SPJ Announces 2007 Mark of Excellence Award National Winners

Market Wire, May, 2008

The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the national winners of the 2007 Mark of Excellence Awards. This year, collegiate journalists submitted more than 3,400 entries in 39 categories.

"I encourage media executives who are looking for the next wave of high-quality journalists to pay attention to the winners of SPJ's Mark of Excellence Awards," said Neil Ralston, SPJ's Vice President for Campus Chapter Affairs. "These young men and women represent some of the best that journalism programs have to offer, and we're proud to be able to honor them at the national level."

National winners were previously recognized by receiving first place in one of the Society's 12 regional competitions. A complete list of winners and finalists can be found below.

National winners and finalists will be recognized Friday, Sept. 5 at the Mark of Excellence Luncheon, which occurs during the 2008 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

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. For further information about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org .

The 2007 Mark of Excellence National Winners/Finalists Are:

Breaking News Reporting

--  National Winner: The Commonwealth Times Staff, Virginia Commonwealth
    University, "Virginia Tech Massacre"
--  National Finalist: Meaghan Peters & Camden Swita, University of
    Washington, "UW staff member slain in Gould Hall"
--  National Finalist: Claire St. Amant & Melissa Limmer, Baylor University,
    "SoulForce members arrested"
    

General News Reporting

--  National Winner: Ryan Kost, Arizona State University, "State tries to
    treat hospital violence"
--  National Finalist: The Red & Black Staff, University of Georgia,
    "Pharmacy Scandal"
--  National Finalist: Jessica Sondgeroth, University of Texas at Austin,
    "Student Financial Aid Scandal"
    

In-Depth Reporting

--  National Winner: Katherine Harmon, University of Missouri-Columbia,
    "Murky Waters:  Current Woes"
--  National Finalist: Jeremy Herb, Santa Clara University, "Santa Clara's
    Underground Coke Scene"
--  National Finalist: Journalism Student Team, Tarleton State University,
    "Police records show multiple assaults"
    

Feature Writing

--  National Winner: Alex Stawinski, Central Michigan University, "The
    Power of Touch"
--  National Finalist: Sarah Neff, University of Kansas, "Brother Jed:
    Unplugged"
--  National Finalist: Jared Fields, Abilene Christian University, "Living to
    Run"
    

Sports Writing

--  National Winner: CJ Moore, University of Kansas, "Blowing Smoke"
--  National Finalist: Mark Viera, The Pennsylvania State University, "Life
    After Football"
--  National Finalist: Bill Oram, The University of Montana, "Bobby's World"
    

Editorial Writing

--  National Winner: Aaron Zundel, University of Utah
--  National Finalist: The Gatepost Staff, Framingham State College
--  National Finalist: Petra Hendrickson, Indiana State University
    

Editorial Cartooning

--  National Winner: Phil Hands, University of Wisconsin-Madison
--  National Finalist: Samuel Ayres, Yale University
--  National Finalist: Philip Cannon, University of Utah
    

General Column Writing

--  National Winner: Jenna Lo Castro, John Carroll University, "Lo
    Castro's Lowdown"
--  National Finalist: Imani Jackson, Grambling State University
--  National Finalist: T.J. Tranchell, University of Idaho
    

Sports Column Writing

--  National Winner: Brandon Scheller, Washington State University
--  National Finalist: Mark Dent, University of Kansas
--  National Finalist: Dylan Farmer, Rice University
    

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (published at least 4 times per week)

--  National Winner: Staff, Iowa State University, "Iowa State Daily"
--  National Finalist: Staff, University of Utah, "Daily Utah Chronicle"
--  National Finalist: Staff, Michigan State University, "The State News"
    

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (published less than 4 times per week)

--  National Winner: Staff, George Washington University, "The GW Hatchet"
--  National Finalist: Staff, Ithaca College, "The Ithacan"
--  National Finalist: Staff, Central Michigan University, "Central Michigan
    Life"
    

Magazine Non-Fiction Article

--  National Winner: Justine Blanchard, Drake University, "A Shot in the
    Dark"
--  National Finalist: Anupreeta Das, Boston University, "The Search for
    Beautiful"
--  National Finalist: Edwin Okong'o, University of California, Berkeley,
    "The Day I Became a Man"