Congrats to the Mark of Excellence winners in Region 7!

The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 7 with 2024 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 7 comprises Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions. National winners will be notified in late spring.

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.

 Print/Online 

Breaking News Reporting (Large)

Winner: Outbreak of 19 tornadoes across Nebraska — by Lauren Penington, Breanna Fanta, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska

Finalist: Caitlin Clark crushes all-time NCAA Division I women’s basketball scoring record — by Colin Votzmeyer, Cooper Worth, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Finalist: “Despite legal woes, Trump crowned Iowa caucuses victor” — by Liam Halawith, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

 

General News Reporting (Large)

Winner: Turmoil in Edwardsville schools: Community members blame superintendent for safety concerns — by Dylan Hembrough, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Finalist: What became of Iowa City’s ambitious plan to confront systemic racism — by Emma Jane, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Finalist: Young voters are divided. Gender is driving the split. — by Jami Martin-Trainor, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

 

General News Reporting (Small)

Winner: What was going on at Silver Dollar City? — by Adam Roseberry, Clay Steward, The Outlook, College of the Ozarks

Finalist: Cutting them down — by David Mazula, The Outlook, College of the Ozarks

Finalist: Land acknowledgement honors Native tribes — by Elizabeth Jones, The Creightonian, Creighton University

 

In-Depth Reporting (Large)

Winner: Where’s my mom: The case of Cecilia Perez — by Jordyn Graff, Ruth Bailey, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska

Finalist: Not a perfect world: Prosecuting domestic violence in Indian Country — by Maddie Ames, Meghan O’Brien, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska

Finalist: Investing in women’s sports: Understanding the pay disparity in Iowa athletics — by Jami Martin-Trainor, Colin Votzmeyer, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

 

In-Depth Reporting (Small)

Winner: Drake’s budget: How did we get here? — by Mak Swenson, Times-Delphic, Drake University

 

Feature Writing (Large)

Winner: A city within: An inside look at homelessness in Iowa City — by Jordan Barry, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Finalist: ‘She’s here because she got herself here’: The rise of Broken Bow’s self-taught barrel racer — by Naomi Delkamiller, Flatwater Free Press, University of Nebraska

Finalist: One decade later: How Ferguson boosted the Black Lives Matter movement — by Chloe Wolfe, Dylan Hembrough, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

 

Feature Writing (Small)

Winner: A generation in crisis — by Sarah Jamil, Drake Mag, Drake University

Finalist: History of Creighton’s mascot: The Bluejay turns 100 — by Elizabeth Jones, The Creightonian, Creighton University

Finalist: A soldier’s story — by Adam Roseberry, The Outlook, College of the Ozarks

 

Personality Profile Writing

 Winner: Great Grandpa’s Tree — by Adam Roseberry, College of the Ozarks

 

Sports Writing (Large)

Winner: Big Ten conference expansion brings challenges and opportunities alike — by Matt McGowan, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Finalist: “Home, sweet Horejsi: How Kansas volleyball found its fortress and became a powerhouse” — by Katie Acosta, University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas

Finalist: Nebraska Legislature remains hesitant to embrace online sports betting — by Ryan Luetkemeyer, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska

 

Sports Writing (Small)

Winner: Lucio Berron: the art of soccer — by Abbie Gallant, The Creightonian, Creighton University

 

Editorial/Opinion Writing

Winner: Alestle editorials — by Alestle editorial board, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

 

General Column Writing

Winner: Alestle columns — by Dylan Hembrough, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

 

Sports Column Writing

Winner: Creightonian sports columns — by Abbie Gallant, The Creightonian, Creighton University

 

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large)

Winner: The Alestle staff, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Finalist: Daily Iowan staff, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

 

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small)

Winner: The Creightonian — by Staff, The Creightonian, Creighton University

 

Best Ongoing Student Magazine

Winner: Vox Magazine — by Vox staff, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri

Finalist: Drake Mag — by Saff, Drake Mag, Drake University

Finalist: Drake Political Review — by Staff, Drake Political Review, Drake University

 

Best Affiliated Web Site

Winner: Vox staff, Voxmagazine.com, University of Missouri

Finalist: Daily Iowan staff, DailyIowan.com, University of Iowa

 

Arts/Graphics/Multimedia 

General News Photography

Winner: Protest officer — by Cody Blissett, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Finalist: HALO celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month — by Rory Moore, Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University

Finalist: Capturing fairytale dreams — by Nathan Jobalia, The Creightonian, Creighton University

 

Feature Photography

Winner: All the world’s a stage — literally — by Caleigh Christy, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri

Finalist: Crooked Creek: Government neglect contaminates community — by Maximilian Lenhart, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

 

Photo Essay/Slideshow

Winner: A city within: An inside look at homelessness in Iowa City — by Jordan Barry, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Finalist: Iowa Women’s Wrestling wins 2024 national championship — by Cody Blissett, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Finalist: Views from Election Day 2024 in Nebraska — by Nebraska News Service and Nebraska Examiner staff, Nebraska News Service and Nebraska Examiner, University of Nebraska

 

Illustration

Winner: Young voters are divided. Gender is driving the split. — by Amy Scott, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Finalist: First Amendment Issue — by Thea Weltzin, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

 

Sports Photography

Winner: Captain & coach — by Gavin Rask, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Finalist: Tigers topple NSU in bounce back victory — by Rory Moore, Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University

Finalist: Tournament locker room — by Grace Smith, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

 

Best Use of Multimedia

Winner: What’s up with voting? — by Vox staff, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri

 

Data Visualization

Winner: Coaches’ salaries — by Marandah Mangra-Dutcher, Jami Martin-Trainor, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

 

Audio

Radio News Reporting

Winner: UNL faculty react to closing of Diversity and Inclusion Office — by Ariana Garber, KRNU 90.3, University of Nebraska

Finalist: More severe weather in the Upper Midwest — Adjusting to a new reality — by Blake Mace, KRNU 90.3, University of Nebraska

 

Radio Feature

Winner: Lincoln literacy program opens doors for Nebraska immigrants  — by Lauren Behn, KRNU 90.3, University of Nebraska

Finalist: “Honor dorms offer flexibility, family connection at Algoa Correctional Center” — by Sophia Anderson, KBIA Public Radio, University of Missouri

Finalist: Native Peoples upset by UNL’s closing of Diversity and Inclusion Office — by Charlee Sharack , KRNU 90.3, University of Nebraska

 

Radio In-Depth Reporting

Winner: “Is Columbia’s crime spiking? Police say yes, numbers say no ” — by Aminah Jenkins, KBIA Public Radio, University of Missouri

Finalist: “Volunteers gather signatures to put abortion rights on the ballot in Missouri, but face challenges ” — by Meghan Lee, Lilley Halloran, KBIA Public Radio, University of Missouri

Finalist: Nebraska prison overcrowding: The state’s unsolved problem — by Theodore Ball, KRNU 90.3, University of Nebraska

 

Best All-Around Radio Newscast

Winner: KRNU 90.3 staff, KRNU 90.3, University of Nebraska

 

Podcast (Narrative)

Winner: 93 Counties — by Jackson Atwell, Ben Drozd, Macy Byars, Lauren Behn, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska

 

Broadcast

Television Breaking News Reporting

Winner: Tornadoes leave path of destruction for Elkhorn residents — by Mia Ackerman, Nebraska Nightly, University of Nebraska

Finalist: House Speaker Mike Johnson Attracts Protestors in Iowa City — by Johnny Valtman, Hannah Lipski, DITV, University of Iowa

Finalist: Major Nutsch — by Jacob Henry, Wyatt Cochran, Clancy Callahan, The Point, College of the Ozarks

 

Television Feature Reporting

Winner: A night to shine — by Gabbi Keim, Autumn Garrett, Jacob Henry, The Point, College of the Ozarks

Finalist: Reunion of the U.S.S. David Ray — by David Mazula, Neal Kessler, The Point, College of the Ozarks

Finalist: A behind the booth look into major Iowa City night life players — by Hannah Lipski, DITV, University of Iowa

 

Television In-Depth Reporting

Winner: On the border: Sherry Wounded Foot’s story — by Marissa Lindemann, Olivia Reed, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska

Finalist: Keep it tuned — by Erica Sawyer, Urban Plains, Drake University

Finalist: The Golden Barber — by Katie Lockyear, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska

 

Television Sports Reporting

Winner: A coach’s Story — by Clancy Callahan, Wyatt Cochran, Olivia Moss, Abigail Johnson, The Point, College of the Ozarks

Finalist: Hawkeyes react to national championship loss — by Michael Merrick, Brady Behrend, Johnny Valtman, Jayce Bertrand, DITV, University of Iowa

Finalist: Billie Story — by Trey Marler, Nebraska Nightly, University of Nebraska

 

Best All-Around Television Newscast

Winner: DITV — by DITV staff, DITV, University of Iowa

 

Best All-Around Television News Magazine

Winner: The Point — by Staff, The Point, College of the Ozarks

 

All Platforms 

Arts/Entertainment/Fashion Journalism

Winner: All the world’s a stage — literally — by Grace Burwell, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri

 

Campus Reporting

Winner: Alestle columns — by Dylan Hembrough, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Finalist: KRNU campus team reporting — by Lauren Behn, Treyson Marler, Blake Mace, KRNU 90.3, University of Nebraska

 

Cultural Criticism

Winner: Alestle columns — by Brandi Spann, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

 

Investigative Reporting

Winner: Missing murdered marginalized women — by Nebraska News Service staff, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska

Finalist: ajo — by Nebraska News Service – Global Eyewitness staff, Nebraska News Service – Global Eyewitness program, University of Nebraska

 

Regional Political Reporting

Winner: Welcome to live coverage of Election 2024 — by Nebraska News Service staff, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska

Finalist: Ellis County Republicans and Democrats host election watch parties; Donald Trump elected to second term — by Rory Moore, Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University

 

Retail/Small Business Journalism

Winner: Metro East Markets — by The Alestle staff, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

 

Science/Environment/Climate Reporting

Winner: “Drought, Nebraska farmers and the weather trend experts” — by Dominic Ferraro, KRNU 90.3, University of Nebraska

 

SPJ champions journalists by recognizing outstanding achievement, fighting to protect press freedom, promoting high ethical standards and educating new generations of emerging professionals. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know. Become a member and give to the Legal Defense Fund, First Amendment Forever Fund or SPJ Foundation.