For Immediate Release:
8/18/2009

Contacts:
Lauren Rochester, SPJ Awards Coordinator, 317-927-8000 ext. 210, lrochester@spj.org
Karen Grabowski, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-927-8000 ext. 215, kgrabowski@spj.org

SPJ HONORS CAMPUS CHAPTERS FOR EXCELLENCE

INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to honor a select group of campus chapters for their outstanding work.

Annually, each of SPJ’s 12 Regional Directors selects one chapter in his or her region that has performed outstanding service to the Society, their campus and the journalism profession. From these 12 chapters, one chapter is selected by the Vice President for Campus Chapter Affairs as the Outstanding Campus Chapter of the Year.

Click here for a map of the SPJ regions and chapters in each region.

The regional honorees are:

Region 1: Ithaca College
Region 2: Virginia Tech University
Region 3: University of Florida
Region 4: Ohio University
Region 5: Loyola University Chicago
Region 6: St. Cloud State University
Region7: University of Missouri
Region 8: University of Texas, Austin
Region 9: Weber State University
Region 10: Pacific Lutheran University
Region 11: California State University, Fullerton
Region 12: University of Mississippi

From this group, University of Florida was selected for the Outstanding Campus Chapter honor.

"The University of Florida chapter served as a model with a lot of quality programming, involvement at the regional and national levels, and some stunning success in recruitment and retention," said Neil Ralston, Vice President for Campus Chapter Affairs.

The regional awards will be presented during regional meetings on Friday, Aug. 28, at the 2009 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference in Indianapolis. The University of Florida chapter will receive its national award during the Mark of Excellence Awards Luncheon Aug. 28.

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. For more information about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.

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