For immediate release

Contact:
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

INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the Region 8 Mark of Excellence Award winners for the 2009 calendar year. This year, the contest received over 3600 entries.

The honorees were awarded certificates on March 6 during the Region 8 SPJ Spring Conference held at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at Austin, TX. First place regional winners will advance to the national round of judging. National winners will be announced in mid May.

The winners are listed below. For additional information on the Mark of Excellence awards, please contact Awards Coordinator Lauren Rochester at 317-927-8000 ext. 210.

2009 Region 8 Winners

Four Year College/University Finalists

Breaking News Photography
• First Place: Sara Strick, Texas State University-San Marcos, “Fort Hood Remembers Its Fallen (little girl walking).”
• Second Place: Sara Strick, Texas State University-San Marcos, “Lights Out.”
• Third Place: Jozie Sands, Abilene Christian University, “Fire destroys warehouse.”

Editorial Cartooning
• First Place: Donald Ashwood, Oklahoma City University.
• Second Place: Claire Taylor, Baylor University.
• Third Place: Jacob Brahce, Texas Christian University.

Feature Photography
• First Place: Jordan Wilson, Baylor University, “History in the Making.”
• Second Place: Chance Welch, Texas Christian University, “A body to die for.”
• Third Place: Horace White, Lamar University, “No Sweat, No Problem.”

General News Photography
• First Place: Tina Phan, Texas State University-San Marcos, “Winter Soldier.”
• Second Place: Chance Welch, Texas Christian University, “A body to die for.”
• Third Place: No Award.*

Photo Illustration
• First Place: Ronald Villegas, Texas Christian University, “Diviner's sage.”
• Second Place: Shanna Taylor, Baylor University, “Baring Your Soles.”
• Third Place: Bobby Scheidemann, Texas State University-San Marcos, “24-HOUR LIBRARY.”

Sports Photography
• First Place: Chance Welch, Texas Christian University BYU, “QB Max Hall fumbles...under pressure.”
• Second Place: Horace White, Lamar University, “Cardinals hold off late-charging Broncs.”
• Third Place: Isaac Barrientes, The University of Texas - Pan American, “Dynamic Duo.”

Best Student Magazine
• First Place: Staff, Sower magazine, University of Oklahoma.
• Second Place: Staff, Texas Christian University.
• Third Place: Staff, Panorama Magazine, The University of Texas-Pan American.

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
• First Place: Sara Hemmenway, Lamar University, “Toking for Taxes.”
• Second Place: Saerom Yoo, Texas Christian University, “Diviner's sage .”
• Third Place: Alexis Carranza, Jennifer Terrazas, Kimberly Selber, & Donna Pazdera, The University of Texas-Pan American, “12 inches of Love.”

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
• First Place: Staff, The Oklahoma Daily, University of Oklahoma.
• Second Place: Staff, The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University.
• Third Place: Staff, The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington.

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
• First Place: Staff, The Optimist, Abilene Christian University.
• Second Place: Staff, University Press, Lamar University.
• Third Place: Staff, The Rattler, St. Mary's University.

Breaking News Reporting
• First Place: Chris Blake, Texas Christian University, “Sexual Assault On-Campus”
• Second Place: Amanda Venable, Texas State University-San Marcos, “Oh Rats!”
• Third Place: No Award.*

Editorial Writing
• First Place: Daniel Johnson-Kim, Laura Acuff & Chelsea Hackney, Abilene Christian University.
• Second Place: Andrew Strange, Lamar University.
• Third Place: Staff, The University of Texas - Pan American.

Feature Writing
• First Place: Julieta Chiquillo, Texas Christian University, “Out from behind the Iron Curtain.”
• Second Place: Sommer Ingram, Baylor University, “Preserving the soul.”
• Third Place: Yan Digilov, Rice University, “Listening Post offers cookies, peace of mind.”

General Column Writing
• First Place: Krissy Ford, Trinity University, “Krispy's Crunch.”
• Second Place: Brian Reinhart, Rice University, “Intelligent design, a professor's legacy, BCM merger aftereffects.”
• Third Place: Ashton Ghaemi, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, “Stripped: The real me is...”

General News Reporting
• First Place: Daniel Johnson-Kim, Michael Freeman, Colter Hettich & Kelline Linton, Abilene Christian University, “SA Congress impeaches president.”
• Second Place: Liz Foreman, Laura Remson, Baylor University, “Memorial renews spirits, gives hope.”
• Third Place: LeighAnne Manwarren, University of Oklahoma, “State Regents accused of censorship.”

In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Seth Brown, Josh Rutenberg & Cindy Dinh, Rice University, “Concerns voiced over Baylor merger.”
• Second Place: Corbin Hosler, Oklahoma City University, “Staying in the black and University officials adjust to $5 million deficit.”
• Third Place: Katie Ruppel, Texas Christian University, “Flat rate aids...graduation.”

Sports Column Writing
• First Place: Casey Michel, Rice University, “Athletic director departure, Aardsma finds his stride, Griffey's return.”
• Second Place: Chris Derrett & Kevin Tamer, Baylor University, “Former Baylor greats, media obsessions and money-grubbing.”
• Third Place: Cameron Irvine, Texas State University-San Marcos, “Money runs college football.”

Sports Writing
• First Place: Casey Michel, Rice University, “The Hardest Hit.”
• Second Place: Chris Blake, Texas Christian University, “Frogs find national spotlight with win.”
• Third Place: Justin Baer, Baylor University, “Redefining adversity.”

Best Affiliated Web Site
• First Place: Staff, www.theshorthorn.com, University of Texas at Arlington.
• Second Place: Jamie Hughes, LeighAnne Manwarren, & James Lovett, OUDaily.com, University of Oklahoma.
• Third Place: Amanda Venable, Scott Thomas & Tina Phan, UniversityStar.com, Texas State University-San Marcos.

Online Feature Reporting
• First Place: Xorje Olivares, The University of Texas at Austin, “Community Rallies Around Baby Born Without Eyes.”
• Second Place: Christine Ricciardi, Southern Methodist University, “Del Rio Dan, The Not So Common, Common Man.”
• Third Place: Brian Martinez & Kelli Boesel, Baylor University, “South by Southwest.”

Online In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: David Hall, Texas Christian University, "Many reasons for attendance woes."
• Second Place: No Award.*
• Third Place: No Award.*

Online News Reporting
• First Place: Staff, Baylor University, “Fort Hood Massacre.”
• Second Place: Scott Thomas, Bianca Davis & Sara Strik, Texas State University-San Marcos, “Remembering Ft. Hood’s fallen.”
• Third Place: Fabian Juarez & Megan Holt, Texas State University-San Marcos, “Texas State ROTC Training Day.”

Online Sports Reporting
• First Place: Scott Thomas & Keff Ciardello, Texas State University-San Marcos, “Brian Lilly goes to dinner.”
• Second Place: Kevin Stich, Sara Hernandez & Kristen Cabrera, The University of Texas - Pan American, “The Press Box: Midnight Madness.”
• Third Place: Travis Brown, Chance Welch & Rose Baca, Texas Christian University, “Clemson Football Coverage.”

Best All-Around Radio Newscast
No Awards.*

Radio Feature
• First Place: Graham Lee Brewer, University of Oklahoma, “The Future of Sky City.”
• Second Place: Andrew Reyna, Texas State University-San Marcos, “Pathology.”
• Third Place: Mitch Watson, Cameron University, “Make a Difference Day.”

Radio In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Graham Lee Brewer, Will Holland, Gernethia Rich & Andrew Brown, University of Oklahoma.
• Second Place: Andrew Reyna, Denim Pittman, Katie Christopher & Louise Armstrong, Texas State University-San Marcos, “In the Public Interest – Obsession.”
• Third Place: Graham Lee Brewer, Will Holland, Gernethia Rich & Andrew Brown, University of Oklahoma.

Radio News Reporting
• First Place: Harrison Powers, University of Texas at Austin, “Senate Examination of UTIMCO.”
• Second Place: Logan Layden, University of Oklahoma, “Smoking.”
• Third Place: Harrison Powers, University of Texas at Austin, “Anti-Gun Rally.”

Best All-Around Television Newscast
• First Place: Staff, University of North Texas, “ntTV Nightly News.”
• Second Place: Staff, Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
• Third Place: No Award.*

Television Breaking News Reporting
No Awards.*

Television Feature
• First Place: Rebecca Combs, Trey Friedrichs, Noah Sargent & Phyllis Slocum, University of North Texas, “Stadium Groundbreaking.”
• Second Place: Shannon McConathy & Phyllis Slocum, University of North Texas, “Aviation Logistics.”
• Third Place: Xorje Olivares, The University of Texas at Austin, “Casket Rentals.”

Television General News Reporting
• First Place: Larry J. Dechant, University of Texas at Austin, “Waller Creek.”
• Second Place: Xorje Olivares, The University of Texas at Austin, “Tower Shooting Anniversary.”
• Third Place: Xin Xin Liu, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, “Campus Watch - No Hot Water.”

Television In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Trey Friedrichs, Noah Sargent, Sarah Bryant & Phyllis Slocum, University of North Texas, “Fort Hood Coverage Compilation.”
• Second Place: Christina Durano, Texas Christian University, “Campus Crime.”
• Third Place: Patty Espinosa, Texas Christian University, “Tanning dangers.”

Television News Photography
• First Place: Trey Friedrichs, Noah Sargent & Phyllis Slocum, University of North Texas, “Same Sex Vote.”
• Second Place: Trey Friedrichs, Noah Sargent & Phyllis Slocum, University of North Texas, “Tailgating.”
• Third Place: No Award.*

Television Sports Reporting
• First Place: No Award.*
• Second Place: Alex Cerda, Noah Sargent & Phyllis Slocum, University of North Texas, “Stadium Perks.”
• Third Place: No Award.*

Two Year College/University Finalists

Editorial Cartooning
• First Place: Daniel Worthington, Tarrant County College
• Second Place: No Award.*
• Third Place: No Award.*

Feature Photography
• First Place: Matt Moyer, Tarrant County College, “Firefighter Jonathan Masterson.”
• Second Place: No Award.*
• Third Place: No Award.*

Sports Photography
• First Place: Jennifer Covington, Tarrant County College, “Instructor Stacy Lueking Underwater.”
• Second Place: Tyler Cleveland, San Antonio College, “Ragin’ Rangers.”
• Third Place: No Award.*

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
• First Place: 1. Staff, The Collegian, Tarrant County College.
• Second Place: No Award.*
• Third Place: No Award.*

Editorial Writing
• First Place: Steve Knight, Tarrant County College, “Administration rams ban through.”
• Second Place: Mark Smith, Oklahoma City Community College, “Littering Editorial, FOI Editorial, Networking Editorial.”
• Third Place: No Award.*

Feature Writing
• First Place: No Award.*
• Second Place: Shelly Williams, Tarrant County College, “NE Campus student turns story into movie pitch.”
• Third Place: Danilynn Welniak, Tarrant County College, “NE Campus student rebuilds life after suffering stroke.”

General Column Writing
• First Place: Jonathan Resendez, Tarrant County College, “Internet networking wasting social time.”
• Second Place: No Award.*
• Third Place: No Award.*

General News Reporting
• First Place: Steve Knight, Tarrant County College, “Fired employee faces charge.”
• Second Place: Mark Smith, Oklahoma City Community College, “OCCC student found dead inside vehicle.”
• Third Place: No Award.*

In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Steve Knight, Tarrant County College, “Bill allowing concealed weapons on college campuses divides students.”
• Second Place: Steve Knight, Tarrant County College, “Road to suit started with one student.”
• Third Place: No Award.*

Sports Writing
• First Place: John Harden, Tarrant County College, “Flag football team strengthens friendship on, off field.”
• Second Place: John Harden, Tarrant County College, “NE instructor uses experience with steroids to educate.”
• Third Place: No Award.*

Best Affiliated Web Site
• First Place: Ranger staff, San Antonio College, “Out-of-order elevators don’t keep student from class.”
• Second Place: Staff, Tarrant County College, “The Collegian Online.”
• Third Place: No Award.*

Online In-Depth Reporting
No Awards.*

Online News Reporting
• First Place: Mark Smith, Oklahoma City Community College, “Breaking news: OCCC student found dead.”
• Second Place: No Award.*
• Third Place: No Award.*

*Judges are not required to select first, second or third place winners.

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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