The Society of Professional Journalists announces the recipients of the 1996 Mark of Excellence Awards for student journalism.

The KOMU-TV Team from the University of Missouri-Columbia received the award for best television newscast. Taking the highest honors for the best radio newscast were the students from Temple University. Newspapers from Northwestern University and Missouri Southern State College received top honors for the best all-around daily and non-daily newspapers.

The competition drew more than 1,000 entries in 28 categories of print and broadcast media. Each winner had to survive regional judging with the top three entries in each region earning regional honors and the first-place winner of each moving on to national competition.

The students will accept their awards at SPJ's annual Mark of Excellence Awards Luncheon Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Society's National Convention in Denver, Colo.

Honored for their accomplishments in 1996 are the following students:

NEWSPAPER

Editorial Writing: Greg Walker, Auburn University

Editorial Cartooning: Charles Zimkus, Miami University (Ohio)

Column Writing: Erin M. Mansur-Smith, Kansas State University

Spot News Reporting: Chad Lorenz, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

In-depth Reporting: JC Conklin, University of Washington

Feature Writing: Ross Doman, Boston University

Sports Writing: Dan Miller, Arizona State University

Best All Around Daily Student Newspaper: The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University

Best All Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper: The Chart, Missouri Southern State College

MAGAZINE

Magazine Non-Fiction Article: Joshua Gillin, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Best Student Magazine Published Once A Year: Flux Magazine, University of Oregon

Best Student Magazine Published More Than Once A Year: The Burr, Kent State University

PHOTOGRAPHY

Spot News Photography: Pete Erickson, San Francisco State University

Feature Photography: Astrid Riecken, San Francisco State University

Sports Photography: Michael Woods, Abilene Christian University

RADIO

Spot News Reporting: Lane Lyon and Jen Williams, Colorado State University

Radio Feature: Margaret Lang Smith, Oklahoma State University

In-Depth Reporting: Pete Collman, Marshall University

Sports Reporting: Rocco Ritorto and Chris Lewis, Temple University

Best Newscast: Rocco Ritorto, Matt Cherry and Pete Wong, Temple University

TELEVISION

Spot News Reporting: KOMU-TV, Patrick Dix, Ben Bailey, Chaz Maddi and Michelle Baker, University of Missouri, Columbia

Feature: Wendy Sue Ruderman, Columbia University

In-Depth Reporting: Ara Ayer, University of Missouri,Columbia

Sports Reporting: Betty Ann Boeving, University of Oregon

News Photography: Mike Pelkey, Lyndon State College

Feature Photography: KOMU-TV, Sonya Kuhlman, Megan Mark and Karlyn Tilley, University of Missouri

Sports Photography: Stephen Fink, Louisiana State University

Best Newscast: KOMU-TV Team, University of Missouri, Columbia