The Region 7 Mark of Excellence awards were presented via a Zoom ceremony on Monday, April 22. St. Louis Pro president Elizabeth Donald and Region 7 coordinator Loretta McGraw announced the list of winners and finalists, which included students from universities across five midwestern states. The awards were presented online following the cancellation of the Region 7 conference that was to have taken place in April.
Elizabeth Donald’s comments: Thank you all for coming tonight. Obviously I wish we were having this celebration in person, and no one regrets having to cancel the regional conference more than I. So far the Facebook poll indicates people want us to try again next year, and we will have some lengthy conversations on that topic and what you all would like to see in your conference – and from your chapters – in the coming year. As we mentioned when we canceled the conference, we hope to turn our slate of panels into a series of webinars over the next several months, and we hope you’ll join us, and let us know what other topics you might want to see explored.
SPJ is here to serve the needs of all journalists in the region, members and non-members alike, and to advocate for our profession in a time when that advocacy is sorely needed. It is important not only that we hone our skills and practice our craft as best we can, but that we also practice transparency with our readers and remain worthy of the trust that they place in us.
We are delighted to honor the students who will take home Mark of Excellence Awards today. These awards were decided by judges in other regions, but I have served as a judge many times for other regions myself, including this year. I am always floored by the range of voices, of creativity and passion, the skills exemplified by Mark of Excellence nominees, and this year is no exception.
Without further ado, here are the winners of this year’s Mark of Excellence Awards in Region 7!
PRINT/ONLINE
Breaking News Reporting:
Finalist- Andrew Kennard, Times-Delphic, Drake University
Finalist- Matthew Petillo, University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
Winner- Sabine Martin, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
General News Reporting:
(Large, 10k+ students)
Finalist- Cuyler Dunn, The Lawrence Times University of Nebraska
Winner- Brian Beach, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska
(Small, under 10k students)
Winner – Lia Reichmann, Mackenzie Swenson, Andrew Kennard, Times-Delphic, Drake University
In-Depth Reporting:
(Large, 10k+ students)
Finalist- Kloee Sander, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska
Finalist- Angelina Edwards, Maggie Trovato, Mae Bruce,
Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Winner- Emily Nyberg, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
(Small, under 10k students)
Winner- McCade Gowdy, Urban Plains, Drake University
Feature Writing:
(Large, 10k+ students)
Finalist- Chloe Wolfe, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Finalist- Marandah Mangra-Dutcher, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Winner- Austin Woods, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
(Small, under 10k students)
Finalist- CJ Younger, Urban Plains, Drake University
Winner- Lincoln Roch, Drake Mag, Drake University
Sports Writing:
(Large, 10k+ students)
Finalist- Chloe Peterson The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Winner- Kenna Roering, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
(Small, under 10k students)
Finalist- Wendell Shepherd Jr., Columbia Missourian, University of Missouri
Winner- CJ Younger, Urban Plains, Drake University
General Column Writing:
Winner- John Carter Jr., Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University
Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper:
Finalist- Staff, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Winner- Staff, Times-Delphic, Drake University
Winner- Staff, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Photography, Videography, Art, Graphics & Multimedia
Breaking News Photography:
Finalist- Jordan Barry, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Winner- Maximilian Lenhart, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
General News Photography:
Finalist – Chloe Wolfe, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Winner- Grace Smith, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Feature Photography:
Finalist- Cody Blissett, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Winner- Chloe Wolfe, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Photo Essay/Slideshow:
Finalist- Ellie Kuckelman, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska
Finalist- Grace Smith, Ayrton Breckenridge, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Winner- Emily Nyberg, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Illustration:
Winner- Amy Scott, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Photo Illustration:
Finalist- Marandah Mangra-Dutcher, Emily Nyberg, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Winner- Morgan Williams, Sydney Lukasezck, Ava Horton, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Sports Photography:
Finalist- Grace Smith, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Winner- Ayrton Breckenridge, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Best Use of Multimedia:
Finalist- Alicia Feyerherm, Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University
Finalist- Marissa Lindemann, Platte Basin Timelapse, University of Nebraska
Winner- Isabelle Foland; Staff, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
News Videography:
Winner- Matt Sindt, Cody Blissett, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Feature Videography:
Winner- Feature Videography, Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University
Data Visualization:
Finalist- Jami Martin-Trainor, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Winner- Marandah Mangra-Dutcher, Liam Halawith, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Audio
Radio News Reporting:
Winner- Anna Colletto, KBIA, University of Missouri
Radio Feature:
Finalist- Hallie Gutzwiller, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska
Finalist- Jackson Reddick, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska
Winner- Harshawn Ratanpal, KBIA, University of Missouri
Radio In-Depth Reporting:
Finalist- Katie Quinn, KBIA, University of Missouri
Winner- Halle Jackson, KBIA, University of Missouri
Radio Sports Reporting:
Winner-Halle Jackson, KBIA, University of Missouri
Best All-Around Radio Newscast:
Winner- Staff, KBIA, University of Missouri
Podcast (Narrative):
Winner- Alex Neill, 90.3 KRNU, University of Nebraska
Podcast (Conversational):
Finalist- Natalie Dunlap, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist- Hannah Ledford, Dylan Hembrough, Mary Kate Castleman, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Winner- Connor McGovern, Abigail Ruhman, Sarah Petrowich, Jamie Baker, KBIA, University of Missouri
Broadcast
Television Breaking News Reporting:
Winner- Ashley Weil, DITV, University of Iowa
Television General News Reporting:
Finalist- Ashley Weil, DITV, University of Iowa
Finalist- Nathan Hawkins, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska
Winner- Olivia Moss, Autumn Garrett, Jacob Henry, Aric Avey, The Point News Magazine, College of the Ozarks
Television Feature Reporting:
Finalist- Max von Gries, DITV, University of Iowa
Finalist- Clancy Callahan, Jaden Lester, Matthew Clark, The Point News Magazine, College of the Ozarks
Winner- Clancy Callahan, David Mazula, Jacob Henry, Jaden Lester, The Point News Magazine, College of the Ozarks
Television Sports Reporting:
Finalist- Michael Merrick, DITV, University of Iowa
Winner- Clancy Callahan, Cienna Romines, Jaden Lester, The Point News Magazine, College of the Ozarks
Best All-Around Television Newscast:
Finalist- Staff, Nebraska Nightly, University of Nebraska
Winner- Staff, DITV, University of Iowa
Best All-Around Television News Magazine:
Winner- Aric Avey, Cienna Romines, David Mazula, Bethany French, The Point Newsroom, College of the Ozarks
All platforms
Campus Reporting:
Winner- Matthew Petillo, University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
Food/Restaurant Journalism:
Winner- Staff, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Regional Political Reporting:
Winner- Liam Halawith, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Certificates will be postmarked tomorrow and on their way to faculty advisors at the previously provided addresses. Congratulations to all the Mark of Excellence winners! We look forward to working for you someday.
Questions? Direct to the awards staff at awards@spj.org.