SPJ Announces 2007 Mark of Excellence Award Winners From Okla., Texas

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

The honorees were awarded certificates on March 29 during the SPJ Region 8
and 12 joint Spring Conference held at Loyola University in New Orleans.
First place regional winners will advance 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 or the Society,
please contact Heather 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. For more information on SPJ, visit www.spj.org.

2007 Winners:

Breaking News Reporting

-- First Place: Claire St. Amant & Melissa Limmer, Baylor University,
"SoulForce members arrested"
-- Second Place: Stephen Keller, University of Texas at Austin,
"Residents solemn after student's fall"
-- Third Place: Jessica Sondergoth, University of Texas at Austin,
"Student loan inquiry hits UT"

General News Reporting

-- First Place: Jessica Sondergoth, University of Texas at Austin,
"Student financial aid scandal"
-- Second Place: Reed Baize, Alex Holloway, Marsha Hutchinson &
Whitney White-Ashley, Tarleton State University, "Dirt Surfaces"
-- Third Place: James Brown, Texas Christian University, "Gas
drilling tempts TCU"

In-Depth Reporting

-- First Place: Journalism Student Team, Tarleton State University,
"Police records show multiple assaults"
-- Second Place: Shannon Muchmore, Oklahoma State University,
"Regents waive bidding"
-- Third Place: Brad Briggs & Grace Maalouf, Baylor University, "BU
had role in Dembski return"

Feature Writing

-- First Place: Jared Fields, Abilene Christian University, "Living
to Run"
-- Second Place: Regis L. Roberts, San Antonio College, "Mission trip
aids East Texans"
-- Third Place: Erica Rodriguez, Texas Sate University-San Marcos,
"New home in a new world"

Sports Writing

-- First Place: Daniel Johnson-Kim, Abilene Christian University,
"Manning Mania"
-- Second Place: Ricky Treon, University of Texas at Austin,
"Trampled"
-- Third Place: Brian Bateman, Baylor University, "Shooting doesn't
slow coach"

Editorial Writing

-- First Place: Claire St. Amant, Grace Maalouf & Brad Briggs, Baylor
University
-- Second Place: Maira Garcia, Clara Cobb & Monty Marion, Texas State
University-San Marcos
-- Third Place: Claire Harlin, University of Texas at Austin

Editorial Cartooning

-- First Place: Ben Humeniuk, Baylor University
-- Second Place: Julio Borjon, Jon Coker & Justin Gomez, San Antonio
College
-- Third Place: John Henderson, University of Texas at Austin

General Column Writing

-- First Place: Aboubacar N'Diaye, University of Texas at Austin
-- Second Place: Jessa Grassi, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
-- Third Place: Emily Watson, University of Texas at Austin

Sports Column Writing

-- First Place: Dylan Farmer, Rice University
-- Second Place: Casey Michel, Rice University
-- Third Place: Colby White, University of Texas at Austin

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

-- First Place: Staff, University of Texas at Austin, "The Daily
Texan"
-- Second Place: Staff, Oklahoma State University, "The Daily
O'Collegian"
-- Third Place: Staff, Texas Christian University, "TCU Daily Skiff"

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

-- First Place: Staff, San Antonio College, "The Ranger"
-- Second Place: Staff, Texas State University-San Marcos, "The
University Star"
-- Third Place: Staff, Rice University, "The Rice Thresher"

Magazine Non-Fiction Article

-- First Place: Daniel Youngblood, Baylor University, "Returning
Home"
-- Second Place: Cortney Strube, Texas Christian University,
"Breaking the Chain"
-- Third Place: Tim Bella, Texas Christian University, "Staying in
the Game"

Best Student Magazine

-- First Place: Staff, Texas Christian University, "Image"
-- Second Place: Staff, San Antonio College, "The Fourth Write"
-- Third Place: Staff, Lamar University, "UPbeat Magazine"

Breaking News Photography

-- First Place: Brian Schmidt, Abilene Christian University, "Creek
Runneth Over"
-- Second Place: Abbie Rosen, Baylor University, "SoulForce Arrests"
-- Third Place: D.A. James, San Antonio College, "Dancers pass out
during event"

General News Photography

-- First Place: Tri Vo, University of Texas at Austin, "USC exacts
revenge"
-- Second Place: Trish Daughlan, Lamar University, "Promoting Unity"
-- Third Place: Ronald Villegas, Texas Christian University, "Dog
Daze"

Feature Photography

-- First Place: Jeffrey McWhorter, University of Texas at Austin,
"Window to the Masters"
-- Second Place: Alberto Dekampo, San Antonio College, "Pig Lindsay
Lohan wipes out in the curve"
-- Third Place: Bridgette Sturts, San Antonio College, "Marisol, a 4-
year-old orphan at Casa de Misericordia"

Photo Illustration

-- First Place: Dominic Bracco, University of Texas at Arlington,
"Game Time"
-- Second Place: Ronald Villegas, Texas Christian University,
"Settling the Stage"
-- Third Place: Abbie Rosen, Baylor University, "Leveling the Praying
Field"

Sports Photography

-- First Place: Austin Byrd, Texas State University-San Marcos,
"Wrangled Mustangs"
-- Second Place: Brian Schmidt, Abilene Christian University,
"Saturday Surprise"
-- Third Place: Jacqueline Walker, University of Texas at Austin,
"Longhorns Shine"

Radio News Reporting

-- First Place: Vanessa Castaneda, University of Texas at Austin,
"APD Technology"
-- Second Place: Harrison J. Powers, University of Texas at Austin,
"Calling Strikes"
-- Third Place: no award

Radio Feature

-- First Place: Adam Swank, Texas State University-San Marcos,
"Paranormal"
-- Second Place: Brian Hardzinski, University of Oklahoma, "Leslie
Healy's Story"
-- Third Place: no award

Radio In-Depth Reporting

-- no awards in this category

Radio Sports Reporting

-- no awards in this category

Radio Newscast

-- no awards in this category

Television Breaking News Reporting

-- First Place: Crystal Hall, University of Texas at Austin, "Tuition
Rally"
-- Second Place: no award
-- Third Place: no award

Television General News Reporting

-- First Place: Crystal Hall, University of Texas at Austin, "Noise
Ordinance"
-- Second Place: no award
-- Third Place: no award

Television Feature

-- First Place: Mireya Garcia, University of Texas at Austin, "Tejan
Music"
-- Second Place: Christina Durano, Texas Christian University, "Hope:
Changing the World One Child at a Time"
-- Third Place: Crystal Hall, University of Texas at Austin, "Best
Buddies"

Television In-Depth Reporting

-- no awards in this category

Television Sports Reporting

-- no awards in this category

Television News Photography

-- First Place: Crystal Hall, University of Texas at Austin, "Noise
Ordinance"
-- Second Place: no award
-- Third Place: no award

Television Feature Photography

-- no awards in this category

Television Sports Photography

-- no awards in this category

Television Newscast

-- First Place: Staff, Texas State University-San Marcos, "Bobcat
Update"
-- Second Place: Staff, University of Texas at Austin, "KVR News 9"
-- Third Place: no award

Online News Reporting

-- First Place: Larissa M. Robinson, University of Texas at
Arlington, "Student with gun charged with aggravated assault"
-- Second Place: Megan Mowery, Texas Christian University, "Frogs
wide receiver arrested"
-- Third Place: Bailey Shiffler, Texas Christian University, "KCTV
Off The Air"

Online Feature Reporting

-- First Place: Emily Messer, Texas State University-San Marcos,
"Letters tell story that famed art works don't"
-- Second Place: Rebekah Workman & Alexa Garcia-Ditta, University of
Texas at Arlington, "Slowing, but not stopping"
-- Third Place: Karl Anderson, Texas Tech University, "The Goin' Band
From Raiderland"

Online In-Depth Reporting

-- no awards in this category

Online Sports Reporting

-- First Place: Ana Bak, Michael Bov-Nacklie & Tim Bella, Texas
Christian University, "Hoops player recovers from surgery"
-- Second Place: Tim Bella, Texas Christian University, "Cincinnati
Reds minor league catcher recovers from surgery"
-- Third Place: Justin Baer, Baylor University, "Harrell, Red Raiders
Overpowering"

Online Opinion & Commentary

-- no awards in this category

Best Affiliated Web site

-- First Place: Staff, Texas Christian University, "TCU Daily Skiff
Online"
-- Second Place: Staff, University of Texas at Arlington, "The
Shorthorn Online"
-- Third Place: Staff, San Antonio College, "TheRanger.com"

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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