SPJ Announces 2007 Mark of Excellence Award Winners from Ala.; Fla.; Ga.; S.C.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, Mar 31 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the Mark of
Excellence Award winners from Ala.; Fla.; Ga. and S.C. for the 2007 calendar
year. This year, collegiate journalists submitted more than 3,400 entries in 39
categories across SPJ's 12 regions.

The honorees were awarded certificates on March 29 at the Spring
Conferenceheld at the University of South Carolina. First place regional winners
willadvance to the national round of judging, which takes place next month.
National
winners will be announced in mid-May.

For additional information on the Mark of Excellence Awards, please
contactHeather 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.

2007 Region 3 Winners:

Breaking News Reporting

-- First Place: Melissa Patterson, University of Central Florida,
"Thousands of bridges in state, U.S. need repair"
-- Second Place: Abe Aboraya, University of Central Florida, "One AK-
47, 54 bullets"
-- Third Place: Carolyn Crist & Jessica Levine, University of
Georgia, "Missing student found dead"

General News Reporting

-- First Place: The Red & Black Staff, University of Georgia,
Pharmacy Scandal"
-- Second Place: Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Kelly McCoy, Salvador Rizzo &
Susan McMillan, Emory University, "Dalai Lama's visit to Emory"
-- Third Place: no award

In-Depth Reporting

-- First Place: Jill Stephens & Christopher Aleman, University of
South Carolina, "Jena 6 Coverage"
-- Second Place: Greg Webster, University of South Carolina, "Nursing
home in bankruptcy"
-- Third Place: Sara Pauff, University of Georgia, "A hotbed of
hatred?"

Feature Writing

-- First Place: Brian Hughes, University of Georgia, "Facebook for
the great beyond"
-- Second Place: Bart Zino, University of Central Florida, "You want
to be like Micah?"
-- Third Place: Tara Young, University of Central Florida, "Sketch me
if you can"

Sports Writing

-- First Place: Brian Murphy, University of Central Florida,
"Freshman beats cancer for incredible comeback"
-- Second Place: Nicholas Zaccardi, University of Florida, "The
Chosen One"
-- Third Place: Phillip Kisubika, University of Georgia, "Petite
Powerhouses"

Editorial Writing

-- First Place: Adam O. Manzor, University of Central Florida
-- Second Place: The Red & Black Staff, University of Georgia
-- Third Place: Nayda Verier-Taylor, University of Miami

Editorial Cartooning

-- First Place: Bill Richards, University of Georgia
-- Second Place: Jeff Sheridan, University of South Florida
-- Third Place: Ryan Moulton, University of Florida

General Column Writing

-- First Place: Grant Lowther, University of Central Florida
-- Second Place: Melissa Heyboer, University of Central Florida
-- Third Place: Josh White, University of Georgia

Sports Column Writing

-- First Place: Kevin Smetana, University of South Florida
-- Second Place: no award
-- Third Place: no award

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

-- First Place: Staff, University of South Florida, "The Oracle"
-- Second Place: Staff, University of Florida, "The Independent
Florida Alligator"
-- Third Place: Staff, University of Georgia, "The Red & Black"

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

-- First Place: Staff, Emory University, "The Emory Wheel"
-- Second Place: Staff, University of Miami, "The Miami Hurricane"
-- Third Place: Staff, University of Central Florida, "Central
Florida Future"

Magazine Non-Fiction Article

no awards in this category

Best Student Magazine

-- First Place: Staff, Miami Dade College, "Miambiance Magazine"
-- Second Place: no award
-- Third Place: no award

Breaking News Photography

-- First Place: Ryan Pelham, University of Central Florida, "Heroes
Rescue 3"
-- Second Place: Justin Broome, University of South Carolina, "Jena
rally draws diverse crowd"
-- Third Place: Danielle Hutlas, University of Georgia, "Missing
student found dead"

General News Photography

-- First Place: Jon Krolewicz, University of South Carolina,
"Returning to Society"
-- Second Place: Kelly Wegel, University of Georgia, "Indecent
Exposure"
-- Third Place: Amanda Moore, University of Central Florida, "A
different take on night life"

Feature Photography

-- First Place: T.G. Paschal, University of Alabama, "Pickin' and
Grinnin'"
-- Second Place: Josh D. Weiss, University of Georgia, "Downtown
Athens Turns Tropical"
-- Third Place: The Red & Black Staff, University of Georgia,
"AthFest"

Photo Illustration

-- First Place: Josh D. Weiss, University of Georgia, "Attack of the
Spurrier"
-- Second Place: no award
-- Third Place: no award

Sports Photography

-- First Place: Richard Hamm, University of Georgia, "Bombs Away"
-- Second Place: Josh D. Weiss, University of Georgia, "Crank That"
-- Third Place: T.G. Paschal, University of Alabama, "Kareem Jackson
Flies"

Radio News Reporting

-- First Place: Miles Doran, University of Florida, "Don't Tase Me
Bro!"
-- Second Place: Alesandra Hill, University of Florida, "Lasik
Problems"
-- Third Place: Mary Scott Speigner, University of Alabama, "Staph
Infection"

Radio Feature

-- First Place: Kristy Wolski, University of Florida, "Homosassa
Springs"
-- Second Place: Kristy Wolski, University of Florida, "Sweet Notes"
-- Third Place: Adam Shivers, University of Alabama, "Outdoors Woman"

Radio In-Depth Reporting

-- First Place: Miles Doran, University of Florida, "Game Security"
-- Second Place: Merissa Richmond, University of Florida, "Girls
Concussions"
-- Third Place: no award

Radio Sports Reporting

-- First Place: Tiffany Danielle Blevins, University of Alabama,
"Alabama Crew"
-- Second Place: Jeremiah Thermidor, University of Florida, "Gators
swamp Glendale"
-- Third Place: Megan Curl, University of Florida, "Rugby Women"

Radio Newscast

-- First Place: Staff, University of Florida, "WRUF Newscast: Front
Page on the Air"
-- Second Place: no award
-- Third Place: no award

Television Breaking News Reporting

-- First Place: Krista Littlefield, University of Alabama, "Brush
Fire"
-- Second Place: Jonathan Hillyard, University of South Carolina, "A
Brother Mourns"
-- Third Place: Laura Thomas & Kip Welch, University of Georgia,
"Fallen Soldier"

Television General News Reporting

-- First Place: Sarah Chakales, University of South Carolina, "S.C.
Drought"
-- Second Place: Liane Morejon, University of Miami, "Homecoming"
-- Third Place: Andrea Linares, University of Miami, "Medical
Students"

Television Feature

-- First Place: Laura Thomas & Kip Welch, University of Georgia,
"Drumming for Success'
-- Second Place: Andrea Linares, University of Miami, "Winery"
-- Third Place: Danielle Jean Fortner, University of Alabama,
"Barbershop Quartet"

Television In-Depth Reporting

-- First Place: Michelle Hamel, University of South Carolina,
"American Veterans Coalition"
-- Second Place: no award
-- Third Place: no award

Television Sports Reporting

-- First Place: Nicholas Adam, University of Alabama, "Skating"
-- Second Place: no award
-- Third Place: no award

Television News Photography

no awards in this category

Television Feature Photography

-- First Place: Irma Murillo, University of Miami, "Dolphins"
-- Second Place: no award
-- Third Place: no award

Television Sports Photography

-- First Place: Nicholas Adam, University of Alabama, "Skate"
-- Second Place: Nicholas Adam, University of Alabama, "Boxing"
-- Third Place: no award

Television Newscast

-- First Place: Staff, Troy University, "TrojanVision Nightly News"
-- Second Place: WUFT News Staff, University of Florida, "WUFT News"
-- Third Place: no award

Online News Reporting

-- First Place: The Miami Hurricane Staff, University of Miami, "The
Presidential Forum at UM"
-- Second Place: no award
-- Third Place: no award

Online Feature Reporting

-- First Place: Gaby Bruna & Matt Brynes, University of Miami,
"Paul's Backyard"
-- Second Place: Gaby Bruna, University of Miami, "Haiti's Central
Plateau"
-- Third Place: The Miami Hurricane Staff, University of Miami,
"Orange Bowl Farewell"

Online In-Depth Reporting

no awards in this category

Online Sports Reporting

-- First Place: The Independent Florida Alligator Staff, University
of Florida, "Gators in Glendale"
-- Second Place: no award
-- Third Place: no award

Online Opinion & Commentary

no awards in this category

Best Affiliated Web site

-- First Place: Staff, University of Florida, "The Miami Hurricane
Online"
-- Second Place: The Independent Florida Alligator Staff, University
of Florida, "Alligator.org"
-- Third Place: no award

Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication

no awards in this category

CONTACT:
Heather Porter
Programs Coordinator
317-927-8000 ext. 204
Email Contact

Beth King
Communications Manager
317-927-8000 ext. 211
Email Contact

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