National winners announced for 2016 Mark of Excellence Awards

Home > SPJ News > National winners announced for 2016 Mark of Excellence Awards

5/26/2017

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

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists congratulates the 2016 Mark of Excellence Awards national winners. The MOE Awards honor the best of collegiate journalism within a calendar year.

National Mark of Excellence Award winners are chosen from the category winners in each of SPJ’s 12 regions, and the awards are judged by journalism professionals with at least three years of experience. Lists of regional winners can be found in SPJ News.

SPJ will recognize first-place national winners at the Student Union event during Excellence in Journalism 2017, Sept. 7-9 in Anaheim.

Judges were directed to choose only those entries they considered outstanding work worthy of a national honor. If the judges determined none of the entries rose to this 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 10,000+ students and small have fewer than 10,000 students.

See the list below for details on national winners, and direct any MOE Awards questions to SPJ Events Coordinator Abbi Martzall.

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

Art/Graphics
Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Fire on the mountain - by Daniel Stein, James Madison University
Finalist: Mill Avenue protest - by Reilly Kneedler, Arizona State University
Finalist: Fort Worth Trump protest - by Duy Vu, UT Arlington

Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Protests with police - by Gracey Evans, Point Park University
Finalist: Champions at last - by Annika Gordon, University of Portland

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Selections from an extrospective field journal - by A.J. Newberry, Miami University

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Not her first rodeo - by Halee Rock, University of Missouri
Finalist: The Chris percentile - by Dominique Hessert, Rochester Institute of Technology
Finalist: Take your puppy to the pool day - by Andrew Spellman, West Virginia University

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Graduation - by Erika Bolado, Abilene Christian University
Finalist: Singarama dancers - by Erin Turner, Lipscomb University
Finalist: CAB's Welcome Back Week: Petting Zoo - by Carly Fristoe, Lindenwood University

General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Let the children lead the way - by Maggie Andresen, Temple University
Finalist: Day 4 of Cleveland RNC - by Clint Datchuk, Kent State University
Finalist: Glowing rose - by Gabriel Scarlett, Western Kentucky University

General News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Bagpipes at convocation - by Ben Davis, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Dakota access pipeline camp - by Kayleigh Omang, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: Fire - by Lydia Lawson, Abilene Christian University

Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Let's do lunch - by Alex Menz, University of Missouri
Finalist: Alperts give millions for music - by Edward Locke, Los Angeles City College
Finalist: Homecoming guide cover - by Michelle Tam, Hannah Auten, University of Illinois

Photo Illustration (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Phoenix in a haze - by Stephanie Hays, Elon University
Finalist: Black Lives Matter - by Maria Echeverry, Baker University
Finalist: That's all folks! - by Connor Marshman, California University of Pennsylvania

Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Football touchdown - by Austin Yattoni, University of Illinois
Finalist: Seymour speaks - by Daniel Carde, UT Arlington
Finalist: Mud Tug XXI - by Alexa Forberg, Rochester Institute of Technology

Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Emotional win - by Chad Phillips, Baker University
Finalist: Tennis - by Lauren Franco, Abilene Christian University
Finalist: Women’s LAX falls to No. 19 IUP - by Kendall Scott, Slippery Rock University

Magazines
Best Student Magazine
Winner: The Burr - by Staff, Kent State University
Finalist: Marquette Journal - by Stephanie Harte, Marquette University
Finalist: Orange & Blue - by Orange & Blue, University of Florida

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Sexual assault: What's behind the rise in reports on campus? - by Simone Corbett, Nicole Trejo-Valli, Bailee Wicks, Bailey Williams, Central Washington University
Finalist: Divorce from the streets - by Ashley Lombardo, University of Florida
Finalist: The cornerstone of a community's faith - by Lauren Rutherford, University of Missouri

Newspapers
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University
Finalist: The Daily Evergreen, Washington State University
Finalist: The Independent Florida Alligator, University of Florida

Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The University Times, Trinity College Dublin

Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Harvard and dining workers reach 'tentative agreement' - by Brandon J. Dixon, Hannah Natanson, and Leah S. Yared, Harvard College
Finalist: A murder-suicide stuns College Park - by Michael Brice-Saddler, Andrew Dunn, Natalie Schwartz, Mina Haq, University of Maryland, College Park
Finalist: Kesterson lawsuit - by Staff, Kent State University

Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Basketball captain expelled - by Maya Sweedler; Daniela Brighenti, Yale University
Finalist: Gonzaga hires recently fired Mizzou professor Melissa Click - by Andy Buhler and Kiki Serantes, Gonzaga University
Finalist: Faculty members begin strike after not reaching a tentative contract - by Dan DiFabio, Slippery Rock University

Editorial Writing
Winner: The Harvard Crimson Editorial Board, Harvard College
Finalist: Michael Siebert with the Montana Kaimin editorial board, University of Montana
Finalist: Daily Bruin Editorial Board, University of California Los Angeles

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Whiteclay, caring for kids with fetal alcohol disorders - Story by Marcella Mercer, Photos by Calla Kessler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: The plague of pornography - by Sarah Averett, Mariana Chrisney, Brigham Young University
Finalist: The classroom, the ballot and the big bad wall — Oakland’s children tackle the Trump effect - by Rosa Furneaux, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Flynn family goes back 100 years on same land - by Savanah Weed, Troy University
Finalist: Students dig up America's racist past - by Jenna Rossiter, Clare Duffy, University of Portland
Finalist: Serving those with addiction - by Naomi Harward, Cedarville University

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Tim Balk, Northwestern University
Finalist: Morgan Hughes, Marquette University
Finalist: Daily Bruin Opinion, University of California Los Angeles

General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: It's Complicated - by Hannah Moore, Harding University
Finalist: Columns - by Olivia Round, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Enough with white men behind podiums; Visual transcripts; Civil discourse - by Jane Seidel, Elon University

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Agent, smuggler joined together for love and money - by Nicole Cobler, University of Texas at Austin
Finalist: Complaints filed against unlicensed counseling director - by Ellie Smith, The George Washington University
Finalist: Behind closed doors: Students forced to live with an accused rapist - by Rachel Hinton, DePaul University

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Disconnected: Black students on The Bluff feel they don't belong - by Malika Andrews, University of Portland
Finalist: Living the diversity mission - by Kristina Bugante, University of La Verne

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Behind closed doors - by Elizabeth Elkin, The University of Alabama
Finalist: Miami University conducts its search for a new president in secret. - by Reis Thebault and Emily Tate, Miami University
Finalist: Caring for the caregivers - by Shreya Aiyar, Daniel Alcazar, Miriam Bribiesca, University of California Los Angeles

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Ongoing drug issues addressed throughout community - by Anthony Conn, Kimmi Baston, Teghan Simonton, Mattie Winowitch, Waynesburg University
Finalist: Lost in translation: Interpreter shortage deprives justice in Santa Clara County Courts - by John Flynn, Santa Clara University
Finalist: Prevention requires discussion: Sexual assault & harassment - by Hannah Kloppenburg, Kayleigh Thesenvitz, The University of Tulsa

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Jesse Dougherty, Syracuse University
Finalist: Max Bultman, The University of Michigan
Finalist: Ethan Bauer, University of Florida

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Review of Big Ten athletic contracts finds team performance valued more than academic performance - by Kevin Stankiewicz, Ohio State University
Finalist: Breaking the surface with Schuyler Bailar - by Emma K. Talkoff, Harvard College
Finalist: Finding Feller: A family on and off the court - by Sojin Josephson, University of Montana

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Overhand: How Bethlehem and baseball have bonded generations - by Michael Reiner, Lehigh University
Finalist: Men's rowing walk-on reawakens competitive spirit on the water - by Justin Wiens, Gonzaga University
Finalist: How Elon hosted a USA-USSR women's basketball game during the middle of the Cold War - by Alex Simon, Elon University

Online
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: Ball Bearings Online - Ball State University
Finalist: CNSMaryland.org - University of Maryland
Finalist: The Rocky Mountain Collegian - Colorado State University

Best Digital-Only Student Publication
Winner: CNSMaryland.org - University of Maryland
Finalist: NYCity News Service - CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
Finalist: The New Political - Ohio University

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: The New Political - Ohio University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Dome35 - by The Dome35 Team, Syracuse University
Finalist: In poor health - by Capital News Service Staff, University of Maryland
Finalist: #BlackScienceMatters - by Multimedia Journalism Students, University of Illinois

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: From the front lines - by Daniel Carde, UT Arlington
Finalist: Now what? - by Miami University
Finalist: A hidden home - by Kaitlyn Arford, Ball State University

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: In poor health - by Capital News Service Staff, University of Maryland
Finalist: School takeovers leave parents without a voice in education - by Lily Altavena, Rose Velazquez and Natalie Griffin, Arizona State University
Finalist: 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

Online News Reporting
Winner: Voters will face a maze of new requirements in November - by Emily L. Mahoney, Arizona State University
Finalist: Billion dollar story: Campaign finance in Indiana - by Indiana University Media School, Indiana University
Finalist: Egypt floats the pound - by Yasmine Hassan, The American University in Cairo

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: The Spectrum: Whitewashing of Asians in media represents a bigger issue - by Weizhe (Rachel) Yang, Northwestern University
Finalist: Andrew Dyer, Daily Aztec, San Diego State University

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: UWM athletic department controversies - by Miela Fetaw, Tisia Muzinga, Kristopher Schimmel, Paul Willems, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Finalist: In football recruiting sweepstakes, Maryland Has Fallen Short - by Ryan Connors and Troy Jefferson, Philip Merrill College of Journalism
Finalist: Running to Rio - by Chad Sokol, Washington State University

Radio
Radio Broadcast
Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: From Where We Are - by Meghan Coyle, Alana Bracken, Ian Hurley, Miranda Myers, University of Southern California
Finalist: Newsline 10/06/2016 - by Sean Bates, Jessica Ma, Samuel Bussell, Jenna Weigard, Mark Mausner, Lourdes Carballo, Hofstra University

Radio Feature
Winner: A local town’s special claim to fame: Winston Churchill - by Carter Woodiel, University of Missouri
Finalist: Woodyfest - by Storme Jones, University of Oklahoma
Finalist: Meet the city kid turned rodeo king - by Lacy Jane Roberts, University of California Berkeley Journalism School

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: OUTBREAK: A doctor visit like no other - by Nadine Sebai, University of California - Berkeley
Finalist: The lost tapes: How the cassette found its way back - by Joe Bloss, Syracuse University
Finalist: Death denied (Episode Four) - by Fallon Schlossman, Northwestern University

Radio News Reporting
Winner: UNC study finds contaminated water in Wake County wells - by Jessa O'Connor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Finalist: Uncertain future for Missourians losing food stamps after waiver changes - by Ryan Levi, University of Missouri
Finalist: Real ID compliance compromise - by Adam Burnett, University of Oklahoma

Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Nebraska football - Senior Day & the 29th Senior - by Zachary Penrice, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Finalist: Southeastern Conference roundup - by Charlie Jordan, University of Florida
Finalist: The psychology behind sports fandom - by John Thomas, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Television
Television Broadcast
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Cronkite News Election Night - by Tyler Krause Xavier Smith, Arizona State University
Finalist: WVU News "Special Edition" Heroin and opioids: When addiction hits home - by Megan Saporito, West Virginia University Reed College of Media
Finalist: Campus News from 4-30-16 - by Minnesota State University Moorhead

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Ben Shapiro - by Lorraine Taylor, DePaul University
Finalist: Anti Trump Rally - by Phil Pinarski, Larson Seaver, Hannah Kirby, Marquette University
Finalist: Trumping through campus for millennials - by Whitney Burney, Michigan State University

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: What it's like to leave Iraq for a life in America - by Luisa Conlon, Hanna Miller, Lacy Jane Roberts, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
Finalist: Lake Front entertainment - by J.C. Wollslager, Our Lady of the Lake University
Finalist: Gold star mothers - by Maggie Gottlieb, University of Maryland, College Park

Television General News Reporting
Winner: USU ADA - by Amy Reid, Utah State University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Aging out: Autism in Montana - by 2016 Documentary Unit, School of Journalism, University of Montana

Television News and Feature Photography
Winner: Victoria Square - by Scott Cikowski, The Pennsylvania State University
Finalist: Slacklining takes extreme heights - by Chelsea Reichard, Tasha Cain, University of Montana
Finalist: Livestock show - by Raina LaCaze, Louisiana State University

Television Sports Photography
Winner: ASU swimmer represents Serbia in upcoming Olympic Games - by Ao Gao, Arizona State University
Finalist: Beckwith and his horses - by Taylor Curet, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Chris Smiley: Outrunning cancer - by John Madden, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Beckwith and his horses - by Taylor Curet, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Sarah Paulus | Feature twirler - by Megan Hedstrom, St. Cloud State University
Finalist: Memorial soccer match - Cassie Chaplinsky, University of Illinois

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