At our regional conference in Santa Fe, the Society of Professional Journalists presented student journalists with the Mark of Excellence awards. These represent some of the best in student journalism, and the first-place winners advance to the national competition.
Best Affiliated Web Site (Large)
Weber State University’s The Signpost
Best Affiliated Web Site (Medium)
Southern Utah University, SUUNews.com
Best All-Around Television Newscast
3rd Place: KRWG News22
2nd Place: The Met Report
1st Place: ElevenNEWS at Noon
Best Independent Online Student Publication (Large)
The Hard News Cafe, Utah State University
Breaking News Photography (Large)
3rd Place: Melanie J. Rice
2nd Place: Ryan Borthick
1st Place: Dylan Langille
Breaking News Photography (Small)
1st Place: Alicia Hurley
Breaking News Reporting (Large)
3rd Place: Crystal Myler, Sara Michael & Shawn ielding
2nd Place: Andrew Carrera
1st Place: Universe staff
Breaking News Reporting (Small)
1st Place: Jessica Keller
Editorial Cartooning (Large)
1st Place: Jorge Perez Garcia
Editorial Writing (Small)
1st Place: Katie Blaser
Feature Photography (Large)
3rd Place: Melanie J. Rice
2nd Place: Jessica Cuneo & Melanie J. Rice
1st Place: Melanie J. Rice
Feature Photography (Small)
3rd Place: Russell James
2nd Place: Will Hebert & Josh Kimmel
1st Place: Nikayla Cooper
Feature Writing (Large)
3rd Place: Austin Briggs
2nd Place: Colleen Canty
1st Place: Mackenzie Hamilton
Feature Writing (Small)
2nd Place: Cheyenne Wiley
1st Place: Matthew Rooney
General Column Writing (Large)
3rd Place: Quinn Scahill
2nd Place: Kory Wood
1st Place: Jesse Benn
General Column Writing (Small)
3rd Place: Shawn Havel
2nd Place: Susann Robbins,
1st Place: Will Hebert
General News Photography (Large)
3rd Place: Brian T. McGinn
2nd Place: Erin Burns
1st Place: Jonathan Royce
General News Reporting (Large)
3rd Place: Charles Beacham
2nd Place: Caitlin Moffitt
1st Place: Krista Roy
General News Reporting (Small)
1st Place: Jennifer Stogsdill
Best Student Magazine
3rd Place: The Claw Magazine
2nd Place: CSU – Pueblo TODAY Magazine
1st Place: Horizon Magazine
In-Depth Reporting (Large)
3rd Place: David Lake & Robin Rodgers
2nd Place: Meredith Francom & Megan Stauffer
1st Place: Kristian Ekenes, Stacie Carnley, Rebecca Lane & Kari Merrill
Non-Fiction Magazine Article
2nd and 1st Place: Jake Bullinger
Online Feature Reporting (Large)
3rd Place: Lis Stewart
2nd Place: Rhett Wilkinson
1st Place: Ryan Cunningham & April Ashland
Online In-Depth Reporting (Large)
3rd Place: Rhett Wilkinson
2nd Place: Allie Jeppson
1st Place: Kristi Ottley
Online In-Depth Reporting (Small)
2nd Place: Susann Robbins
1st Place: Susann Robbins, Katie Blaser, Aaron Boyd, & Cassie Kelley
Online News Reporting (Large)
1st Place: Steve Kent
Online News Reporting (Medium)
1st Place: Whitney Baum
Online Opinion & Commentary (Large)
1st Place: Joe Deras
Online Sports Reporting (Large)
2nd and 1st Place: Rhett Wilkinson
Online Sports Reporting (Medium)
2nd & 1st Place: Carter Williams
Photo Illustration (Large)
3rd Place: Hunter Thompson
2nd Place: Sarah Hill
1st Place: Brad Davis
Photo Illustration (Small)
3rd Place: Russell James, Tim Bahr, & Dylan Miller,
2nd Place: Will Hebert & Bruce Enever
1st Place: Tim Bahr & Dylan Miller
Radio Feature
3rd and 2nd Place:
Mackenzie Hamilton
1st Place: Ryan Cunningham
Radio In-Depth Reporting
1st Place: Hannah Leigh Myers
Radio News Reporting
2nd and 1st Place: Brianna Bodily
Radio Sports Reporting
1st Place: Justin Taylor
Sports Column Writing (Large)
3rd Place: Jake Bullinger
2nd Place: Tavin Stucki
1st Place: Nick Ohlig, Angelita Foster, & Paul J. Marcely
Sports Photography (Large)
3rd Place: Jessica Cuneo
2nd Place: Christopher Reeves
1st Place: Chad Zavala
Sports Photography (Small)
3rd Place: Russell James
2nd Place: Shawn Havel
1st Place: Shaelie Palmer
Sports Writing (Large)
3rd Place: Bubba Brown
2nd Place: Danielle Manley
1st Place: Stephen Kasica
Sports Writing (Small)
1st Place: Cheyenne Wiley
Television Feature Photography
2nd Place: Staff at Metropolitan State University of Denver, “Zombies Invade Downtown” on The Met Report
1st Place: Brenna Donnelly, Brigham Young University for “QR-Code Headstones” on ElevenNEWS/KBYU
Television Feature Reporting
3rd Place: Julianne Horsley
“Real-life Friending” on ElevenNEWS/KBYU
2nd Place: Matt Rascon
1st Place: Alexis Flake
Brigham Young University, for “Sushi Challenge” on ElevenNEWS/KBYU
Television General News Reporting
2nd Place: Kelton Wells, Utah State University “USU Eastern Enrollment”
A-TV News
1st Place: Alexis Flake
Brigham Young University
“Trampoline Park Dangers”
ElevenNEWS/KBYU
Television In-Depth Reporting
2nd Place: Katie Bieri
New Mexico State University
“A Parent’s Hard Choice”
News22
1st Place: Staff of Metropolitan State University of Denver
“The Needle Exchange: Helpful or Harmful?” The Met Report
Television Sports Photography
1st Place: Kevin Hall & Kellan Stone
Metropolitan State University of Denver, “MSU Denver Soccer Team Buries Colorado Mines,” The Met Report
Television Sports Reporting
3rd Place: Jake Edmonds
Brigham Young University, for “Mom On and Off the Court” for CoogTube/KBYU
2nd Place: Stephanie Flores New Mexico State University “Minor Threat Roller Derby” for KRWG News22
1st Place: Britanni Good, Brigham Young University
“Ultimate Thrill” on CoogTube/KBYU
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah
Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (Small)
1st Place: Wingspan
Laramie County Community College
Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (Large)
2nd Place: The Universe
Brigham Young University
1st Place: The Metropolitan
Metropolitan State University of Denver