SPJ Announces 2006 Region 6 Mark of Excellence Award Winners

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For Immediate Release:
3/23/2007

CONTACT:
Heather Porter, Programs Coordinator, 317-927-8000, ext. 204
Beth King, Communications Manager, 317-927-8000, ext. 211

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the Region 6 Mark of Excellence Award winners for the 2006 calendar year. This year, collegiate journalists submitted more than 3,300 entries in 39 categories across SPJ’s 12 regions.

The honorees were awarded certificates today during the Spring Conference held at the Holiday Inn Select in Bloomington, Minn. First place regional winners will advance to the national round of judging, which takes place in early April. Winners will be announced in mid May.

For additional information on the Mark of Excellence Awards, please contact Heather Porter at 317-927-8000, ext. 204.

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.

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.

2006 Region 6 Winners:

Breaking News Reporting
• First Place: Megan Hupp, Marquette University, “Morning blast leaves 3 dead, 46 injured”
• Second Place: Kathryn Melson, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Melrose students unable to vote Tuesday”
• Third Place: John Leppanen, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Campus Rape Series”

General News Reporting
• First Place: Emily Kaiser, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Libraries’ real work crowds in on fantasy”
• Second Place: Marni Ginther, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Undocumented students face problems paying for school”
• Third Place: Ashley Spencer, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Doyle, marriage ban prevail”

In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Conrad Wilson, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “The World Waits”
• Second Place: Meredith Thorn, St. Cloud State University, “Student lives with violence”
• Third Place: Matthew J. Ryno, Marquette University, “Food stores are still a needed oasis in the New West Side”

Feature Writing
• First Place: Jason Soriano, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “From Soldier to Student”
• Second Place: Dan Wohl, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “It’s all about the presidents, baby”
• Third Place: Staff, Marquette University, “What it’s like to be…”

Sports Writing
• First Place: Heather Mangan, South Dakota State University, “Meet the Berry’s”
• Second Place: Steve Bader, St. Cloud State University, “Anatomy of a knee injury”
• Third Place: Steve Yanda, Marquette University, “Finding their way back home”

Editorial Writing
• First Place: Editorial Board, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Cardinal View Editorials”
• Second Place: Jeremy Fuglebert, South Dakota State University, “Editorials”
• Third Place: Mirror Staff, Lakeland College, “Editorials”

Editorial Cartooning
• First Place: Phil Hands, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Daily Cardinal Cartoons"
• Second Place: Nate Melcher, Minnesota State University, “MSU Reporter Cartoons”
• Third Place: Adam Elrashidi, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Political Cartoons”

General Column Writing
• First Place: Caitlin Cieslik-MiSkimen, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “A Trio of Columns”
• Second Place: Rob Ebert, Marquette University, “Entertainment and Humor Columns”
• Third Place: Jill Klosterman, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Sports Column Writing
• First Place: Steve Yanda, Marquette University, “Sports Column Collection”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (published at least 4 times per week)
• First Place: Staff, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “The Daily Cardinal”
• Second Place: Staff, University of Minnesota, “The Minnesota Daily”
• Third Place: no award

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (published less than 4 times per week)
• First Place: Staff, St. Cloud State University, “University Chronicle”
• Second Place: Staff, South Dakota State University, “The Collegian”
• Third Place: Staff, Marquette University, “The Marquette Tribune”

Magazine Non-Fiction Article
no awards

Best Student Magazine
no awards

Breaking News Photography
no awards

General News Photography
• First Place: Ali Haupt, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Girls Laughing Around Table”
• Second Place: Megan McHattie, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Lighting of Cigarette”
• Third Place: no award

Feature Photography
•First Place: Tyler McKean, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Baby Lamb”
• Second Place: Shirley Knowles, Marquette University, “Home Sweet Home”
• Third Place: Heather Gruenhagen, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “The Nutcracker Kid”

Photo Illustration
• First Place: Ali Haupt, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Eye”
• Second Place: Heather Leszczewicz, Marquette University, “Her Turn at the Wheel”
• Third Place: Kaleb Bronson, St. Cloud State University, “Local piercer pokes new holes”

Sports Photography
• First Place: Megan McHattie, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Swimmer Breathing”
• Second Place: Shirley Knowles, Marquette University, “Women’s soccer falls short of berth”
• Third Place: Amanda Schwengel, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Football Player Running”

Radio News Reporting
• First Place: Christopher Eckert, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, “Hunger Cleanup”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Radio Feature
no awards

Radio In-Depth Reporting
no awards

Radio Sports Reporting
• First Place: David McCoy, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Zach Puchtel”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Radio Newscast
• First Place: Newsteam, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, “UWM PantherCast”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Television Breaking News Reporting
• First Place: Candace Thornberg, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Fatal Plane Crash”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Television General News Reporting
• First Place: Mandi Johnson, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Student Sandbaggers”
• Second Place: Danielle Webster, University of North Dakota, “IPOD Concerns”
• Third Place: no award

Television Feature
• First Place: Laura Langemo and Cole Mathisen, St. Cloud State University, “Project Astride”
• Second Place: Anne Deplazes, University of North Dakota, “School for the blind”
• Third Place: Danielle Webster, University of North Dakota, “Tire Ranch”

Television In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Broadcast Documentary Class, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Spirit of Itasca”
• Second Place: Maria Torning and Danielle Webster, University of North Dakota, “Base of Change”
• Third Place: no award

Television Sports Reporting
• First Place: Nicholas Johnson and Patrick Wynne, University of North Dakota, “Slacker Yoga”
• Second Place: David McCoy, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “Rob Hugelman”
• Third Place: no award

Television News Photography
• First Place: Enrico Meyer, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Student Sandbaggers”
• Second Place: Nate Knutson, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Tornado in Warroad”
• Third Place: Nate Knutson, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Food in Kragnes”

Television Feature Photography
• First Place: Enrico Meyer, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Energy Drinks”
• Second Place: Shawn Engel, University of North Dakota, “Car Show”
• Third Place: Candace Leyk, St. Cloud State University, “Our Town…Our Game: The History of Baseball in St. Cloud”

Television Sports Photography
• First Place: Nate Knutson, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Fish Fling”
• Second Place: Erik Fleischhacker, University of North Dakota, “Golf Cart”
• Third Place: Nate Knutson, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Trap Shooting”

Television Newscast
• First Place: UTVS Daily News Staff, St. Cloud State University, “UTVS Daily News”
• Second Place: Studio One Staff, University of North Dakota, “Studio One Newscast”
• Third Place: no award

Online News Reporting
• First Place: Benjamin Sobieck, St. Cloud State University, “Body of missing student found”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Online Feature Reporting
• First Place: Carrie Snyder, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Something Fierce”
• Second Place: Alyssa Schafer, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Jim Gerhz: Star Tribune photojournalist”
• Third Place: Anna Anderson, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Kiddy Ballet”

Online In-Depth Reporting
no awards

Online Sports Reporting
no awards

Online Opinion & Commentary
no awards

Best Affiliated Web site
• First Place: Minnesota Daily Staff, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, “MNDaily.com”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication
• First Place: Horizonlines.org Staff, Minnesota State University Moorhead, “Digital Storytelling”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

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