Region 3 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced

Home > SPJ News > Region 3 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced

4/1/2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Abbi Martzall, SPJ Awards Coordinator, 317-920-4791, awards@spj.org
Taylor Carlier, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, tcarlier@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the 2014 Mark of Excellence Awards winners from Region 3. The MOE Awards honor the best of collegiate journalism from a calendar year.

SPJ’s Region 3 comprises Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. First-place winners will move on to the national MOE competition among category winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at Excellence in Journalism 2015 (EIJ15) in Orlando, Florida, Sept. 18 to 20.

Entries are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience. The awards honor the best in student journalism. As such, judges were directed to choose only those entries they felt were outstanding work worthy of such an honor. If the judges determined that none of the entries rose to the level of excellence, no award was given. Any category not listed has no winner.

School divisions are based on student enrollment, which includes both graduate and undergraduate enrollment: Large schools have at least 10,000 students and small schools have 9,999 or fewer students.

See the list below for details on the Region 3 winners, and direct any MOE Awards questions to Awards Coordinator Abbi Martzall: awards@spj.org and 317-920-4791.

Note: The list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award-entry process.

ART/GRAPHICS
Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Undocumented student demonstration - by John Roark, University of Georgia
Finalist: Car fire in student living neighborhood - by Roberto Roldan, University of South Florida

Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Black lives matter - by James Crissman, Emory University

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Editorial cartooning - by Seth Nicholson, Troy University
Finalist: Henry, a cartoon - by Michael Salsbury, Flagler College
Finalist: Editorial cartoons - by Kevin Pabst, The University of Alabama

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Gold dust - by Kelly Smith, Gabrielle Mottaz, University of Miami
Finalist: 24 Hours in Tuscaloosa - by Joseph Bodenbach, The University of Alabama
Finalist: Let the meat do the talking - by Sarah Ellis, University of South Carolina

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Faces of depression: Exposing the silent battle - by Heather Seidel, Flagler College
Finalist: Vandon Gibbs portrait - by LuAnne DeMeo, SCAD Atlanta
Finalist: Sexual assault spotlighted - by April Irvin, Troy University

General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Dumpster diving - by Randy Schafer, University of Georgia
Finalist: Homecoming concert mixes genres - by Hallee Meltzer, University of Miami
Finalist: Spirit Splash leaves UCF students sick, bruised - by Bernard Wilchusky, University of Central Florida

General News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Generate 2014: Designing in a day - by Nancy Juarez, SCAD Atlanta
Finalist: Fitness center gets an upgrade - by Jennifer Carlisle, Troy University

Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Richter library celebrates Banned Books Week - by Nick Gangemi, University of Miami
Finalist: West Coast v. East Coast - by Claudia Fernandes-Hernandez, University of Miami
Finalist: Revenge - by Pete Pajor and Sloane Arogeti, The University of Alabama

Photo Illustration (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Love bytes - by Acquille Dunkley, SCAD Atlanta
Finalist: Center for Civil and Human Rights - by James Crissman, Emory University
Finalist: Split Twitter personalities - by Jo Arellanes, SCAD Atlanta

Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: On the road again - by Pete Pajor, The University of Alabama
Finalist: SEC swimming and diving championships: Day five - by David C. Bristow, University of Georgia
Finalist: Seniors leave Alabama perfect - by Jonathan Norris, The University of Alabama

Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Troy men's basketball triumphs on the road - by Josh Thurston, Troy University
Finalist: Love in motion - by Mallory Barclay, Barry University
Finalist: Volleyball - by Eric Patrick, Barry University

MAGAZINES
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Ampersand magazine, the unexpected issue - by Ampersand magazine staff, University of Georgia
Finalist: The Phoenix - by Matthew Johnson, Kaitlin Keller, Anna Garner, Drew Greiner, Georgia Regents University
Finalist: Football Special Issue - by Michelle Friswell and Wesley Wright, Florida Atlantic University

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Hooked - by Erica Ruggles, Georgia Regents University
Finalist: Dark market - by Sara Portwood, Ohio University
Finalist: Side by Side - by Brittany Collins, Florida A&M University

NEWSPAPERS
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Crimson White - by The Crimson White staff, The University of Alabama
Finalist: The Independent Florida Alligator - by Staff Reports, University of Florida
Finalist: The Oracle - by The Oracle, University of South Florida

Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Red & Black - by Staff, University of Georgia
Finalist: The Current - by the staff of The Current, Nova Southeastern University
Finalist: The Auburn Plainsman- Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper - by Becky Hardy, Maddie Yerant, Austin Phillips, Judy Riedl, Auburn University

Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: UM President Shalala resigns - by Lyssa Goldberg, Alexander Gonzalez, Nick Swyter, University of Miami
Finalist: Shooting in FSU library leaves three injured, gunman killed by police - by Staff Report, University of Florida
Finalist: UF releases police report regarding Treon Harris case - by Richard Johnson and Jordan McPherson, University of Florida

Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Swastikas drawn on AEPi walls - by Stephen Fowler, Sonam Vashi, Emory University

Editorial Writing
Winner: Our View - by The Crimson White Editorial Board, The University of Alabama
Finalist: Paying twice for concerts, tuition billing transparency, university corporations - by Roberto Roldan, University of South Florida

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: The person I was born to be - by Francie Johnson and Hannah Widener, The University of Alabama
Finalist: Tiffany Sessions suspect named - by Kathryn Varn, Kelcee Griffis and Julia Glum, University of Florida
Finalist: Becoming Trixie: 2013 pride queen passes on her crown - by Kalhan Rosenblatt, Florida Gulf Coast University

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Decoding Emory's hackathon - by Jenna Kingsley, Emory University
Finalist: Old wounds never heal for veterans - by Justin Katz, Flagler College
Finalist: Lincolnville resident represents lost community - by Ashley Goodman, Flagler College

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Jackie Yang culture columnist - by Jackie Yang, University of Miami
Finalist: Patrick Quinlan staff columnist - by Patrick Quinlan, University of Miami
Finalist: All bummed out; Teach, for crying out loud!; Wouldn’t have changed a thing - by Jazmyn Brown, Nova Southeastern University

General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Ft. Lauderdale's war against poverty - by Nicole Cocuy, Nova Southeastern University
Finalist: Spicy, subservient and stupid: Latina stereotypes in the media - by Nicole Cocuy, Nova Southeastern University
Finalist: Treat yourself, don't cheat yourself - by Nicole Cocuy, Nova Southeastern University

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: The Pedro Bravo murder trial - by Alex Harris, University of Florida
Finalist: Riding along: University Police ramps up nighttime patrol - by Rachel Crosby, University of Florida
Finalist: Access Denied: Historical preservation trumps accessibility? - by Michelle Baruchman, University of Georgia

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Bugs in SGA ballot allow for multiple votes, non-student voters - by Drew Lacy, Florida Institute of Technology
Finalist: Admissions misreported data coverage - by Gargoyle Staff, Flagler College
Finalist: Officials investigate 'discriminatory' body fat testing - by Ashley Remkus, University of North Alabama

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: The Red Zone: Sexual assaults on UGA campus - by David Schick, University of Georgia
Finalist: Surviving sexual assault - by Isabella Cueto, University of Miami
Finalist: Playing with fire?: Some extinguishers left expired for nearly one year until reported - by Hilary Butschek, University of Georgia

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Inequity discovered in Florida Tech athletic recruiting - by David Barkholz, Florida Institute of Technology
Finalist: Adjuncts teach courses ‘as needed’ - by Cassie Gibbs and Josh Richards, Troy University
Finalist: The struggle is real: Battling anxiety and panic attacks - by Cassie Stanley, Flagler College

Sports Column Writing
Winner: It's going down, I'm yelling union - by Gabe Sadetsky, Troy University
Finalist: Why college basketball fans love to hate the RPI - by Nick Suss, University of Georgia

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: 50 years: Vince Dooley reflects on a half-century in Athens - by Tanya Sichynsky, University of Georgia
Finalist: South Carolina native A’ja Wilson anything but normal as No. 1 basketball recruit - by Isabelle Khurshudyan, University of South Carolina
Finalist: University restricts club sports uniforms - by Mary-Catherine Hodges and Reed O'Mara, The University of Alabama

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Coach Blakeney to retire - by Jill Odom, Troy University

ONLINE
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: CentralFloridaFuture.com - by Central Florida Future staff, University of Central Florida
Finalist: themiamihurricane.com - by The Hurricane staff, University of Miami

Best Digital-Only Student Publication
Winner: Flagler College Gargoyle - by Gargoyle Staff, Flagler College

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: KnightNews.com - by KnightNews.com, University of Central Florida
Finalist: Flagler College Gargoyle - by Gargoyle Staff, Flagler College
Finalist:: Viking Fusion - by Viking Fusion, Berry College

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Madrid as text - by Viking Fusion Project Madrid Team, Berry College
Finalist: Holmes fired - by Quintin Gee, Florida A&M University
Finalist: UA professors read their own reviews on 'Rate My Professor' - by Holly Jackson, The University of Alabama

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: 91 minutes in April - by Staff, Dateline Alabama, The University of Alabama
Finalist: Mama’s boys: Recruiting program coordinator to retire in March - by Kendall Trammell, University of Georgia
Finalist: Panama Canel - by Nick Sirio, Gabriella Canel and Mira Shah, University of Miami

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Fort Lauderdale's controversial homeless feeding restrictions spark national outrage - by Dylan Bouscher, Florida Atlantic University
Finalist: Surviving sexual assault - by Isabella Cueto, University of Miami
Finalsit: Oversupply - by Taylor Manning, The University of Alabama

Online News Reporting
Winner: Black lives matter protest sparks conversation about on-campus racism - by Lyssa Goldberg, University of Miami
Finalist: Sorority Bid Day Includes 190 minority women - by Andy McWhorter, The University of Alabama
Finalist: Hundreds gather to remember former UCF student Steven Sotloff - by Christal Hayes, Nick Russett, Jacob Sadowsky and Jake Rakoci, University of Central Florida

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: Commentary - by Alexa Epitropoulos, Flagler College
Finalist: Commentary - by Emily Topper, Flagler College
Finalist: Columns - by Jen Schwartz, SCAD Atlanta

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: All about the 'G' - by Zac Al-Khateeb, The University of Alabama
Finalist: 50 years: Vince Dooley reflects on a half-century in Athens - by Tanya Sichynsky, University of Georgia
Finalist: Deontay Wilder and Skyy Boxing present: Young Guns - by Joseph Bodenbach, Collin Ciepiela and Kirsten Fiscus, The University of Alabama

RADIO BROADCAST
Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: 933 Newscast - by WUFT-FM Staff, University of Florida

Radio Feature
Winner: Rice tastes like home - by Jephie Bernard, Selima Hussain, Carla Javier and Costanza Gallardo, Florida Atlantic University & others
Finalist: Greenville's haunted firehouse tour - by David Caddell, Troy University

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Campaign ads get added boost - by David Caddell, Troy University
Finalist: Jail inmate life - by Taylor Trache, University of Florida
Finalist: C-Section rates high in Miami - by Constanza Gallardo, Florida International University

Radio News Reporting
Winner: You should know: Bus boycott pioneer Mary Smith - by Katy Ganaway, David Caddell and Winn Carroll, Troy University
Finalist: Gang violence pushes even the prosperous to flee - by Constanza Gallardo, Florida International University
Finalist: Prisoners using social media - by Ashlyn Reese, University of Florida

TELEVISION BROADCAST
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: WUFT NEWS at Six - by WUFT NEWS, University of Florida
Finalist: News20 At Five Newscast - by Jordan Kinsey, Marjorie Pierre and Nakima Fields, Florida A&M University
Finalist: WUFT NEWS First at Five - by WUFT NEWS, University of Florida

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Spanish Trace shootings - by Nicole Acevedo, Molly Robinson, James Torrez and Stephanie Matarazzo, University of Florida
Finalist: FSU shooting social media - by Donovan Long, Florida A&M University
Finalist: Ice storm: Round 2 - by Alexa Knowles, University of Georgia

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Vets and pets - by Nick Swyter, University of Miami
Finalist: Blue sky - by Emily Pacillo, University of South Carolina
Finalist: Whale - by Erika Jackson, University of Miami

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Hajib experience - by Leah Harding, University of Florida
Finalist: Ebola - by Laura Smith, University of South Carolina
Finalist: Medicaid cut off - by Christian Smith, University of Miami

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: DNA ethics - by Leah Harding, University of Florida
Finalist: Adderall abuse - by Kathleen Jacob, University of South Carolina
Finalist: Bus cameras - by Laura Smith, University of South Carolina

Television News and Feature Photography
Winner: Baby swim - by Eddie Sanchez, University of Miami
Finalist: Balance 180 vs Autism - by Alexys Martinez, University of Florida

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Recruiting rankings - by Rixon Lane, University of South Carolina

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 spj.org.

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