CONTACT:
Heather Porter, Programs Director, 317-927-8000 ext. 204, hporter@spj.org
Beth King, Communications Manager, 317-927-8000 ext. 211, bking@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the Region 6 Mark of Excellence Award winners for the 2005 calendar year. This year, collegiate journalists submitted more than 3,100 entries in 43 categories across SPJ’s 12 regions.

The honorees were awarded certificates on April 1 at the Region 6 Conference held at the Holiday Inn Select in Bloomington, Minn. First place regional winners will advance to the national round of judging which takes place in early April. Winners will be announced in mid May.

For additional information on the Mark of Excellence Awards, please contact Heather Porter at 317-927-8000 ext. 204 or hporter@spj.org

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

2005 Region 6 Winners:

Editorial Writing
• First Place: Minnesota Daily Editorial Board, University of Minnesota, “Editorials”
• Second Place: College Days Editors, Ripon College, “Editorials”
• Third Place: The Daily Cardinal Editorial Board, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Editorials”

Editorial Cartooning
• First Place: Adam Elrashidl, University of Minnesota, “Cartoons”
• Second Place: Phil Hands, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Cartoons”
• Third Place: no award

General Column Writing
• First Place: Adam Dylewski, University of Wisconsin, “A Trio of Science Columns”
• Second Place: Jill Klosterman, University of Wisconsin, “iPledge Allegiance to my iPod”
• Third Place: no award

Sports Column Writing
• First Place: Sports Staff, University of Minnesota, “Sports Column Collection”
• Second Place: Rob Ebert, Marquette University, “A Bleacher View”
• Third Place: Nick Matkovich, Marquette University, “Sports Column Collection”

Breaking News Reporting
• First Place: Than Tibetts, University of Minnesota, “U suspends men’s tennis coaches”
• Second Place: Kevin McCahill, University of Minnesota, “Armed robbers”
• Third Place: Will Arhenmacher & Phil Caroso, Marquette University, “Accident victim treated”

General News Reporting
• First Place: Brittany Clement, James Molnar, Marino Eccher & Samantha Toiga, Marquette University, “Falling down”
• Second Place: Toni-Lee Scarano, Ripon College, “Group opposed to homosexuality protests at funeral’
• Third Place: Anna Weggel, University of Minnesota, “Plan for GC might hurt U’s diversity”

In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Emily Kaiser, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Under heat”
• Second Place: Will Ashenmacher, Marquette University, “Resurrecting Milwaukee”
• Third Place: no award

Feature Writing
• First Place: Steve Yanda, Marquette University, “Nothing short of a miracle”
• Second Place: Dustin Monke, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Signs of the times”
• Third Place: Emily Kaiser, University of Minnesota, “Waiting for a new heart can strain others”

Sports Writing
• First Place: Steve Yanda, Marquette University, “Boyer finds new home in front of net”
• Second Place: Ryan Nilsson, Marquette University, “49ers mine golden opportunity”
• Third Place: Dustin Monke, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Taking life’s jabs”

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (published at least 4 times per week)
• First Place: Staff, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “The Daily Cardinal”
• Second Place: Staff, University of Minnesota, “The Minnesota Daily”
• Third Place: no award

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (published 2-3 times per week)
• First Place: Staff, University of North Dakota, “The Dakota Student”
• Second Place: Staff, St. Cloud State University, “University Chronicle”
• Third Place: no award

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (published no more than once per week)
• First Place: Staff, Lakeland College, “The Lakeland College Mirror”
• Second Place: Staff, Bismarck State College, “BSU Mystician”
• Third Place: Staff, Ripon College, “College Days”

Magazine Non-Fiction Article
• First Place: Abby Debruine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Wisconsin Walker Made Stride for Cancer Research”
• Second Place: Jason Soriano, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Drowning in Debt”
• Third Place: Peter N. Long, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Love me, Love me not?”

Best Student Magazine (published once a year)
• First Place: Staff, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Curb Magazine”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Best Student Magazine (published more than once a year)
no awards

Breaking News Photography
• First Place: Greg Long, Marquette University, “The glass doors just exploded”
• Second Place: Elias Adams & Marshall Long, University of Minnesota, “Students walkout”
• Third Place: Marcin Szczepanski, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Protesters clash in walkout”

General News Photography
• First Place: Mike Tischer, Marquette University, “Ripe for picking”
• Second Place: Brie Cohen, University of Minnesota, “Student zombies”
• Third Place: no award

Feature Photography
•First Place: Jennifer Weisgerber, Bismarck State College, “Handing down names”
• Second Place: Christopher Guess, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Eye-dle Hands”
• Third Place: Nathaniel Greenbaum, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Cold War”

Photo Illustration
• First Place: Jennifer Weisgerber, Bismarck State College, “High Heaven”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Sports Photography
• First Place: Elias Adams, University of Minnesota, “Split Results”
• Second Place: Shirley Knowles, Marquette University, “Point Play”
• Third Place: Louis Gebel, Marquette University, “Eagles Run Off”

Radio News Reporting
• First Place: Jason Bean, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, “Habitat Home Dedication”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Radio Feature
no awards

Radio In-Depth Reporting
no awards

Radio Sports Reporting
• First Place: David McCoy, University of Minnesota, “Liz Podominick: 2 Sport Star”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Radio Newscast
• First Place: Newsteam, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, “UWM PantherCast”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Television Breaking News Reporting
• First Place: Nate Knutson, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “North Fargo Plane Crash”
• Second Place: Nate Knutson, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Rural Colgate Fire”
• Third Place: Heather Picquet, St. Cloud State University, “Welcome Home”

Television General News Reporting
• First Place: Candace Thornberg, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Church Helps Family”
• Second Place: Award revoked
• Third Place: Anne Clark, University of North Dakota, “Wood Burning”

Television Feature
• First Place: Nicole Leier, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “My Job Sucks”
• Second Place: Kim Johnson, University of Minnesota, “Tribute to the Troops”
• Third Place: Tyler Richter & Lou Raguse, University of Minnesota, “Tour Guide”

Television In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: MSUM Broadcast Documentary Class, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Reunion at Rollag”
• Second Place: Maria Tornine & Danielle Webster, University of North Dakota, “Gas Pains”
• Third Place: Jenna Lund, University of North Dakota, “Toddler Talk”

Television Sports Reporting
• First Place: Jenna Ross, University of Minnesota, “A Gentleman’s Sport”
• Second Place: Nathan Shain, University of North Dakota, “Twin Racers”
• Third Place: Heather Picquet & Dustin Peterson, St. Cloud State University, “SCSU Hockey Team Skate with Fans”

Television News Photography
• First Place: Enrico Meyer, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Rocking to a Dream”
• Second Place: Lee James Rieber, Minnesota State University Moorhead, “Dickey County Flood”
• Third Place: Patrick Wynne, University of North Dakota, “Wood Burning”

Television Feature Photography
• First Place: Nate Knutson, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Wine Vineyard”
• Second Place: Patrick J. Trausch, University of North Dakota, “Neon”
• Third Place: Amanda Nelson, University of North Dakota, “Apple Pie”

Television Sports Photography
• First Place: Lee James Rieber, Minnesota State University Moorhead, “Kids Trap Shoot”
• Second Place: Tyler Richter, University of Minnesota, “Those Rugby Guys”
• Third Place: Derrick Silvestri & Wade Cooper, St. Cloud State University, “Bobby’s World”

Television Newscast
• First Place: UTVS Daily News Staff, St. Cloud State University, “UTVS Daily News”
• Second Place: Studio One Staff, University of North Dakota, “Studio One Newscast”
• Third Place: PantherVision Staff, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, “PantherVision”

Online News Reporting
no awards

Online Feature Reporting
• First Place: Bronson Lemer, Minnesota State University Moorhead, “Sick Sacks, E-group enables unique collectors”
• Second Place: Meredith Holt, Minnesota State University Moorhead, “Bird haven”
• Third Place: Britta Trygstad, Minnesota State University Moorhead, “Fossil finding”

Online In-Depth Reporting
no awards

Online Sports Reporting
no awards

Online Opinion & Commentary
no awards

Best All-Around Online Student Newspaper
no awards

Best All-Around Online Student Magazine
• First Place: Curb Online Staff, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Curb Online”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Best All-Around Online Student Broadcast Station
no awards

Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication
• First Place: Horizonlines.org Staff, Minnesota State University Moorhead, “The Art of Collecting”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

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