COLLEGE PARK (4/14/20) — The University of Maryland and the Philip Merrill College of Journalism were well-represented as the Society of Professional Journalists recognized the best collegiate journalism in Region 2 with its 2019 Mark of Excellence Awards winners this week.
UMD students won 13 awards and added 14 finalists across 18 categories, spanning print, digital, visual and broadcast media, including for projects published by Capital News Service, The Diamondback and broadcast on UMTV.
Julia Nikhinson ’21, a political science and government major who works as photo editor and a photographer for The Diamondback, won two awards and had two other finalist nods.
Three Merrill College students claimed multiple honors: Andy Kostka ’20 won two sports journalism awards, Joe Ilardi ’20 won in two television categories and Max Marcilla ’20 was a three-time finalist. The full list of UMD winners and finalists is below.
SPJ’s Region 2 comprises Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. First-place winners will compete at the national level against regional winners from the other 11 SPJ regions.
National winners will be notified in the 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.
Here is the full list of UMD winners and finalists:
NEWSPAPERS
General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Finalist: Under the travel ban, some UMD students from Iran haven’t seen their families in years – by Carmen Molina Acosta, University of Maryland, College Park
In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: More than a year after Maria Fisher’s death, her loved ones still search for answers – by Christine Condon, University of Maryland, College Park
Finalist: We placed heat sensors in every UMD dorm without A.C. Here’s what we found. – by Angela Roberts, Matt McDonald and Rosa Pyo, University of Maryland, College Park
Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: For some women at last week’s protest, removing their shirts meant taking back control – by Victoria Ebner, University of Maryland, College Park
General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Max Foley-Keene, University of Maryland, College Park
Finalist: Zachary Jablow, University of Maryland, College Park
Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Nick Cross didn’t play high school until high school. Now he stars for Maryland’s secondary. – by Andy Kostka, University of Maryland, College Park
Finalist: Eli Crognale, the youngest in a soccer-filled family, has made his own name at Maryland – by Eric Myers, University of Maryland, College Park
ART/GRAPHICS
Editorial Cartooning
Finalist: Haoran Li, University of Maryland, College Park
General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: United by frustration, hundreds of UMD students join global climate strike in Washington, D.C. – by Julia Nikhinson, University of Maryland, College Park
Finalist: Students gather for midnight remembrance of Richard Collins on his 26th birthday – by Julia Nikhinson, University of Maryland, College Park
Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: A killing on campus: Following the trial for ex-UMD student accused of stabbing Richard Collins – by Hannah Gaskill and Julia Nikhinson, University of Maryland, College Park
Finalist: We placed heat sensors in every UMD dorm without A.C. Here’s what we found. – by Julia Nikhinson, University of Maryland, College Park
Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Finalist: Hovering around .500, Maryland baseball believes it’s “really close” to a breakthrough – by Joe Ryan, University of Maryland, College Park
TELEVISION
Television General News Reporting
Winner: Fire starters: Local effort aims at tackling the problem of juvenile fire starters – by Kathryn Brown and Joe Ilardi, University of Maryland
Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Student walkout: Hundreds of local students walk out in support of gun control – by Joe Ilardi, University of Maryland
Television Feature Reporting
Finalist: Sweet redemption: Baltimore baker helps formerly incarcerated people re-enter work force – by Max Marcilla, University of Maryland
ONLINE
Online Sports Reporting
Winner: ‘Every day it’s a struggle’: One year later, Jordan McNair’s death is still raw – by Andy Kostka, University of Maryland, College Park
PODCAST
Podcast
Winner: Little bus of horrors: Halloween 2019 at UMD – by Staff of The Diamondback, University of Maryland, College Park
VIDEOGRAPHY
Online/Digital News Videography
Finalist: Justice for Jamal: Trump administration faces deadline to apply sanctions after Khashoggi murder – by Max Marcilla, University of Maryland
Online/Digital Feature Videography
Winner: The faces of the march – by ViewFinder Team, University of Maryland
Finalist: Daily crisis farm – by Alicia Cherem and Heather Kim, University of Maryland
Broadcast Feature Videography
Winner: Maryland teen runs her own nonprofit Adaptive Style – by Cameron Doney, University of Maryland
Finalist: One local artist is ditching the canvas for bathroom stalls – by Lauren Moses, University of Maryland
Finalist: Local Maryland airport in battle with Dept. of Transportation over federal funds – by Max Marcilla, University of Maryland
Broadcast News Videography
Winner: Take a walk through Centreville’s opioid haunted house – by Carly Haynes, University of Maryland
Finalist: Harford County police train to respond to mental health calls – by Caitlyn Mateik and Liam Harrington, University of Maryland
For more information, contact:
Josh Land
joshland@umd.edu
301-405-1321