CONTACT:
Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, 317-920-4786, lharry@spj.org
Ashlynn Neumeyer, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-361-4133, aneumeyer@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 7 with 2020 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 7 comprises Iowa, Kansa, Missouri and Nebraska. 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 SPJ’s national conference.

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 Manager of Publications and Awards Lou Harry by email or 317-920-4786.

This list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award entries. New MOE categories were added this year for COVID-19 and video game reporting.

Newspaper

Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Fraternity kicked off campus; Kansan has the scoop - by Nicole Asbury, Lucy Peterson, University of Kansas

General News Reporting
Winner: The politics of climate change: How we can have more productive conversations - by Dylan Patrick, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: As flooding anniversary nears, majority of Nebraskans concerned about climate change - by Libby Seline, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Patients face roadblocks in medical marijuana program - by Caleb McCullough, University of Iowa

In-Depth Reporting
Winner: ‘Isolated and anxious:’ Dental students react to an email thread, remarks made within their college - by Alexandra Skores, University of Iowa
Finalist: How a relatively smooth Iowa caucus process derailed - by Sarah Watson, University of Iowa
Finalist: Eco-anxiety: Taking its toll on global youth - by Aila Ganic, Kayla Vondracek, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Feature Writing
Winner: ‘It was never the same’: Remembering the Oklahoma City bombing 25 years later - by Katie Ann McCarver, University of Iowa
Finalist: How the Winnebago are planting ancient corn to regrow their culture - by Andrianna Jacobs, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Coronavirus deals challenges, rewards to Lehigh Valley wineries: ‘We were like a mini-Amazon' - by Julia Shanahan, University of Iowa

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Robert Read - by Robert Read, University of Iowa

Best All-Around Student Newspaper
Winner: The Daily Iowan - by Staff, University of Iowa

Magazine

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: 2050 vision - by Staff, University of Missouri-Columbia
Finalist: From slavery to solace - by Alexandra Sharp, University of Missouri-Columbia
Finalist: The right to vote and the fight to vote - by Staff, University of Missouri-Columbia

Best Student Magazine
Winner: Vox Magazine - by Staff, University of Missouri-Columbia

Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography
Winner: Protest arrest - by Katie Goodale, University of Iowa
Finalist: Protests - by Jenna Galligan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Cedar Rapids derecho - by Jeff Sigmund, University of Iowa

General News Photography
Winner: Trump rally - by Ryan Adams, University of Iowa

Feature Photography
Winner: Home - by Jacob Moscovitch, University of Missouri-Columbia

Photo Illustration
Winner: Wonderland - by Sam Balmer, University of Missouri-Columbia
Finalist: ‘No pain, no gain’ mindset causes student-athletes’ mental health to suffer - by James Tananan Kamnuedkhun, Lindenwood University

Sports Photography
Winner: Iowa-Ohio state wrestling - by Shivansh Ahuja, University of Iowa

Television

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Tony Melendez - by Ethan Harrison, Nate Hankins, Verve Reposar, Jackson Bliss, College of the Ozarks

Online

Online News Reporting
Winner: Rising temperatures put heat on Nebraska's $7 billion corn industry - by Sophia Svanda, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Public record or trade secret? Battle over liquor licenses could go to PA high court - by Julia Shanahan, University of Iowa
Finalist: The impact of climate change on Nebraska's water: Too much and too little - by Celeste Kenworthy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Colorado construction cranes may harm Nebraska's sandhill cranes - by Brittni McGuire, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Two of 21st century's most toxic words - by Lauren Dietrich, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Experts: Climate poses significant public health threat - by Grace Gorenflo, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Coronavirus creates a growing void between families and their loved ones in PA nursing homes - by Julia Shanahan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Environmental racism: How climate change disproportionately impacts communities of color - by Aila Ganić, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: ‘No pain, no gain’ mindset causes student-athletes’ mental health to suffer - by Merlina San Nicolás Leyva, Lindenwood University

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: Forget about politics, why Black lives matter - by Carmen Fanning, Fort Hays State University

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: VoxMagazine.com - by Staff, University of Missouri-Columbia

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: Climate change Nebraska - by Meera Patel, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Lindenlink - by Staff, Lindenwood University

Videography

Broadcast Feature Videography
Winner: Virtual homecoming - by Verve Reposar, Olivia Best, Sarah Best, Nathaniel Jeffries, College of the Ozarks

COVID-19

COVID-19: Newspaper, Magazine and Online Coverage
Winner: COVID-19 university and border closures leave international students in confusing situations - by Merlina San Nicolás Leyva, Kayla Drake, Matt Hampton, Lindenwood University

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 SPJ Foundation.

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