Region 12 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced in Little Rock, Ark.

Home > SPJ News > Region 12 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced in Little Rock, Ark.

3/19/2018

Contacts:
Christine Cordial, SPJ Program Coordinator, 317-920-4788, awards@spj.org
Anna Gutierrez, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, communications@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 12 with 2017 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 12 comprises Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Western Tennessee. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of March 17 at the Region 12 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 Baltimore.

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 12 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact Christine Cordial via email or phone at 317-920-4788.

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

Newspapers

Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: LSUPD investigation finds evidence Maxwell Gruver was 'targeted' during hazing event - by Natalie Anderson and Evan Saacks, Louisiana State University
Finalist: All individuals arrested for Maxwell Gruver hazing death released on bond - by Staff of The Daily Reveille, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Sen. Cotton faces angry crowd at town meeting - by Andrea Johnson, University of Arkansas

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Fees: Use what you pay for; STEM— open to women, organization offers help; Defunding diversity and inclusion, House Bill 1213 - by Amber Quaid, Arkansas Tech University
Finalist: International student's death a result of Kappa Sigma's hazing practices, lawsuits say - by Kailey Broussard, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Finalist: Student apartment charges residents hidden fee - by Shelby Evans, University of Arkansas

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: UA student, local community face effect of opioid epidemic - by Meleah Perez, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Living with dyslexia - by Halie Brown, University of Arkansas

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Behind the blue - by Savanna DiStefano, Harding University

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: To Adams, art, God and love are sacred - by Devna Bose, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Lost art: Stolen paintings of historic LSU figures still lost after nearly 40 years - by William Taylor Potter and Carrie Grace Henderson, Louisiana State University

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Christmas trees stop costal erosion in Jefferson Parish - by Colleen Dulle, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Visiting with Searcy Mormon Missionaries - by Joshua Johnson, Harding University

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Kristen's battle - by Alex Nicolls, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Forty-five innings of softball on history-making weekend - by Mathew Emery and Amber Quaid, Arkansas Tech University
Finalist: Coach D-D Breaux recognized for impact, dedication to gymnastics program - by Hannah Martin, Louisiana State University

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Men's and women's teams make history as they travel to national tournament - by Brian Wollitz and Ryan Micklin, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Swim team strengthens roster and sets sights on improved national ranking - by Brian Wollitz, Loyola University New Orleans

Editorial Writing
Winner: UREC 'leisure pool' expansion frivolous use of student fees; Alexander right to suspend LSU Greek Life activities; LSU needs to do more following Michael Nickelotte's suicide - by The Daily Reveille Editorial Board, Louisiana State University

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Arkansas gun bills creates more problems than it solves; Equifax breach reveals agency's shake infrastructure; Senate strikes down pro-consumer rule for partisan victory - by Joah Clements, University of Arkansas

General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Same song, second verse - by Joshua Johnson, Harding University

Sports Column Writing
Winner: JC does sports - by JC Canicosa, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Apathy among fans, dwindling attendance a result of a non-elite football program; Despite midseason coaching change, Orgeron hauls in strong class; LSU versus Auburn represents a pivotal point in season - by Chris Caldarera, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Sports team columns - by Ricci Logan, Matthew Emery, Noah Delashaw and Amber Quaid, Arkansas Tech University

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Daily Mississippian - by Staff of The Daily Mississippian, University of Mississippi
Finalist: The Daily Helmsman - by Jonathan Capriel and Gus Carrington, University of Memphis

Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Arkansas Traveler - by Alex Nicoll, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Loyola Maroon - by Starlight Williams and Nick Reimann, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: The Arka Tech - by Staff of The Arka Tech, Arkansas Tech University

Magazines

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: ‘We have completely failed a generation' - by Bethany Osborn, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Why teens become moms - by Devynne Diaz, University of Arkansas

Best Student Magazine
Winner: Hill Magazine - by Alex Gladden, University of Arkansas

Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Fire at Ole Miss Yerby Center - by Marlee Crawford, University of Mississippi

Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Total eclipse - by Ben Davis, Lipscomb University

General News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Raising hope - by Amanda Floyd, Harding University
Finalist: Inside looking out - by Andrew Callaghan, Loyola University New Orleans

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Burning for Tibet - by Adams Pryor, University of Arkansas

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Sugar-powered goodness meets good will - by Paula Amezquita, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Moms Against Madonna - by Anna Rogers, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Tamm in her favorite beanie, Mary Jane - by Keion Hayes, Grambling State University

Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Men's basketball vs. Stephen F. Austin - by Whitney Williston, Louisiana State University
Finalist: The long walk back - by Tyler Lamb, Middle Tennessee State University

Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Lady Tigers Jazmin Torian drives to the basket - by Keion Hayes, Grambling State University
Finalist: Martez Carter scores the game-winning touchdown - by Raven Leday, Grambling State University
Finalist: Top 8 Moments from the Elite 8 - by Evan Swearingen, Harding University

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Daily Mississippian cartoons - by Jake Thrasher, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Arkansas Traveler editorial cartoons - by Olivia Fredericks, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Cartoons - by Rachel Gibson, Harding University

Radio

Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Bison Basketball completes sweep of Belmont - by Russell Vannozzi, Lipscomb University

Television

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Gruver's suite mates exclusive - by Kennedi Walker and Matt Houston, Louisiana State University

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Holmes County MS tornado damage - by Jules Marcantonio, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Loyola adds braille signs to buildings on campus - by Dannielle Garcia, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: TOPS cuts hurt LSU enrollment - by Hunter Lovell, Louisiana State University

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Student firefighter training - by Brittany Lofaso, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Floating marsh - by Amanda Kitch, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: The good life with Grant - by Grant Gaar, University of Mississippi

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: To speak again - by Amanda Triay, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: In-depth: Marijuana legalization in Tennessee - by Ashley Sharp, University of Tennessee Knoxville
Finalist: LGBTQ mentoring - by Ramsey Minto, University of Arkansas

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Pre-med player - by Dylan Alvarez, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Saints vs. Bucs: Meet the Justice League - by Wesley Boone, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: MMA student athlete – by Max Hawkins, Louisiana State University

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Northshore News - by Staff of The Southeastern Channel, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: HU16 Live at Five - by Staff of HU16, Harding University

Online

Online News Reporting
Winner: Travel ban has mixed impact on Ole Miss - by Ariyl Onstott, University of Mississippi
Finalist: President Lowry issues apology for ‘offensive’ decorations at dinner for African-American students - by Cole Gray, Lipscomb University

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Just talking: Correl Hoyle prepares to graduate after three years of activism - by Clara Turnage and Malachi Shinault, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Chemistry professor Dr. Villa Mitchell to retire after 40 years - by Lorena Coleman, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Sound Emporium allows Lipscomb students to make their mark in its iconic history - by Erin Franklin, Lipscomb University

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Arkansas veterans face higher suicide rates - by Lindsey Guimont and Kayla Nunez, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Generation of change - by Chance Gowan and Jordan Huntley, Harding University

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Gigliotti enters season as top prospect - by Cole Gray, Lipscomb University
Finalist: From Dugan Field to Camden Yards: How former Lipscomb standouts fare in pro ranks - by Russell Vannozzi, Lipscomb University

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: Columns - by LeBron Hill, Lipscomb University

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: theDMonline.com - by Staff of The Daily Mississippian, University of Mississippi
Finalist: LoyolaMaroon.com - by Starlight Williams and Nick Reimann, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: The Daily Reveille - by Staff of The Daily Reveille, Louisiana State University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Lipscomb reacts to once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse - by Lumination Network Staff, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Celebrating the Little Rock 9 - by Chance Gowan and Jordan Huntley, Harding University
Finalist: Lipscomb welcomes 48th annual GMA Dove Awards for gospel music’s biggest night - by Lumination Network Staff, Lipscomb University

Videography

Broadcast News Videography
Winner: RaceTrac controversy - by Tara Barbe, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: Courthouse and jail tax - by Amanda Kitch, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: Mandeville Beach - by Amanda Kitch, Southeastern Louisiana University

Broadcast Feature Videography
Winner: Floating marsh - by Amanda Kitch, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: Clydesdale horses - by Maria Goddard, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: To speak again - by Amanda Triay, Southeastern Louisiana University

Broadcast Sports Videography
Finalist: Coach Jay Ladner - by Jaylon Morris, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: Lions vs. William Carey Basketball - by Jordan Rheams, Southeastern Louisiana University

Online/Digital Feature Videography
Winner: Feeling the music - by Lauren Layton, University of Mississippi
Finalist: The Cover Zone - Young musicians and the music scene in Memphis - by Christian Volk, University of Memphis

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