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‘Excellence in Journalism’ winners named, Belmont student garners top award


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Awards in 32 categories were presented Oct. 11-13 during the 7th annual Baptist Press Excellence in Journalism Contest.

Additionally, the annual President’s Award, the highest honor of the journalism competition with a $1,000 scholarship, was won by Chansin Bird, a junior at Belmont University.

Bird’s entry was highlighted by her intern work at Religion News Service while enrolled for a semester of studies with the Washington Journalism Program of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.

Terry Mattingly, director of the program and a weekly religion columnist for Scripps Howard News Service, said Bird was “more than willing to let her writing be tested by editors at every step of the way. She wanted input. She wanted to learn and grow and was willing to go the extra mile to do so.”

Through RNS, Bird’s stories were carried by The Washington Post, USA Today and other newspapers.

Conference planners tried something new this year — recognizing the second- and third-place winners at each general session rather than distributing all awards during the closing ceremony. The overall school winners and the first place contestants were recognized during the closing ceremony. The awards were presented by each session’s keynote speaker, providing another opportunity for students to experience appreciation for their work.

Winners by category follow:

INDIVIDUAL NEWSPAPER

— Cartoon/Art/Infographic
1st place, Lindsay Brehm, Houston Baptist University
2nd place, Brie Moore, Houston Baptist University
3rd place, Jessica Weber, Liberty University

— Center-Spread Design
1st place, Brie Moore, Houston Baptist University
2nd place, Timmy Huynh, Taylor University
3rd place, Charity Corkey, Patrick Henry College

— Feature Story
1st place, Lindsey Savino, Houston Baptist University
1st place, Allison Braund, Patrick Henry College
2nd place, Bryan Smith, Baylor University
2nd place, Allison Hays, Union University
3rd place, Tyler Whetstone, Union University
3rd place, Brie Moore, Houston Baptist University

— Front Page Design
1st place, Ryan Stone, North Greenville University
2nd place, Jordan Daniel, Baylor University
3rd place, Jessa Grassi, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

— In-Depth Article
1st place, Jessa Grassi/Chelsea Schilling, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
2nd place, Sarah-Jane Sanders/Jessa Grassi, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
3rd place, Kate Boswell, Baylor University

— News Story
1st place, Chansin Bird, Belmont University
1st place, Sarah Lang, Huntington University
2nd place, Chelsea Schilling, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
2nd place, Sterling Meyers, Cedarville University
3rd place, Jessa Grassi, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
3rd place, Audrey La, Houston Baptist University

— Regular Column
1st place, Kyle Kurlick, Union University
2nd place, Joe Dugan, Cedarville University
3rd place, Charissa Bernard, Corban College

— Sports Writing
1st place, Will Parchman, Baylor University
2nd place, Arielle Mobley, Lee University
3rd place, Charissa Bernard, Corban College

PHOTOJOURNALISM

— Black/White Feature
1st place, Stephanie Shroeder, Union University
2nd place, Alex Towers, Liberty University

— Black/White Feature Story
1st place, Lindsey Savino, Houston Baptist University

— Black/White Pictorial
1st place, Julie Sena, Corban College

— Black/White Individual Sports Action
1st place, Josh Randolph, Corban College
2nd place, Heather Phillips, Union University

— Black/White News
1st place, Kyle Kurlick, Union University
2nd place, Chad Shanechian, Houston Baptist University

— Color Feature
1st place, Kyle Kurlick, Union University
2nd place, Rebecca Blizzard, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
3rd place, Laurisa Lopez, Baylor University

— Color Feature Story
1st place, Joe Schroeder, Baylor University
2nd place, Matthew Diggs, Union University
3rd place, Henry Chan, Baylor University

— Color Individual Sports Action
1st place, David Poe, Baylor University
2nd place, Dristine Endsley, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
3rd place, Janie Wayland, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

— Color News
1st place, Abbie Rosen, Baylor University
2nd place, Stephanie Shroeder, Union University
3rd place, Alex Towers, Liberty University

— Color Pictorial
1st place, Kristine Endsley, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor

— Color Portrait
1st place, Steven Beckham, Union University
2nd place, Kenton Jacobsen, California Baptist University
3rd place, Kyle Kurlick, Union University

INDIVIDUAL YEARBOOK

— Art/Illustration
1st place, Cole Lundstrom, California Baptist University

— Best Overall/Single Spread
1st place, Elizabeth Cave-Compton, Lee University
2nd place, A.J. Soldo/Bryan Hibbard, California Baptist University
3rd place, Jennifer Meers/Kristine Endsley, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

— Club/Portrait/Academic
1st place, Sarah Doughty, Corban College
2nd place, Jennifer Meers/Sarah-Jane Sanders/Janie Wayland, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
3rd place, Ryan Brinson, Baylor University

— Graphics/Info Graphics
1st place, Elizabeth Cave-Compton, Lee University

— Portrait Spread Design
1st place, Taylor Smith, Louisiana College

— Sports Copy
1st place, David Collett, Corban College
2nd place, Blaine Bartlett, Corban College

— Sports/Clubs Design
1st place, Brittany Gager, Lee University
2nd place, Melinda Henderson, Baylor University
3rd place, Bryan Hibbard, California Baptist University

— Student Life Copy
1st place, Heather Fogt, Baylor University
2nd place, Tawny Burgess/Kristine Cook, California Baptist University
3rd place, Kelli Boesel/Melissa May, Baylor University

OVERALL NEWSPAPER – DIVISION I
1st place, Huntington University, The Huntingtonian
2nd place, North Greenville University, Skyliner
3rd place, Corban College, Hilltop News

OVERALL NEWSPAPER – DIVISION II
1st place, Liberty University, The Liberty Champion
2nd place, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, The Bells
3rd place, Baylor University, The Baylor Lariat

OVERALL BROADCAST
1st place, Oklahoma Baptist University, News 30
2nd place, University of the Cumberlands, CCTV-19 Patriot News

OVERALL ONLINE
1st place, North Greenville University

OVERALL YEARBOOK
1st place, Lee University, Vindagua 2007
2nd place, California Baptist University, Angelos
3rd place, Oklahoma Baptist University, The Experience
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Compiled by Joni B. Hannigan, managing editor of the Florida Baptist Witness, and Tammy Rosson, Baptist Press Collegiate Journalism Conference event coordinator.

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