SPJ Announces 2006 Region 3 Mark of Excellence Award Winners

Home > SPJ News > SPJ Announces 2006 Region 3 Mark of Excellence Award Winners

For Immediate Release:
4/1/2007

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 3 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 on March 31 at the Spring Conference held at the Paramount Resort and Conference Center in Gainesville, Fla.. 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 3 Winners:

Breaking News Reporting
• First Place: Melissa Patterson, University of Central Florida, “SAE pledges found ‘sobbing,’ in costume”
• Second Place: Mike Camunas, University of South Florida, “Cardieri resigns after 21 years”
• Third Place: Dominick Tao, University of Florida, “Danny Rolling Dead”

General News Reporting
• First Place: Dominick Tao, University of Florida, “Student survives truck accident”
• Second Place: Tom Iacuzio, Flagler College, “Where does it all go?”
• Third Place: Nada Taha, University of Central Florida, “Coping with grief, disbelief”

In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Jason Parsley, Florida Atlantic University, “Missing Treasure”
• Second Place: Sara Pauff, University of Georgia, “University senior runs site similar to one facing lawsuit”
• Third Place: Drew Harwell, University of Florida, “The Long & Winding Road”

Feature Writing
• First Place: Drew Harwell, University of Florida, “A killer is born”
• Second Place: Jason Parsley, Florida Atlantic University, “Unchecked”
• Third Place: Andrea Huls, Flagler College, “Adoption rounds out student’s family”

Sports Writing
• First Place: Peter Steinbauer, University of Georgia, “Kevin Brophy 1985-2006”
• Second Place: Daniel Boyette, University of South Alabama, “Brothers in arms”
• Third Place: Nicholas Zaccardi, University of Florida, “Return of the Kings”

Editorial Writing
• First Place: The Red & Black Staff, University of Georgia, “Editorials”
• Second Place: Amanda Whitsitt, Jordan Capobianco, Brad Bautista and Mark Lennox, University of South Florida “USF Oracle Editorials”
• Third Place: Jason Shepard, April Havens, Jeff Poor and Aaron Smock, University of South Alabama, “The Vanguard Editorials”

Editorial Cartooning
• First Place: Bill Richards, University of Georgia
• Second Place: Jeff Sheridan, University of South Florida
• Third Place: Dave Valeza, Savannah College of Art & Design

General Column Writing
• First Place: Brent Mosley, University of Georgia
• Second Place: Driadonna Roland, Florida A&M University
• Third Place: Troy Hillier, University of Central Florida

Sports Column Writing
• First Place: Mike Camunas, University of South Florida
• Second Place: Stacey Arnold, University of Miami
• Third Place: Greg Rossino, Troy University, “Rossino Royale”

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (published at least 4 times per week)
• First Place: Staff, University of Georgia, “The Red & Black”
• Second Place: Staff, University of Florida, “The Independent Florida Alligator”
• Third Place: Staff, University of South Florida, “The Oracle”

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (published less than 4 times per week)
• First Place: Staff, Auburn University, “The Auburn Plainsman”
• Second Place: Staff, University of Central Florida, “Central Florida Future”
• Third Place: Staff, University of South Carolina, “The Carolina Reporter”

Magazine Non-Fiction Article
• First Place: Nicole Bardo-Colon, Florida A&M University, “Code of Silence”
• Second Place: Ebonie Ledbetter, Florida A&M University, “A League of Their Own”
• Third Place: Matt Sanchez, University of Florida, “Honestly, Honey”

Best Student Magazine
• First Place: Staff, Miami Dade College, “Miambiance Magazine”
• Second Place: Staff, Florida A&M University, “Journey”
• Third Place: Staff, Augusta State University, “Phoenix Magazine”

Breaking News Photography
• First Place: Luanne Dietz, Tim Hussin, Jeremiah Wilson and Celia Tobin, University of Florida, “A Killer’s End: Danny Rolling’s Execution in Pictures”
• Second Place: Kathleen Ruark, University of Georgia, “ATF rids university of ninja threat”
• Third Place: Jeff Poor, University of South Alabama, “Two nabbed in Delta dorm drug bust”

General News Photography
• First Place: Matt Pollitt, University of Central Florida, “Violence Hits”
• Second Place: Tom O’Connor, University of Georgia, “Jaywalking: A hazardous practice”
• Third Place: Ann-Kathryn Bultman, University of South Carolina, “Reporter experiences Mud Run”

Feature Photography
•First Place: Natalie Grace Estes, University of Georgia, “Waving goodbye to Gussie Mack”
• Second Place: Jon Turner, University of South Carolina, “Professor kisses pig”
• Third Place: Nat Newsome, Augusta State University, “A Summer Night in Augusta”

Photo Illustration
• First Place: Alexander Koyler, University of Florida, “The Bottomless (Brad) Pit”
• Second Place: Jessica Einhorn, Wiu Wooten and Gaby Bruna, University of Miami, “Commentary of Football Future”
• Third Place: Andrea Askew and Andy McFee, University of Georgia, “No Money, Mo Problems”

Sports Photography
• First Place: Emily Anne Crawford, University of Georgia, “Lady Dogs place second at NCAAs”
• Second Place: Tom O’Connor, University of Georgia, “Sweet Victory”
• Third Place: The Red and Black Staff, University of Georgia, “Faster Than the Speed of Sight”

Radio News Reporting
• First Place: Kristen Taylor, Ben Foster and Kris Kallies, University of Alabama, “Election Night 2006”
• Second Place: Kristen Taylor, University of Alabama, “Campus Theft”
• Third Place: no award

Radio Feature
• First Place: Matt Terrell and Jeff Gill, Savannah College of Art & Design, “Home Again (Debbie Gill)”
• Second Place: Matt Terrell and Jeff Gill, Savannah College of Art & Design, “The Forgotten (Tim Bui)”
• Third Place: Adam Mertz, University of Florida, “Male Fashion Designer”

Radio In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: WRUF Staff, University of Florida, “Rolling Execution”
• Second Place: Matt Terrell, Savannah College of Art & Design, “Facebook”
• Third Place: no award

Radio Sports Reporting
• First Place: Dave Behr, University of Florida, “Sports Fitness”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Radio Newscast
no awards

Television Breaking News Reporting
• First Place: Megan Albright, University of Florida, “Danny Rolling’s First Victims”
• Second Place: Candace McCowan, University of Alabama, “Double Tragedy”
• Third Place: Graeme Moore, University of South Carolina, “Dungeon Rapist”

Television General News Reporting
• First Place: Joy Howe, University of South Carolina, “Missing Sex Offenders”
• Second Place: Tejay Henderson, Florida A&M University, “Pitbull Fighting”
• Third Place: Kathryn Williams, University of South Carolina, “Vietnam Memorial”

Television Feature
• First Place: Candice Burley, University of Miami, “Bull Riding”
• Second Place: Frank Guzman, University of Miami, “Blood Drive”
• Third Place: Alex Butler, University of Florida, “A Life of Ballet”

Television In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Natalie Caula and Megan Albright, University of Florida, “Danny Rolling Execution”
• Second Place: Emily Pace, University of South Carolina, “Working Poor”
• Third Place: Ansley Dreadin, Bigad Shaban and Colleen Chen, University of Florida, “Spotlight on Cancer”

Television Sports Reporting
• First Place: Stephen Anderson, University of South Carolina, “USC Football Graduation Rate”
• Second Place: John Huddleston, University of Alabama, “Women’s Softball”
• Third Place: Mark Vaughn, Troy University, “Olmsted in Senior Bowl”

Television News Photography
• First Place: Ashlee Cuza and Sarah Gersh, University of Florida, “Bald Eagles”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Television Feature Photography
• First Place: John Huddleston, University of Alabama, “Camp Shelby”
• Second Place: Natalie Caula, University of Florida, “Woman Firefighter - A Day in the Life”
• Third Place: no award

Television Sports Photography
• First Place: Jordan Wall, University of Florida, “Gators make BCS Championship Game”
• Second Place: Jonathan Sellers, Troy University, “New Orleans Bowl”
• Third Place: no award

Television Newscast
• First Place: WUFT News Staff, University of Florida, “WUFT News”
• Second Place: Channel 15 Staff, University of Georgia, “Newsource 15”
• Third Place: no award

Online News Reporting
• First Place: Matthew Byrnes, University of Miami, “Florida Warming”
• Second Place: Gaby Bruna, University of Miami, “Roofless in Miami”
• Third Place: no award

Online Feature Reporting
• First Place: Kathryn Bain, University of Miami, “Crave Miami”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Online In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Ana Ochoa, University of Miami, “Student Addictions”
• Second Place: Jennifer Farrell, University of Miami, “Inside the Mirror”
• Third Place: Kristen Damlani, University of Miami, “On Net Neutrality”

Online Sports Reporting
no awards

Online Opinion & Commentary
• First Place: Matt Terrell, Savannah College of Art & Design, “Film Fest Podcasts”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

Best Affiliated Web site
no award

Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication
• First Place: Staff, University of Miami, “Mediaforchange.org”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award

###