Eastern's student publications sweep awards
(Press Release 04-23-10)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

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The student publications at Eastern Oklahoma State College recently won top state awards at newspaper and yearbook competitions held in April at Northeastern State University and the Oklahoma Collegiate Press Association in Stillwater.

Among the many awards received in Tahlequah were first place for Overall Newspaper and Overall Yearbook.

The “Statesman” newspaper and “Mountaineer” yearbook staffs also brought home 13 awards from the Oklahoma Collegiate Press Association’s Media Day at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater held April 8.

The two publications garnered the highest awards at the Stillwater conference, bringing home the cherished “Award of Excellence” for both products.

“The students work so hard each year on these publications and I am so proud of how well we did this year,” said Kristen Turner, Journalism Instructor and “Statesman” and “Mountaineer” adviser. “Our program may be small, but we have a long-standing tradition of excellence in the state of Oklahoma.”

At the competitions, Eastern’s entries were judged against several other Oklahoma two and four- year colleges in several different categories. The newspaper categories were based on issues submitted from the 2009-10 school year. The yearbook categories were based on the 2009 edition.

In all, the publications brought home 38 awards. The contests are judged by professional journalists in Kansas and Oklahoma.

“While we are moving forward with our Mass Communication program, we are still focusing on the fundamentals – and that will hopefully secure more future success,” Turner said.

NSU Media Day (Tahlequah)
Overall Newspaper – 1st Place
Overall Yearbook – 1st Place
Newspaper Front Page Design – 1st Place
Newspaper Reviews – Krystal Baker, McAlester – 1st Place
Editorial – 1st Place
News Writing – April Roye, Wilburton – 1st Place
Photography – Landa McClure, Talihina – 1st Place
Yearbook Theme – 1st Place
Yearbook Cover Design – Naomi Miller, McAlester and Chelsey Reinhardt, Wilburton – 1st Place
Yearbook Division Page Design – 1st Place
Yearbook Page Design – Marcus Dunn, Chandler  – 1st Place
Yearbook Spread Design – Marcus Dunn, Chandler – 1st Place
Sports Writing – Jared Bills, Wilburton – 2nd Place
Photography – Krystal Baker, McAlester – 2nd Place
News Writing – Guy Folger, McAlester – 2nd Place
Feature Writing – Krystal Baker, McAlester – 2nd Place
Yearbook Page Design – Naomi Miller, McAlester – 2nd Place
Yearbook Spread Design – Naomi Miller, McAlester – 2nd Place
Photography – Julie Ellis, Hartshorne – 3rd Place
Newspaper Inside Page Design – 3rd Place
Feature Writing – Guy Folger, McAlester – 3rd Place
Personal Opinion Column Writing – Christen Shaw, Buffalo Valley – 3rd Place
Yearbook Headline Writing and Design – Naomi Miller, McAlester – 3rd Place
Personal Opinion Column Writing – Guy Folger, McAlester – Honorable Mention
Personal Opinion Column Writing – Blaine McKnight, Moyers – Honorable Mention
OCPA Media Day (Stillwater)
Overall Newspaper – Award of Excellence
Overall Yearbook – Award of Excellence
Front Page Design – Award of Excellence
Yearbook Photography – Award of Excellence
Yearbook Layout and Design – Award of Excellence
Yearbook Content and Coverage – Award of Excellence
Online Newspapers – Award of Merit
Interior Page Design – Award of Merit
Yearbook Theme – Award of Merit
Feature Photography- Krystal Baker, McAlester -  2nd Place
Yearbook Photography – Landa McClure, Talihina – 2nd Place
Column Writing – Nikki Miller, Hugo – Honorable Mention
Yearbook Feature Writing – Naomi Miller, McAlester – Honorable Mention

Caption info: Eastern publications won the top awards at recent Media Days held in Tahlequah and Stillwater. Pictured with their awards are members for the "Statesman" and "Mountaineer" staffs, from left, Guy Folger, McAlester; Chelsey Reinhardt, Wilburton; April Roye, Wilburton; Chandra Akins, Wilburton and Nikki Miller, Hugo.