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 12 with 2020 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 12 comprises Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. 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 12 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 (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Sam Pittman tests positive for COVID-19 - by Robert Stewart, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Officers respond to shooting at Aspen Heights, 1 injured - by Daniel Dye, Mississippi State University
Finalist: Confederate monument leaves the center of campus - by Eliza Noe, University of Mississippi

Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Outgoing Loyola director under investigation at Arizona State - by Rose Wagner, Loyola University New Orleans

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Upperclassmen displaced from campus apartments to make room large freshman class - by Anna Jones, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Transgender, non-binary students lack representation in research - by Sarah Komar, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Law students defend ICE detainees 6 months after mass-arrest - by Hadley Hitson, University of Mississippi

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Clashing petitions call for Walter Block to be fired, given a raise over academic work - by Emma Ruby, Rose Wagner, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: ‘'Part of the kingdom’': Documentary sheds light on the experiences of LGBTQIA+ students at Christian universities - by Catherine Nolte, John Brown University

In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Phi Kappa Psi hazing allegations bear resemblance to 2017 Max Gruver case - by Anna Jones, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Sonya Duhe loses job to ASU - by Rose Wagner, Loyola University New Orleans

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: 'It doesn't represent me' - by Morgan O'Neal, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Friends, family remember deceased student as loyal friend, hero - by Sarah Komar, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Delta Sigma Theta President leaves mark on campus, continues family legacy - by Hanna Ellington, University of Arkansas

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Loyola senior grapples with saying goodbye to college during COVID-19 - by Rose Wagner, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Pregnant women cope with giving birth during COVID-19 - by Rae Walberg, Loyola University New Orleans

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Ole Miss football team skips practice to march on the Square - by Kelby Zendejas, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Ado leads Bulldogs to 2 crucial victories - by Hunter Cloud, Mississippi State University

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: University-mandated quarantine leaves student-athletes feeling deprived of nutrition - by Gabriella Killett, Brendan Heffernan, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: How Loyola sports created Olympic athletes, lost its athletics program and gained it back - by Rae Walberg, Loyola University New Orleans

Editorial Writing
Winner: Maroon editorials - by Gaby Carballo, Daniel Schwalm, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Race, COVID, and change in Mississippi - by Dylan Bufkin, Mississippi State University
Finalist: Good journalism is incorruptible; Mental health and the modern church; Beyond the present times - by Alena Noakes, Louisiana College

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: John Hyrdrisko columns - by John Hydrisko, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Making sense of the pandemic - by Riley Stephens, Mississippi State University

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Simon Gibbs, Vanderbilt University — Football Columns - by Simon Gibbs, Vanderbilt University
Finalist: Is XFL worth the watch or over-hyped?; Where will Brady play next?; Will LBJ be the next MVP? - by Khalifah Muhammad, Grambling State University

Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: The Daily Mississippian - by Staff, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Reflector 2020 - by Staff, Mississippi State University

Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small) 1-9,999+ Students
Winner: The Maroon - by Rose Wagner, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: The Gramblinite - by Staff, Grambling State University

Magazines

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: The noted invalid - by Tegan Shockley, University of Arkansas
Finalist: As the city slept - by Beth Dedman, University of Arkansas

Best Student Magazine
Winner: Hill Magazine - by Natalie Demeree, University of Arkansas

Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Racism is a pandemic - by Heidi Kirk, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Day our screens went black - by Kerri Holt, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Open doors, closed mouths - by Billy Schuerman, University of Mississippi

Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Nashville tornado damage - by Mckenzi Harris, Lipscomb University

General News Photography
Winner: Through the lens: Skate night - by Alena Noakes, Louisiana College
Finalist: 'We are Ole Miss, too' - by Billy Schuerman, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Semi-submerged car Feb. 13, 2020 - by Shamirah Hollier, Grambling State University

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Metri Lyons makes Mississippi his NYC - by Mary Georgia Hamilton, Mississippi State University
Finalist: Circus legacy - by Billy Schuerman, University of Mississippi

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Local artist flies high - by Alena Noakes, Louisiana College
Finalist: Bison Baja Team - by Namon Pope, Harding University

Photo Illustration
Winner: In search of light - by Kerri Holt, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Hill, Thompson stay for 1 more year, Gay declared for draft - by Rosalind Hutton, Mississippi State University

Sports Photography
Winner: Ado leads Bulldogs to 2 crucial victories - by Jordan Smith, Mississippi State University
Finalist: Mustang touchdown - by Mckenzi Harris, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Ole Miss defeats Mississippi State - by Billy Schuerman, University of Mississippi

Data Visualization
Winner: Arkansas County COVID-19 snapshots - by Katy Seiter, Mary Hennigan, Abigail Zimmardi, University of Arkansas

Radio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Future of the Nashville flea market - by Benjamin Browning, Lipscomb University
Finalist: COVID effects on livestock - by Hannah Vanderberg, Mississippi State University

Radio Feature
Winner: Handicapped Pet - by Bronson Woodruff, Mississippi State University
Finalist: Junkanoo Festival - by Jordan Forbes, Lipscomb University

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Bullying - by Hannah Vanderberg, Mississippi State University

Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Kickin' it 615 - by Danny Kotula, Lipscomb University

Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: The Bison Newscast - by Micah Kennedy, Josephine Ballard, Danny Kotula, Jordan Forbes, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Rebel Radio WUMS-FM 92.1 - by Staff, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Newscast 2 - by Bronson Woodruff, Mississippi State University

Television

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Columbus flooding - by Bronson Woodruff, Mississippi State University
Finalist: Bomb threat at Lafayette County Middle School - by DeAndria Turner, University of Mississippi

Television General News Reporting
Winner: 'Nashville Strong' after deadly tornado - by Megan Cole, Middle Tennessee State University
Finalist: More house, Less money - by Ally Kadlubar, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Mail-in voting - by Chris Rosato, Southeastern Louisiana University

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Faith-based program gives hope to maximum security inmates - by Megan Cole, Middle Tennessee State University
Finalist: Snake Mountain Pack Goats - by Jack Bilyeu, University of Arkansas
Finalist: A Quarantine with Stars - by Jacqueline Doucet, Southeastern Louisiana University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Shuttered casinos impact economy - by Ally Kadlubar, Louisiana State University
Finalist: News from our rooms - election special - by Melody Gilbert, Northwestern State University
Finalist: HU16 News Live Election Special - by 2020 Election Team, Harding University

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Lessons, leaders, and a Salter legacy - by Caroline Fussell, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: Softball pitcher keeps pushing - by Kendall Duncan, Louisiana State University
Finalist: The last time the Lady Lions made the playoffs - by John Sartori, Southeastern Louisiana University

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Northshore News - by Chris Rosato, Lily Gayle, Kaylee Normand, Raychelle Riley, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: HU16 Live at 5 - by Live at Five News Team, Harding University
Finalist: UATV Newscast - by Esther Gowin, Heidi Kirk, Sean Rhomberg, Khadn Adderley, University of Arkansas

Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: Southeastern Times - by Caroline Fussell, Carson Fryou, Jacqueline Doucet, Southeastern Louisiana University

Online

Online News Reporting
Winner: Walker reports Lee’s COVID-19 case numbers on sixth day of classes - by Matthew Taylor, Lee University
Finalist: Dr. Mark L. Walker named Lee’s next president - by Ashley Smith, Lee University

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Why 2 big city musicians became Mississippi farmers - by Tucker Robbins, Lucy Burnam, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Culture at Crosstown: A fresh rerspective at Lucy J’s Bakery - by Julia James, University of Mississippi
Finalist: ‘Singing cyclist’ spreads light on campus through daily bike rides - by Ashley Morrell, Lee University

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Simon Gibbs, Vanderbilt University — Sarah Fuller Coverage - by Simon Gibbs, Vanderbilt University

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: Opinion: I don’t want to be a COVID-19 guinea pig - by Matthew Taylor, Lee University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Nashville tornado coverage - by Mckenzi Harris, Lipscomb University

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: theDMonline.com - by Staff, University of Mississippi

Videography

Broadcast News Videography
Winner: Pearl River flooding - by Dylan Domangue, Southeastern Louisiana University

Broadcast Feature Videography
Winner: A quarantine with stars - by Jacqueline Doucet, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: Our daily bread - by Jacqueline Doucet, Southeastern Louisiana University

Online/Digital Feature Videography
Winner: Chapel production - by Micah Kennedy, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Mask up Mississippi: Bus stops in Oxford get an upgrade - by Amanda Nikhazy, Tia Jackson, The University of Mississippi

Podcast

Podcast
Winner: The Conversation episode #1: David French - by Orry Phillips, John Brown University
Finalist: Voices of confinement: Life through the lens of a blind person - by Kylei Cornelison, Louisiana College
Finalist: Bronson Woodruff Podcast - by Bronson Woodruff, Mississippi State University

COVID-19

COVID-19: Newspaper, Magazine and Online Coverage (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: 'It's not fair' - by Kenneth Niemeyer, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Severe COVID-19 complications lead to 26-year-old death, family struggles - by Mary Hennigan, University of Arkansas
Finalist: The Pride of the South will play on - by Kelby Zendejas, University of Mississippi

COVID-19: Newspaper, Magazine and Online Coverage (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Dashboards hold schools accountable - by Daniella Cuellar, Gael Langdon, Harding University
Finalist: Despite assurances, classrooms not cleaned daily - by Audrey Jackson, Harding University
Finalist: COVID on campus - by Gael Langdon, Harding University

COVID-19: Video Coverage (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Drive-in church - by Lydazja Turner, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Voting by mail - by Brooke Smith, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Quarantine and mental health - by Alexia Tsiropoulos, Louisiana State University

COVID-19: Video Coverage (Small) 1-9,999+ Students
Winner: Campus quarantine - by Micah Kennedy, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Zoom rooms - by Spencer Boehme, Lipscomb University

COVID-19: Digital (Still) Photography
Winner: It takes a village - by Billy Schuerman, University of Mississippi

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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