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 1 with 2017 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 1 comprises Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Central and Eastern Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of April 21 at the Region 1 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 1 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: Blindsided: Athletes, coaches and parents angered by UB's decision to cut teams - by Michael Akelson, University at Buffalo
Finalist: Harvard rescinds acceptances for at least ten students for obscene memes - by Hannah Natanson, Harvard University

Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Bomb threat rattles campus, nothing discovered - by Raymond Arke and Kailey Love, Duquesne University
Finalist: Grad student puts pedal to metal - by Mary-Lyn Buckley, Rider University
Finalist: Police respond to suspicious person in fraternity house - by Joseph Tingley and Alex Weidenhof, Allegheny College

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: My prison is Panama - by Emily Kohlman, Penn State University
Finalist: Stony Brook University budget cuts pit faculty against administrators - by Rebecca Liebson, Stony Brook University
Finalist: Analysis of Penn State Athletic Department's finances - by Greg Merchlinsky, Caralyn Reese, Mark Fischer and Aubree Rader, Penn State University

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Essential and unrecognized - by Nicole Pimental, Ithaca College
Finalist: Burlington school counselors claim disrespectful treatment - by Alexandre Silberman, St. Thomas University
Finalist: Bros, sports and sexism - by Grace Elletson, Ithaca College

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Crimson reporting spurs Athletic Dept. overhaul - by Brittany N. Ellis, Harvard University
Finalist: Public consensus: How Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud is viewed 3 years into his tenure - by Michael Burke, Syracuse University
Finalist: Inside the demise of M Street Pizza - by Rachel Sandler, Syracuse University

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Define: Gordon, an investigation by The Tartan - by Staff of The Tartan, Gordon College
Finalist: Series on class - by Harry DiPrinzio, Julian Andrews and Ellice Lueders, Bowdoin College
Finalist: Covering the proposed sale of the university's Westminster Choir College - by Shanna O'Mara, Gianluca D'Elia and Thomas Regan, Rider University

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: The whole picture - by Satoshi Sugiyama, Syracuse University
Finalist: The Bay - by Lauren Davis, Penn State University
Finalist: 'A sort of everyday struggle' - by Hannah Natanson, Harvard University

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Fake news sows confusion - by Maria Ramos, Mercer County Community College
Finalist: Inmates share struggles, advice for college students - by Samantha Brandbergh, Rider University
Finalist: Students face mental health crisis...mostly alone - by Maria Ramos, Mercer County Community College

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: My escape - by Jon Mettus, Syracuse University
Finalist: Play it forward: Men's basketball builds up - by Theresa C. Herbert, Harvard University
Finalist: Understaffed, Yale sports medicine struggles with student injuries - by Sebastian Kupchaunis and Matthew Mister, Yale University

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: ‘Knott’ to be denied: Fearless fifth-year talks life in Florida, finally winning Patriot League - by Austin Vitelli, Lehigh University
Finalist: Jihad Pretlow signed by 49ers as undrafted free agent - by Jack McLoone, Fordham University
Finalist: Three goalies, one net - by Brett Johnson, Roger Williams University

Editorial Writing
Winner: Ni de aquí, ni de allá; “Don’t call, they’ll be fine”; Board of Trumpees - by Sam Topp, Lehigh University
Finalist: Read, remain critical and demand the truth; Temple should condemn Cosby’s town hall tour; Help a community grieve - by The Temple News Editorial Board, Temple University
Finalist: UB Athletics’ announcement to cut four teams was insensitive, unprofessional; What happened to Dr. B?; Is secrecy and corruption UB's new normal? - by Madelinn Fowler and Tori Roseman, University at Buffalo

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: The Women’s March on Washington was a ‘symbolic middle finger’ to the Trump administration; The Trump administration doesn’t treat teen pregnancy like an issue. Here’s why it should.; Brock Turner doesn’t deserve your pity. He deserves a longer sentence. - by Kelsey Thompson, Syracuse University
Finalist: The Far Side columns - by Lauren D. Spohn, Harvard University
Finalist: My eating disorder recovery story; Trans rights are human rights; Me Too: My experiences with sexual harassment and assault - by Madelinn Fowler, University at Buffalo

General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Spicing up the Emmys; Spacey’s cards collapse; It’s hard to keep track - by Lizzy Stocks, Framingham State University
Finalist: Congressman Chris Smith needs to go!; To what extent can we restrict speech on Twitter?; Murphy promised, now let’s hold him to it! - by Sean O'Connor, Mercer County Community College
Finalist: Musical Musings columns - by Andrew Willoughby, Framingham State University

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Overtime columns - by Jack McLoone and Alvin Halimwidjaya, Fordham University

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Daily Orange - by Staff of The Daily Orange, Syracuse University
Finalist: Yale Daily News - by Staff of Yale Daily News, Yale University
Finalist: The Harvard Crimson - by Staff of The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University

Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Temple News - by Staff of The Temple News, Temple University
Finalist: The Quinnipiac Chronicle - by Staff of The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Quinnipiac University
Finalist: The Ithacan - by Staff of The Ithacan, Ithaca College

Magazines

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: The school of exile - by Daniel Judt, Yale University
Finalist: Does data threaten democracy? Cambridge Analytica’s influence on your vote - by Simon Soros, Yale University
Finalist: Redefining pet loss - by Nicole Engelman, Syracuse University

Best Student Magazine
Winner: The Night Shift - by Staff of The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University
Finalist: Baked - by Staff of Baked, Syracuse University
Finalist: Reporter Magazine - by Staff of Reporter Magazine, Rochester Institute of Technology

Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Busted - by Alex Yuan, Penn State University
Finalist: Formerly known as Calhoun - by Surbhi Bharadwaj, Yale University
Finalist: Reverend Walton - by Timothy R. O'Meara, Harvard University

General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Taking a bite out of the competition - by Antonella Crescimbeni, Penn State University
Finalist: Inauguration - by Antonella Crescimbeni, Penn State University
Finalist: Silent protest - by Timothy R. O'Meara, Harvard University

General News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Honoring Rider's fallen vets, heroes - by Gianluca D'Elia, Rider University
Finalist: After seven years without one, Puerto Rican parade in Trenton prompts discussion about immigration - by Maria Ramos, Mercer County Community College
Finalist: Budding professionals broadcast from Philadelphia - by Shanna O'Mara, Rider University

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Trans-affirming recovery sets a national standard in West Philadelphia - by Maggie Andresen, Temple University
Finalist: Birdie Park - by Amy Y. Li, Harvard University
Finalist: Victory kiss - by Antonella Crescimbeni, Penn State University

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: #WhyWeMarch - by Samantha Reposa, University of New Haven
Finalist: Mercer community rocked by DACA dilemma - by Griffin Jones, Mercer County Community College
Finalist: DeRay Mckesson portrait - by Ann Basu, Bowdoin College

Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: False eyelashes - by Kyle Naylor, Penn State University
Finalist: In the shadows - by Maddie Almer, Penn State University
Finalist: Nevertheless, she persisted - by Katie Herchenroeder, Anthony Viola, Aurora Soriano and Ebony Anderson-Brown, The City College of New York

Photo Illustration (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Life and struggles of a domestic abuse survivor - by Emily Rowan, Cabrini University
Finalist: A life worth taking risks for - by Emily Rowan, Cabrini University
Finalist: Mold detected in faculty office - by Maria Ramos, Mercer County Community College

Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Little League World Series champions - by Linsey Fagan, Penn State University
Finalist: Crying foul - by Antonella Crescimbeni, Penn State University
Finalist: State champions - by Antonella Crescimbeni, Penn State University

Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Softball team rides 10 game streak into post season - by Jasmine Santalla, Mercer County Community College
Finalist: Rams strike a pose - by Oscairy Tavarez, Framingham State University
Finalist: Women’s volleyball crowned NCAA D2 East Region champs - by Glenn Rohrbacker, University of New Haven

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: The Campus - April back cover - by Alexandria Naase, Anthony Viola and Carmen Quang, The City College of New York

Radio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Strike a chord: Addiction series - by Jonathan Woodward, Fordham University
Finalist: Sandy five years later: Build it back - by Julia Rist, Fordham University
Finalist: Following Hurricane Maria, Puerto Ricans stateside help new arrivals - by Samia Bouzid, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism

Radio Feature
Winner: Mi lengua padre - by Chiara Arellano, Brown University
Finalist: Psychologist treats phobias with virtual reality - by Samia Bouzid, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
Finalist: Young rappers trying to change Chicago's violent image - by Tyler Aki, Syracuse University

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Grieving father takes on District Attorney's office - by Elizabeth Tung, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
Finalist: Worshiping ‘La Santa Muerte’ from a NYC apartment - by Manolo Morales, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
Finalist: Urban coyotes spur walks on the wild side - by Samia Bouzid, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism

Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: May the best lifeguard win: Regional competition tests lifesaving skills of south Florida's rescuers - by Allison Light, Princeton University
Finalist: Bob Hurley's biggest game - by James Corrigan, Fordham University
Finalist: Getting baseball up to speed - by Josh Horwitz, Syracuse University

Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: Long Island prepares for major snow storm - by WRHU News Team, Hofstra University
Finalist: September 27, 2017 newscast - by Staff of NCC News, Syracuse University
Finalist: December 11, 2017 newscast - by Rowan Hornbeck, Fordham University

Television

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: NYPD Officer found not guilty in deadly shooting - by Shannon Caturano, Hofstra University

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Lead poisoning in Syracuse - by Staff of CitrusTV News, Syracuse University
Finalist: Local program works to diversify Syracuse City School classrooms - by Alana Seldon, Syracuse University
Finalist: Tompkins County Mental Health Clinic investigative report - by Jack Sears, Michael Pyskaty, Vaughn Golden and Riley Ludwig, Ithaca College

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: A survivor’s story - by Jamie Weiss, Syracuse University
Finalist: From the military to the classroom - by Lauren Sinatra, Syracuse University
Finalist: Can man chases one million bottles and cans - by Michael E. Lehr, Syracuse University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Immigration today: New York City stories - by Staff of NYCity News Service, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
Finalist: The SAFE Act in NYS - by Tom Garris, Vaughn Golde, Michael Pyskaty and Riley Ludwig, Ithaca College
Finalist: This is home now - by Tom Garris, Kelli Kyle and Ciara Lucas, Ithaca College

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Triple threat: Meet Charlee Harris - by Erin Kate Dolan, Penn State University
Finalist: Peyton Sefick is kicking out doubt and scoring big - by Elissa Candiotti, Syracuse University

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Centre County Report: November 17, 2017 - by Staff of Centre County Report, Penn State University
Finalist: Newswatch - by Kimberly Joyce, Devon Bedoya, Jonathan Shea and Riley Ludwig, Ithaca College

Online

Online News Reporting
Winner: Killing Rikers - by Staff of NY City Lens, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism
Finalist: Table scraps - by Staff of NYCity News Service, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
Finalist: Invisible hands - by Staff of NYCity News Service, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Life and struggles of a domestic abuse survivor - by Caitlyn Huebner, Cabrini University
Finalist: How student concentrations are changing at Harvard - by Edith M. Herwitz and Dianne Lee, Harvard University
Finalist: This priest "adopted" 27 young people so they don't get deported - by Lidia Hernández Tapia, Jesenia De Moya and Estefanía Hernández, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Breakdown - by Staff of NYCity News Service, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
Finalist: Disability is a strength: Stories of disabled parents - by Qifan Wang, Nechama Sammet Moring and Kate Suksangium, Boston University
Finalist: Navigating Trump - by Staff of NYCity News Service, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Boys of summer - by Jack Dougherty, Penn State University
Finalist: London calling - by Mark Fischer, Penn State University
Finalist: Neither snow nor rain - by Jingling Zhang, Shuyao Chen, Cameron Hart and Emily Overdorf, Penn State University

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: Trump threatens safety; Slavery has not ended; Do not be a bystander - by Cecelia Heckman, Cabrini University

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: The Harvard Crimson - by Staff of The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University
Finalist: TheDP.com - by Staff of The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
Finalist: temple-news.com - by Staff of The Temple News, Temple University

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: City Blocks - by Staff of City Blocks, Syracuse University
Finalist: The Underground - by Staff of The Underground, Penn State University
Finalist: Re-enact - by Staff of Re-enact, Syracuse University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Before the homes become rubble - by Staff of The Temple News, Temple University
Finalist: Navigating Trump - by Staff of NYCity News Service, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
Finalist: Fifteen most interesting seniors - by Staff of The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University

Videography

Broadcast Feature Videography
Winner: From the military to the classroom - by Lauren Sinatra, Syracuse University
Finalist: A survivor’s story - by Jamie Weiss, Syracuse University
Finalist: Stuck in the snow: a disabled woman’s challenge - by Janay Parrot, Penn State University

Broadcast Sports Videography
Winner: "Armstrong” – a purpose worthy of pursuit - by Chris Venzon, Syracuse University
Finalist: Peyton Sefick is kicking out doubt and scoring big - by Elissa Candiotti, Syracuse University

Online/Digital News Videography
Winner: Floating hospitals treat those impacted by rising seas - by Nikita Sampath, Boston University
Finalist: How addiction affects families - by Ashley Moore, Michelle Guerin and Xavier Young, Cabrini University

Online/Digital Feature Videography
Winner: Salvaged wood reborn - by Shuyao Chen, Penn State University
Finalist: 131st Ground Hog Day - by Cameron Hart, Penn State University
Finalist: A Lesson in love - by Darcy Long, Penn State University

Online/Digital Sports Videography
Winner: Scaling new heights - by Maria Camila Montañez and Carlos Serrano, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism

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.

-END-