dublin
Finalist: The Collegian - by Makenzie Huber, Emily De Waard and Katie Gebauer, South Dakota State University
Finalist: Marquette Tribune - by Rebecca Carballo, Marquette University

Magazines

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Life after 'The Life' - by Laura Schmitt, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Finalist: Valley in the shadow - by Carly Schesel, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Finalist: After today - by Abby Petersen, Bethel University

Best Student Magazine
Winner: Curb: Kinetic - by Staff of Curb Magazine, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Finalist: Marquette Journal - by Stephanie Harte, Marquette University

Art/Graphics

General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: In Harvey's wake - by Ethan Duran, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Curb Magazine feature photography - by Katie Scheidt, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Finalist: Finding Flint - by Sabrina Johnkins and Ed Makowski, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Finalist: Photo gallery: Looking for the eclipse - by Callie Schmidt, Bethel University

Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Finalist: The hidden hustle - by Carolina Silva, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Photo Illustration (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Reality check: Reporters talk real news - by Hunter Andes and Quinnlyn Nelson, Bismarck State College

Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Feature photo - by Abby Fullenkamp, South Dakota State University
Finalist: N.D. Football - by Abby Fullenkamp, South Dakota State University

Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: One last chance - by Maddie Christy, Bethel University

Radio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Only one in five black students make it to graduation day - by Nia Wilson, Chardanay Hunt and Talis Shelbourne, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: "A tangible problem on this campus" - by Dylan Walker, Saint Olaf College
Finalist: The heartache of addiction - by Brandon Anderegg, Matthew Mussa and Nelson Sederstrom, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Radio Feature
Winner: Milwaukee’s Florentine Opera brews holiday cheer - by Morgan Langley, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: Milwaukee hosting global conference on intergenerational care - by Amanda Becker, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: Why are there no water taxis on the Milwaukee River? - by Amanda Becker, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Net neutrality - by Spencer Schacht, Saint Cloud State University

Radio Sports Reporting
Finalist: Uren interview - by Adrian Fredrickson, Saint Cloud State University

Television

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Assault in St. Cloud - by Nick Maxson, Saint Cloud State University

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Women's march on Madison - by Jenna Gaidosh, Tisia Muzinga, Stevan Stojanovic and Jenna Graham, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: The Flint water crisis: Resident and community outreach - by Amanda Becker, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: Husky Baseball hits a home run with the Miracle League - by Piper Shaw, Saint Cloud State University

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Professor's vinyl collection - by Emma Vatnsdal, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: Un"presidented" misspelling - by Hannah Kirby and Lisa Roman, Marquette University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Breaking the silence - by Staff of Marquette Wire News, Marquette University
Finalist: Trump's travel ban sparks debate on campus - by Trever Theis, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Ryan Poehling | The Draft - by Katie Emmer, Saint Cloud State University
Finalist: Relentless – the Joe Hallock story - by Tyler Zeigler, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: 2 Minute Minor with Katie Emmer - by Katie Emmer, Saint Cloud State University

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: April 29, 2017 newscast - by Staff of Campus News, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: UTVS News - by Piper Shaw and Spencer Schacht, Saint Cloud State University
Finalist: Marquette Now - November 15, 2017 - by Larson Seaver, Amelia Jones and Haley Velez, Marquette University

Online

Online News Reporting
Winner: Mental health needs soar at St. Thomas, administration looks to new options - by Simeon Lancaster, Noah Brown and Carrie Tronvold, University of St. Thomas
Finalist: Patrick Fowler repeatedly set free before fatally stabbing girlfriend, 4-year-old toddler - by Ariel Goronja, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: Campus ministries delays guest chapel recording - by Conrad Engstrom and Sarah Nelson, Bethel University

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: A trilogy of change - by Darby Hoffman, Samantha Loomis, Laura Schmitt and Krystal Du, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Finalist: Swinging into MKE dance - by Alex Groth and Jennifer Walter, Marquette University
Finalist: Family, faith shape past decade for Caruso - by Carolyn Meyer, University of St. Thomas

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: 343 and counting: the epidemic no one saw coming - by Staff of Media Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: Finding Flint - by Staff of Media Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Not rebuilding — reloading - by Peter Culver, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: Visa lottery program needs work, but has American value - by Ariel Goronja, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: Marquette Wire - by Patrick Thomas, Marquette University

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: Media Milwaukee - by Staff of Media Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: The University Chronicle - by Jessica Wade, Saint Cloud State University
Finalist: TommieMedia.com - by Staff of TommieMedia, University of St. Thomas

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: 24 hours at Bethel - by Staff of The Clarion, Bethel University
Finalist: City and university leaders attend Sendik’s ribbon cutting ceremony - by Clara Janzen, Larson Seaver and Haley Velez, Marquette University
Finalist: Report of shots fired on campus - by Clara Janzen, Larson Seaver, Phil Pinarski and Kevin Wells, Marquette University

Videography

Broadcast News Videography
Winner: Women's march in Fargo - by Betsy Harmsen, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: Twin Cities Honor Flight - by Piper Shaw, Saint Cloud State University
Finalist: Standing with Standing Rock - by Ben Rieke, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Broadcast Feature Videography
Winner: The mark of a generation - by Jared Eischen, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Broadcast Sports Videography
Winner: Off the court connection - by Jared Eischen, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: Drum guy - by Andrew Goldstein, Marquette University
Finalist: Relentless – the Joe Hallock story - by Leah Backstrom, Minnesota State University Moorhead

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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