2022 Region 5 Mark of Excellence Awards
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of this year’s SPJ Region 5 Mark of Excellence awards for student journalism! We announced the honorees at the virtual regional conference on April 9.
Winners in each category will go on to compete with the winners of the other 11 regions in the national competition.
A special thanks to Region 5 assistant coordinator Nicole DeCriscio for managing the Mark of Excellence awards this year.
SPJ headquarters will mail award certificates. Need a duplicate certificate? Order them for $5 each, includes shipping. Contact SPJ at awards@spj.org
Other questions? Contact Amy Merrick, SPJ Region 5 coordinator, amerric1@depaul.edu
Missed the awards ceremony? Watch the video here:
Art, Graphics and Multimedia
Broadcast/Online Feature Videography
Finalist: Madison Smith, “Square feet, not square acres: GlennArt Farm is home to goats, chickens on Chicago’s West Side,” Northwestern University // The Daily Northwestern
Finalist: Hannah Zhihan Jiang, “Go Jiangsu: Expats explore Jiangsu’s most trendy attractions,” Northwestern University // China Daily
Winner: Jacob Ohara, “How Chicago lost its commercial fishing industry,” Northwestern University // Forbes
Broadcast/Online News Videography
Finalist: John Lynch, “Sister Cindy visits Ball State,” Ball State University // The Ball State Daily News
Winner: Hannah Zhihan Jiang, “‘I was choked up’: Thousands lay flowers, honoring the unknown soldiers,” Northwestern University // Frederick News-Post
Data Visualization
Finalist: Sarita Cavazos, “Affordable housing sees increase in funds – Where will it go?” University of Illinois at Chicago // The Red Line Project
Winner: Laaiba Mahmood, “COVID-19 in Illinois: State ranks sixth nationally in vaccination doses administered,” University of Illinois at Chicago // The Red Line Project — Medium
Breaking News Photography
Finalist: Hannah Zhihan Jiang, “Women from across the nation protest abortion bans in Washington, DC,” Northwestern University // Medill News Service
Winner: Jack Weaver, “State Street couch burning,” University of Kentucky // Kentucky Kernel
General News Photography
Finalist: Angeli Mittal, “March to defend abortion access assembles in downtown Chicago,” Northwestern University // The Daily Northwestern
Finalist: Anna Leachman, “Picking up the pieces,” Western Kentucky University // College Heights Herald
Winner: Alex Deryn, “Indianapolis mourns FedEx shooting victims,” Indiana University // Indiana Daily Student
Feature Photography
Finalist: Zack Miller, “Thundercat,” Loyola University Chicago // The Loyola Phoenix
Finalist: Lauren Hough, “Fall fashion: ‘Hot girl summer’ to ‘witch b*tch autumn,’” Butler University // The Butler Collegian
Winner: Allie Hendricks, “The hardest job she’ll ever love,” Western Kentucky University // Wkuherald.com
Photo Illustration
Finalist: Jacob Walton, “Gamer’s club,” University of Indianapolis // The Reflector
Finalist: Kiara Conley, “Food pantry,” University of Indianapolis // The Reflector
Winner: Sam Mallon, “It happens here too,” Western Kentucky University // College Heights Herald
Sports Photography
Finalist: Jacob Walton, “Men’s Soccer celebrates winning NCAA regional,” University of Indianapolis // The Reflector
Finalist: Zack Miller, “Clemons beats Bradley,” Loyola University Chicago // The Loyola Phoenix
Winner: Michael Clubb, “Volleyball wins it all,” University of Kentucky // Kentucky Kernel
Radio
Radio News Reporting
Finalist: Maria Ximena Aragon, “Students protest Greek life after University announces reported frat house druggings,” Northwestern University // WNUR News
Finalist: Ali Bianco, “‘Unacceptable’ –ReformCAPS meets with CAPS directors to change mental health services at NU,” Northwestern University // WNUR News
Winner: Angelina Campanile, “Campus Cooks in decline,” Northwestern University // WNUR News
Radio In-Depth Reporting
Finalist: Angelina Campanile, “A deep dive into Trump’s rhetoric,” Northwestern University // WNUR News
Winner: Angelina Campanile, “Challenging Roe v. Wade: Breaking down today’s abortion debate,” Northwestern University // WNUR News
Radio Feature
Finalist: Alex Harrison, “Native and Indigenous community works to build connections and solidarity on campus,” Northwestern University // WNUR News
Finalist: Maria Ximena Aragon, “Castaways: Childhood memories & TikTok fame,” Northwestern University // WNUR News
Winner: Helen Bradshaw, “Community rallies to save Glenview Beavers,” Northwestern University // WNUR News
Broadcast
TV Breaking News Reporting
Finalist: Jenny Jiin Huh and Gabrielle Khoriaty, “Abolish Greek Life protest erupts at Northwestern University,” Northwestern University // Northwestern News Network
Winner: Joey Safchik and Andrew Rowan, “Protesting Polisky,” Northwestern University // Northwestern News Network
TV General News Reporting
Finalist: Griffin Gonzalez, “The Red Zone: Survivors speak,” Indiana University // IU NewsNet
Finalist: Andrew Rowan, “IRS warns University students of email impersonation scam,” Northwestern University // Northwestern News Network
Winner: Vanessa Kjeldsen, “Police chief posts EPD mugshots to Snapchat,” Northwestern University // Northwestern News Network
TV In-Depth Reporting
Finalist: Rebecca Chouinard, “Restaurants deal with COVID,” DePaul University // Good Day DePaul
Finalist: Mary Claire Molloy, “The Red Zone: Part 2,” Indiana University // IU NewsNet
Winner: Mary Claire Molloy, “The Red Zone: Part 1,” Indiana University // IU NewsNet
TV Feature Reporting
Finalist: Logan Schiciano, “Studio W.I.P. expands to Evanston,” Northwestern University // Northwestern News Network
Finalist: Andy Paden, “The story of Mustard’s Last Stand,” Northwestern University // After the Arch
Winner: Joey Safchik and Andrew Rowan, “‘I’ve adopted you all:’ Beloved CVS employee makes errands enjoyable,” Northwestern University // Northwestern News Network
TV Sports Reporting
Finalist: Andy Paden, “Breaking barriers,” Northwestern University // Northwoods League Baseball Network/Bally Sports
Finalist: Rebecca Chouinard, “Athlete overcomes handicap,” DePaul University // Good Day DePaul
Winner: Nicholas Moreano, “SIV Strong,” DePaul University // Good Day DePaul
Print and Online
Breaking News Reporting
Finalist: Alex Perry and Nick Francis, “Surprise shots, limited slots: Northwestern students seek last-minute Pfizer vaccines in Norris,” Northwestern University // The Daily Northwestern
Finalist: Cam Rodriguez, Claire Malon and Francesca Mathewes, “Vaccine phase 1C ‘projected’ to include most, but not all, University employees,” DePaul University // 14 East
Winner: Natalie Parks, “‘Infamy is just as good as fame’: UK student among crowd that mobbed Capitol building,” University of Kentucky // Kentucky Kernel
General News Reporting
Finalist: Jaylene Rodriguez, “Data show disparities in Chicago vaccine distribution,” University of Illinois at Chicago // The Red Line Project
Finalist: Megan Munce, “Texas lawmakers advance bills blocking access to gender-affirming health care,” Northwestern University // The Texas Tribune
Winner: Phyllis Cha, “Fentanyl-laced counterfeits of prescription pills make non-prescribed pills a life-or-death gamble,” Indiana University // Indiana Daily Student
Feature Writing
Finalist: Ali Bianco, “First in the family,” Northwestern University // North by Northwestern
Finalist: Xuandi Wang, “In China’s new age communes, burned-out millennials go back to nature,” Northwestern University // Sixth Tone
Winner: Marcus Robertson, “Marfan syndrome made my brother beautiful. Then it killed him,” DePaul University // The DePaulia
Editorial Writing
Finalist: The Loyola Phoenix, Loyola University Chicago
Winner: Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
General Column Writing
Finalist: John Lynch, Ball State University // The Ball State Daily News
Finalist: Alex Perry, “On the Media,” Northwestern University // The Daily Northwestern
Winner: Erik Uebelacker, “Dear cable news, Leaving Afghanistan was the right choice; Free Steven Donziger; Taxing the rich,” DePaul University // The DePaulia
In-Depth Reporting (Large Schools)
Finalist: Lily Burris and Michael J. Collins, “‘An art, not a science’: As WKU enrollment decreases, other state universities see increases,” Western Kentucky University // Wkuherald.com
Finalist: Joey Sills, “Ball State students call for an on-campus minimum wage raise,” Ball State University // The Ball State Daily News
Winner: Jorja Siemons, “As vaccine hesitancy threatens to increase COVID-19 disparities, local experts try to build trust,” Northwestern University // The Daily Northwestern
In-Depth Reporting (Small Schools)
Finalist: Emma Chamley and Alison Miccolis, “Inside the intense life of a Butler ballerina,” Butler University // The Butler Collegian
Finalist: Bridget Early and Meghan Stratton, “Angela Davis, and the bureaucracy that cancelled her,” Butler University // The Butler Collegian
Winner: Imran Mohammad and Fazal Hoque, “Rohingya diaspora in the U.S.,” Harry S Truman College // The Pulitzer Center
Sports Column Writing
Finalist: Bradley Locker, “Football columns,” Northwestern University // Inside NU
Finalist: Lawrence Kreymer, “Illinois’ and Loyola Chicago’s success; Last place finish; They start with poor gameplans,” DePaul University // The DePaulia
Winner: John Riker, Northwestern University // The Daily Northwestern
Sports Writing (Large Schools)
Finalist: Coop Daley and Olivia Lloyd, “Through the Years: A timeline of major events during Mike Polisky’s 11 years at Northwestern,” Northwestern University // North by Northwestern
Finalist: Coop Daley, “Got Sponsors? Student-athletes’ newest play: marketing themselves,” Northwestern University // North by Northwestern
Winner: Drew Schott, “Football: As Northwestern climbs toward contention for a Big Ten title, coach Randy Walker’s legacy,” Northwestern University // The Daily Northwestern
Sports Writing (Small Schools)
Finalist: Henry Bredemeier and Eric Young, “Brad Stevens, players, reflect on 2011 national championship run,” Butler University // The Butler Collegian
Winner: Drew Favakeh, “Before Jackie Robinson, there was Thomas Harding,” Butler University // The Butler Collegian
All-Around
Best Cultural Criticism
Winner: Aneesah Shealey, “14 Beats,” DePaul University // 14 East
Best Collaborative Journalism
Winner: The Daily Northwestern, “Illinois divided,” Northwestern University
Best Podcast
Finalist: Yasmeen Altaji, “The Word,” Northwestern University
Finalist: Yiming Fu, “Defining Safe: One teacher’s battle for Asian American Studies,” Northwestern University // The Daily Northwestern
Winner: William Clark, “‘No Wiindigo economy’: Student activism and the fight for fossil fuel divestment,” Northwestern University // The Daily Northwestern
Best Use of Multimedia
Finalist: Staff, “Red Line Project guiding principles and policies,” University of Illinois at Chicago // The Red Line Project
Finalist: Nicole Thomas, “Immersed in Deaf culture,” Ball State University // The Ball State Daily News
Winner: Matt Cohen, Mallorey Dauenhauer and Carson TerBush, “Indignity in death,” Indiana University // Indiana Daily Student
Best Affiliated Website
Finalist: The Reflector, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Winner: North by Northwestern, Northwestern University
Best Television Newscast
Finalist: “Chicago Show 2021,” Northwestern University // Northwestern News Network
Finalist: “NNN AM,” Northwestern University // Northwestern News Network
Winner: “IU NewsNet,” Indiana University
Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: 14 East, DePaul University
Best Student Magazine
Finalist: BURST Magazine, Millikin University
Finalist: KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion (Kentucky Kernel), University of Kentucky
Winner: Ball Bearings Magazine, Ball State University
Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large Schools)
Finalist: Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Finalist: The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University
Winner: Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small Schools)
Finalist: The Butler Collegian, Butler University
Winner: The Reflector, University of Indianapolis