Collegians Win SPJ Awards for Covering Va. Tech Massacre, Other Topics

By: E&P Staff College journalists covering the Virginia Tech massacre are among the national winners of the 2007 Mark of Excellence Awards announced today by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).

More than 3,400 entries from college journalists were received in 39 categories. Winners and finalists will be recognized Sept. 5 during the 2008 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference in Atlanta.

The newspaper and online winners:

-- Breaking News Reporting: The Commonwealth Times Staff, Virginia Commonwealth University, "Virginia Tech Massacre"

-- General News Reporting: Ryan Kost, Arizona State University, "State Tries to Treat Hospital Violence"

-- In-Depth Reporting: Katherine Harmon, University of Missouri-Columbia, "Murky Waters: Current Woes"

-- Feature Writing: Alex Stawinski, Central Michigan University, "The Power of Touch"

-- Sports Writing: C.J. Moore, University of Kansas, "Blowing Smoke"

-- Editorial Writing: Aaron Zundel, University of Utah

-- Editorial Cartooning: Phil Hands, University of Wisconsin-Madison

-- General Column Writing: Jenna Lo Castro, John Carroll University, "Lo Castro?s Lowdown"

-- Sports Column Writing: Brandon Scheller, Washington State University

-- Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (published at least 4 times per week): Staff, Iowa State University, Iowa State Daily

-- Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (published less than 4 times per week): Staff, George Washington University, The GW Hatchet

-- Breaking News Photography: Alberto Halpern, American University, ?Protesters Confront Rove Post-Speech?

-- General News Photography: Maggie Shuttlesworth, The Pennsylvania State University, "Alcohol Patrol"

-- Feature Photography: Megan Nesper, The Pennsylvania State University, "Chemotherapy Patient"

-- Photo Illustration: Dave Hochandel, The University of Toledo, "Dealing with Flu Season"

-- Sports Photography: Ashley Wilkerson, Jay Seawell, Geoffrey Miller, and Aaron Bernstein, Indiana University at Bloomington, "2007 Little 500 Bike Race"

-- Online News Reporting: Greg Linch and The Miami Hurricane Staff, University of Miami, "The Presidential Forum at UM"

-- Online Feature Reporting: Emma Carew, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, "Surviving for Today"

-- Online In-Depth Reporting: Frontpage Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, "Tarnished Badge"

-- Online Sports Reporting: The Independent Florida Alligator Staff, University of Florida, "Gators in Glendale"

-- Online Opinion and Commentary: Derek Thompson, Northwestern University

-- Best Affiliated Web site: Staff, Kent State University, CyBurr

-- Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication: JMC 494 Advanced Online Media, Arizona State University, "Cronkite Zine: Spring and Fall 2007"