Region 11 Mark of Excellence Awards 2022 winners announced

CONTACT:
Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, lharry@spj.org
Kimberly Tsuyuki, SPJ Communications Coordinator, ktsuyuki@hq.spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 11 with 2022 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 11 comprises Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada and Mariana Islands. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at the SPJ’s 2023 convention in Las Vegas, Sept. 28-30.

MOE Awards entries are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience. Judges were directed to choose entries they felt were among the best in student journalism. If no entry rose to the level of excellence, no award was given. Any category not listed has no winner.

School divisions are based on student enrollment, including both graduate and undergraduate: Large schools have at least 10,000 students and small schools have 9,999 or fewer students.

The list below details all Region 11 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards Lou Harry by email.

This list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award entries.

Print/Online

Breaking News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Arizona officials decry, delight in Supreme Court ending abortion rights — by Neetish Basnet, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Judge rejects GOP request to extend voting hours after tabulation issues in Maricopa County — by Cronkite News staff, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: See updates from Arizona voters and polling locations on Election Day — by Cronkite News staff, Cronkite News, Arizona State University

Breaking News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Residents decry placing another sexually violent predator in Borrego Springs — by Angelina Hicks, The San Diego Union-Tribune, Chapman University

General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Three SDSU football players accused of raping an underaged girl in a civil lawsuit — by Christian Houser, The Daily Aztec, San Diego State University
Finalist: Herm Edwards buyout — by Piper Hansen, The State Press, Arizona State University
Finalist: Computer Science students claim innocence during cheating investigation — by Vincent Medina, Daily Forty-Niner, California State Long Beach

General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: 911 call fallout at Fuente Nueva School — by Ricardo Lara Nava, Kianna Znika, Frank Rocha, El Leñador, Cal Poly Humboldt
Finalist: Grand jury: OC residents lose millions each year in unclaimed recycling funds — by Angelina Hicks, Voice of OC, Chapman University
Finalist: Students file legal complaint alleging Santa Clara’s fossil fuel investments violate California law — by Carolyn Kuimelis, Robby O’Brien, The Santa Clara, Santa Clara University

In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: ‘I’m tired’: Teachers face mental health crisis due to low pay, pandemic stress, scant support — by Cami Parrish, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: ‘Wounded healers’: Advocates spotlight hidden struggles of young caregivers — by Adriana Gonzalez-Chavez, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Crow-Downtown gentrification — by Alexis Moulton, Jamie Montoya, The State Press, Arizona State University

In-Depth Reporting (Small)
Winner: No Home in This World — by Esteban Preciado, The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
Finalist: ‘Physically Impossible to Be in a Wheelchair’ — Community Members with Disabilities Face Obstacles — by Ashley Mowreader, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Finalist: LA’s homelessness outreach workers are ‘salespeople without a product’ — by Accalia Rositani, The Lion, Loyola Marymount University

Feature Writing (Large)
Winner: A young life, interrupted: finding hope – and an identity – while suffering from long COVID — by Kate Selig, The Guardian, Stanford University
Finalist: Don’t Flunk Me Records: Where JC Students Sign, Produce and Promote Local Artists — by Bryan Fructuoso, The Oak Leaf magazine, Santa Rosa Junior College
Finalist: Life masks’ created to keep stories of the Holocaust alive — by Samantha Chow, Cronkite News, Arizona State University

Feature Writing (Small)
Winner: Gorillas in Our Midst — by Esteban Preciado, The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
Finalist: The Tip of the Sinking Iceberg: The Climate Crisis Impacts Mental Health Among Youth — by Liza Esquibias, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Finalist: The unhoused women of Skid Row — by Erika Zaro, The Lion, Loyola Marymount University

Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: It’s gotta be the shoes’: Why are Scottsdale nightclubs prohibiting retro sneakers? — by Kevin Redfern, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Stanford Olympians who never got their moment — by Madeline Gabb, The Stanford Daily, Stanford University
Finalist: A long road back: Student-athletes injury recovery takes a mental toll — by Amanda Sturges, uscannenbergmedia.com, University of Southern California

Sports Writing (Small)
Winner: For minor leaguers, playing professional baseball is not living the dream — by Catherine Galanti, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Trans participation in sports causes multi-level controversy — by Kyle McCabe, The Graphic, Pepperdine University

Editorial/Opinion Writing
Winner: Editorials — by Camila A. Gonzalez, The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
Finalist: Columns — by Aaron Stigile, The State Press, Arizona State University
Finalist: Editorials — by Loyolan Executive Editorial Board, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University

General Column Writing
Winner: Columns — by Renee Walker, The Poly Post, Cal Poly Pomona
Finalist: Columns — by Cristobal Spielmann, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Columns — by Arsh Goyal, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Columns from the sports desk — by Caleb Nguyen, The Poly Post, Cal Poly Pomona

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large)
Winner: The Corsair — by The Corsair staff, The Corsair, Santa Monica College
Finalist: The Valley Star — by The Valley Star staff, The Valley Star, Los Angeles Valley College

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small)
Winner: The Panther Newspaper — by The Panther staff, The Panther, Chapman University
Finalist: The Graphic — by The Graphic staff, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Finalist: The Southwestern College Sun — by The Southwestern College Sun staff, The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College

Best Student Magazine
Winner: The Oak Leaf Magazine — by Oak Leaf Staff, The Oak Leaf News, Santa Rosa Junior College
Finalist: Currents magazine — by Currents staff, Currents magazine, Pepperdine University
Finalist: SCene — by SCene magazine staff, SCene magazine, University of Southern California

Best Affiliated Website
Winner: The Corsair — by The Corsair staff, The Corsair, Santa Monica College
Finalist: sdcitytimes.com — by CTM Staff, City Times Media, City Times Media
Finalist: Daily Sundial website — by Daily Sundial staff, Daily Sundial, California State University, Northridge

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: The Los Angeles Loyolan — by The Los Angeles Loyolan staff, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: The Panther Online — by The Panther staff, The Panther, Chapman University
Finalist: The State Press — by The State Press staff, The State Press, Arizona State University

Art/Graphics/Multimedia

Breaking News Photography
Winner: Antirascism protestor pushed by LAPD at Los Angeles City Hall — by Danilo Perez, The Corsair, Santa Monica College
Finalist: Arizona officials decry, delight in Supreme Court ending abortion rights — by Neetish Basnet, Cronkite News, Arizona State University

General News Photography
Winner: Renaissance festival returns — by Troy Hill, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Keeping campus safety in sight amid increase in national shootings — by Ethan Cohen, The Union, El Camino College
Finalist: Pepperdine gathers to worship at the annual Worship Summit — by Brandon Rubsamen, The Graphic, Pepperdine University

Feature Photography
Winner: Beach streets — by Sonny Tapia, Daily Forty-Niner, Cal State Long Beach
Finalist: Live, laugh, love languages — by Lucian Himes, Currents Magazine, Pepperdine University
Finalist: World Cup calls for shouts and hollers — by Ee Lin Tsen, The Corsair, Santa Monica College

Photo Essay/Slideshow
Winner: In focus: Migrants languish in Mexico’s chaotic immigration system — by Taylor Bayly, Cronkite Borderlands Project, Arizona State University
Finalist: ‘Would he be forgotten?’ How a niece’s crusade and military scientists led to ID of Korean War vet — by Samantha Chow, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: The haunting of Hannon — by Carissa Leong, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University

Illustration
Winner: Editorial cartoons — by Alicia Rivero, The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
Finalist: Coming out’ — Optional or obligatory? — by Samantha Miller, The Graphic, Pepperdine University

Photo Illustration
Winner: OMG! What’s your enneagram — by Lucian Himes, Marley Penagos, Hailey Hoidal, Currents Magazine, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Basketball issue Illustrations — by Tina Tona, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Gender-inclusive housing — by Alex Gould, The State Press, Arizona State University

Sports Photography
Winner: ASU gymnastics home win — by Jason White, The State Press, Arizona State University
Finalist: Kappa Alpha Theta and Delta Sigma Phi win big in charity flag football tournament — by Summer Krueger, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Men’s volleyball splits series with BYU — by Brandon Rubsamen, The Graphic, Pepperdine University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Reflections of the L.A. uprising — by JOVRNALISM Staff, USC JOVRNALISM, University of Southern California
Finalist: Gaslit — by Staff of the Howard Center for Investigative Reporting Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, Arizona State University

News Videography
Winner: St. Louis police association expands, holds collective bargaining union to task — by Tirzah Christopher, Gabriela Tumani, News21, Arizona State University
Finalist: Healing through culture: Increasing access to Native American practices to treat mental health — by Laura Bargfeld, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Students protest on behalf of FM employees… — by Hayden Brown, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University

Feature Videography
Winner: “Lives in limbo: How the Mexican government has failed to solve the migrant crisis in Tapachula” — by Drake Presto, Cronkite borderlands project, Arizona State University
Finalist: OC sidewalk vendors struggle with costly, confusing county, city permits — by Gigi Gradillas, Rachel Lopez, Dustin Malek, The Hornet and Voice of OC, Fullerton College
Finalist: Dancing in honor of those who can’t — by JOVRNALISM Staff, JOVRNALISM, University of Southern California

Sports Videography
Winner: Diamondbacks musical maestro — by Michael Donohue, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: King of the ring — by Jacob Flores, Bally’s Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Finalist: Pepperdine Athletics balances facilities expectations — by Austin Hall, The Graphic, Pepperdine University

Data Visualization
Winner: Gaslit — by Howard Center for Investigative Journalism staff, Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, Arizona State University
Finalist: Tapachula: A city of migrants under a state of siege — by Alyssa Marksz, Cronkite Borderlands Project, Arizona State University
Finalist: Malibu roads pose fatal threat to vulnerable road users — by Kyle McCabe, The Graphic, Pepperdine University

Audio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Black farmers — by Athena Ankrah, Cronkite News, Arizona State University

Radio Feature
Winner: Election translation — by Autriya Maneshni, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Healing through culture — by Natalie Skowlund, Cronkite News, Arizona State University

Podcast (Narrative)
Winner: All I Can Do Is Wait — by Athena Ankrah, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: State Press Play — by Kirsten Dorman, The State Press, Arizona State University
Finalist: The Knowledge Industry — by Jakob McWhinney, Philip Salata, City Times Media, San Diego City College

Podcast (Conversational)
Winner: Two to Tango — by Rachel Livinal, DIG MAG, California State University, Long Beach
Finalist: Mental health in low-income neighborhoods — by Ashley Orellana, Daily Sundial, California State University, Northridge
Finalist: SportsWaves — by Karl Winter, Austin Hall, The Graphic, Pepperdine University

Broadcast

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Indigenous rodeo — by Mikenzie Hammel, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Eating disorders increase — by Faith Abercrombie, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Help for firefighters — by Sydney Witte, Cronkite News, Arizona State University

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: An East L.A. music program teaches young women the music of mariachi — by Marilyn Parra, Annenberg TV News, University of Southern California
Finalist: USC stunt actors ‘fight on’ — by Mya Mariey Vinnett, Annenberg TV News, University of Southern California
Finalist: Ride to the polls — by Caroleina Hassett, Cronkite News, Arizona State University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: USC community in uproar after custodian arrested, fired over alleged stolen backpack — by Chrissa Loukas, Annenberg TV News, University of Southern California

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: A second chance at life — by Zachary Larsen, Bally’s Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Finalist: Persevering through pain — by Marlee Zanna Thompson, Bally’s Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Finalist: The first crack to the evolution of Las Vegas sports — by Jade Thomas, UNLV Rebel Report, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Chapman News Live Newscast — by Chapman News staff, Chapman News, Chapman University
Finalist: UC workers strike for better pay — by Annenberg TV News staff, Annenberg TV News, University of Southern California
Finalist: Cronkite News — by Cronkite News staff, AZPBS, Arizona State University

Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: Cronkite Sports Report — by Staff, Bally’s Sports Arizona, Arizona State University

All Platform

Arts/Entertainment/Fashion Journalism
Winner: Artists hope Black History Month mural project ‘educates, inspires, uplifts’ — by Hope O’Brien, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Students get creative with alternative fashion trends — by Hope Lockwood, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Dress to express: Students dress for themselves — not the trends — by Lydia duPerier, Currents Magazine, Pepperdine University

Cultural Criticism
Winner: Music and motion pictures reviews — by Hien Nguyen, La Verne Campus Times Newspaper, University of La Verne
Finalist: I’m with the band columns — by Chloe Walsh, The Stanford Daily, Stanford University
Finalist: Columns — by Camila A. Gonzalez, The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College

Food/Restaurant Journalism
Winner: Meals under $10 for the hungry college student series — by Athena Cheris, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Late night eats — by Calista Kirk, Adrienne Mitchel, Ryan Deeb, Collin Gaja, Chapman News, Chapman University
Finalist: Orange Food Trucks — by Adrienne Mitchel & Collin Gaja, Chapman News, Chapman University

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