CONTACT:
Lou Harry, 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 11 with 2020 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 11 comprises Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada and Mariana Islands. 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 11 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.

Newspapers

Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Breaking news: North complex fire - by Chloe Curtis, Kimberly Morales, Matthew Wreden, Chico State
Finalist: 'Instant chaos': Police shot into crowd minutes after beginning to clear road for Trump - by Helen Wieffering, Arizona State University
Finalist: Westwood protest continues despite cancellation, police detain at least 10 - by Justin Jung, Isabella Fortier, University of California, Los Angeles

Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Man detained in sexual battery case - by Andrew Alonzo, University of La Verne
Finalist: University begins coronavirus response plans - by Jocelyn Arceo, University of La Verne
Finalist: Over 100 students attend Black Student Union protest calling for greater administration response - by Jasmin Sani, Luca Evans, Chapman University

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: ‘This is what we signed up for’ - by Daniel Wu, Stanford University
Finalist: Faculty of color underrepresented at CSULB - by Austin Brumblay, Cal State Long Beach
Finalist: UCLA reinstates accounting lecturer previously on leave for controversial email - by Samantha Fredberg, University of California, Los Angeles

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: ‘This is not who we are’: Chapman professor represents Trump in lawsuit - by Jasmin Sani, Chapman University
Finalist: Pandemic and virtual semester mean deep budget cuts with possibly more to come - by Alondra Campos, University of La Verne
Finalist: Pepperdine suspends international and abroad programs and sends students home - by Ashley Mowreader, Pepperdine University

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: ‘Destroyed my career’: Faculty report unchecked sexual harassment in School of Medicine - by Kate Selig, Stanford University
Finalist: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict on campus - by Paisley Trent, San Francisco State University
Finalist: Fresno State cuts several athletic programs - by Anthony De Leon, Marc Anthony Lopez, Zaeem Shaikh, California State University, Fresno

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Death and injustice in the Borderlands - by Julia Woock, Southwestern College
Finalist: Inside a workplace sexual assault allegation: The internal and external investigations of the eepart - by Channa Steinmetz, Pepperdine University
Finalist: DACA student navigates goals amid obstacles, uncertainty - by Brianna Estrada, University of La Verne

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Consenting to condoms - by Natalie Miranda, California State University, Northridge
Finalist: Nobel Prize-winning professor pushes to prove every challenge is an opportunity - by Shruti Iyer, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: Niche Book Bar brings Black literature to Milwaukee via bike while the owner plans a permanent shop - by Agya K. Aning, Arizona State University

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Frontline student - by Ana Paola Olvera, Southwestern College
Finalist: Students show professor appreciation on Zoom in TikTok trend - by Luca Evans, Mitali Shukla, Chapman University
Finalist: Alumnus hopes to inspire LGBTQ+ acceptance through entertainment industry - by Christin Karr, Pepperdine University

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: The Real Woods story - by Tammer Bagdasarian, Stanford University
Finalist: Jaime Jaquez Jr. hopes to make familia proud, aims to inspire future Latino players - by Jared Tay, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: Former UA athletic director Ced Dempsey 88, still fighting as he faces latest health challenge - by Rebecca L Thompson, University of Arizona

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: SC 1, Yankees 0 - by Andrew Sanchez, Southwestern College
Finalist: Alumnus goes from fighting in the water to fighting fire - by Joe Perrino, Chapman University
Finalist: Where are they now?: Stacy Davis balling across the globe - by Paxton Ritchey, Pepperdine University

Editorial Writing
Winner: The Daily Aztec - by Editorial Board, Brenden Tuccinardi, San Diego State University
Finalist: Sarah Myers editorials - by Sarah Myers, Stanford University
Finalist: Letter from the Editor - by Jack Hughes, Santa Monica College

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Navdeep Bal - by Navdeep Bal, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: PC Princess - by Jacob Sutherland, University of California San Diego
Finalist: Talamante's take on national events - by Nicholas Talamante, Cal Poly Pomona

General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Abroad in South Korea during COVID-19 - by Claire Lee, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Commentary - by Deja Goode, University of La Verne
Finalist: Journey for justice - by Julia Woock, Southwestern College

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Football warmup - by Anthony De Leon, California State University, Fresno
Finalist: Jack Perez - by Jack Perez, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: Opinion: PGM sports desk picks NFL - by Staff, Pepperdine University

Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: The Daily Aztec - by Staff, San Diego State University
Finalist: Daily Bruin - by Staff, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: Daily Sundial - by Staff, California State University, Northridge

Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small) 1-9,999+ Students
Winner: El Leñador English and Spanish Newspaper - by Staff, Humboldt State University
Finalist: Special issues: Black Lives Matter, The power of democracy, Merry COVID-Christmas - by The Panther, Chapman University
Finalist: The Southwestern College Sun - by Julia Woock, Sun Staff, Southwestern College

Magazines

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Thoughts, prayers and stem cells - by Katherine Sypher, Anthony J. Wallace, Arizona State University
Finalist: Arizona’s beloved San Pedro River is about to meet the rising wall on the US-Mexico Border - by Helen Wieffering, Arizona State University
Finalist: Stranded in Tijuana - by Julia Woock, Southwestern College

Best Student Magazine
Winner: El Sol - by Staff, Southwestern College
Finalist: Currents Magazine Spring 2020: Everyday Feminism - by Staff, Pepperdine University
Finalist: State Press Magazine: The Principles Issue - by Staff, Arizona State University

Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: LAPD cruiser burns during Black Lives Matter protest - by Yasamin Jafari-Tehrani, Santa Monica College
Finalist: UCLA-leased Jackie Robinson Stadium facilities used by LAPD to detain protestors - by Liz Ketcham, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: George Floyd BLM protests - by Valerie Moffat, Arizona State University

Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Chino Hills residents debate evacuating during fire - by Jasmin Sani, Chapman University
Finalist: Eureka protests erupt after George Floyd murder - by Thomas Lal, Humboldt State Univeristy

General News Photography
Winner: Bayview coalition demands justice for environmental racism - by Harika Maddala, San Francisco State University
Finalist: Protester confronts wall of police batons. - by Maxim Elramsisy, Santa Monica College
Finalist: Bernie Sanders - by Logan Bik, California State University, Northridge

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Personal essay: Capturing and documenting trauma in Panama - by Nicole Neri, Arizona State University
Finalist: The hidden homeless - by Delia Johnson, Arizona State University
Finalist: Shareef O’Neal’s tattoos paint pictures of personal journey, allow self-expression - by MacKenzie Coffman, University of California, Los Angeles

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Black Lives Matter: The digital mobilization of citizen journalists - by Julia Navarro, Humboldt State University
Finalist: Dance in flight sparks feeling into motion - by Milan Loiacono, Pepperdine University

Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: VOTE! - by Johaira Dilauro, Santa Monica College

Photo Illustration (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Taking The Who by the horn - by Edward Herrera, Southwestern College
Finalist: Dance clubs - by Adrienne Green, Arizona State University

Sports Photography
Winner: Gallery: Off a game-winning 3-pointer by Jaime Jaquez Jr., men’s basketball takes down Arizona State - by Andy Bao, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: Joey Logano NASCAR celebration - by Brady Klain, Arizona State University

Data Visualization
Winner: California propositions 2020 - by Sonia Hiew, Michael Goldsmith, Santa Monica College
Finalist: Pepp’s 2019 tax information reveals top-10 highest-paid administrators - by Ali Levens, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Modeling the spread of COVID-19 in UCLA classrooms - by Radhika Ahuja, Charlotte Huang, Sydney Kovach, Laurel Woods, University of California, Los Angeles

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Andrea Grigsby - by Andrea Grigsby, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: COVID-19 cartoons by ricegrain - by Kassandra Rice, Humboldt State University
Finalist: Cartoons for The Stanford Daily - by Julia Gong, Stanford University

Radio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Phoenix area restaurants survival - by Caitlynn McDaniel, Arizona State University
Finalist: Arizona water catchments - by Jonah Hrkal, Arizona State University
Finalist: Airport rideshare fees - by Emma VandenEinde, Arizona State University

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Zoonotic diseases traced to illegal wildlife trade - by Caitlynn McDaniel, Arizona State University
Finalist: Pandemic compounding plastic waste problem - by Madison Cerro, Arizona State University

Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Gabe Trujillo, Spanish-speaking PBP voice of AZ Cardinals - by Jonah Hrkal, Arizona State University

Television

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Trump COVID diagnosis - by Staff, Chapman University
Finalist: Obama holds drive-in rally for the Biden Campaign - by Samantha Moskow, Jillian Carmenate, Noah Camras, University of Southern California
Finalist: Young at heart on water skis - by Sean Rice, Arizona State University/Walter Cronkite School

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Firefighter cancer - by Dylan McKim, Arizona State University
Finalist: How to vote by mail - by Genevieve Glass, University of Southern California
Finalist: Venezuelan migrants find refuge - by Dominic Torres, California State University Fullerton

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Virtual pow wow dancing - by Jennifer Alvarez, Arizona State University
Finalist: Mexican wolves diversity - by Dylan McKim, Arizona State University
Finalist: The miracle wish - by Katelynn Keenehan, Arizona State University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: COVID prisons - by Katelyn Keenehan, Arizona State University
Finalist: Maternal mortality - by Jennifer Alvarez, Arizona State University
Finalist: Gender discrimination in sports - by Brittany Smith, Amari Martin, California State University, Northridge

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Skating through adversity - by Michael Gutnick, Arizona State University/Walter Cronkite School
Finalist: Field of desert dreams - by Adam Noel, Arizona State University/Walter Cronkite School
Finalist: Coach creates safe space - by Abigal Shipley, Arizona State University/Walter Cronkite School

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Chapman News. 03-06-2020 - by Staff, Chapman University
Finalist: Live: Kobe and Gianna Bryant's Memorial - by Nikki Walker, Becky Sweeney, Myra Wu, University of Southern California
Finalist: Cronkite News 11/09/20 - by Alexa Fuenmayor, Chayanne Moreno, Arizona State University

Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: Cronkite Sports Report: Season 13, Episode 1 - by Cronkite News: Phoenix Sports Bureau Staff, Arizona State University/Walter Cronkite School
Finalist: The COVID Diaries - by Staff, Chapman University

Online

Online News Reporting
Winner: Operation Agent Touch - by Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Staff, Arizona State University
Finalist: Student journalists question new community college security plan - by David Rowe, Pamela Rudd, Laney College
Finalist: Cross fostering helps Mexican wolf population boost genetic mix - by Christopher Howley, Michael Hannan, Arizona State University

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: ‘I wanted to do more than hold a sign’: Street medic crew forms out of Black Lives Matter protests - by Jonmaesha Beltran, Arizona State University
Finalist: Invisible chapters: Writing the Black community into stories of libraries, bookstores and publishing - by Haillie Parker, Allie Barton, Arizona State University

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Panama – Where the world waits at America’s door - by Calah Schlabach, Nino Abdaladze, Daja Henry, Anthony J. Wallace, Arizona State University
Finalist: ASU's sexual assault investigation processes leave survivors traumatized, often without justice - by Wyatt Myskow, Andrew Onodera, Piper Hansen, Arizona State University
Finalist: Homeland secrets - by Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Staff, Arizona State University

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Lawsuit claims concussions turned ASU linebacker Jason Franklin’s dreams to despair - by Jordan Rogers, Arizona State
Finalist: A free ride: Erick Cedeño cycles 2,200 miles to experience the underground railroad - by Amna Subhan, Arizona State
Finalist: Lending a hand(print): Athletes raise awareness for missing, murdered Indigenous women - by Averi Roberts, Arizona State

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: Beyond Bruin Walk - by Jake Brophy, Sabrina Huang, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: Columns for The Bottom Line - by Raymond Matthews, University of California Santa Barbara
Finalist: Pepperdine Graphic Media Staff Editorials - by Staff, Pepperdine University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Who we are: Finding home - by Staff, USC Annenberg
Finalist: Finding shelter - by Staff, San Francisco State University
Finalist: Sea level rise and its impact on coastal cities like Malibu - by Jenna Gaertner, Brianna Willis, Pepperdine University

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: DailyWildcat.com - by Staff, University of Arizona
Finalist: The Los Angeles Loyolan website - by Staff, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Santa Monica College The Corsair website - by Staff, Santa Monica College

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: JOVRNALISM - by Staff, USC Annenberg
Finalist: The State Press - by Staff, Arizona State University

Videography

Broadcast News Videography
Winner: The essential workers of the Coachella Valley - by Edwin Flores, California State University Fullerton
Finalist: How a small Arizona town saved itself from the COVID-19 food crisis - by Luke Simmons, Arizona State University
Finalist: Heriberto Carrillo: The firefighter - by Olga Rojas, University of Southern California

Broadcast Feature Videography
Winner: Virtual pow wow dancing - by Jennifer Alvarez, Arizona State University
Finalist: The miracle wish - by Katelyn Keenehan, Arizona State University
Finalist: Navajo firewood - by McKenzie Allen-Charmley, Arizona State University

Broadcast Sports Videography
Winner: Derby Dames - by Mackenzie Quinn, California State University Fullerton
Finalist: End of an era: SDCCU Stadium - by Kyle Betz, Brenden Tuccinardi, San Diego State University

Online/Digital News Videography
Winner: SF State student stuck in Ghana - by David Sjostedt, San Francisco State University
Finalist: Breaking down the 2020 Arizona ballot - by Travis Robertson, Arizona State University
Finalist: UCSB 4 COLA sickout - by Arianna McDonald, Chelsea Yuipco, University of California Santa Barbara

Online/Digital Feature Videography
Winner: Generations of ink: Outer Limits Tattoo - by Lauren Berny, Pablo Unzueta, Cal State Long Beach
Finalist: Herberger student who lost job to COVID-19 starts vintage clothes business - by Drake Presto, Arizona State University

Online/Digital Sports Videography
Winner: San Jose State University football team comes to Humboldt - by Dakota Cox, Skylar Gaven, Thomas Lal, Humboldt State University

Video Game Reporting

Video Game Reporting
Winner: Arizona Smash community faces challenge during pandemic - by Connor Van Ligten, Arizona State
Finalist: Coverage of CPP's Campus Esports - by Arturo Aguirre, Audissey Hernandez, Cheyenne Thomas, Cal Poly Pomona
Finalist: While collegiate esports are on the rise, sports games are being left behind - by Michael Carpenter, Arizona State

Immersion Journalism

Immersion Journalism
Winner: Who we are: Finding home - by Staff, USC Annenberg

Podcasts

Podcast
Winner: DACAmented - by Brianna Estrada, Christine D. Insigne, Arianna Rodriguez, University of La Verne
Finalist: Uproot: Part 2 - by Ivy Moore, Lindsey Sullivan, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Voice acting and representation - by Melissa Cho, Chapman University

All Platforms

Collaborative Journalism
Winner: The Xpress 2020 California ballot measure voting guide - by Staff, San Francisco State University

COVID-19

COVID-19: Newspaper, Magazine and Online Coverage (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Tracking coronavirus at UCLA - by Staff, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: Caring for COVID's invisible victims - by Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Staff, Arizona State University
Finalist: COVID in Indian Country - by Staff, Arizona State University

COVID-19: Newspaper, Magazine and Online Coverage (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Graphic covers COVID-19 on the website - by Staff, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Chapman study explores xenophobia toward Asian Americans - by Luca Evans, Chapman University
Finalist: Diaries of a modern plague - by Emily J. Sullivan, University of La Verne

COVID-19: Video Coverage (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Coronavirus pandemia mundial (Coronavirus global pandemic) - by Staff, California State University Fullerton
Finalist: A mother's journey - by Franco LaTona, Arizona State University
Finalist: How a small Arizona town saved itself from the COVID-19 food crisis - by Luke Simmons, Arizona State University

COVID-19: Video Coverage (Small) 1-9,999+ Students
Winner: COVID and tourism - by Colette Ngo, Chapman University
Finalist: Interviews with Dr. Jerika Lam - by Jackie Gold, Chapman University
Finalist: The environment during COVID-19 - by Abby Wilt, Pepperdine University

COVID-19: Digital (Still) Photography
Winner: Gallery: Housing move-in day amid the COVID-19 pandemic - by Justin Jung, Naveed Pour, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: Views from quarantine - by Samantha Chow, Arizona State University
Finalist: Students left scrambling to get home after Pepperdine gives 5 days to move out - by Brianna Willis, Pepperdine University

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