WWU student journalists honored with national awards

Two entries from Western Washington University students have won national first-place awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, while two other entries were finalists in the competition, which is open to student journalists from throughout the country.

Nearly 4,000 student entries were submitted to the SPJ's 2010 Mark of Excellence competition, which recognizes student work published in 2010.

National first place winners for WWU were:

  • Carey Rose, for “County Jail Bloated with Inmates,” in the General News Photography category. Rose shot his winning entry for The Western Front.
  • Benjamin Woodard and Adrienne Woods, for “Dwight Clark Remembered,” in the Breaking News Reporting category. This story appeared in The Western Front.

National finalists were:

  • Woodard, in the In-Depth Reporting category, for his article “Audit: high-level administrator squandered funds,” which he wrote for The Western Front
  • Max Wilbert, in the Non-Fiction Magazine Article category, for his piece “Siberian Summer,” which he wrote for The Planet Magazine.

A number of WWU students and a WWU faculty member also were winners in the recent Washington Press Association contest, which is open to students and professionals.

  • First place, News/editorial: Kayley Richards, Klipsun Magazine. "The Gift of a Lifetime"
  • First place, News - Investigative/watchdog: Benjamin Woodard, The Western Front. "Audit: Highlevel administrator squandered funds"
  • First place, News - Breaking/spot news: Benjamin Woodard and Adrienne Woods, The Western Front. "Dwight Clark Remembered"
  • Second place, News - Investigative/watchdog: Benjamin Woodard, The Western Front. "Western’s Dispute with Ebenal just one in contractor’s long list"
  • Honorable Mention, Photo - Breaking News: Jordan Stead, Zuma Press. "Tijuana Prostitutes on Break"
  • First place, Feature Photography: Jordan Stead, Klipsun. "Cutting Through to Surface"
  • First place, Illustration: Jordan Stead, Klipsun. "The Business of Pleasure"
  • First place, News Nondaily - Social issues, religion, minority affairs: Jennifer Karchmer, Whatcom Watch. "Host City's Homeless Stage Tent Village During Winter Olympics"
  • Second place, News - Social issues, religion, minority affairs: Jennifer Karchmer, Self-published blog. "Host City's Homeless Stage Tent Village During Winter Olympics
  • First place, Photo Illustration: Jennifer Karchmer, Self-published blog. "Host City's Homeless Stage Tent Village During Winter Olympics"