At this year’s Region 2 conference March 27, SPJ handed out awards to local 2009 Mark of Excellence contest winners.
More than 3,600 entries were submitted. The regional winners (which will advance to a national competition) and finalists were:
Four Year College/University
Breaking News Photography
• First: JHU student kills intruder with sword – by Casey Prather, Towson University
• Second: Danger in the Dark Accident – by Lindsay Fendt, Elon University
• Third: Obama Electrifies Comcast – by Jaclyn Borowski and Vince Salamone, University of Maryland
Editorial Cartooning
• First: Lauren Hagy, James Madison University
• Second: Bill Lemmond, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Third: No Award*
Feature Photography
• First: A reluctant advocate – by Matthew Creger, University of Maryland
• Second: Lupe Rocks Elon – by Angie Lovelace, Ashley Barnas, Elon University
• Third: The King Waterman – by James B Hale, University of Maryland
General News Photography
• First: VCU tests H1N1 vaccine – by Mel Kobran, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Second: Pride and protesting – by Jaclyn Borowski, University of Maryland
• Third: Iranian poster exhibit expresses culture – by Casey Prather, Towson University
Photo Illustration
• First: How to Kick a Field Goal – by David Wells, Caroline Matthews, Elon University
• Second: Towson’s Most Eligible – by Rachel Fauber, Towson University
• Third: Not your average reality star – by Viktors Dindzans, The George Washington University
Sports Photography
• First: Disaster in Durham – by Adam Fried, University of Maryland
• Second: They’re Back – by David Wells, Elon University
• Third: Carter improves on and off court – by Lindsay Fendt, Elon University
Best Student Magazine
• First: Curio, Staff, James Madison University
• Second: Ink, Staff, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Third: No Award*
Non-Fiction Magazine Article
• First: From Rucksack to Backpack pp 18-23 – by Matt Voegel and Nicole Brigagliano, James Madison University
• Second: Faces of the Forgotten pp 29-33 – by Anna Young, James Madison University
• Third: The Land Beneath his Feet – by Leah Hughes, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
• First: The Daily Tar Heel, Staff, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Second: The Diamondback, Staff, University of Maryland
• Third: No Award*
Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
• First: The GW Hatchet, Staff, The George Washington University
• Second: The Breeze, Staff, James Madison University
• Third: The Guilfordian, Staff, Guilford College
Breaking News Reporting
• First: Suspect arrested in rape case – by Nick Rhodes, University of Maryland
• Second: Porn film arouses lawmaker concerns – by Allison Stice, University of Maryland
• Third: Handverger argues innocence – by The Eagle, American University
Editorial Writing
• First: Rachel Fauber, Towson University
• Second: Morgan Little, Elon University
• Third: Paul Raker, Greensboro College
Feature Writing
• First: A reluctant advocate – by Marissa Lang, University of Maryland
• Second: Up against a wall – by Adele Hampton, University of Maryland
• Third: Detained: Three days in Ethiopia – by Hadas Gold and Tamara El Waylly, The George Washington University
General Column Writing
• First: "Sham"-nesty – by Justin Guiffré, The George Washington University
• Second: Pound Foolish; Rights: Negative & Positive; Alec Baldwin May Take His Business Elsewhere – by Jason Yaworske, James Madison University
• Third: For You, Wherever You Are; We’re Not Sorry, Really; An Identity Crisis, A Drinking Problem – by Whitten Maher, James Madison University
General News Reporting
• First: Police shoot 3 in city incidents – by Kyle Goon, Nick Rhodes, University of Maryland
• Second: Alcoholic energy drinks generate dangerous buzz – by Kate Lewanowicz, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Third: JHU student kills intruder with sword – by Carrie Wood, Towson University
In-Depth Reporting
• First: A reluctant advocate – by Marissa Lang, University of Maryland
• Second: Anti-illegal immigration group draws controversy – by Tina Irgang, University of Maryland
• Third: Court Records Reveal New Details on 2006 Firing – by Jonathan Walczak, University of North Carolina at Asheville
Sports Column Writing
• First: Problem Solved; Belittling Refs Benefits No One, Especially in Intramurals; Thanks Due for Honesty; – by Tim Chapman, James Madison University
• Second: On the warning track – by Carrie Wood, Towson University
• Third: Senior-writis – by Samuel J Rosenthal, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Sports Writing
• First: Rise, Fall, Rebuild – by Dan Greene, The George Washington University
• Second: No Award*
• Third: No Award*
Best Affiliated Web Site
• First: Daily Tar Heel Online, Staff, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Second: GW Hatchet Online Staff, The George Washington University
• Third: Pendulum Online, Staff, Elon University
Best Independent Online Student Publication
• First: Living Galapagos: Battle for Balance Between Man and Nature, Staff, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Second: Powering a Nation, UNC News 21 Staff, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Third: The New Voters, News 21 Staff, University of Maryland
Online Feature Reporting
• First: Reclaiming creation – by Courtney Woo, Eileen Mignoni and Monica Ulmanu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Second: Neon Lights and Jumbo Slice: The District after Dark, American Observer Staff, American University
• Third: Roping the wind – by Nacho Corbella, Jenn Hueting and Monica Ulmanu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Online In-Depth Reporting
• First: Debating coal’s future – by Sara Peach, Monica Ulmanu, Chris Carmichael and Jenn Hueting, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Second: Down the Lines – by Eileen Mignoni, Ashley Zammitt, Courtney Woo and Monica Ulmanu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Third: The Health Debate – by Maryland Newsline, Capital News Service and CNS-TV, University of Maryland
Online News Reporting
• First: Faces of the Crisis – by Nacho Corbella, Eileen Mignoni, Chris Carmichael and Zach Ferriola-Bruckenstein, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Second: Student Government impeachment proceedings – by The Eagle Staff, American University
• Third: The Execution of the Beltway Sniper – by Capital News Service’s Christopher M. Matthews and James B. Hale, CNS-TV’s Evan Lambert and Maryland Newsline’s Lindsay Gsell, University of Maryland
Online Opinion & Commentary
• First: Morgan Little, Elon University
• Second: No Award*
• Third: No Award*
Online Sports Reporting
• First: Fall 2009 Sports Preview – by Pam Richter, Sam Calvert and Ashley Barnas, Elon University
• Second: Being Bozeman: A coach’s first year on the job, in photos – by Nick Gingold, The George Washington University
• Third: Richmond beats Elon 16-13, hosts App. State Saturday – by Reilly Moore, The University of Richmond
Best All-Around Radio Newscast
• First: Carolina Connection, Staff, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Second: No Award*
• Third: No Award*
Radio Feature
• First: Laughing Therapy – by Yasmin Amer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Second: Panhandler Faces Challenge – by Will Michaels, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Third: Ace of Cakes – by John Harvey, University of Maryland
Radio In-Depth Reporting
• First: Swine Flu Series – by Karen Bernstein, Charlotte Lazimi and Annie Norton, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Second: No Award*
• Third: No Award*
Radio News Reporting
• First: Granville Towers Renovation – by Karen Bernstein, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Second: Texting While Driving – by Ashley Lopez, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Third: R/V Dan Moore Fate in Limbo – by Michael Tomsic, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Radio Sports Reporting
No Awards*
Best All-Around Television Newscast
• First: Phoenix14News – by Phoenix14News Staff, Elon University
• Second: No Award*
• Third: No Award*
Television Breaking News Reporting
• First: Muhammad Execution – by Evan Lambert, University of Maryland
• Second: Fraternity Fire – by Laura Sanders, Washington and Lee University
• Third: Money Bus – by Brittany Borghi, University of Maryland
Television Feature Photography
• First: Rockville’s Own Electric Car – by Chris Yu, University of Maryland
• Second: Professor By Day, Guitar Maker By Night – by Chris Yu, University of Maryland
• Third: Punkin Chunkin’ – by Brittany Borghi, University of Maryland
Television General News Reporting
• First: Driven to Distraction – by Randy Gyllenhaal, Drake Springer, Elon University
• Second: Distracted Delegates – by Tracy Kennedy, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Third: Street Bread – by India S. Diaz, University of Maryland
Television In-Depth Reporting
• First: Las Abuelas Series – by Bethany Tuggle, University of North Carolina
• Second: Sexual Assault on campus – by Cameron Steele, Washington and Lee University
• Third: No Award*
Television News Photography
• First: Bay Watermen – by Brittany Borghi, University of Maryland
• Second: No Award*
• Third: No Award*
Television Sports Photography
• First: Franklin Street: April 6-7, 2009 – by Sam Rosenthal; Jason Kahn; Carolina Week Sports Film Crew, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Second: No Award*
• Third: No Award*
Television Sports Reporting
• First: Nogueira Story – by Samuel J. Rosenthal, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Second: UNC Sports Highlights Fall 09 – by Nick King, Emily Hawkes and Simone Scott, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Third: No Award*
*Judges are not required to select first, second or third winners.