Colorado State University-Pueblo Today, staff members win SPJ Region 9 awards

PUEBLO – The Society of Professional Journalists named the Colorado State University-Pueblo Today as the best non-daily university newspaper in Region 9 last month. In addition, a number of Today staff members earned Mark of Excellence (MOE) awards in various categories.

The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 9 with 2017 Mark of Excellence Awards winners. SPJ’s Region 9 comprises Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of April 21 at the Region 9 Conference. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other regional MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions. National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at the Excellence in Journalism conference in Baltimore. 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.

SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to informing citizens, works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists, and fights to protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. Throughout the year, the Colorado chapter organizes monthly mixers, programming where experienced journalists teach their craft to others, forums where members of the press share their thoughts, and this annual contest that recognizes excellence in the field. 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.

Today photographers Wes Padgett, Fruita, Jon Doose, Pueblo,  and Madison Hildebrand-Cozzolino, Pueblo, took first, second, and third in feature photography; Chianna Schoenthaler, Strasberg, Colo.,  won for general news reporting, &#8220 ;Harmon empowers those he is leading,” while Alex Purcell, Evergreen, took first in feature writing for Making lasting relationships through obsession.” Avery Lewis, Colorado City,  A17, captured the top prize in sports photography, and Chris Graham, Colorado Springs, won for sports writing, “Celebrating 10 years with a win.&#8221 ;

 “I am proud and honored to have had the opportunity to the editor of the Today ,” said Today Editor Ashley Schaerfl, Los Lunas, N.M. “The students are all extremely talented and they deserve these awards for their hard work and dedication.”

A complete list of Region 9 winners may be found here: https://www.spj.org/news.asp?REF=1566

For additional information on the MOE awards, contact Christine Cordial, awards coordinator, at awards@spj.org or at (317) 920-4788.

Colorado State University - Pueblo is committed to excellence, setting the standard for regional comprehensive universities in teaching, research, and service by providing leadership and access for its region, while maintaining its commitment to diversity.

--CSU-Pueblo--