WKU’s Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists hosted its 31st Mark of Excellence Newspaper, Online, Yearbook and Broadcasting awards ceremony March 18 at Mass Media and Technology Hall.
Tim Broekema, a WKU associate professor of photojournalism, was the keynote speaker. Speaking about how he discovered his passion for photojournalism as a student at WKU, he inspired the almost 200 high school students in attendance. Broekema has received multiple national and international awards and recognition in picture editing, shooting and new media categories for his work.
Eleven Kentucky high school newspapers, 15 yearbooks, two news websites and eight broadcasting programs from across the state entered the 2011 competition, with more than 325 entries in 39 categories. Schools were judged in four divisions based on student enrollment.
- The best overall high school newspaper awards went to Assumption in Class AA/AAA and Bowling Green in Class AAAA.
- The best overall broadcast awards went to Elizabethtown in Class AA/AAA and Oldham County in Class AAAA.
- The best news website went to duPont Manual in Class AAA/AAA.
- The best overall yearbook awards went to Presentation Academy in AA, Franklin-Simpson in AAA and duPont Manual in AAAA.
- The most valuable newspaper staff member awards were presented to Abby Blandford of Assumption in Class AA/AAA and Hannah Rundell of South Oldham in Class AAAA.
- The most valuable broadcast team member awards were presented to Jared Metz of Highlands in Class AAA and Emily Walls of Fern Creek in Class AAAA.
- The most valuable yearbook staff member awards were presented to Duncan Taylor of Union County in Class AA/AAA and Joshua Beal of duPont Manual in Class AAAA.
Complete results from 31st Mark of Excellence contest
Contact: Katie Clark, (270) 745-3055.
