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Region 9 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced
Contacts:
Matthew Kent, SPJ Program Coordinator, 317-920-4788, mkent@spj.org
Zoλ Berg, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, zberg@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 9 with 2019 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.
SPJs Region 9 comprises Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other regional MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.
Regional winners would normally be recognized at regional conferences, however, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Regional winners have been notified by email and will receive their award certificates via mail.
Regional winners would normally be recognized at regional conferences, however, all SPJ Regional Conferences have been either canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Regional winners have been notified by email and will receive their award certificates via mail.
National winners will be notified in the late spring.
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 9 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. New MOE categories this year include Immersion Journalism, Data Visualization and Collaborative Journalism.
Newspapers
Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Students, community protest Honor Code Office on campus by Staff, Brigham Young University
Finalist: SLC police confirm death of U student MacKenzie Lueck, charge suspect with murder by Elise Vandersteen Bailey, Jacqueline Mumford and Ana Luiza F. Ramos, University of Utah
Finalist: BYU valedictorian comes out as gay in viral convocation speech by Jenna Alton, Brigham Young University
General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Anti-vaccination movement threatens global health by Jenna Alton, Brigham Young University
Finalist: The perfect stranger: A cautionary tale of online dating by Riley Waldman, Brigham Young University
Finalist: A silent campus: CSU during 9/11 by Austin Fleskes and Ravyn Cullor, Colorado State University
In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Is press freedom both at home and abroad declining under the Trump administration? by Kaitlyn Bancroft, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Climate change means uncertain future for New Mexico chile farmers by Leah Romero, New Mexico State University
Finalist: A students guide to your professors career, parts 1-5 by Samantha Ye, Colorado State University
Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: A haunted journey into Tivolis catacombs by Brady Pieper, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: How a former BYU football player has been combining sports and sculpture for nearly 40 years by Kaitlyn Bancroft, Brigham Young University
Finalist: The wheel deal, one mans mission to help those in need by Austin Fleskes, Colorado State University
Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Feature with Colette Carter by Carlos-Diego Sanchez, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Finalist: Feature with Judy Baca by Winter Vera, Colorado State University-Pueblo
General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Morgan Barron, University of Utah
Finalist: Nathan Dalley, University of Utah
Finalist: Isaac Reese, University of Utah
Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: From student to the sidelines by James Burky, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: Teammates through it all: A coming out story by Casey Overfield, University of Utah
Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Daily Universe by Staff of The Daily Universe, Brigham Young University
Finalist: The Signpost by Staff of The Signpost, Weber State University
Magazines
Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Students respond: When will enough be enough at CSU? by Leta McWilliams and Kenia Ortiz, Colorado State University
Finalist: Putting Portugal basketball on the map by Sydney Kidd, Utah State University
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Metrosphere by Staff of The Metrosphere, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: College Avenue: Is your voice being heard by Staff, Colorado State University
Art/Graphics
Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Protesting Culture Wars event by Matt Tackett, Colorado State University
Finalist: ASCSU president reflects on his troubles by Forrest Czarnecki, Colorado State University
Finalist:; Teacher-district standoff reaches boiling point by Ali C.M. Watkins, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Climate change striking close to home by Alesandra C Tejeda, Colorado College
Data Visualization
Winner: Average rent prices over the years by Zhen Tang and Madison Lauterbach, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: Burky and Bradys top 10 QBs in the NFL by James Burky and Brady Pieper, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Ryan Greene editorial cartoons by Ryan Greene, Colorado State University
Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Dark sky studies makes its debut at the U by Kiffer Creveling, University of Utah
Finalist: Dodies Human Tour boasts empowerment and individualism by Colin Shepherd, Colorado State University
Finalist: Artists putting windows in a whole new light by Polina Sarana, Metropolitan State University of Denver
General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Twenty years later: Remembering Columbine by Ali C.M. Watkins, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: Joyful feet set the rhythm at 37th annual AISES Pow Wow by Anna von Pechmann, Colorado State University
Finalist: Friends gather to honor murdered U student by Kiffer Creveling, University of Utah
Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: The father, the mother and the seven7 thunders by Zhen Tang, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: Football, one hundred years later by Monika Clarke and Aubree Eckhardt, Weber State University
Finalist: Chasing champs by Kaileigh Lyons, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Marco? Polo! by Kiffer Creveling, University of Utah
Finalist: Pac-12 championship heartbreaker by Justin Prather, University of Utah
Finalist: Volleyball tops Black Hills by James Burky, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Podcast
Podcast
Winner: Boxed Out Podcast by Matthew Perry, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: AireyBros by Jim Airey and Rich Airey, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Radio
Radio Feature
Winner: Mother House opens pop-up shop in Boulder to help young families by Megan Webber, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Water users on the Yampa face tighter regulations by Alejandra Wilcox, University of Colorado, Boulder
Television
Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Campus gas leak by Zachary Aedo, Utah State University
Finalist: West classroom cancer concern by Brenden Mincheff, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Television General News Reporting
Winner: Antelope Island bison round-up by Taylor Hansen, Brigham Young University
Finalist: ROTC 24-hour vigil by Brandon Dean and Kendall Douglass, Utah State University
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Bicycle Brent by Zachary Aedo, Utah State University
Finalist: Bacteria in your water bottle by Chris Jacobs, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Christmas tree choosing by Austin Elder, Utah State University
Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Railroad impact on agriculture by Corryn La Rue and Christy Achen, Utah State University
Finalist: Railroad impact on archaeology by Zachary Aedo, Utah State University
Finalist: Railroad impact on Utah by Zachary Aedo, Utah State University
Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Trash car racing by Adam Larson, Utah State University
Finalist: Street snowboarding by McKay Jensen, Utah State University
Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: The last spike by Staff of Cache Rendezvous, Utah State University
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Newsline by Karmen Kodia and Melissa Gibbs, Brigham Young University
Online
Online News Reporting
Winner: Students hold rally in protest of Mark Kennedys presidential nomination by Carina Julig, Robert Tann, Tory Lysik and Lucy Haggard, University of Colorado
Finalist: Micromobility in Boulder: What is it? by Anna Haynes, University of Colorado
Finalist: Inside the wild frat formal that contributed to the split between SigEp and IFC by Tory Lysik, University of Colorado
Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Behind the scenes of affluent Boulder is the citys working class by Hanah Metzger, University of Colorado
Finalist: Youthful warriors by Dylan Boxer, Arapahoe Community College
Finalist: Free speech, hate speech and an executive order by Robert Tann, Anna Haynes and Fiona Matson, University of Colorado
Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Yellow Deli restaurant linked to organization accused of child abuse, CUI investigation finds by Colie Dorfman, University of Colorado
Finalist: Communication is key to climate change divide by Sevia Gonzalez and Joe Rull, University of New Mexico
Finalist: What you need to know about a ballot effort to bring wolves back to Colorado by Alesandra C Tejeda, Colorado College
Online Sports Reporting
Winner: High impact by Jason Truitt, Arapahoe Community College
Online Opinion & Commentary
Finalist: CU Bluffs: Students want to rename sidewalk something more politically correct by Alex Mumm, University of Colorado
Finalist: Opinion: Thinking green doesnt have to make us feel blue by Savannah Mather, University of Colorado
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: The Today at CSU-Pueblo by Staff of The Today at CSU-Pueblo, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Finalist: BYU Daily Universe by Staff of BYU Daily Universe, Brigham Young University
Finalist: The Signpost by Staff of The Signpost, Weber State University
Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: New Mexico News Port by New Mexico News Port Team, University of New Mexico
Videography
Online/Digital News Videography
Winner: CSU students of color criticize administration over response to blackface photo by Staff, Colorado State University
Online/Digital Feature Videography
Winner: Safe or Unsafe U? by View from the U, University of Utah
Broadcast Feature Videography
Finalist: Healing on horseback by Shae Densley, Utah State University
Broadcast News Videography
Winner: Bike park opens by Brandon Dean, Utah State University
Finalist: Saving a granary by Shae Densley, Utah State University
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