Contacts: Sarah A. Shrode, SPJ communications director, 614/233-7588

ADAM’S MARK HOTEL, COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Society of Professional Journalists awarded Gary Rice the Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award.

Rice is an assistant professor and the print sequence coordinator at Southwest Texas State University in Austin, Texas. He serves as adviser for the Southwest Texas State student chapter of the Society.

“Gary Rice is a one-man journalism factory,” wrote Austin American-Statesman reporter Denise Gamino, who nominated Rice for the award. “And he’s funny, generous, compassionate, smarter than your average genius, and wildly creative, too. If every college had a Gary Rice on its faculty, students would be turning their backs on high-tech IPO opportunities and standing in line to become first-class journalists.”

Rice will be recognized Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Mark of Excellence Awards Luncheon of the 2000 SPJ National Convention. The banquet will take place from 12:30-2:15 p.m. in the Woody Hayes Grand Ballroom of the Adam’s Mark Hotel, 50 N. Third St.

The Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award is presented annually to an outstanding journalism teacher who has made a significant contribution to the journalism profession and/or journalism education.

Students, former students, colleagues and department heads, as well as professionals in the field make nominations for the Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award. Anyone teaching in the field of journalism is eligible, although nominees are usually members of SPJ.

Media passes can be obtained at the SPJ registration desk or at the SPJ staff office at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, from Oct. 25-28. Media contact: Sarah A. Shrode, SPJ communications director.