Society of Professional Journalist Mark of Excellence Awards for the 2010 Conference

1. Society of Professional Journalists Region 10 Spring Conference Bell Harbor Conference Center Seattle WA April 10, 2010

2. Tues., May 4, 2010 (7 to 9 pm) @ Location TBD (Seattle)National SPJ FOIA Chair Dave Cullier visits Seattle for a meet-up to discuss FOIA issues (not a panel, strictly informal gathering). Sat., May 22, 2010 (6 - 10 pm) @ Meydenbauer Center (Bellevue)Annual Awards Banquet - Details to be posted early to mid-April.Questions? Email Dana Neuts. Don’t forget…

3. We are grateful that so many media and media-related organizations have stepped up to sponsor this important journalism event. Our sponsors include: Platinum Sponsor Puget Sound Business Journal and TechFlash Gold Sponsor The Seattle Times Silver Sponsors KING5 TV Washington Coalition for Open Government University of Washington Department of Communication Washington News Council University of Oregon - School of Journalism and Communication Bronze sponsors West Seattle Blog Business Examiner Seattle Metropolitan PubliCola AAJA Seattle Spot.us Our Sponsors

4. Wann-Izakaya SPJ Press Club Event, Friday April 9, 2010

5. Hilary Reeves Hilary Reeves was recently named managing editor for the Business Examiner in Tacoma. Before joining the Business Examiner staff, she worked for two years covering municipal government and education for The Port Orchard Independent, a division of Sound Publishing. Reeves is a graduate of the University of Washington’s Department of Communication, majoring in editorial journalism. She has been an SPJ member since 2001, and was president of the University’s collegiate chapter for three years before graduating. In addition to previous terms as the program chair, Reeves has also coordinates the South Sound press club gatherings, chaired the silent auction at the 2008 awards banquet, and served as co-chair of the 2008 Excellence in Journalism contest. SPJ Board President

6. Dana Neuts Dana Neuts of Virtually Yourz is a full-time freelance writer specializing in magazine writing and is the owner/publisher of iLoveKent.net. Dana’s work has appeared in The Seattle Times, Seattle Metropolitan, South Sound Magazine, Computer Source, Kent Magazine, The Business Report and more. In addition to her freelance writing, she does writing, editing and marketing for small businesses, nonprofits and municipalities. Dana graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She has served on the SPJ board for five years, serving as contest chair for three years and chapter president for two. She is currently serving a two-year term on the national SPJ board as the director for Region 10 (Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho & Montana). SPJ Regional Director

7. HagitLimor SPJ President-elect HagitLimor’s other experience with SPJ includes stints as Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter President and membership chairman; National Membership Committee; National Finance Committee Chair; and board member of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation. SPJ National President-Elect

8. April 10, 2010 SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards

9. Best Affiliated Web Site-2 Year/Community College* The Communicator, Spokane Falls Community College, The Communicator Online

10. The Whitworthian staff, The Whitworthian, Whitworth University, whitworthian.com Best Affiliated Web Site-4 Year College/University*

11. Kristin Millis and Casey Smith, The Daily of the University of Washington, University of Washington Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper- 4 Year College/University

12. The Sentinel Staff, The Sentinel, North Idaho College The Communicator Staff, The Communicator, Spokane Falls Community College Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper-2 Year/Community College

13. The WhitworthianStaff, The Whitworthian, Whitworth University Gonzaga Bulletin Staff, The Gonzaga Bulletin, Gonzaga University The Argonaut Staff, The Argonaut, University of Idaho Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper-4 Year College/University

14. Student Staff, University of Montana School of Journalism, University of Montana School of Journalism, Native News Honors Project 2009 Theodore Charles, Kari Plog, Andriana Fletcher, Bryanna Plog; PLU Wang Center for International Studies; Pacific Lutheran University; Soujoruner Blog 2010 Best Independent Online Student Publication-4 Year College/University*

15. KaylinBettinger, Planet Magazine, Western Washington University Klipsun Magazine Staff, Klipsun Magazine, Western Washington University Emily Linroth, Planet Magazine, Western Washington University Best Student Magazine-4 Year College/University

16. Jake Donahue, The Sentinel, North Idaho College, Parking Pandemonium Breaking News Reporting-2 Year/Community College

17. Casey Smith, The Daily of the University of Washington, University of Washington, Police shooting leaves UW student dead Kimball Bennion, Montana Kaimin, University of Montana, Butte mourns victims of tragic plane crash Dominick Bonny, The Daily Evergreen, Washington State University, WSU addresses inflated flu numbers Breaking News Reporting-4 Year College/University

18. Joel Hamid, The Triton Review, The Triton Review, American History, not black history Editorial Cartooning-2 Year/Community College

19. Steve Hamilton, The Falcon, Seattle Pacific University, Steve Hamilton's ToonedIn Aileen Benson, The Whitworthian, Whitworth University, Aileen Benson Editorial Cartooning-4 Year College/University

20. The Sentinel Staff, The Sentinel, North Idaho College, Christianson Gym lacks student section; What happened to basic civility?; City candidates impact stu Editorial Writing-2 Year/Community College

21. The Daily Evergreen Editorial Board, The Daily Evergreen, Washington State University, The Daily Evergreen (Editorial Board) The Whitworthian Editorial Board, The Whitworthian, Whitworth University, In the Loop The Beacon Editorial Board, The Beacon, University of Portland, Communication, solidarity needed; ND grad speaker uproar misguided; Ban resolution smoke and mirrors Editorial Writing-4 Year College/University

22. Theodore Charles, The Mast, Pacific Lutheran University, Tragedy Rattles PLU: Students Pay Tribute to Shooting Victims Drew Vetere, Montana Kaimin, University of Montana School of Journalism, Rocky Horror Shaun Mejia, The Falcon, Seattle Pacific University, Youtube star shines in city Feature Photography-4 Year College/University

23. Eli Francovich, The Sentinel, North Idaho College, Hooked on Hookah Feature Writing-2 Year/Community College

24. Alana Curtis, Idaho Argonaut, University of Idaho, Perceptions of their own skin Scott MacDonald, The Argonaut, University of Idaho, Dying to Change Thomas Hewitt, The Sun Star, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Living on the Iraqi Frontier Feature Writing-4 Year College/University

25. Loren Kelly, The Sentinel, North Idaho College, Welcome to gaud's house; Convenience comes with drawbacks; Grasping 'fake it to make it' General Column Writing-2 Year/Community College

26. J. Gavin Mathis, The Daily Evergreen, Washington State University, The Daily Evergreen (Gavin Mathis) -- General Column Writing David Guzman, The Observer, Central Washington University, The Exceptional Brew - CWU Observer Beer Column Michael Dudley, The Falcon, Seattle Pacific University, Michael Dudley's Opinions General Column Writing-4 Year College/University

27. Theodore Charles, The Mast, Pacific Lutheran University, Shot Down: Vaccine Shortage Hits Home Curtis Simpson IV, The Falcon, Seattle Pacific University, On The Verge Theodore Charles, The Mast, Pacific Lutheran University, No More Fear General News Photography-4 Year College/University

28. Valerie Topacio, The Triton Review, The Triton Review, Freedom of speech or harassment? Peter Sessum, The Triton Review, The Triton Review, Part-time faculty gets full-time win Mike McCall, The Sentinel, North Idaho College, Former secretary sues NIC General News Reporting-2 Year/Community College

29. Christian Caple and MaksGoldenshteyn, The Daily of the University of Washington, University of Washington, Dead in the Water; Alumni saddened by loss; Football to blame; Grassroots Andrew Sheeler, UAF Sun Star, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Gay to straight lecture draws mixed response Hannah Gray , The Beacon , University of Portland, Sex Trafficking in Portland General News Reporting-4 Year College/University

30. Peter Sessum, The Triton Review, The Triton Review, Bad blood: Campus may ban blood donations Eli Francovich, The Sentinel, North Idaho College, Racist act startles community Connor DeVries, The Sentinel, North Idaho College, Financial aid worries In-Depth Reporting-2 Year/Community College

31. Nate Rott, Great Falls (MT) Tribune (inserted; also online), University of Montana, Beyond Reach Ben Woodard, The Western Front, Western Washington University, State audits Nord Marcus Kellis, Idaho Argonaut, University of Idaho, A mandated monopoly In-Depth Reporting-4 Year College/University

32. Oliver Lazenby, The Planet, Western Washington University, Why Didn't The Goats Cross The Road Non-Fiction Magazine Article-4 Year College/University

33. Robert Nash, http://uwadvancednewsreporting.blogspot.com/, University of Washington, Tent City 3 residents confront stereotypes, support move to campus by BOB NASH Online Feature Reporting-4 Year College/University

34. Nadia White, journalism advisor, Andrew King-Ries, legal advisor, http://blog.umt.edu/gracecase/, University of Montana, The Grace Case Project Jasmine Linabary, The Whitworthian, Whitworth University, The Women Yong Kim, The Whitworthian, Whitworth University, Pornography package Online In-Depth Reporting-4 Year College/University

35. Alexander Kelly, InvestigateWest, Western Washington University, Copenhagen United Nations Climate Change Conference Coverage Online News Reporting-4 Year College/University

36. Jerod Jarvis, The Whitworthian, Whitworth University, Jerod Jarvis Online Opinion & Commentary-4 Year College/University

37. Bonnie Shelton, Brandon O'Rourke, Jon Stull; KVAL TV (Kval.com); University of Oregon; Gameday Comes to Eugene Tony Schick, Zack Berlat, Callin Switzer; The Gonzaga Bulletin; Gonzaga University; Young and Restless Online Sports Reporting-4 Year College/University

38. Ryan Ricigliano, The Observer, Central Washington University, War veterans acclimate to student life Colleen Kirsten, The Daily of the University of Washington, University of Washington, Building on the Backs of students Photo Illustration-4 Year College/University

39. Jake Stevenson, KUFM (Montana Public Radio), University of Montana, Smoking Ban Gillette Vaira, Montana Public Radio – KUFM, University of Montana, Firefighter Combat Challenge Radio Feature-4 Year College/University

40. Gillette Vaira, Montana Public Radio – KUFM, University of Montana, Suicide Prevention Walk Brittany Wooley, KUFM- Montana Public Radio, University of Montana, In Montana, both hope and concern over cap and trade Gillette Vaira, Montana Public Radio – KUFM, University of Montana, Graffiti in Missoula Radio News Reporting-4 Year College/University

41. Vince Bagby, KBGA College Radio , University of Montana, UM Football Series Paige Browning, KBGA College Radio , University of Montana, Basketball Role Models Vince Bagby, KBGA College Radio , University of Montana, Volleyball Wrapup Radio Sports Reporting-4 Year College/University

42. KalynLovlyn, The Sentinel, North Idaho College, Muddy tradition continues; Boredom inspires creativity; Olympic history full of 'huh?' Sports Column Writing-2 Year/Community College

43. Christian Caple, The Daily News (Longview, Wash.); The Daily (UW), University of Washington, Sports Columns Sports Column Writing-4 Year College/University

44. Laura Easley, The Falcon, Seattle Pacific University, Lead Rugby photo Theodore Charles, The Mast, Pacific Lutheran University, Strong Strokes for Lute Swimmers Greg Linstrom, Montana Kaimin, University of Montana School of Journalism, Fighting for the soccer ball Sports Photography-4 Year College/University

45. Sandra Chansa, The Triton Review, The Triton Review, Sean Higgins uses experience to influence good character Brett Miller, The Triton Review, The Triton Review, Seattle's Prodigal son comes home KalynLovlyn, The Sentinel, North Idaho College, Buzzer-beater caps weekend sweep Sports Writing-2 Year/Community College

46. Christian Caple and MaksGoldenshteyn, The Daily of the University of Washington, University of Washington, Dead in the water; Alumni saddened by loss; Football to blame; Grassroots Tyson Alger, Montana Kaimin, University of Montana, Allegations against Griz football players surface Sports Writing-4 Year College/University

47. Jessica Reedy and Tiffany Kimmel Stubbart, Oregon Public Broadcasting, University of Oregon, Inside Looking Out Sarah E. Grant; KECI, KCFW, KTVM; University of Montana, Balancing College Life Grant Beaudette, KPAX, University of Montana, Squash Off Television Feature-4 Year College/University

48. Ashley Korslien and Mark Wilson, KECI, University of Montana, Military Study Katelin Chow, The Daily of the University of Washington, University of Washington, UW addresses swine flu threat Television General News Reporting-4 Year College-University

49. Paige Browning and Katrina Heser, Montana PBS, University of Montana, Montana Journal: Unaffordable Education Noel Pederson and BreannaRoy, Montana Public Television, University of Montana, Unspoken: Voices of Suicide in Montana Television In-Depth Reporting-4 Year College/University

50. Dustin "Buddy" Cowart, UM News, University of Montana, Hospital Helpers Paige Browning , KECI-TV Missoula , University of Montana, International Student Halloween Daniel Ryan , KPAX, University of Montana, SpectrUM Discovery Area Television News Photography-4 Year College/University

51. Jon G. Denny and Laura Elizabeth Wilson, KECI-TV, University of Montana, Griz Bye-Week Sarah Grant and Lindsey Scheetz; KECI, KCFW, KTVM; University of Montana; Chase Reynolds Television Sports Reporting-4 Year College/University

52. Congratulations to all of tonight’s Mark of Excellence Award Winners!