SPJ News
Latest SPJ News | RSS
Region 7 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced
CONTACT:
Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, 317-920-4786, lharry@spj.org
Michelle Lagos, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-927-8000, mlagos@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 7 with 2021 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.
SPJs Region 7 comprises Iowa, Kansas, 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 the MediaFest22 convention in Washington, D.C., Oct. 27-30.
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 SPJ 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 cultural criticism, arts/fashion journalism and food/restaurant journalism.
Print/Online
Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Police served multiple warrants against FIJI and its members last year, court records show by Caleb McCullough, University of Iowa
Finalist: Barbara Wilson named next University of Iowa president by Rylee Wilson, Rachel Schilke and Eleanor Hildebrandt, University of Iowa
Finalist: What will replace safe ride? by Raegan Neufeld, Fort Hays State University
General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: COVID curtains for musicals by Alayna Verduyn, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Lawrence plans to move forward with the return of Founder's Rock to Kanza Tribe by Max Irvine, University of Kansas
Finalist: University of Iowa presidential finalists by The Daily Iowan staff, University of Iowa
General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Turning point USA petitions to become a registered student organization by Gannon Henry, Drake University
Finalist: Main Street nightlife hit with 'footloose' ban by Alexis Montgomery, Lindenwood University
Finalist: TikTok personality Sister Cindy preaches on campus by Luke Clausen, Mackenzie Swenson, Drake University
In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Weathering the storm by Vox Magazine staff, Missouri School of Journalism
Finalist: KU grapples with diverse faculty retention by Lucy Peterson, University of Kansas
Finalist: If you can see it, you can be it: How volleyball in Nebraska created a cycle of greatness by Abby Barmore, College of Journalism and Mass Communications
Feature Writing
Winner: Being Black in Lincoln: Albert Maxey recalls his days walking the beat by Nick McConnell, University of Nebraska
Finalist: After 20 years, the UI and Daily Iowan remember 9/11 by Josie Fischels and Rachel Schilke, University of Iowa
Finalist: Friends, colleagues, students and family reflect on the legacy of Iowas first Poet Laureate Marvin by Josie Fischels, University of Iowa
Sports Writing
Winner: Luka Garza: The Iowa mens basketball programs humble, team-driven all-time leading scorer by Robert Read, University of Iowa
Finalist: We knew that she was the special one: Caitlin Clark dominating in her first season by Chloe Peterson, University of Iowa
Finalist: Kevin Kugler is the everywhere man by Grant Hansen, College of Journalism and Mass Communications
Editorial Writing
Winner: Editorials by DI Editorial Board, University of Iowa
Finalist: Kansan.com by Paul Samberg, University of Kansas
General Column Writing
Winner: Columns by Yassie Buchanan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Columns by Hannah Pinski, University of Iowa
Finalist: Columns by John Carter Jr., Fort Hays State University
Sports Column Writing
Winner: Columns by Robert Read, University of Iowa
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Drake Mag by staff, Drake University
Finalist: Vox Magazine by staff, Missouri School of Journalism
Finalist: Climate change Nebraska Magazine by staff, College of Journalism and Mass Communications
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: Dailyiowan.com by staff, University of Iowa
Finalist: VoxMagazine.com by staff, Missouri School of Journalism
Finalist: Nebraska News Service by staff, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: Lindenlink by staff, Lindenwood University
Finalist: UNLimited Sports Magazine by staff, University of Nebraska
Art/Graphics/Multimedia
General News Photography
Winner: Vaccine by Grace Smith, University of Iowa
Finalist: State of the state by Ryan Adams, University of Iowa
Feature Photography
Winner: Fanning a dying flame by Owen Ziliak, Missouri School of Journalism
Finalist: Freakshow by Tate Hildyard, University of Iowa
Photo Illustration
Winner: Inside on the outside by Jacob Moscovitch, Missouri School of Journalism
Sports Photography
Winner: Goodson hurdle by Jerod Ringwald, University of Iowa
Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Iowas first poet laureate, Marvin Bell by Josie Fischels, Hannah Kinson, Kelsey Harrell and Parker Jones, University of Iowa
Finalist: Wood River continues recovery from 2019 flooding by Samantha Hargens, Lena Nelson and Riley Tolan-Keig, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Broadcast/Online News Videography
Winner: John and Esteban by Ryan Adams and Jenna Galligan, University of Iowa
Broadcast/Online Feature Videography
Winner: Mom: Iowa City mothers on pandemic parenthood by Jenna Galligan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Character camp by staff, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: Making a musical by Verve Reposar, Alexander Olson and Abby Riffel, College of the Ozarks
Broadcast/Online Sports Videography
Winner: Skating past the stigma by Daniel McGregor-Huyer, University of Iowa
Finalist: Meet the tigers: Kade Wallace by Ethan Booe, Fort Hays State University
Data Visualization
Winner: How universities across the Big Ten are continuing to combat COVID-19 by Kelsey Harrell, University of Iowa
Audio
Radio News Reporting
Winner: For this Columbia activist, life in pandemic hasn't slowed down by Xcaret Nunez, University of Missouri
Finalist: In-school flu shot clinics pave the way for vaccinating kids under twelve against COVID by Caoilinn Goss, University of Missouri
Finalist: Nebraska bill seeks to raise minimum wage to $20 by Damon Barr, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Radio Feature
Winner: Their pocket world: Parkade students learn meaning of land by Xcaret Nunez, University of Missouri
Finalist: Lavender a tough crop for muggy Missouri, but this couple is giving it a go. by Rachel Schnelle, University of Missouri
Finalist: Battle of the Joshes: How an internet meme raised over $13,000 for the Childrens Hospital and Medical Center by Nebraska News Service staff, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Researchers and student scientists look to Missouri lakes for clues about the impact of climate change by Becca Newton, University of Missouri
Finalist: The Red Zone: Sexual assault at UNL by Luke Weidner, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Podcast
Winner: State of waste by Jolie Peal, Emma Krab, Anne Gallagher and Geoff Exstrom, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: The Check-In: MU's social justice centers by Isabella Paxton, Becca Newton and Hannah France, University of Missouri
Finalist: Gas tax brass tacks: What drove Missouris first fuel tax increase in 25 years by D.C. Benincasa and Ian Laird, University of Missouri
Broadcast
Television General News Reporting
Winner: Veterans of Afghanistan by Avery Reed, Nate Hankins and Nathan Jeffries, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: Crescent Moon adapts following pandemic by Nathan Bacon, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Heritage kickoff by Kerrigan Hutton, Fort Hays State University
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Basement creators network by Ty Hawkins, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Reagan Myer feature by Ryan Atchison, University of Kansas
Finalist: The Vintage Hawks by Caroline Soro, University of Kansas
Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: 2021 Nebraska harvest by Kloee Sander, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Gamestop by Karsten Armstrong, Sarah Best, Anna Ginnings and Alexander Olson, College of the Ozarks
Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Omaha North playoff run by Blake Aerni, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Nebraska Nightly by staff, University of Nebraska
Finalist: KUJH News by KUJH and Media Crossroads staff, University of Kansas
Finalist: DITV by staff, University of Iowa
Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: The Point by staff, College of the Ozarks
All Platforms
Arts/Fashion Journalism
Winner: The people behind the instruments by Irina Matchavariani, Missouri School of Journalism
Finalist: Many faces, one community by Kaylee Schreiner, Missouri School of Journalism
Finalist: A song a day by Jillian Lampkins, College of Journalism and Mass Communications
Food/Restaurant Journalism
Winner: Restaurant staffing issues by Will Sleddins, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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.
-END-