Colorado collegiate journalists from the University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado Mesa University have been honored in the Society of Professional Journalists‘ national Mark of Excellence Awards.

The Colorado national honorees are:

• Spencer Stepp of KVCU Radio 1190 News at CU Boulder won for Radio In-Depth Reporting for a piece entitled: “The story behind Denver’s teacher walkout.”
• Enrique Quintero of The Criterion at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction won for work on Western Slope wildfires.

Last year, KVCU staffers were honored in the Mark of Excellence competition for Best All-Around Radio Newscast.

The national Mark of Excellence Awards are for collegiate journalism published or broadcast in 2025. This year, students and staffs from 45 newsrooms across the United States received national honors.

First-place winners in SPJ’s 12 regional Mark of Excellence competitions were considered for national honors.

• CLICK HERE for all the national Mark of Excellence winners.
• And CLICK HERE for this year’s regional winners in SPJ’s Region 9 – Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming.

College students can join SPJ for $40 for one year. CLICK HERE for details.

Give a grad the gift of SPJ membership. CLICK HERE to order a gift membership. CLICK HERE to order an SPJ graduation cord for commencement.

MORE FOR STUDENTS:

• SPJ Colorado Pro announces journalism mentorship program
• Journalism pros offer students job-hunting advice
• SPJ Colorado Pro announces 2026 scholarship recipients