Region 9 Mark of Excellence winners announced in Denver

Home > SPJ News > Region 9 Mark of Excellence winners announced in Denver

4/23/2018

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 9 with 2017 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 9 comprises Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of April 21 at the Region 9 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 9 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: U student killed in Red Butte Canyon shooting - by Emily Anderson and Steven Morgan, University of Utah
Finalist: Dee Events Center relief center for evacuees - by Cydnee Green, Briana Whatcott and John Wise, Weber State University
Finalist: Gun discharges near a campus food court, no injuries reported - by Kimberly Bojorquez and Adam Dillenbeck, Utah Valley University

Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Instructor with a story: League of Women Voters honors teacher with democracy award - by Jesi Lofink, Laramie County Community College

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: U student Lorene Kamalu runs for Kaysville mayor - by Jacqueline Mumford, University of Utah
Finalist: Family of original 'Big Ed' hopes to reopen popular restaurant - by Claudia Robles, University of Utah
Finalist: End of life journeys often create ethical questions - by Kelsey Johnson, Brigham Young University

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Harmon empowers those he is leading - by Chianna Schoenthaler, Colorado State University-Pueblo

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: $8 million of Huntsman school differential tuition being spent without input from students - by Alison Berg and Carter Moore, Utah State University
Finalist: IX the hard way: Required sexual assault records not maintained by UVU - by Brigham Berthold and McKhelyn Jones, Utah Valley University
Finalist: Incarceration instead of medical care - by Rachel Badali, Weber State University

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: LCCC welcomes 22 new faculty - by Jenna Piper, Laramie County Community College

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: HOPE squads help prevent suicide in Utah high schools - by Zoe McGinn, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Perfectionism in Mormon culture: How community members suffer from judgement and simple misunderstandings - by McKenzie Stauffer, Utah Valley University
Finalist: 5 horror movies that subvert tropes of gender, race and politics - by Alina Hansen, University of Utah

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Making lasting relationships through obsession - by Alexandra Purcell, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Finalist: Musician gets his big break in Fort Collins - by Hannah Martin, Laramie County Community College
Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Batboy finds solace from disease on the diamond - by Brittni Meservy, University of Utah
Finalist: BYU alumnus leads second life in MMA ring - by Caleb Turner, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Concussion concerns reach youth sports - by Derrek Ballard, Weber State University

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Celebrating 10 years with a win - by Chris Graham, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Finalist: Inside look at a nationally ranked soccer team - by Abby Morillon, Laramie County Community College
Finalist: Athletes credit wins to superstitions - by Jacob Hamel and Nikole Anderson, Laramie County Community College

Editorial Writing
Winner: Different shootings, same ruling; Appreciation or appropriation?; What I saw at the Ben Shapiro protest - by Connor Richards, University of Utah
Finalist: CMU is boring; Words are just words, ASG; Growth is not what Grand Junction wants - by Alec Williams and Lauren Lipski, Colorado Mesa University
Finalist: Echoes from a concerned snowflake; SLC's dirty little secret; Nation's worst driving: Utah crashes into top spot - by Paul Braden, University of Utah

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Suicide's imprint; Disconnected: Walking away from technology's seduction; A divided America - One year later - by Daryn Steed, Weber State University
Finalist: I think I remember the end of the world; When in Rome, fight the power; A colorful approach to cultural appropriation - by Cole Eckhardt, Weber State University
Finalist: Reinstatement of Roy High teacher is unacceptable; Utah marriage culture poses problems for young adults; The U needs an amnesty policy - by Shaelyn Barber, University of Utah

General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Changing lives one sponsorship at a time; Stars are falling, don’t chase them; How I became a professional chef in a week - by Jenna Piper, Jacob Hamel and Isaiah Colbert, Laramie County Community College
Finalist: Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice; Cinema facing bigger accusations of whitewashing; Homeless for the holidays - by Isaiah Colbert and Jacob Hamel, Laramie County Community College

Sports Column Writing
Winner: A personal thank you to the man in the odd cap; Rayshad Lewis owes you nothing; Nothing but respect for those who kneel - by Logan Jones, Utah State University
Finalist: On the flipside of a storybook ending; End of the Jalen Moore era; Crossroads of USU football - by Daniel Hansen, Utah State University
Finalist: SEC country provides memorable experience for all involved; Poor officiating ruined Friday’s Rocky Mountain Showdown; Mike Bobo is still the right leader for CSU football - by Justin Michael, Colorado State University

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Rocky Mountain Collegian - by Staff of The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University

Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: CSU-Pueblo Today - by Staff of CSU-Pueblo Today, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Finalist: The Utah Chronicle - by Staff of The Utah Chronicle, University of Utah
Finalist: The Daily Universe - by Staff of The Daily Universe, Brigham Young University

Magazines
Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Standing Rock - by Jesse Nuese Yaker, Community College of Denver
Finalist: Absurd, abusive and outrageous: the creation of crime and criminals in America - by Christopher Zoukis, Adams State University
Finalist: I am not your Negro - by Hayden Mears, Community College of Denver

Best Student Magazine
Winner: Metrosphere - by Staff of Metrosphere, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: The Star, Journal of Excellence - by Staff of The Star, Journal of Excellence, Community College of Denver
Finalist: College Avenue - by Staff of College Avenue, Colorado State University

Art/Graphics
Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Bomb threat made in Morgan Library - by Tony Villalobos May, Colorado State University
Finalist: Provo mayor wins congressional election - by Savannah Hopkinson, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Welcome home, Hokule‘a - by Pono Suganuma, Utah State University

General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Civilians reconnect with veterans - by Carl Glenn Payne, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: Utah Women's March - by Adam Fondren, University of Utah
Finalist: DACA students march after Trump's announcement - by Kimberly Bojorquez, Utah Valley University

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Swift - by Lauren Brown, Community College of Denver
Finalist: Smoking on the Canal - by Todd Smith, Community College of Denver
Finalist: Mental health on campus - by Adam Fondren, University of Utah

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Brues Ale House interior - by Wes Padgett, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Finalist: Student Veterans of America students - by Jon Doose, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Finalist: Photographer Kevin Malella - by Madison Hildebrand-Cozzolino, Colorado State University-Pueblo

Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: 2017 eclipse - by Kiffer Creveling, University of Utah
Finalist: Jail first stop for many of Utah's mentally ill citizens - by Joshua Wineholt, Weber State University
Finalist: Missing - by Chris Marcinek and Jesus Almader, Colorado Mesa University

Photo Illustration (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Ride the lightning - by Isaiah Colbert and Cody Fox, Laramie County Community College
Finalist: October cover - by Isaiah Colbert, Laramie County Community College

Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Cats go pro after WSU - by Gabe Cerritos, Weber State University
Finalist: BYU women's volleyball beats IMU and wins WCC championship - by Savannah Hopkinson, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Smith provides leadership for UVU women's soccer - by Mykah Heaton, Utah Valley University

Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Celebrating 10 years with a win - by Avery Lewis, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Finalist: Inside look at a nationally ranked soccer team - by Abby Morillon, Laramie County Community College
Finalist: Mixed results for rodeo - by Cody Fox, Laramie County Community College

Editorial Cartooning
Winner: College pressure is detrimental to students’ health; SLC’s dirty little secret - by Lindsay Schuring, University of Utah
Finalist: Where in the world is Melissa Frost?; No vegan options for students; Marry me - by Tyler Carpenter, Utah Valley University

Radio
Radio News Reporting
Winner: Words from women who marched - by Erin Cox, Utah State University

Radio Feature
Winner: 'They're built on love': Raising children with Williams syndrome - by Rhesa Ledbetter, Utah State University
Finalist: 50 years of rodeo photography: a career behind the camera - by Bronson Teichert, Utah State University
Finalist: Crossing borders: a mother and her transgender son reflect - by Rhesa Ledbetter, Utah State University

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: A state of addiction: the search for alternative painkillers - by Rhesa Ledbetter, Utah State University
Finalist: A future with less water - by Dana Cronin, Colorado College
Finalist: GOP tax bill lifts burden from farmers and ranchers - by Bronson Teichert, Utah State University

Television
Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: National women's soccer team announcement - by Ciara Hulet, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Presidential visit - by Jessica Coombs, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Green preliminary hearing - by Morgan Pratt, Utah State University

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Bears Ears rally at Utah State Capitol - by Rachael Griffen, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Mental health on campus - by Yekta Eskandari, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: Undocumented immigrant worker - by Melissa Barraza, New Mexico State University

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: A smashing charity success - by Jessica Coombs, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Fall foliage - by Charlee Young, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Former UHP trooper overcomes career ending accident - by Shannon Grondel, Brigham Young University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Altitude sickness - by Ciara Hulet, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Organ festival - by Jessica Coombs, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Opioid crisis - by Shannon Grondel, Brigham Young University

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Overcoming adversity on the field - by Celeste Zubia, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: From rivalry to unity - by Jessica Coombs, Brigham Young University
Finalist: How TJ Haws rose to BYU basketball stardom - by Kiley Bradley, Brigham Young University

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: November 10, 2017 newscast - by Staff of Met Report, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: ElevenNews at Noon - by Melissa Gibbs, Brigham Young University
Finalist: A-TV News - by Staff of A-TV News, Utah State University

Online
Online News Reporting
Winner: Justice New Mexico - by Staff of New Mexico News Port, University of New Mexico
Finalist: Transient camps pose complex problems for Utah County - by Saul Marquez, Brigham Young University
Finalist: Fracking boom leads to tension in Navajo communities - by Melorie Begay, University of New Mexico

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: The heartbreak drug: Xanax at CU Boulder - by Jackson Barnett, University of Colorado Boulder
Finalist: Mindful meditation: a simple solution to semester stress - by Bryden Smith, Arapahoe Community College
Finalist: 121 a day - by Scott Bright, Arapahoe Community College

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Utah works to reverse opioid overdose trends - by Alyssa Nielsen, Brigham Young University
Finalist: BYU student housing mandates mean landlords have a built-in clientele - by Staff of The Daily Universe, Brigham Young University

Online Sports Reporting
Finalist: Flint water crisis hits home for Kyle Kuzma - by Kimberly Brenneisen, University of Utah
Finalist: BYU men's basketball turning inside out - by Samuel Wilder, Brigham Young University

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: Black Girl in a Blizzard columns - by Lauren Arnold, University of Colorado Boulder
Finalist: Resistance: the people's super PAC; The NRA is not a branch of government--Congress is; Russia is big. So is Trump's Russia problem - by Vicki Johnson, Arapahoe Community College

Online Opinion & Commentary
Finalist: Connecting the dots between the election, the Oscars and the NFL/NBA finals; General Conference talks show disparity between LDS leaders and believers; Following BYU's reversal on caffeine, Utah decides to sell alcohol, marijuana on campus - by Justin Adams, University of Utah

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: The Rocky Mountain Collegian - by Staff of The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University
Finalist: DailyUtahChronicle.com - by Staff of The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah
Finalist: The Signpost - by Cydnee Green, Weber State University

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: The Arapahoe Pinnacle - by Jamey Trotter, Arapahoe Community College
Finalist: New Mexico News Port - by Staff of New Mexico News Port, University of New Mexico
Finalist: CU Independent - by Staff of CU Independent, University of Colorado Boulder

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Hats in ring, gubernatorial candidates debate - by Met Media Staff, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Finalist: Hundreds gather at DIA to protest Trump executive action banning refugees, Muslims - by Jackson Barnett, University of Colorado Boulder
Finalist: With DACA rescinded, Boulder rallies to support immigrants - by Carina Julig, Jake Mauff, Lucy Haggard and Heidi Harris, University of Colorado Boulder

Videography
Broadcast News Videography
Winner: Goldfish racing - by Ben Nielsen, Utah State University
Finalist: Post capital campaign election results interviews - by Chris Edwards, Tyler Haak, Brooke Darden and Jenna Piper, Laramie County Community College

Online/Digital News Videography
Winner: Gender wage gap analysis - by Jacob Hamel and Jenna Piper, Laramie County Community College

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