Voice Staff
MT. PLEASANT – The Washtenaw Voice walked off with an unprecedented 52 awards, including first in General Excellence (best overall) at the annual Michigan Community College Press Associations conference.
In 30 categories judged, The Voice took 14 firsts; seven seconds; 12 thirds; and 9 honorable mentions in various newswriting, photography, design and multimedia categories.
Overall, 23 WCC student journalists had their names imprinted on awards certificates, including 13 staffers and 10 contributors. Work from various community college newspaper staffers was judged by industry professional throughout Michigan.
”This is an excellent newspaper,” one judge said of The Voice. “It has a great mixture of news and features. Its editorial/commentary pages are well done, and its photography and the usage of photos are outstanding.
“Frankly, there is more to read in this college newspaper than many ‘professional’ newspapers in Michigan offer their readers. Well done.”
Photo Editor Jared Angle, Managing Editor for Design Josh Chamberlain and contributing videographer Jen Gentner Lumpford each won two first-place awards. Other firsts went to: Features Editor Adrian Hedden; Managing Editor and graphic cartoon artist Frances Ross; Bob Conradi, staff writer and former photo editor; contributing comic artist Erik Steiger; Web Editor Ikram Fatah; contributing graphic illustrator Hafsah Mijinyawa; and contributing writer Chuck Denton.
“The amount of people that took home awards is a testament to the hard work that went into producing all of these newspapers,” Durr said. “I’m proud to be the editor of a newspaper that features so many talented people, each using a variety of skills that we learned at WCC.”
Multiple award winners at the April 21 event at Central Michigan University included: Angle, two firsts, two thirds and an honorable mention; Chamberlain, two firsts and a second; Hedden, a first, second, third and honorable mention; Editor Matt Durr, two thirds and four honorable mentions; Conradi, a first, two thirds and two honorable mentions; Gentner Lumpford, two firsts; Solis, a first, a third and an honorable mention; Steiger, a first and an honorable mention; Quinn Davis, former editor, a second and a third; Anna Fuqua-Smith, staff writer, a third and two honorable mentions.
“I’m immensely proud of these hardworking students in the newspapers they produce,” said the newspaper’s adviser, Keith Gave. “But I know and they know they couldn’t do it without the tremendous support they get from this college. They’re passionate about they work they do on behalf of the campus community, and it shows on every page they produce.”
And the winners are:
First place
General Excellence, staff
News Story, Adrian Hedden, Features Editor, “On target for racial tension”
In-Depth Reporting, Jared Angle, Photo Editor, “Camp Take Notice”
Feature Story, Chuck Denton, Staff Writer, “A quest for shelter”
Personality Profile, Bob Conradi, “Wounded Warrior”
Column, Serious, Josh Chamberlain, “Shaking the President’s hand”
Original Cartoon, Editorial, Erik Steiger, contributing artist, “Occupy Wal-Mart”
Original Cartoon, Entertainment, Frances Ross (artist) and Ben Solis (writer), “RxZ”
Photo Essay, Jared Angle, Photo Editor, “Occupy Rick”
Inside Page Design, Josh Chamberlain, “52 reasons to love/hate DC Comics”
Informational Graphic Illustration, Hafsah Mijinyawa, “Freaks, frights and fears”
Video Production/Audio Slideshow, Jennifer Gentner Lumpford, “Oh Christmas Tree”
Multimedia Reporting, Jennifer Gentner Lumpford, “Whyld Child”
Online Newspaper, Ikram Fatah, Web Editor
Second place
Editorial, Quinn Davis, former editor, “Trustee attendance and participation”
First Amendment Reporting, Adrian Hedden/Karen Before, staff writers, “You’re invited. . . but you can’t come”
Column, Humor, Nathan Clark, “Smart phones don’t help you in class”
Sports column, Anna Fuqua-Smith, “A girl’s first time”
Headline Writing, Voice Staff, “Park the whining,” “Occupy Rick,” “On target for racial violence”
Overall Page Design, Josh Chamberlain, Ashley DiGiuseppe, design editors
Turkey Award, Voice staff, “Some guy. . . “
Third place
News Story, Matt Durr, editor, “Counselor comes forward after 40 years on run”
In-Depth Reporting, Quinn Davis and Matt Durr, editors, “Three trustees miss a year’s worth of meetings
Feature Story, Allie Tomason, staff writer, “Poles apart”
Column, Humor, Amy McMichen, “A ‘Black Friday’ family tradition”
Sports Column, James Highsmith, former sports editor, “A message to UM alumni”
Critical Review, Ben Solis, “52 reasons to love/hate DC Comics”
News Photo, Jared Angle, Presidential politics”
Photo Essay, Adrian Hedden, features editor, “Graffiti Alley”
Sports Feature Photo, Bob Conradi, staff writer, “Top thrills”
Multimedia Reporting, Voice staff, Michigan gets presidential”
Video Production/Audio Slideshow, Jared Angle, photo editor, “J Dilla tribute concert”
Honorable Mention
In-Depth Reporting, Voice staff, “Michigan gets presidential”
Personality Profile, Matt Durr, “Where dreams come true”
Personality Profile, Ben Solis, “Cuppa Joe”
First Amendment Reporting, Voice staff, “Shooting the messenger”
Critical Review, Josh Chamberlain/Ben Solis, managing editors, “Taco showdown”
Sports News Story, Matt Durr, editor, “Hail to the victors”
Sports Feature Story, Anna Fuqua-Smith, staff writer, “Hot wheels, Ann Arbor Derby”
Sports Column, Matt Durr, editor, “Winter Classic 2013”
News Photo, Adrian Hedden. features editor, “On target for racial tension”
News Photo, Anna Fuqua-Smith, staff writer, “Student protest at State Capitol”
Photo Essay, Bob Conradi, staff writer, “The beat of a different drummer”
Feature Photo, Bob Conradi, staff writer, “Cuppa Joe”
Sports News Photo, Matt Durr, editor, “Fans rejoice, U-M over Ohio”
Sports Feature Photo, Jared Angle, “Hot wheels”
Front Page Design, Josh Chamberlain/Ashley DiGiuseppe, design editors
Inside Page Design, Jocelyn Gotlib, former designer, “Strictly Fairy Business”
Original Cartoon, Entertainment, Erik Steiger, contributing artist, “Black Friday”
Original Cartoon, Entertainment, Mike Adsit, contributing artist, “Man with a porpoise”
Informational Graphic/Illustration, Kate Bizer, former design editor, “Open House”
Blog, Bob Conradi, staff writer
