I created this presentation for the Society of Professional Journalists Region 7 Mark of Excellence Award Ceremony, honoring students in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

1. Recognizing Students in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and
Nebraska -- Region 7 Conference
April 25, 2009
Clayton, Missouri

2. About the Awards
 The Mark of Excellence Awards honor the best in
student journalism. The awards offer 39 categories for
print, radio, television and online collegiate journalism
 First place regional winners are forwarded on to the
national competition. National winners will be
honored at the 2009 SPJ Convention & National
Journalism Conference in Indianapolis.

3. Online News Reporting
 3rd Place ~ Jenna Nikkel, Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily online
 2nd Place ~ Jenna Nikkel, Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily online
 1st Place ~ Holly Jackson, University of Missouri
 CNETNews.com
 “Hands-free Law Drives
Big Marketing Opportunities”

4. Online Feature Reporting
 3rd Place ~ Rob Wormley, Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily online
 2nd Place ~ Samantha Carlson, Alissa Atkinson & Karla
Walsh, Iowa State University
 Ethos Magazine online
 1st Place ~ Holly Jackson, University of Missouri
 CNETNews.com
 “Photographer without legs
tells life story from ground up”

5. Online In-Depth Reporting
 2nd Place ~ Emily Keats… Iowa State University
 Ethos Magazine online
 1st Place ~ Alex Parker… University of Kansas
 Lawrence Journal-World online
 “Readying for War”

6. Online Sports Reporting
 3rd Place ~ Blake Toppmeyer… Truman State University
 The Index online
 2nd Place ~ Maddie Crawford… Iowa State University
 Ethos Magazine online
 1st Place ~ Courtney Servaes, Zack Rockey&
Chelsea Twietmeyer… Baker University
 The Baker Orange online
 “65-27 Morningside”

7. Newspapers: Breaking News
Reporting
 3rd Place ~ Dylan Boyle & Bethany Pint… Iowa State
University
 Iowa State Daily
 2nd Place ~ Kim Norvell, Bethany Piht& Dylan Boyle… Iowa
State University
 Iowa State Daily
 1st Place ~ Molly Hottle, Grand View University
 Des Moines Register
 “Husband accused of murder
in I-235 shooting”

8. Newspapers: General News
Reporting
 3rd Place ~ Alex Parker… University of Kansas
 Lawrence Journal-World
 2nd Place ~ Haley Jones… University of Kansas
 University Daily Kansan
 1st Place ~ Kim Norvell… Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily
 “Amethyst initiative shines…”

9. Newspapers: In-Depth
Reporting
 3rd Place ~ RashahMcChesney… Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily
 2nd Place ~ Ryan McGeeney… University of Kansas
 University Daily Kansan
 1st Place ~ Brenna Hawley… University of Kansas
 University Daily Kansan
 “Parched Future of the plains”

10. Newspapers: Feature Writing
 3rd Place ~ Andrew Astleford … University of Missouri
 The Washington Post
 2nd Place ~ Molly Hottle… Grand View University
 Des Moines Register
 1st Place ~ Thor Nystrom… University of Kansas
 University Daily Kansan
 “To Hell and Back”

11. Newspapers: Editorial Writing
 3rd Place ~ Josh Hillman… Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily
 2nd Place ~ Staff, The Baker Orange
 Baker University
 1st Place ~ Mike Gibilisco& Jordan Mapes… Creighton
University
 The Creightonian
 Editorials

12. Newspapers: Sports Writing
 3rd Place ~ Andrew Astleford … University of Missouri
 The Washington Post
 2nd Place ~ David Ubben… University of Missouri
 Columbia Missourian
 1st Place ~ Thor Nystrom… University of Kansas
 University Daily Kansan
 “Both Sides of the Scalp”

13. Newspapers: Sports Column
Writing
 2nd Place ~ Blake Toppmeyer… Truman State University
 The Index
 1st Place ~ Chris Smith… Baker University
 The Baker Orange
 Sports Columns

14. Magazines: Non-Fiction
Article
 3rd Place ~ Jessica Vong… Iowa State University
 Uhuru Magazine
 2nd Place ~ Rachel Vogel… Drake University
 Drake Magazine
 1st Place ~ Evan Jurkovich… Drake University
 Think Magazine
 “Lost No More”

15. Best Student Magazine
 3rd Place ~ Staff, Think Magazine
 Drake University
 2nd Place ~ Staff, 515 Magazine
 Drake University
 1st Place ~ Drake Magazine
 Drake University

16. Photography:
Breaking News
 2nd Place ~ Joshua Harrell… Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily
 1st Place ~ Jon Lemons… Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily
 “NIU Embrace”

17. Photography:
General News
 2nd Place ~ Jon Lemons… Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily
 1st Place ~ Joshua Harrell… Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily
 “Kerry Speaks”

18. Photography:
Feature
 3rd Place ~ Kai Chan… Iowa State University
 Ethos Magazine
 2nd place ~ Emilee Richardson… Drake University
 Drake Magazine
 1st place ~ Nick Gallo… Creighton University
 The Creightonian
 “Let the cards fly”

19. Photography:
Photo Illustration
 3rd Place ~ Nick Schnelle, Brett Lohmeyer& Amanda Keefe
… St. Louis Community College-Meranec
 The Montage
 2nd place ~ Staff, The Creightonian
 Creighton University
 1st place ~ Dan McClanahan…Iowa State University
 Ethos Magazine
 “Logging out for good”

20. Photography:
Sports
 3rd Place ~ Joshua Harrell… Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily
 2nd place ~ Jon Lemons… Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily
 1st place Joshua Harrell… Iowa State University
 Iowa State Daily
 “ISU pwnd”

21. Radio News Reporting
 3rd Place ~ Sean Powers… University of Missouri
 KBIA 91.3 FM
 2nd place ~ Bonnie Thomas… University of Missouri
 KBIA 91.3 FM
 1st place ~ Robby Berlin… University of Missouri
 KBIA 91.3 FM
 “Fulton Treatment Facility”

22. Radio News Feature
 3rd Place ~ Austin Coates… University of Missouri
 KBIA 91.3 FM
 2nd place ~ Sean Powers… University of Missouri
 KBIA 91.3 FM
 1st place ~ Kyle Stokes… University of Missouri
 KBIA 91.3 FM
 “Lincoln School memories ”

23. Radio In-Depth Reporting
 2nd place ~ Sean Powers… University of Missouri
 KBIA 91.3 FM
 1st place ~ Catherine Wolf… University of Missouri
 KBIA 91.3 FM
 “Energy matters…”

24. Radio Sports Reporting
 1st place ~ Alex Swoyer… University of Missouri
 KBIA 91.3 FM
 “Conrad Stands Out…”

25. Television: Breaking News
Reporting
 2nd place ~ Mike Brannen… University of Missouri
 KOMU-TV
 1st place ~ Dhomonique Ricks… University of Missouri
 KOMU-TV
 “Live election night coverage”

26. Television: General News
Reporting
 1st place ~ Dhomonique Ricks… University of Missouri
 KOMU-TV
 “Teen gun violence”

27. Television: Feature Reporting
 3rd Place ~ Wendy McCart… University of Kansas
 KUJH-TV
 2rd Place ~ Mike Brannen… University of Missouri
 KOMU-TV
 1st place ~ Dhomonique Ricks… University of Missouri
 KOMU-TV
 “Mr. Taco Bell”

28. Television: In-Depth Reporting
 2nd place ~ Dhomonique Ricks… University of Missouri
 KOMU-TV
 1st place ~ Wendy McCart… University of Kansas
 KUJH-TV
 “Voter Registration”

29. Television: Sports Reporting
 2nd place ~ Kevin Gehl… University of Missouri
 KOMU-TV
 1st place ~ Mike Brannen… University of Missouri
 KOMU-TV
 “Carlos Ivory”

30. Television: News Photography
 2nd place ~ Mike Brannen… University of Missouri
 KOMU-TV
 1st place ~ Mike Brannen… University of Missouri
 KOMU-TV
 “Holiday Holdup”

31. Television: Feature
Photography
 1st place ~ Mike Brannen& Phil Rapisardo… University
of Missouri
 KOMU-TV
 “Monica Hudson”

32. Television: Sports
Photography
 1st place ~ Mike Brannen… University of Missouri
 KOMU-TV
 “Fast Food”

33. Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
(pub. at least 4 times a
week)
 2nd place ~ University Daily Kansan Staff
 University of Kansas
 1st place ~ Iowa State Daily Staff
 Iowa State University

34. Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
(pub. Less than 4 times a
week)
 3rd Place ~ The Baker Orange Staff
 Baker University
 2rd Place ~ Creightonian Staff
 Creighton University
 1st place ~ The Index Staff
 Truman State University

35. Bragging Rights!
 Most awards…. Iowa State University
 TOTAL = 22