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Region 7 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced in Warrensburg, Missouri
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 7 with 2018 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.
SPJs Region 7 comprises Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of April 6 at the Region 7 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 7 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact Matthew Kent 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: No casualties in Lawrence hotel fire, firefighting and investigation to continue by Chandler Boese, University of Kansas
Finalist: KU cheerleaders come forward with hazing allegations by Alex Madrigal, Kansas State University
Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Finalist: Administration heralds plans to blacken Painted Street by Marie Nalan, Drake University
General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: UI student research found over 100 birds collided into 5 campus buildings in 10 weeks by Katelyn Weisbrod, University of Iowa
Finalist: WSU rolls out student-driven plan to raise student fees, upgrade campus infrastructure by Matthew Kelly, Wichita State University
General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 students
Finalist: Racist notes investigation yields copycat by Rachel James and Phong Ly, Drake University
In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Aging out, diving in by Lara Korte, University of Kansas
Finalist: In rural Missouri, going to jail isnt free. You pay for it. by Titus Wu, University of Missouri
In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 students
Winner: Made in translation by Staff of The Webster Journal, Webster University
Finalist: Former Webster University student detained by ICE, threatened with deportation by Andrew J McMunn, Webster University
Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: The long journey home for a World War II veteran memorialized in the Campanile by Tianna Witmer, University of Kansas
Finalist: Teaching compassion by example, UCM alumna connects with students by Leah Kemple, University of Central Missouri
Finalist: University of Iowa history, told through the head Hawks eyes by Marissa Payne, University of Iowa
Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Reporter Todd Smiths scars will never heal after Kirkwood shooting by Christine Tannous, Webster University
Finalist: The road less traveled: How a 50-year-old mom rides to campus in style by Christopher Tenpenny, Missouri Western State University
General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Isabella Rosario, University of Iowa
Finalist: Rebekah Lodos, University of Kansas
General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Finalist: Hanna Holthaus, Webster University
Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: UI legend reflects on 50 years of fighting for gender equality in intercollegiate athletics by Brooklyn Draisey, University of Iowa
Finalist: Closing in on win No. 144: Kirk Ferentz approaches history by Adam Hensley, University of Iowa
Finalist: Kansas hidden blue bloods by Hailey Dixon, University of Kansas
Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Finalist: Athletic Dept. budget by Beau Baker, Missouri Western State University
Editorial Writing
Winner: Isabella Rosario, University of Iowa
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: Iowa State Daily by Staff of Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University
Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Webster Journal by Staff of The Webster Journal, Webster University
Finalist: The Sunflower by Staff of The Sunflower, Wichita State University
Finalist: Times-Delphic by Staff of Times-Delphic, Drake University
Magazines
Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Sit-in at the Minute Inn by Lauren Puckett, University of Missouri
Finalist: Eyes on the sky by Peter Baugh, University of Missouri
Finalist: Game over, cancer by Keegan Pope, University of Missouri
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Legacy Magazine by Staff of Legacy Magazine, Lindenwood University
Finalist: Vox Magazine by Staff of Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Finalist: Drake Magazine by Staff of Drake Magazine, Drake University
Art/Graphics
Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: White silence by Lorien MacEnulty, Drake University
Finalist: Womens March activist by Christine Tannous, Webster University
Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Wearing her game face by Meiying Wu, University of Missouri
Finalist: UCM Family Weekend: A weekend to remember by Molly Burnam, University of Central Missouri
Finalist: Home is where the barn is by Jason Vance, University of Missouri
Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Kirkwood City Hall shooting memorial by Christine Tannous, Webster University
Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Kat Owens, Lindenwood University
General News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: In solidarity by Grace Hulin, Drake University
Finalist: Black Lives Matter protest by Christine Tannous, Webster University
Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Overachiever anxiety by Halle Lang and Mollie Robinson, Kansas State University
Finalist: Worth the work by Phu Nguyen, University of Missouri
Photo Illustration (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Challenging religious traditions: College students are shedding family ties in quest for answers by Kat Owens, Lindenwood University
Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Barnes leaps over Cowboy defenders by Logan Wassall, Kansas State University
Finalist: Looking on greatness by Russell Heitmann, Fort Hays State University
Finalist: Blocking foul by Joseph Barringhaus, Wichita State University
Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Touchdown by JD Pelegrino, Drake University
Finalist: Womens rugby vs. KC Jazz by Lindsey Fiala, Lindenwood University
Radio
Radio Feature
Finalist: Missouri maestro mentors young musicians by Betsy Smith, University of Missouri
Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Legacy of missing Lloyd Gaines, 1938 Supreme Court plaintiff, still haunts higher education by Kathryn Palmer, University of Missouri
Radio News Reporting
Winner: Some Missouri healthcare professionals, advocates disagree on medical marijuana measures by Betsy Smith, University of Missouri
Finalist: Evaporating: Missouri farmers are leaving the dairy industry by Aviva Okeson-Haberman, University of Missouri
Finalist: Trump boosts Hawley in parade of Missouri Republican figures by Aviva Okeson-Haberman and Rosemary Belson, University of Missouri
Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Decade after a motorcycle crash, Dennis Thompson keeps riding by Aviva Okeson-Haberman, University of Missouri
Television
Television General News Reporting
Winner: Character camp by Caleb Brubaker, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: Amy Grant concert by Taylor Flint, Nathaniel Snipe and Ethan Harrison, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: Mars Rover by Kaylyn Kluck, University of Iowa
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Childrens art exhibit by Caleb Brubaker and Matthew Miller, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: Night to Shine brothers by Caleb Brubaker and Micah Redding, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: Littlest cheerleader by Taylor Flint, Brianna Presley, Lauren Presley and Ethan Harrison, College of the Ozarks
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Star City News by Zach Penrice, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: LCTV News by Staff of LCTV News, Loras College
Online
Online News Reporting
Winner: TEDx was canceled over the word transgender, speakers say by Madeline Raineri, Lindenwood University
Finalist: The Legacy magazine gets pulled by Madeline Raineri and Mitchell Kraus, Lindenwood University
Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Painting a new picture: New Americans and their art by Staff of Nebraska Mosaic, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Family of regulars teams up to revive local donut shop by Kayla Drake, Lindenwood University
Finalist: Disaster preparedness 40 feet underground by Samantha Ohlson, Drake University
Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Life on the spectrum: The journey of caregivers by Aviva Okeson-Haberman and Kyra Hass, University of Missouri
Finalist: When being a family farm doesnt mean squat in the governments eyes by Molly Hunter, University of Iowa
Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Safety in numbers: Women find refuge through running groups by Jessica Spangler, Drake University
Finalist: Lindenwood hockeys biggest fans are father and son duo by Madeline Raineri, Lindenwood University
Finalist: The heart of the game by Andrew Beall, Drake University
Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: Censorship is a four-letter word by Lindenlink Editorial Board, Lindenwood University
Finalist: Pressing issues in Latin America by Daniel Saenz, Fort Hays State University
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: Vox Magazine by Staff of Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Finalist: St. Louis Gun Project by Staff of The Webster Journal, Webster University
Finalist: Lindenlink by Staff of Lindenlink, Lindenwood University
Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: Urban Plains by Staff of Urban Plains, Drake University
Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Life on the spectrum: The journey of caregivers by Aviva Okeson-Haberman and Kyra Hass, University of Missouri
Finalist: 20 years later, the story of Lindenwoods only murder by Ashley Higginbotham and Lindsey Fiala, Lindenwood University
Finalist: Painting a new picture: New Americans and their art by Staff of Nebraska Mosaic, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Podcast
Winner: Intersection True/False filmmaker conversations by Elena Rivera and Abby Ivory-Ganja, University of Missouri
Finalist: Hold up by Jessica Spangler and Mitch Kedzier, Drake University
Finalist: Tatted by Kayla Drake, Lindenwood University
Videography
Online/Digital News Videography
Winner: Mazahua Frente by Meg Vatterott, University of Missouri
Online/Digital Feature Videography
Winner: What we carried: Lincoln by Lindsey Yoneda, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: James and David by Di Pan, University of Missouri
Finalist: First-time sky divers by Alex Li, University of Missouri
Broadcast Feature Videography
Finalist: Back on their feet by Ben Friedman, Loras College
Broadcast News Videography
Winner: Declining dairy prices by Kelly Kuboushek, Loras College
Broadcast Sports Videography
Finalist: Duhawk spotlight: Grant Wiederin by Michael Runde, Loras College
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