The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 9 with Mark of Excellence Awards winners for calendar year 2024.

SPJ’s Region 9 comprises Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

National winners will be notified in 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. Any category not listed has no winner.

School divisions are based on student enrollment, including both graduate and undergraduate: Large schools have at least 10,000 students and small schools have 9,999 or fewer students.

The list below details all Region 9 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards Lou Harry by email.

This list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award entries.

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PRINT / ONLINE

Breaking News Reporting (Large)

Winner: Mecha members protest as YAF hosts another far-right speaker — by Vanessa Hudson, Caelan Roberts, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Finalist: Bill to bar trans people from entering sex-designated areas passes Utah Senate — by Jamie Faux, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Finalist: Utah Volleyball earns 900th program win with sweep over BYU — by Sean Stetson, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

General News Reporting (Large)

Winner: Palestine protests and arrests escalate at MSU Denver — by The Metropolitan staff, The Metropolitan, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Finalist: Lime scooter app overcharges Coloradans — by Cole Bachman, Bucket List Community Cafe, University of Colorado Boulder

Finalist: Closing of identity centers — by Megan Swann, The Signpost, Weber State University

In-Depth Reporting (Large)

Winner: Wasatch Peaks Ranch — by Megan Swann, The Signpost, Weber State University

Finalist: Navigating abortion in Utah: Online modules, wait times and a 72-hour hold — by Abhilasha Khatri, Caroline Krum, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Finalist: Oil, gas and war: What are U funding? — by Rachel Kloepfer, Caroline Krum, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Feature Writing (Large)

Winner: Denver high schools preserve Indigenous Lakota language — by Helena Fox-Mills, Bucket List Community Cafe, University of Colorado Boulder

Finalist: Monthly ailment — by Gracie Stephenson, The Signpost, Weber State University

Finalist: Lighting the spark: Education regarding 9/11 — by Landri LaJeunesse, Cache Valley Daily, Utah State University

Personality Profile (Large)

Winner: Meet ‘the ocarina guy’ behind LSC Plaza’s magical music — by Cadence Cardona, Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University

Finalist: A 3,900-mile trek for Travis — by Eliza Nelson, Wasatch Magazine, University of Utah

Finalist: Honorably ‘Zooked’ at Zookraught’s 7th Circle Show — by Jack Armstrong, KVCU Radio 1190, University of Colorado Boulder

Sports Writing (Large)

Winner: The heart of a fighter: John Beck’s journey to the elite levels of quarterback training — by Kellen Hansen, Katrina Huhtala, Daily Universe Sports, Brigham Young University

Finalist: Nique Clifford reinvents himself in green, gold as he chases NBA dreams — by Damon Cook, Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University

Editorial/Opinion Writing

Winner: What the Free Palestine encampment has taught me so far … and others. — by Hampton Terrell, The Denver Clarion, University of Denver

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large)

Winner: The Daily Utah Chronicle — by The Daily Utah Chronicle staff, University of Utah

Finalist: The Signpost — by The Signpost staff, Weber State University

Best Ongoing Student Magazine

Winner: Daily Universe — by Staff, Daily Universe, Brigham Young University

Finalist: Wasatch Magazine — by Staff, Wasatch Magazine, University of Utah

Best Affiliated Web Site

Winner: KVCU Radio 1190 — by Staff, KVCU Radio 1190, University of Colorado Boulder

Finalist: The Daily Utah Chronicle — by Staff, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Best Independent Online Student Publication

Winner: Arapahoe Pinnacle staff, The Arapahoe Pinnacle, Arapahoe Community College

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ART / GRAPHICS / MULTIMEDIA

Feature Photography

Winner: If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you? — by Makena Klinge, Wasatch Magazine, University of Utah

Finalist: When it snows in the desert — by Ben Timm, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Finalist: Utah elects first Vietnamese-American, refugee legislator — by Luke Larsen, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Photo Essay/Slideshow

Winner: Siurana climbing — by Sophie Felici, Wasatch Magazine, University of Utah

Finalist: Winter road maintenance in Little Cottonwood Canyon — by Marco Lozzi, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Finalist: The spirit of snow: Snapshots from Alta — by Miranda Galbraith, Wasatch Magazine, University of Utah

Illustration

Winner: Black History Month — by Star Neil, The Signpost, Weber State University

Finalist: Welcome to Weber, Wildcats — by Star Neil, The Signpost, Weber State University

Finalist: Child homelessness needs Utah’s attention — by Parker Jenkins, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Photo Illustration

Winner: The Outdoors Issue — by Mary Allen, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Finalist: Revitalize passenger railways — by Ilona Buhler, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Sports Photography

Winner: Eileen Gu on the SuperPipe — by Garrett Mogel, Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University

Finalist: BYU women’s tennis team member prepares to serve — by Natalie Seely, Daily Universe Sports, Brigham Young University

Finalist: Fly to block the kick — by Joshua Dodge, The Arapahoe Pinnacle, Arapahoe Community College

News Videography

Winner: Opening weekend at Eldora 2024 — by Audrey Ferrer, DU Media, University of Denver

Finalist: Looking for a new study spot on campus? — by Katie Brick, DU Media, University of Denver

Data Visualization

Winner: Cold case demographics — by Star Neil, The Signpost, Weber State University

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AUDIO

Radio News Reporting

Winner: Blackface on campus — by Tyler Weatherwax, KCSU 90.5 FM Fort Collins, Colorado State University

Finalist: SJP students excluded from campus — by Jack Armstrong, KVCU Radio 1190, University of Colorado Boulder

Finalist: US Magnesium will idle operations after laying off 186 workers — by Elle Crossley, KUER, University of Utah

Radio Feature

Winner: Grab your Walkman, the Salt Lake City cassette revolution is here (again) — by Elle Cowley, KUER, University of Utah

Radio In-Depth Reporting

Winner: Guns in classrooms — by Ethel Yagudayeva, KVCU Radio 1190, University of Colorado Boulder

Best All-Around Radio Newscast

Winner: KVCU Radio — by Staff, KVCU Radio 1190, University of Colorado Boulder

Finalist: KCSU 90.5 Rocky Mountain Review — by Staff, KCSU 90.5 Rocky Mountain Review, Colorado State University

Podcast (Conversational)

Winner: Beyond the Radio Waves: Meet the staff — by Euan Peart, Adam Carlson, Brandon Lantz, KCSU 90.5, Colorado State University

Finalist: Point of View: Opening conversations about sexual assault in Greek life — by Stevie Shaughnessey, Estella Weeks, Matthew Timpa, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

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BROADCAST

Television General News Reporting

Winner: International media flock to Washington D.C. by Chloe Peterson, Universe Live, Brigham Young University

Finalist: Salt Lake City and cities worldwide march for Palestine — by Mabel Galvez Laparra, Universe Live, Brigham Young University

Finalist: Martha goes to Washington — by Elsa Bray, Universe Live, Brigham Young University

Television Feature Reporting

Winner: The nostalgia of friendship — by Charlotte Monroe, DU Media, University of Denver

Finalist: Fold of Liberty Farms hosts cow cuddle sessions — by Chloe Peterson, Universe Live, Brigham Young University

Television In-Depth Reporting

Winner: What is ketamine-assisted therapy? — by Bella Walser, CTV Channel 11, Colorado State University

Television Sports Reporting

Winner: Logan to Jackson — by Jackson Day, A-TV News, Utah State University

Best All-Around Television Newscast

Winner: Universe Live — by Staff, Universe Live, Brigham Young University

Best All-Around Television News Magazine

Winner: Pathway to Education: Breaking ground in Ghana — by Staff, Universe Live, Brigham Young University

Finalist: The savior stood before mine eyes — by Emma Butler, Lynnette McConkie, Annika Ohran, Universe Live, Brigham Young University

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ALL PLATFORM

Arts/Entertainment/Fashion Journalism

Winner: Getting to know Buckets — by Bailey Day, Julianna Raho, K-UTE Radio, University of Utah

Finalist: BYU student turns fashion into art — by Lily Cook, Daily Universe, Brigham Young University

Finalist: Nepantla: Exploring identity through art — by Emily Fiala, College Avenue Magazine, Colorado State University

Campus Reporting

Winner: Anastasis: A queer story among the stars — by Lauren Nusbaum, UStories, University of Utah

Finalist: ACC coverage — by Cody Knudson, The Arapahoe Pinnacle, Arapahoe Community College

Finalist: Mecha holds rally as Israel-Hamas war nears 1 year — by Josi Hinds, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Collaborative Journalism

Winner: The Utah College Media Collaborative: Guns and the college campus — by Students from Salt Lake Community College, the University of Utah, Utah State University, Weber State University, Amplify Utah

Finalist: The Rocky Mountain Showdown — by Staffs, Rocky Mountain Collegian, CU Independent, Colorado State University,  University of Colorado Boulder

Cultural Criticism

Winner: The Daily Utah Chronicle reviews — by Samuel Loveland, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Food/Restaurant Journalism

Winner: BYU student bakes at world renowned culinary school, Le Cordon Bleu in France — by Camylle Callahan Schafer, Daily Universe, Brigham Young University

Finalist: BYU student competes and wins on Food Network’s ‘Christmas Cookie Challenge’ — by Dylan Eubank, Daily Universe, Brigham Young University

Finalist: Mrs. Backer’s Bakery: Time to go inside — by Ethan Blume, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Investigative Reporting

Winner: How Gen Z is changing journalism — by Universe Live Staff, Universe Live, Brigham Young University

Finalist: MSU Denver student government member accused of sexual harassment — by Sara Martin, Isabel Guzman, The Metropolitan, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Finalist: Students allege use of date-rape drugs at off-campus fraternity parties, accuse CSU of inaction — by Hannah Parcells, Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University

Regional Political Reporting

Winner: Utah women rally for reproductive rights, voter action — by Daegan Beus, Daily Universe, Brigham Young University

Finalist: Utah anti-DEI bill, transgender bathroom ban bill signed into law — by Libbey Hanson, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Finalist: Who is Lucifer “Justin Case” Everylove? — by Brooke Christensen, Daily Universe, Brigham Young University

Retail/Small Business Journalism

Winner: Moon’s Rare Books showcases rare items — by Brooke Christensen, Daily Universe, Brigham Young University

Finalist: 16th Street Mall business still slow due to construction — by Daniel Montoya, Bucket List Community Cafe, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Science/Environment/Climate Reporting

Winner: Dust From the Great Salt Lake poses potential health risks, research shows — by Alina Walker, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

Finalist: Quake ready: Utah’s need for earthquake preparedness — by Lynnette McConkie, Universe Live, Brigham Young University

Finalist: Officials discuss water policy ahead of next legislative session — by Giovanni Radtke, The Daily Utah Chronicle, University of Utah

SPJ champions journalists by recognizing outstanding achievement, fighting to protect press freedom, promoting high ethical standards and educating new generations of emerging professionals. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know. Become a member and give to the Legal Defense Fund, First Amendment Forever Fund or SPJ Foundation. 

CONTACT:
Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, lharry@spj.org
Kim Tsuyuki, SPJ Communications Specialist, ktsuyuki@hq.spj.org