Region 2 Mark of Excellence Awards 2023 winners announced

Home > SPJ News > Region 2 Mark of Excellence Awards 2023 winners announced

4/18/2024

CONTACT:
Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, lharry@spj.org
Nadia Gordon, SPJ Communications Coordinator, ngordon@hq.spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 2 with 2023 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 2 comprises Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

National winners will be notified in the late spring.

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 2 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards Lou Harry by email.

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

Print/Online

Breaking News Reporting (Large)
Winner: College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn resigns as he faces child pornography charges — by Katharine Wilson, Nene Narh-Mensah, The Diamondback, University of Maryland
Finalist: McClellan’s whirlwind congressional campaign ends with decisive, historic victory — by Faith Redd, VCU Capital News Service, Virginia Commonwealth University
Finalist: In Washington, Zelenskyy makes pleas to Congress and the White House for more aid — by Josie Jack, Monica Godnick, Capital News Service, University of Maryland - College Park

Breaking News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Faculty member killed in shooting at UNC Chapel Hill — by Abigail Hobbs, Elon News Network, Elon University

General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Liz Wheeler appearance sparks controversy — by Staff, The Breeze, James Madison University
Finalist: ‘No one came around for days’: Senior and disabled residents describe 35-hour Christmas blackout — by Chloe Nguyen, The 9th Street Journal, Duke University
Finalist: Howard Sophomores tried to help a beaten man. Then, they were assaulted for it — by Jasper Smith and Jacky "JD" Jean-Jacques, The Hilltop, Howard University

General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Elon University senior staff members' leaving shakes up university — by Abigail Hobbs, Elon News Network, Elon University
Finalist: Getting close with Glenn Close: Notable alumni and eight-time Oscar nominee returns to campus — by Emma Henry, Abigail Connelly, The Flat Hat, The College of William and Mary
Finalist: Safety report indicates a surge in stalking cases — by Raven Hanning, The Pine Needle, University of North Carolina Pembroke

In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: Staff shortages in Howard Mental Health Services leave some students without support — by Tamilore Oshikanlu, Khiara Davis-Howard, The Hilltop, Howard University
Finalist: Mixed feelings reported by students after TimelyCare's first active year — by Charlotte Matherly, The Breeze, James Madison University
Finalist: She saw her mother get murdered; now she works to protect families — by Shelby Swanson, UNC Media Hub, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

In-Depth Reporting (Small)
Winner: Alamance-Burlington schools grapple with financial strain after summer mold crisis — by Sophie Rosenthal, Elon News Network, Elon University
Finalist: Waitlist contributes to rise in off-campus housing demand — by Molly Parks, The Flat Hat, The College of William and Mary
Finalist: The business of college sports and gender-based wage gaps for head coaches — by Ananya Chetia, The Collegian, University of Richmond

Feature Writing (Large)
Winner: Chasing a mystery: Why was his family in a WWII detention camp in Asheville, NC? — by Mika Travis, UNC Media Hub, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Finalist: Farewell to panda-monium: National Zoo’s iconic bears going to China with no replacements — by Abby Wallace, Ryan Mercado, Capital News Service, University of Maryland - College Park
Finalist: ‘School shootings have followed us’: Life as a college student amid unending gun violence — by Staff, The Diamondback, University of Maryland

Feature Writing (Small)
Winner: Little boxes on the hillside — by William Zimmerman, The Assembly, Wake Forest University
Finalist: From ‘burg to ‘burg: From St. Petersburg to Williamsburg, tour guide Vladimir Sokolov shares his story — by Agavni Mehrabi, Solyana Feseha, The Flat Hat, The College of William and Mary
Finalist: Transness at UR: Students and staff seek inclusivity on campus, yet challenges remain — by Kelsey McCabe, The Collegian, University of Richmond

Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: 50 years later, the 1973 Guilford men’s basketball team reminisces on their NAIA title — by Kaitlyn Schmidt, UNC Media Hub, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Finalist: The Meltzer Center’s true cost: Community sports — by Delaney Hoke, Penelope Jennings, The Eagle, American University
Finalist: Self-evaluate, adjust and refuel: Inside Maryland women’s basketball’s whirlwind halftime — by Sam Jane, The Diamondback, University of Maryland

Sports Writing (Small)
Winner: King of the court: Jordan King’s Spider debut one to remember — by Jimmy James, The Collegian, University of Richmond
Finalist: Community weighs transgender sports ban — by Miles Hayford, Elon News Network, Elon University

General Column Writing
Winner: Columns — by Jessica Ye, The Diamondback, University of Maryland

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Good, bad and ugly — by Chance Chamberlain, Ethan Smith, The Appalachian, Appalachian State University

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large)
Winner: The Breeze — by Staff, The Breeze, James Madison University
Finalist: The Appalachian — by Staff, The Appalachian, Appalachian State University
Finalist: The Western Carolinian — by Staff, The Western Carolinian, Western Carolina University

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small)
Winner: The Pendulum — by Staff, The Pendulum, Elon University
Finalist: The Flat Hat — by Staff, The Flat Hat, The College of William and Mary
Finalist: The Pine Needle — by Staff, The Pine Needle, University of North Carolina Pembroke

Best Ongoing Student Magazine
Winner: Emanata Comics Anthology — by Staff, Emanata Comics Anthology, Virginia Commonwealth University
Finalist: Countenance — by Staff, Countenance, East Carolina University
Finalist: The Appalachian — by Staff, The Appalachian, Appalachian State University

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: The Appalachian website — by Staff, The Appalachian, Appalachian State University
Finalist: Elon News Network — by Staff, Elon News Network, Elon University

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: Capital News Service — by Staff, Capital News Service, University of Maryland - College Park

Art/Graphics/Multimedia

Breaking News Photography
Winner: Fire engulfs abandoned mill in Graham as nearby homes evacuated — by Joseph Navin, Elon News Network, Elon University

General News Photography
Winner: Elon community reacts to Israel-Hamas war — by Joseph Navin, Elon News Network, Elon University

Feature Photography
Winner: Black History Month concert — by Katherine Martin, Elon News Network, Elon University

Photo Essay/Slideshow
Winner: Always dancing — by Clare Grant, Elon News Network, Elon University
Finalist: Belk Library through a day’s light — by Staff, The Appalachian, Appalachian State University

Illustration
Winner: We are just as misinformed as our parents. — by Olivia McCabe, The Commonwealth Times, Virginia Commonwealth University

Sports Photography
Winner: Maryland men’s basketball blows out Rider, 103-76, for third consecutive win — by Rohan Pandit, The Diamondback, University of Maryland

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Down to ride — by Thomas Denome, Elon News Network, Elon University

Data Visualization
Winner: Maryland Women’s Basketball regular season attendance skyrockets but inequality still prevalent — by Victoria A. Ifatusin, Cameron Jones, Capital News Service, University of Maryland - College Park
Finalist: Elon's revolving door — by Erin Martin, Elon News Network, Elon University
Finalist: Analyzing campus recreation center usage: How to avoid crowds at the rec — by Lisa Coleman, The Flat Hat, The College of William and Mary

Audio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Drink-friendly ‘social districts’ are spreading across North Carolina — by Sophie Mallinson, Carolina Connection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Radio Feature
Winner: The Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count is part recreation, part science — by Brianna Atkinson, Carolina Connection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Continuing coverage: Campus shooting and lockdowns — by Staff, Carolina Connection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: Carolina Connection — by Staff, Carolina Connection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Podcast (Narrative)
Winner: Elon professor and Iraqi native wants to return home — by Margaret Faust, Elon News Network, Elon University
Finalist: Ripped from the Wall — by Staff, AWOL Magazine, American University
Finalist: AMTC’s ‘The Addams Family’ — by Hannah Byars, The Appalachian, Appalachian State University

Podcast (Conversational)
Winner: 'We're human beings': Homeless Chapel Hill residents ask for kindness, respect — by William Christensen, CarolinaCast, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Finalist: Mountaineer Media Swap — by Pruett Norris, Briley Turpin, The Appalachian, Appalachian State University

Broadcast

Television General News Reporting
Winner: The impact of social media — by Muhsin Mahmoud, Carolina Week, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Finalist: March for Israel protest — by Tolulope Ajayi, CNS-TV News, University of Maryland - College Park

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Rescued horses — by Barbara Ron, CNS-TV News, University of Maryland - College Park
Finalist: Love like Adam — by Kayla Brown, Breeze TV, James Madison University
Finalist: Uber Eats biker — by Keara Bruno, CNS-TV News, University of Maryland - College Park

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: DC crime solutions — by Tolulope Ajayi, CNS-TV News, University of Maryland - College Park
Finalist: Generation Z's history of gun violence — by Emily Host, Madison Hricik, Olivia Roth, Zia Faqiri, Breeze TV, James Madison University
Finalist: Deadly shooting investigation — by Steven Schlink, Carolina Week, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: When Reagan Smith started wrestling in middle school, she was the only girl — by Olivia Mundorf, UNC Media Hub, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Finalist: A paralympic swimmer’s two-part race against time — by Isabella Geskos, UNC Media Hub, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: VCU InSight — by Staff, VCU InSight, Virginia Commonwealth University
Finalist: Carolina Week — by Staff, Carolina Week, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: Carolina Week — by Staff, Carolina Week, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

All Platforms

Arts/Entertainment/Fashion Journalism
Winner: Autistic dancer at Elon University encourages accessibility in dance spaces — by Betsy Schlehuber, Elon News Network, Elon University
Finalist: Finding folk: The Festival of Discovery — by Jenna Manderioli, Elon News Network, Elon University
Finalist: Costume design enhances characterization, comedy, time period of 17th-century comedy — by Peggy Stansbery, Virginia Commonwealth University

Campus Reporting
Winner: VCU NAACP leads students/faculty march against postponement of required racial literacy course and other columns — by Tarazha Jenkins, The Commonwealth Times, Virginia Commonwealth University
Finalist: Recount reveals increase in reported rape/sexual assault on campus and other columns — by Andrew Kerley, The Commonwealth Times, Virginia Commonwealth University
Finalist: VCI PD makes traffic safety improvements after student death on campus and other columns — by Katie Farthing, The Commonwealth Times, Virginia Commonwealth University

Cultural Criticism
Winner: Commentary — by Kofi Mframa, The Commonwealth Times, Virginia Commonwealth University
Finalist: Film reviews — by Pruett Norris, The Appalachian, Appalachian State University
Finalist: Film reviews — by Harrison Ferger, The Pine Needle, University of North Carolina Pembroke

Investigative Reporting
Winner: Bare minimum of legality: Students, faculty and staff face ongoing challenges with accessibility — by Walker Whalen, The Eagle, American University
Finalist: Antisemitism and hate at App State — by Staff, The Appalachian, Appalachian State University
Finalist: In a pinball machine — by Abigail Turner, The Eagle, American University

Regional Political Reporting
Winner: General Assembly reports — by Anna Chen, VCU Capital News Service, Virginia Commonwealth University
Finalist: Casinos, gun control and abortion-rights: VCU students vote in the General Assembly election — by Selna Shi; Jack Glagola, The Commonwealth Times, Virginia Commonwealth University

Retail/Small Business Journalism
Winner: Oh my gourd-ness: The New River Farm fall event — by Meg Frantz, The Appalachian, Appalachian State University
Finalist: Marking history and highlighting culture to attract Black tourists in Virginia — by Kaiana Lee, Payden Wilson, VCU InSight/VCU Capital News Service, Virginia Commonwealth University
Finalist: Nonprofit record label centers around representation — by Natalie Barr, The Commonwealth Times, Virginia Commonwealth University

Science/Environment/Climate Reporting
Winner: Unpredictable cherry blossom blooms underscores climate change concerns — by Hannah Ziegler, Capital News Service, University of Maryland - College Park

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