Region 7 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced in Manhattan, Kan.

Home > SPJ News > Region 7 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced in Manhattan, Kan.

5/8/2017

Contacts:
Abbi Martzall, SPJ Events Coordinator, 317-920-4791, amartzall@spj.org
Rachel Semple, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, rsemple@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 7 with 2016 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 7 comprises Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of May 5 at the Region 7 Conference. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other regional MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at the Excellence in Journalism conference in Anaheim, California.

MOE Awards entries are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience. Judges were directed to choose entries they felt were among the best in student journalism. If no entry rose to the level of excellence, no award was given. Any category not listed has no winner.

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

The list below details all Region 7 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact Abbi Martzall via email or phone at 317-920-4791.

This list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award entries.

Art / Graphics
Breaking News Photography (Small)
Winner: Bernie Sanders – by Chad Phillips, The Baker Orange

Feature Photography (Large)
Winner: Not her first rodeo – by Halee Rock, University of Missouri

Feature Photography (Small)
Winner: CAB’s Welcome Back Week: Petting Zoo – Carly Fristoe, Lindenwood University

General News Photography (Large)
Finalist: Tim Kaine visits Iowa State – by Emily Blobaum, Iowa State University

General News Photography (Small)
Finalist: Duchess' lizard costume – by Kelby Lorenz, Lindenwood University
Finalist: Zombie Walk – by Chad Phillips, The Baker Orange

Photo Illustration (Large)
Winner: Let’s do lunch – by Alex Menz, University of Missouri

Photo Illustration (Small)
Winner: Black Lives Matter – by Maria Echeverry, The Baker Orange
Finalist: Looking through a local lens – by Sarah Baker, The Baker Orange

Sports Photography (Small)
Winner: Emotional Win – by Chad Phillips, The Baker Orange
Finalist: Referee watches sideline – by Chad Phillips, The Baker Orange
Finalist: Touchdown in Lindenwood football's home opener – by Carly Fristoe, Lindenwood University

Magazines
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Vox Magazine - Missouri's Main Street – by Vox staff, University of Missouri
Finalist: The Iowa State Way – by Iowa State Daily Staff, Iowa State University

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: The cornerstone of a community's faith – by Lauren Rutherford, University of Missouri
Finalist: The Adderall diaries – by Dan Roe, University of Missouri

Newspapers
Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: Muleskinner – by Muleskinner Staff, University of Central Missouri
Finalist: The Campus Ledger – by Campus Ledger staff, Johnson County Community College

Breaking News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Students hold "Not My President" protest, march to President Leath's office – by Nik Heftman, Iowa State University
Finalist: Gun pulled during altercation on campus, two arrested – by Bethany Sherrow, University of Central Missouri
Finalist: Protestors speak out against, curse Trump on campus – by Steven Spears, University of Central Missouri

Breaking News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Assistant football coach arrested on felony drug charges, resigns – by Viktoria Muench, Lindenwood University

Editorial Writing
Winner: Emily Barske Editorials – by Emily Barske, Iowa State University
Finalist: Michael Heckle Editorial Writing – by Michael Heckle, Iowa State University
Finalist: "Americans must now stand up..."; "Governor Brownback..."; "Young people must vote..." - by The Campus Ledger editorial board, Johnson County Community College

Feature Writing (Large)
Winner: Whiteclay, caring for kids with fetal alcohol disorders – by Story by Marcella Mercer, Photos by Calla Kessler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Hochstein helps lead change for LGBTQA+ community – by Nik Heftman, Iowa State University
Finalist: Here's the Iowa company behind the Cedar Rapids fireworks show – by Emily Barske, Iowa State University

Feature Writing (Small)
Winner: Daisy Coleman hopes documentary helps heal others – by Brenna Thompson, The Baker Orange
Finalist: Mystery novels and trench coats – by Viktoria Muench, Lindenwood University
Finalist: Lion remembered for 'great heart' – by Essi Virtanen, Lindenwood University

General Column Writing (Large)
Winner: Michael Heckle’s Columns – by Michael Heckle, Iowa State University

General Column Writing (Small)
Winner: Three Columns by Sarah Baker – by Sarah Baker, The Baker Orange

General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Islam from two sides: College Republicans, Muslim Student Association host events – by Bethany Sherrow, University of Central Missouri
Finalist: Senators seek to allow guns on campus – by Steven Spears, Leah Wankum, University of Central Missouri
Finalist: Wearing the letters: Students try to break down greek stereotypes – by Sarah Muller, Iowa State University

General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Title IX Coverage – by Brenna Thompson, The Baker Orange
Finalist: BU now using Turnitin plagiarism detection software – by Sarah Baker, The Baker Orange
Finalist: Some students surprised by scope of Droste project – by Phil Brahm, Lindenwood University

In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: MU's Asian students reluctant to report episodes of discrimination, racism – by Sean Na, The University of Missouri – Columbia

In-Depth Reporting (Small)
Winner: Talking transgender: the bathroom debate on campus – by Mykaela Cross, The Baker Orange
Finalist: Visitation policy fails exam – by Lucie Brochon, Lindenwood University
Finalist: Access restricted on campus – by Phil Scherer, Lindenwood University

Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: les back from a runner's nightmare – by Kyle Heim, Iowa State University
Finalist: Hips don't lie – by Ryan Young, Iowa State University
Finalist: Stuuu – by Ryan Young, Iowa State University

Sports Writing (Small)
Winner: 551: Legendary Lion shatters all-time NCAA record – by Walker Van Wey, Lindenwood University

Online
Best Affiliated Website
Winner: KBIA.org – by KBIA Staff, University of Missouri
Finalist: VoxMagazine.com – by Vox staff, University of Missouri
Finalist: ISDHoops.com – by ISD Staff, Iowa State University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Storybook ending wraps up Lindenwood gymnastics’ memorable season – by Carly Fristoe, Ivy Reynolds, Phil Brahm, Phil Scherer, Lindenwood University
Finalist: Second University Forum – by Mariam Seif, Reem Mohamed, Hanien Gaballah, The American University in Cairo
Finalist: Student apartment complex competition is changing Columbia's skyline – by Vox staff, University of Missouri

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: A Lakota Warrior Swaps Bullets for Ballots – by Story by Vanessa Daves, Photos by Amber Baesler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Egypt -A Transit Station? – by Yasmeen Shaheen, The American University in Cairo
Finalist: Spice of Life: New Americans and Food – by Nebraska Mosaic staff, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: A Day in the Life (and Death) of Whiteclay – by Story by Chris Bowling, Photos by James Wooldridge, Calla Kessler and Amber Baesler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Does protesting work? - by Lara Korte, University of Kansas
Finalist: Excluded and Forgotten – by Yasmine Hassan, Yasmeen Shaheen, Farah Tawfeek, The American University in Cairo

Online News Reporting
Winner: Egypt Floats the Pound – by Yasmine Hassan, The American University in Cairo
Finalist: Nebraska bucks national trend of declining young farmers – by Kellan Heavican, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Second University Forum – by Mariam Seif, Reem Mohamed, Hanien Gaballah, The American University in Cairo

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: The Online Evolution of BU Athletics – by Chad Mullen and Cort Brennan, The Baker Orange

Radio
Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: KRNU Election Night Newscast – by KRNU News Staff, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Radio Feature
Winner: A Local Town’s Special Claim to Fame: Winston Churchill – by Carter Woodiel, University of Missouri
Finalist: Accessibility Staff Makes Sure All Can Enjoy Roots N Blues – by Carter Woodiel, University of Missouri
Finalist: Moberly Man Takes Special Olympics Coaching Beyond the Court – by Ashley Reese, University of Missouri

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Finalist: Putting Columbia's Payphone Mystery to Rest – by Emerald O'Brien, University of Missouri
Finalist: Skewed Sampling Persists in St. Louis Lead Contamination Testing – by Riley Beggin, University of Missouri

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Uncertain Future for Missourians Losing Food Stamps after Waiver Changes – by Ryan Levi, University of Missouri
Finalist: Prison Fire Controversy – by Bree Samani, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: MU Homecoming Parade One Year After Concerned Student 1950 Protest – by Claire Banderas, Daniela Vidal, University of Missouri

Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Nebraska Football - Senior Day & the 29th Senior – by Zachary Penrice, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Moberly Man Takes Special Olympics Coaching Beyond the Court – by Ashley Reese, University of Missouri
Finalist: Leadership Changes, Highs and Lows Define Mizzou Sports in 2016 – by Andy Humphrey, University of Missouri

Television
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: LCTV News – by Allison Wong, Payton Van Vors, Kelly Kuboushek, Sami Graff, Loras College

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: The Campus Ledger -- JCCC's student-run newspaper – by Lily Fritts and Nicole Fuentes, Johnson County Community College
Finalist: ISU Parking Division – by Aaron O'Neill, Iowa State University

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Prayer Area in Parks Library – by Andreas Haffar, Aaron O' Neill, Iowa State University
Finalist: To All Who Have Served, We Salute You – by Josh Lamberty, Iowa State University

Television News and Feature Photography
Winner: Unearthed – by Charlie Grant, Allison Wong, Loras College

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Lauren Cartmell: Overcoming Her Fears – by Samantha Glenn, Lindenwood University
Finalist: Chase Venn's Drive – by Mark Kim, University of Missouri

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