By Edna Horton/managing editor
The Society of Professional Journalists regional conference brought several awards for The Collegian.
The Region Eight conference for professionals and students in Texas and Oklahoma took place this weekend in Austin. TCC student journalists and photographers were finalists in categories such as column, sports, editorial and feature writing, in-depth reporting and feature photography.
Steve Knight, former editor-in-chief of The Collegian, won first place in all three categories in which he was a finalist. Knight’s first-place wins were for his editorials on TCC administration, an in-depth article on a state bill allowing students to carry concealed weapons and a general news article on a fired TCC employee who was facing a theft charge. He also placed second in in-depth reporting about the NE student who began a lawsuit on free speech against the college.
“It’s nice to be honored. I’ve never been honored in this capacity before,” Knight said of his awards. “It’s nice to know I’m good at something. It’s humbling.”
Shelly Williams, current editor-in-chief of The Collegian, won second place for her feature story on how one NE student turned a story about a dead dog into a movie pitch.
“I was really happy when I found out. I ran outside to tell my parents,” Williams said. “To be competing with two different states and to place second shows that I’ve worked really hard, and I’ve come a long way.”
Other first-place winners were Matt Moyer for his feature photo of firefighter Jonathan Masterson, Jonathan Resendez for his column writing, John Harden for sports writing, Daniel Worthington for editorial cartoons and Jennifer Covington for her underwater sports photo of instructor Stacy Lueking.
Harden also won second place for sports writing and Danilynn Welniak won third place for her article on a NE Campus student who had to rebuild her life after a stroke.
The Collegian as a whole won first place for best all-around non-daily two-year student newspaper and second place for best two-year affiliated Web site.
“The staff and the advisors work really hard to make the paper the best,” Williams said of The Collegian’s awards. “The Web site shows we are keeping up with the times and the changes of today and the way people get their news.”
First-place winners for the regional conference will be judged with other winners from around the country with finalists announced in October at SPJ’s national conference.
