From Staff reports
The Southeastern student news publication of Southeastern Oklahoma State University earned 21 individual student awards and three overall newspaper awards in the Oklahoma Collegiate Media Association competition.
The students received the recognition in achievements for the year of 2011 during the OCMA conference and awards banquet held Friday, March 30 on the campus of Oklahoma State University.
Students attended a choice of two sessions during the conference, in addition to the awards banquet. Topics included: tips for writing, editing and operating a magazine, strategies for obtaining public records at your school and covering college athletics, among others.
Just before the awards luncheon, all participants attended the 25th annual Paul Miller Lecture. This year’s guest speaker was William D. Snyder, a Pulitzer prize-winning photojournalist.
“The photos he took were really breath-taking, inspiring and encouraging for me as an aspiring photojournalist,” said yeardisc editor Laura Tomah, a senior journalism major.
The Southeastern was awarded first place honors in Front Page Design and Interior Page Design, as well as receiving second place in the division for Overall Newspaper.
“I am so proud of the staff’s performance in this contest,” said Jeni Maple, Southeastern instructor and newspaper adviser. “The number and variety of awards are testament to the diverse talents of this group of student journalists.”
Managing editor Lornna Bates, a senior in the occupational safety and health program, received six individual awards, paving the way for the newspaper staff.
Bates was awarded second place for General News Reporting, Editorial Writing and Column Writing. She also received third place for Reporting Portfolio and honorable mention placements in the Editorial Writing and Feature Writing categories.
Following closely behind, contributing writer Brandi Bunch, former managing editor and senior English major, was awarded first place in Advertising Display. She also received third place in Reviews and Editorial Writing, as well as honorable mention in Column Writing.
Alisha Loyd-Norton, former yeardisc editor and spring 2011 graduate of journalism, placed first in Feature Photography. Loyd-Norton also received third place for Photography Portfolio and honorable mention in News Photography.
Loyd-Norton is currently employed as a photographer at Flora Photography in Shawnee.
Samantha Perera, former news editor and fall 2011 graduate of the journalism program, received second place accolades in News Photography and Reporting Portfolio.
Perera is now employed with The Lindsay Letter in Texas as a design and project assistant.
Staff writer Jerreck McWilliams, senior journalism major, won first place in Column Writing; contributing writer and former staff writer Nick Growall, senior broadcasting major, won first place in Reviews.
In addition, staff writer Dani Norton placed second in Reviews. Norton is a senior English student. Staff writer Chrissy Dill, senior communication major, placed third in General News Reporting.
Kendra Germany, staff writer and senior journalism major, received honorable mention in Reviews. And completing the awards for individuals, Steven Dixon, advertising director and senior broadcasting major, received honorable mention in Advertising Display.
“These awards truly are indicative of the staff’s dedication and hard work over the past year, and I am so happy to see them recognized for that hard work,” said Maple.
Bates agreed, “The staff has been striving to create a quality product with educational and entertaining content. As students, we are constantly learning from each experience, and to be recognized for our efforts in such a magnificent fashion is overwhelming.”
Five students have also been invited to attend the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists awards banquet held at the Jim Thorpe Museum in Oklahoma City on Saturday, April 21.
Bates, Bunch, Loyd-Norton, Norton and contributing photographer Kacy Hammock, graphic design and visual media major, received letters of invitation indicating that each will receive an award to be announced during the SPJ awards ceremony.