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Region 8 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced in Stephenville, Texas
Contacts:
Matthew Kent, SPJ Program Coordinator, 317-920-4788, mkent@spj.org
Jennifer Royer, SPJ Director of Communications and Marketing, 317-361-4134, jroyer@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 8 with 2018 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.
SPJs Region 8 comprises Oklahoma and Texas. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of March 23 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 San Antonio.
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 mkent@spj.org or 317-920-4788.
This list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award entries.
Newspapers
Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: NE instructor suspended after bizarre class by Jamil Oakford, Tarrant County College
Finalist: Social media post criticized by Cat Herndon, Del Mar College
Finalist: Police release information about kidnapping, sexual assault by Dalton Heitmeier, University of Texas at Arlington
Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Mandadi case by Grace Frye, Daniel Conrad and Kathleen Creedon, Trinity University
Finalist: Cox suspended 11 days before first football game by Hannah Onder and Hannah Lathen, Texas Wesleyan University
Finalist: Jeffcoat released after controversial email goes viral by Karan Muns, Texas Wesleyan University
General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Department of Housing and Residential Life silences Ras with unconstitutional policy by Carrington Tatum, Texas State University
Finalist: Report details complaints of sexual harassment, sexual assault against former Tech band director by Michael Cantu, Texas Tech University
Finalist: Words Matter: The reality of Muslim-Americans by Maia Anderson and Madeline Mitchell, Miami University
General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 students
Finalist: Same-sex dating policy sparks reactions on and off campus by Haley Remenar, Abilene Christian University
In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Chartwells workers series by Megan Zerez, University of Texas at Dallas
Finalist: Professor accused of inappropriate behavior by Quanecia Fraser, Tarleton State University
Finalist: Allegations against President Boreing reveal Student Government trend of TPUSA affiliation by Sawyer Click, Jakob Rodriguez and Kaiti Evans, Texas State University
In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 students
Winner: Budget cuts and 16-hour credit block by Hannah Lathen, Hannah Onder and Alpha Diallo, Texas Wesleyan University
Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Working Stiffs series by Staff, University of North Texas
Finalist: Sutherland Springs: evil did not win by May Olvera, Texas State University
Finalist: The route to Antelope Wells: District Bicycles employees finish in top 8 of Tour Divide race by Hallie Hart, Oklahoma State University
Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: The end of a mystery: Driver of Scooby Doo van to graduate by Haley Remenar, Abilene Christian University
Finalist: Former student finds joy in Austin by Kara Killinger, Trinity University
Finalist: Ordex-Ramirez overcomes hardships to graduate from Wesleyan by Hannah Lathen, Texas Wesleyan University
General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Didi Martinez, Maya Butler and Cameron Stuart, Baylor University
Finalist: Baylee Bogus, Texas State University
Finalist: Staff of CommUNITY Voices, University of Texas at Arlington
General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Hannah Lathen, Texas Wesleyan University
Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: After the last sunset: Pattersons legacy lives in new OSU soccer stadium, beyond by Hallie Hart, Oklahoma State University
Finalist: Abby Dunkin beats the odds by Arianna Vedia, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist: Blocked! by Cade Smith, Lamar University
Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Wildcats upend TCU in extras by Jonathan Raitz, Abilene Christian University
Finalist: Mens soccer dominates at home by Evan Brown, Trinity University
Editorial Writing
Winner: Austin P. Taylor, San Antonio College
Finalist: Meredith Wagner and Kalyn Story, Baylor University
Finalist: Staff of The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Shorthorn by Staff of The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist: The OU Daily - by Staff of The OU Daily, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: The Collegian - by Staff of The Collegian, Tarrant County College
Magazines
Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Between these shelves by Colby Farr, Del Mar College
Finalist: But theres also hope by Corrie Coleman, Baylor University
Finalist: Taste of Vietnam by Reese Oxner, University of Texas at Arlington
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Common Ground by Staff of The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist: Cross Timbers Trails by Staff of Cross Timbers Trails, Tarleton State University
Finalist: The Siren by Staff of The Siren, Del Mar College
Art/Graphics
Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Protestors march for gun control reform by Alexis Austin, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist: Ted keeps it red by Jordan Collard, University of North Texas
Finalist: Beto rallies voters by Daniel LeNoir, Tarrant County College
Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Students protest Board of Trustees meeting by Hannah Lathen, Texas Wesleyan University
Finalist: Fire by Lauren Franco, Abilene Christian University
Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: The good, the bad, the tatted by Hannah LeTulle, Lamar University
Finalist: Express yourself by Meredith Wagner, Baylor University
Finalist: Alpaca snack by Baylee VerSteeg, Baylor University
Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Aftin Gavin, Tarrant County College
Finalist: Rewon Shimray, Baylor University
General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Beto ORourke visits Del Mar College by Cat Herndon, Del Mar College
Finalist: Senate candidates hit the Coastal Bend by Charlie Blalock, Del Mar College
Finalist: Student honored with memorial by Anna Geyer, University of Texas at Arlington
General News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Seniors gather at Nicholas Martin Hall for Spring 2018 robing by Hannah Onder, Texas Wesleyan University
Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Music Monday: Kotoh by Shay Cohen and Duy Vu, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist: OU Daily photo illustrations by Caitlyn Epes and Jordan Miller, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: RecoverED by Jessica Hubble, Baylor University
Photo Illustration (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Remembering by Lauren Franco, Abilene Christian University
Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: CeeDee Lamb, Jumpman by Caitlyn Epes, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Lady Movin Mavs champions again by Duy Vu, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist: Aztec Queen continues reign by Jaylyn Garcia, Del Mar College
Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Sophomore midfielder by Matthew Claybrook, Trinity University
Finalist: Dunk by Lauren Franco, Abilene Christian University
Radio
Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: KGOU-FM noon newscast by Storme Jones, University of Oklahoma
Radio Feature
Finalist: Abilene group builds tiny houses for healing by Haley Remenar, Abilene Christian University
Radio News Reporting
Winner: Plastic bag fee by Storme Jones, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Abilene Reporter News building burns by Amber Chavez, Abilene Christian University
Television
Television General News Reporting
Winner: Oklahoma Baptist in Florida by Storme Jones, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Sexual Identity Forum gives LGBT students a place on campus by Rylee Seavers, Baylor University
Finalist: Untested rape kits by Harlee Toothman, University of Oklahoma
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Acrobat turns MMA champ by Meredith Aldis, Baylor University
Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Sacrificing it all by Ben Savallo, University of North Texas
Finalist: Bears secure bowl eligibility by Noah Torr, Baylor University
Finalist: New softball coach by Amie Cisneros, Lamar University
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: OU Nightly by Lauren Linville and Jesse Lofton, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Global News Relay by Staff of Baylor Lariat TV News, Baylor University
Finalist: nTV Nightly News: October 17 newscast by Drake Lawson and Daniela Ibarra, University of North Texas
Online
Online News Reporting
Winner: Coverage of sexual harassment allegations against a drama professor by Jana Allen, Anna Bauman and Abigail Hall, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Student identified as possible drowning victim by Staff of The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist: Houston Dreamer rushes to finish UH before DACA expiration by Gabby DeLeon, University of Houston
Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Hidden legends: Prominent black women in OU history by Anna Bauman, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: On the rise by Marangeli Lopez, University of Texas at Arlington
Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Coverage of a secretive and contentious university presidential transition by Anna Bauman, Nick Hazelrigg, Kayla Branch, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Lessons from the Cape Town water crisis by Jacqueline Flynn, Texas Christian University
Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Coverage of a top MLB draft pick and Heisman Trophy winners year by George Stoia, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Cross departure marks end of era by Staff of The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: Baylorlariat.com by Staff of Baylor Lariat, Baylor University
Finalist: TheShorthorn.com by Staff of The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist: OUDaily.com by Staff of The OU Daily, University of Oklahoma
Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: On the rise by Marangeli Lopez, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist: Unfiltered: The Oklahoma teacher walkout by Sarah Beth Guevara, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: A day in the life of UNT by Staff of NT Daily, University of North Texas
Podcast
Winner: Hate in America: Evolution of hate by Storme Jones, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Uncovered: The lovers lane murders by Kayla Branch, Will Conover and Paxson Haws, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: The Shorthorn Round Up: April 27 by Nick Tarrant, University of Texas at Arlington
Videography
Online/Digital Feature Videography
Winner: Focus on you: Michele Capri achieves dream at Louvre by Maria Mendoza and Evelin De La Rosa, University of Houston
Finalist: Young entrepreneur moves from garage to upscale barbershop by Viridiana Fernandez, University of Houston
Finalist: OU in about 60 seconds by Will Conover and Caitlyn Epes, University of Oklahoma
Online/Digital News Videography
Winner: Womens history and poetry celebration by Nicole M. Bautista, San Antonio College
Finalist: FBI releases app to help Special Agent applicants by Matt Barrett and Gabby De Leon, University of Houston
Finalist: March for our Lives stays in media spotlight by Maria Mendoza, University of Houston
Online/Digital Sports Videography
Winner: Lady Movin Mavs leave legacy by Arianna Vedia, University of Texas at Arlington
Finalist: OU football pre- and postgame videos by Will Conover, University of Oklahoma