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SPJ Announces 2006 Region 8 Mark of Excellence Award Winners
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 8 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 during the Spring Conference held at the Hilton NASA Clear Lake. First-place regional winners will advance to the national round of judging, which takes place in April. National winners will be announced in mid-May.
For additional information on the Mark of Excellence Awards or the Society, 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 8 Winners:
Breaking News Reporting
• First Place: Andrew Chavez, Texas Christian University, “Students arrested on sexual assault”
• Second Place: The Houstonian Staff, Sam Houston State University, “SHSU student slain”
• Third Place: Maria Prato-Gaines, University of Oklahoma, “Student trapped under car barely survives”
General News Reporting
• First Place: Krista Nightengale, University of Oklahoma, “Hinrichs: What could’ve been done”
• Second Place: Andrew Chavez, Texas Christian University, “Background checks considered after”
• Third Place: Andrew Chavez, Texas Christian University, “The choice is yours”
In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Ruth Bradley, Texas Tech University, “Lubbock in the Dark”
• Second Place: Tracie Morales, University of Texas at Arlington, “Blank Canvas Series”
• Third Place: Sarah-Jane Sanders, Christi Snow and Randi Adams, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, “Battle for the Border”
Feature Writing
• First Place: Whitney Coleman, University of Oklahoma, “Bald Brothers”
• Second Place: Becca Baker, Oklahoma State University, “ ‘Cell’ebrating”
• Third Place: Mary Tuma, University of Texas at Austin, “UT senior earns place on Glamour’s list”
Sports Writing
• First Place: Will Parchman, Baylor University, “Rivalry stands test of time”
• Second Place: Daniel Youngblood, Baylor University, “Prayers answered in 18-point comeback”
• Third Place: Aubrey Perry, Oklahoma City University, “Coach defeats cancer”
Editorial Writing
• First Place: William W. Savage, III, University of Oklahoma
• Second Place: Jason Buch and Emily Messer, Texas State University-San Marcos
• Third Place: The Shorthorn Editorial Staff, University of Texas at Arlington
Editorial Cartooning
• First Place: Dan Derozier, Rice University, “Rice Thresher Cartoons”
• Second Place: Isaac Erickson, University of Texas at Arlington
• Third Place: Pat Stark, Texas State University-San Marcos, “Personal Politics”
General Column Writing
• First Place: Sean Wardwell, Texas State University-San Marcos
• Second Place: Alicia Kania, University of Texas at Arlington, “Shorthorn Columns”
• Third Place: Julia Bursten, Rice University
Sports Column Writing
• First Place: Zach West, University of Oklahoma
• Second Place: Will Parchman and Jordan Daniel, Baylor University
• Third Place: no award
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (published at least 4 times per week)
• First Place: Staff, University of Texas at Austin, “The Daily Texan”
• Second Place: Staff, University of Oklahoma, “The Oklahoma Daily”
• Third Place: Staff, Texas Christian University, “TCU Daily Skiff”
Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (published less than 4 times per week)
• First Place: Staff, Texas State University-San Marcos, “The University Star”
• Second Place: Staff, San Antonio College, “The Ranger”
• Third Place: Staff, University of the Incarnate Word, “The Lobos”
Magazine Non-Fiction Article
• First Place: Christina Ruffini, Texas Christian University, “Evolution or Revolution?”
• Second Place: Sarah Gordon, Baylor University, “The Bush Stops Here”
• Third Place: Kristina Lindberg, San Antonio College, “Restoring Friendship”
Best Student Magazine
• First Place: Staff, Texas Christian University, “Image Magazine”
• Second Place: Staff, University of Texas at Arlington, “Renegade”
• Third Place: Staff, University of Oklahoma, “Sower”
Breaking News Photography
• First Place: Stephen Spillman, Texas Christian University, “Up in smoke”
• Second Place: no awards
• Third Place: no awards
General News Photography
• First Place: Mark Roberts, University of Texas at Arlington, “When opportunity knocks”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award
Feature Photography
• First Place: Dominic Bracco, University of Texas at Arlington, “American Life”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award
Photo Illustration
• First Place: Shaun Stewart, University of Texas at Austin, “Battle MP3”
• Second Place: Shaun Stewart, University of Texas at Austin, “A Texan of Many Words”
• Third Place: Andrew Chavez, Texas Christian University, “Point Taken”
Sports Photography
• First Place: Cotton Miller, Texas State University-San Marcos, “Big Hit”
• Second Place: Peter Franklin, University of Texas at Austin, “Longhorns fly over Owls”
• Third Place: Melea Burke, Baylor University, “Prayers Answered”
Radio News Reporting
• First Place: Erica Hernandez, Texas State University-San Marcos, “What Will America Do About Immigration”
• Second Place: Macey Bielski, University of Texas at Austin, “New Undergrad Curriculum”
• Third Place: no award
Radio Feature
• First Place: Erika Aguilar, Texas State University-San Marcos, “Texas Music History Unplugged”
• Second Place: Macey Bielski, University of Texas at Austin, “Halloween Costumes 2006”
• Third Place: Colm Keane, Texas State University-San Marcos, "Female Wrestling"
Radio In-Depth Reporting
no awards
Radio Sports Reporting
• First Place: Macey Bielski, University of Texas at Austin, “Hex Rally”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award
Radio Newscast
no award
Television Breaking News Reporting
no award
Television General News Reporting
• First Place: Melinda Merola, University of Texas at Austin, “Salvia”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award
Television Feature
• First Place: Crystal Hall, University of Texas at Austin, “Videogames Addiction”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award
Television In-Depth Reporting
no awards
Television Sports Reporting
• First Place: Jim Slaughter, Blake Abbe and Joel Villanueva, University of North Texas, “Denton ISD Football Preview”
• Second Place: Chris Thomasson, University of Texas at Austin, “Alamo Bowl 2006”
• Third Place: Alex Romich and Chris Thomasson, University of Texas at Austin, “Texas vs. Nebraska”
Television News Photography
no awards
Television Feature Photography
no awards
Television Sports Photography
no awards
Television Newscast
• First Place: Staff, University of Texas, Austin, “KVR News 9 Newscast”
• Second Place: Staff, University of North Texas, “NTTV Nightly News”
• Third Place: no award
Online News Reporting
• First Place: Andrew Chavez and Stephen Spillman, Texas Christian University, “Marching for Rights”
• Second Place: Heather Ann White, University of Texas at Arlington, “Suspect arrested in Lea murder case”
• Third Place: no award
Online Feature Reporting
• First Place: Dominic Bracco and Samantha Nhema, University of Texas at Arlington, “American Life”
• Second Place: no award
• Third Place: no award
Online In-Depth Reporting
no awards
Online Sports Reporting
• First Place: Travis Stewart and Stephen Spillman, Texas Christian University, “Houston History: Kicker finds redemption”
• Second Place: Michael Dodd, Andrew Chavez and Stephen Spillman, Texas Christian University, “Lucky 13”
• Third Place: Princess McDowell, University of Texas at Arlington, “Mars’ season ends after 11 innings”
Online Opinion & Commentary
no awards
Best Affiliated Web site
• First Place: Staff, University of Texas at Arlington, “TheShorthorn.com”
• Second Place: Staff, San Antonio College, “TheRanger.com”
• Third Place: no award
Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication
no awards
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