Student journalists win national honors

Northwest Missouri State University student journalists captured four awards at the Spring National College Media Convention held earlier this month in New York City.

The Northwest Missourian newspaper and Tower yearbook were each named Silver Crown medalists by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. In addition, the Missourian captured two Apple Awards from the College Media Association, which hosted the conference.

The Apple Awards awards included first place for Best Newspaper in recognition of coverage related to last year's university budget cuts, and a Best Tweet trophy in connection with the fatal assault of Northwest student Tomarken Smith in September.

Ceaser "Trey" Williams was editor of the Missourian during the spring 2012 trimester, when the award-winning papers were published. Williams, a senior journalism major from Independence, said the award validated the hard work of the student staff.

"When I think of all the papers that submit things, and knowing we were selected as one of the best in the country, it makes all the hard work we put in worth it," Williams said.

Erin Funk served as Tower editor in 2011-2012. Funk, a senior interactive digital media major from Johnston, Iowa, said it was gratifying to know her staff was able to continue a long tradition of yearbook excellence at Northwest.

"To know that, as editor in chief, I have continued the Tower and Northwest standard of excellence in student publications makes me extremely happy," Funk said.

"Yearbook was always a way for me to further my skills and establish a leadership role for myself, and I know it allowed the staff to do the same."

The Northwest Missourian and Tower were among 19 Gold Crown and 24 Silver Crown winners during the convention. Judges considered entries from more than 1,300 student publications, scoring them on writing, editing, design, content, concept, photography, art and graphics.

Laura Widmer, who retired as the university's director of student publications in August 2012, served as the advisor for the two honored media during the 2011-'12 academic year. She has since been succeeded by Steven Chappell.

CSPA is an international student press association operated by Columbia University and affiliated with that institution's Graduate School of Journalism.