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Baylor, Cumberland, Ouachita win big in student competition


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Baylor University took home top honors Baptist Press Excellence in Journalism competition as the best overall campus newspaper. Cumberland College won top honors in the broadcast division while Ouachita Baptist University won best overall yearbook.

More than 100 awards were presented to student journalists at the Excellence in Journalism banquet Sept. 29 at Belmont University. More than 160 individuals attended the event featuring a catered meal, live dinner music and a keynote address by Fox News Channel personality Fred Barnes.

The banquet was the culmination of the inaugural Baptist Press Student Journalism Conference that began on Sept. 27.

The universities and colleges received etched glass trophies to commemorate their achievements in journalism. The competition’s judges included professional journalists at some of the nation’s most respected newspapers.

“I was certainly overwhelmed by it and honored that our students fared well in the competition,” said Jason Ranton, director of student publications at Baylor University. “I know it was stiff competition. There were lots of good entries.”

“We are deeply humbled and gratified to receive this award, reflecting credit on students and staff who laboriously face the task of creating and implementing an excellent journalism broadcast program,” said James H. Taylor, president of Cumberland College.

“I am very pleased with the good news and obviously proud of our students,” said Andy Westmoreland, president of Ouachita Baptist University. “Our yearbook has won several national awards and it’s good to see it recognized by our friends in Baptist education.”

Following is a list of award winners:

— Best Overall Newspaper — Baylor University, The Lariat, first place; Union University, Cardinal & Cream, second place; Houston Baptist University; The Collegian, third place; Mississippi College, The Mississippi Collegian, BP Best; Ouachita Baptist University, The Signal, BP Best.

— Best Overall Yearbook — Ouachita Baptist University, Ouachitonian, first place; Union University, Lest We Forget, second place; Wayland Baptist University, Traveler, third place.

— Best Overall Broadcast — Cumberland College, TV 3 News, first place; Ouachita Baptist University, Meredith Rose and Scott Edge, second place; Samford University, SNN Newscast Inside Samford, producer Matt Sprouse, third place.

— Best Overall On-Line Newspaper — The Pilot Online, Gardner-Webb University, first place; Mississippi College, Campus News and Events, second place.

— News Writing — Shane Kohns, Gardner-Webb University, first place; Jill Detwiler, Southwest Baptist University, second place; Brian Blackwell, Mississippi College, third place.

— Editorial Writing — Joey Polk, Mercer University, first place; Kelly Brown, Samford University, second place; staff of Baylor Lariat, third place.

— Feature Writing — Marie McMilian, Houston Baptist University, first place; Anonymous, Campbell University, second place; Randi Davis, Wingate University, third place.

— Sports Writing — Robbie Sinclair, Baylor University, first place; Mark Allan Peterson, Baylor University, second place; Shauna Couri and Billy Thomas, Houston Baptist University, third place.

— Column Writing — Audra Johnson, Hannibal-LaGrange College, first place; Aaron Earls, North Greenville College, second place; Misty Ebel, Wingate University, third place.

— Indepth Writing — Jeff Scheldt, Mac Meadown and Blair Martin, Baylor University, first place; Michelle Cavazos, Joshua Pease and Amy Davis, Houston Baptist University, second place; and Andy Jacobs, Baylor University, third place.

— Cartoon/Art/Infographics Design — Charlie Baber, Gardner-Webb University, first place and second places; Ryan Steed, Southwest Baptist University, third place.

— Center Spread Page Design — Holly Matheny, Houston Baptist University, first place; Jessica Webb and Shane Kohns, Gardner-Webb University, second place; Joshua Wagner, Union University, third place.

— Front Page Design — Torie Johnson, Baylor University, first place; Amy N. Davis, Houston Baptist University, second place; Joshua Wagner, Union University, third place.

— Facing Pages Design – Dale Peacock and Molly Matheny, Houston Baptist University, first place; Kelly Myers, Lee University, second place; Amie Ellsworth and Evan Wilder, Baylor University, third place.

— Advertising Design – Merin Brown, Houston Baptist University, first place; Marie McMilian, Houston Baptist University, second place; Sally Scott, Southwest Baptist University, third place.

Individual yearbook awards were given to:

— Student Life Section — Courtney McKeand, Claire Kennedy, Stacey Meineke, Baylor University, first place; Meredith Jama, Wayland Baptist University, second place; Jennifer Parrish, Wayland Baptist University, third place.

— Sports/Club Design — Courtney McKeand and Matt Strepka, Baylor University, first place; Cecilia Pritchard, North Greenville College, second place; Courtney McKeand and Matt Strepka, third place.

— Academic Section — Derrick Hightower, North Greenville College, first place; Ansley Lindsey, Samford University, second place; and Tarji King, North Greenville College, third place.

— Non-Portrait Design — Courntey McKeand, Baylor University, first place; Courtney McKeand and Kathryn Holmes, Baylor University, second place; and Stacey Meineke and Donald Meyerson, Baylor University, third place.

— Computer Generated Art — Joshua Frantz, Samford University, first place; David Carrigan, Samford University, second place.

— Portrait Spread Design — Cecilia Pritchard, North Greenville College, first place; Gary Miller, Ouachita Baptist University, second and third places.

— Student Life Copy — Matt Sprouse, Samford University, first place; Nat Nealeigh, Baylor University, second place; Amber Roper, Samford University, third place.

— Sports Copy — Matt Strepka, Baylor University, first place; Jennifer David, Samford University, second place; Kay Eckstein, Samford University, third place.

— Club/Portrait Copy — Mary Evans, North Greenville College, first place; Amy Menefee, Samford University, second place; Aaron Earls, North Greenville College, third place.

— Best Overall Spread — Courtney McKeand, Claire Kennedy, Brandi Dean, Nikki Carpenter, Baylor University, first place; Cecilia Pritchard, North Greenville College, second place; Claire Kennedy, Courtney McKeand, Shilpe Pesaru, Jessica Thompson, Stacey Meineke, Baylor University, third place.

In black-and-white photography:

— Academic — Alison Ashworthy, Houston Baptist University, first place; Joy Marinelli, Gardner-Webb University, second place; Jessica Webb, Gardner-Webb University, third place.

— Creative — Bryan Johnson, Samford University, first place; Alison Ashworth, Houston Baptist University, second place; Jason Cockman and Belle Darden, Campbell University, third place.

— Organizational — Mykle Harchfield, Union University, first place; Bryan Johnson, Samford University, second place; Dale Peacock, Houston Baptist University, third place.

— Personality — Joy Marinelli, Gardner-Webb University, first place; Frankie Creel, North Greenville College, second place; Alison Ashworth, Houston Baptist University, third place.

— Photo Spread — Dale Peacock, Sarah Rogers and Chad Shanebehian, Houston Baptist University, first place; Jessica Webb, Gardner-Webb University, second place; Corey Wilson, North Greenville College, third place.

— Sports Action — Dale Peacock, Houston Baptist University, first place; Roger Metcalf, Baylor University, second place; Jessica Webb, Gardner-Webb, third place.

— Sports feature — Jessica Webb, Gardner-Webb University, first and second places; Joy Marinelli, Gardner-Webb University, third place.

In color photojournalism:

— Academic — Evan Wilder, Baylor University, first place; Megan Ybarra, Baylor University, second place; Jon Shuler, Baylor University, third place.

— Creative — Justin Veneman, Union University, first place; Amy Menefee, Samford University, second place; Aimee Ellsworth, Baylor University, third place.

— Organizational — Bryan Johnson, Samford University, first place; Janelle Sou, Union University, second place; Dale Peacock, Houston Baptist University, third place.

— Personality — Justin Veneman, Union University, first place; Alison Ashworth, Houston Baptist University, second place; Stephani Stephens, Samford University, third place.

— Photo Spread — Dale Peacock, Houston Baptist University, first place; Matt Carter and Corey Wilson, North Greenville College, second place.

— Sports Action — Bryan Johnson, Samford University, first place; Robert Vasquez, Baylor University, second place; Dale Peacock, Houston Baptist University, third place.

— Sports feature — Kasey Carty-Campbell, Union University, first place; Kurt Kidd, Baylor University, second place; Robert Vasquez, Baylor University, third place.
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    About the Author

  • Todd Starnes