The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the national finalists for the 2003 Mark of Excellence awards.
This year, undergraduate students submitted more than 3,200 entries in the Mark of Excellence contest. The national finalists’ entries represent the work of top student journalists from across the country.
These finalists have already received recognition at the regional level, and will receive national honors at SPJ’s national convention in New York City, September 9-11. Winners will be announced and all finalists will be recognized at the convention Mark of Excellence luncheon on Saturday, Sept. 11. For more information about the convention, contact SPJ at spj@spj.org.
The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. SPJ is dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, and based in Indianapolis, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed public, works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists, and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.
THE 2003 MARK OF EXCELLENCE NATIONAL FINALISTS ARE (IN RANDOM ORDER):
Editorial Writing Staff, The State Press Arizona State University FERPA shields students from real world
Elyse Ashburn University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Editorial Board, The Lantern Ohio State University Progress, Freedom Fries & Cases of Confusion
Editorial Cartooning Yvette Piette, The Daily Cardinal University of Wisconsin-Madison The Constitution doesn't apply…
Dusty Higgins, The Arkansas Traveler University of Arkansas
Deana Sobel, The Daily Californian University of California, Berkeley High quality cartoons about obesity, the Iraq war and California's budget
General Column Writing Samantha Xanthos, The State Press Arizona State University Better to be outfitted in fatigues than apathy, and other columns
Sports Column Writing Dustin Dopirck, Daily Collegian The Pennsylvania State University Columns
Spot News Reporting Michael Barnett & Mosheh Oinounou, The GW Hatchet George Washington University Shooting Pieces
Staff, Daily Collegian The Pennsylvania State University Student dies in confrontation downtown
Lola Thelin Loyola University Knoth Resigns
General News Reporting Lisa Humes-Schultz, Emma Schwartz & My-Thuan Tran, The Daily Californian University of California-Berkeley Proposition 54 Campaign breaks UC spending codes
Staff, The Minnesota Daily University of Minnesota Ashes, tears and questions
In-Depth Reporting Jennifer Novotny, The Meadville Tribune Ohio University Cancer in Crawford County, Pennsylvania
Jonathan York & Wes Ferguson, The Daily Texan University of Texas-Austin Through UT's Back Door
Staff University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cuba: An Elusive Truth
Feature Writing Colin McDonald, The Missoulian Western Washington University Rail Life
Johanna Maska, The University Daily Kansan University of Kansas A Life in Transition
Margaret Shreve, The Chicago Reader Northwestern University Lisa's Legacy
Sports Writing Nathan Max, The Baltimore Sun Northwestern University Abiamiri moves on, moves up for Irish
Bruce Tran, The UCLA Daily Bruin University of California-Los Angeles Riding it Out
Natalie Storey, Montana Kaimin University of Montana Talking it up
Best All-Around Daily Newspaper (4-5 times per week) Staff, Indiana Daily Student Indiana University
Staff, The Daily Bruin University of California, Los Angeles
Staff, The Daily Collegian The Pennsylvania State University
Best All-Around Daily Newspaper (2-3 times per week) Staff, The Hatchet George Washington University
Staff, Sidelines Middle Tennessee State University
Staff, Central Florida Future University of Central Florida
Best All-Around Non-Daily Newspaper Staff, The Chart Missouri Southern State University
Non-Fiction ArticleJordan Carleo-Evangelist, Vision Magazine Boston University The Press and Enron
Best Student Magazine (published once a year) Staff, Renegade University of Texas-Arlington
Best Student Magazine (published more than once a year) Staff, The Burr Kent State University
Junko Hamaguchi, Echo Columbia College Lost in Translation
Spot News Photography Jack Bland, Golden Gate [X]Press San Francisco State University Spraying the Camera Man
Josh McCoy, College Heights Herald Western Kentucky University Two Students Hit on University
General News Photography Andrew Logan, The Daily Mississippian University of Mississsippi Go to hell Ole Miss
Feature Photography Daron Dean, The Gainesville Sun University of Florida Hanna's Story
Amy Ellis, The Lumberjack Northern Arizona University Love proves Stronger than Death
Michael Kane, The Daily Texan University of Texas-Austin Senate Passes Map
Photo Illustration Brandon Wade & David Ortez, The Shorthorn University of Texas-Arlington Mavericks Reloaded
Ken Michelson, The Daily University of Washington Delivering Khaelen
Matt Garcia, The State Press Magazine Arizona State University Hollywood Highway
Sports Photography Christine Weremy, Marquette Tribune Marquette University Panthers halt Eagles' offensive
Derek Lippincott, Daily Nebraskan University of Nebraska-Lincoln Texas Game Photos
Brandon Wade, The Shorthorn University of Texas-Arlington Volleyball Team Drops
Radio Spot News Reporting August Skamenca, KBIA 91.3 FM University of Missouri Brazito Tornado
Matt Horstman, WWHR Western Kentucky University Tuition
Adam Geller, WCHL 1360 AM University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School Board
Radio Feature Kim Hannold, PSU: ComRadio The Pennsylvania State University Black Caucus Rally
Josh St. Peters, University of Illinois Greyhound Adoption
Dylan Field, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Drag Bingo
Radio In-Depth Reporting Matthew Workman, KCSN Northridge California State University-Northridge Immigration Processing Delays
Justin Terry, NPR News 91 Boise State University The New Freedom Riders
Kyle Palmer, KBIA 91.3 FM University of Missouri Deals in Higher Education
Radio Sports Reporting Brian Kern, Wesley Anderson, Brian Gustin & Theodore Tutson, WGRE 91.5 FM DePauw University Monon Bell Pre-game
Andrew Demetra, WAER 88.3 FM Syracuse University From Sudan to Syracuse
Daniel Crochet, KRVS FM University of Louisiana Homegrown Football Talent
Radio Daily Newscast Nicole Pence & Brian Kern, WGRE 91.5 FM DePauw University WGRE News and Sports
Staff, WERS 88.9 FM Emerson College The WERS News
Staff, WRUF University of Florida Front Page on the Air
Television Spot News Reporting Tim Hagerty & Pat Driscoll, News 7 Lyndon State College An Unlikely Fire
Beth Shayne, KELO-TV Northwestern University Centerville Flooding
Kasey Gardner, Maryland Newsline University of Maryland Norris Indictment
Television General News Reporting Matt Marble & Dominick Scalise, Channel 36 Truman State University Dukum Inn Concert Danger
Dana Hackett University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Roxane Assaf, WYCC-TV Northwestern University Illegal Carlos
Television Feature Jenny McLendon University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Drag Bingo
Jessica Abo, WYCC-TV Northwestern University Wrongfully Convicted
Farnaz Javid & Carlos Torres, WPB-TV 79 University of Florida Andy's Story
Television In-Depth Reporting Amanda Iler University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Staff, WYCC-TV Northwestern University America's Military: Changing Roles, Changing Rules
Senior Class, KUFM-Montana PBS University of Montana Settling the Tab on Montana's Alcohol Culture
Television Sports Reporting Marshall Lee & Lynn Beedle, Our American Journey Norwich University The Road Back to the Frozen Four
Gina Ross, KVR News 9 University of Texas-Austin Class of Her Own
John Kasper & Heidi Fehring, Campus Scope/STTV University of St. Thomas Ultimate Frisbee
Television News Photography Carolyn Wiedel, UMTV University of Maryland Vets Return
Michael Sternoff, KECI-NBC Montana University of Montana International Thanksgiving
Cathy Kadaras, STN Channel 2 News University of Hartford Campus Floods
Television Feature Photography Staff, Our American Journey Norwich University High School
Ashley Terry, KUFM-Montana PBS University of Montana Small Town Montana: Hobson
Tiffany Francis University of Maryland Salvation Army
Television Sports Photography Staff, Our American Journey Norwich University The Road Back to the Frozen Four
Dustin Stover, WTBU Butler University Women's Golf
John Huddleston, WVUA-TV University of Alabama Tennis
Television Daily Newscast Staff, UTVS Saint Cloud State University
Staff, TV-2 News Kent State University
Staff, Maryland Newsline University of Maryland
Television Non-Daily Newscast Jane Choi University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Carolina Week
Staff, WKU Newschannel 12 Western Kentucky University
Online Spot News Reporting Michael Barnett & Mosheh Oinounou, The GW Hatchet George Washington University GW student shoots UMD student, kills self
Online General News Reporting Fanen Chiahemen, Stephen Mather, Amanda Karr & Nikole Albowicz Maryland Newsline University of Maryland AIDS: Dealing with an Epidemic
Seth Porges Northwestern University Press Underreports Wounded in Iraq
Becky Evans Boston University Mercury Poisoning: Fishing for Answers
Online Feature Reporting John Arbucci Columbia University The Intimate Strangers Who Care for Our Dead
Sarah Schaffer & Adam Newman, Capital News Service University of Maryland A Second Chance
Kim Cross University of Alabama The Blues Man
Online In-Depth Reporting Fanen Chiahemen, Stephen Mather & Nikole Albowicz, Capital News Service University of Maryland Legalizing Slots
Staff, DatelineAlabama.com University of Alabama Opening Doors, Opening Minds
Tom DeLaune & Curt Merrill, Extreme Alaska University of Alaska-Fairbanks A Chilling Effect? Alaska's Heartland Reacts to the Patriot Act
Online Sports Reporting Nathan Max, Medill News Service on the Web Northwestern University Chicago hockey fans rebelling against NHL ticket prices
Iditarod Coverage Team, Extreme Alaska University of Alaska-Fairbanks Iditarod Fairbanks
Brad Kane, Matt Duval, Elizabeth Nihiser & Zach Wittig, The Lanternonline.com Ohio State University Glory: the best damn team in the land
Online Opinion and Commentary Staff, DatelineAlabama.com University of Alabama Bailey Thomson package
Emily Tannert, Drum Corps International Website Northwestern University Etude
Best All-Around Online Student Newspaper Brandon Aaron & Josh Taylor, TheShorthorn.com University of Texas-Arlington
Staff, The Digital Collegian The Pennsylvania State University
Staff, Campus Echo North Carolina Central University
Best All-Around Online Student Magazine Julie Collins & Andrea Schmidt, Drake Mag Online Drake University
Lendsay Renick Mayer, Allison Sawyer & Juliet Sokol, Curb University of Wisconsin-Madison
Leslie Stroope, Rami Daud & Jeff Baker, The Cy Burr Kent State University
Best All-Around Online Student Broadcast Station Tom Livingston, Krystal Tweeddale and Alex Brancard, Denver Cable Channel 54 Metropolitan State College of Denver The Met Report
Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication Staff, DatelineAlabama.com University of Alabama
Staff, Hard News Café Utah State University
Staff, Extreme Alaska University of Alaska-Fairbanks
