Clark College student journalists win awards

For Immediate Release
May 30, 2017

For additional information (media inquiries only):
Hannah Erickson, Communications & Marketing
T: 360-992-2954 E: herickson@clark.edu
High-resolution version of the Indy staff photo available upon request.

College newspaper nets first place in General Excellence, among other honors

VANCOUVER, Wash. – For the third consecutive year, Clark College student journalists took first in the “General Excellence” award at the Pacific Northwest Association of Journalism Educators annual competition.

The staff of the Independent, also known as the Indy, also swept in the publications category. That award signifies Indy reporters and editors earned the highest number of points in a tally of first-, second-, and third-place finishes in 21 categories of news reporting, photography, writing, and video and web production.

“That our students keep on winning is a testament to their determination, dedication and discipline,” adviser Dee Anne Finken said. “Time and again, our students recognize they can and do make a difference by providing meaningful, accurate and thoughtful information to readers and viewers.”

The Pacific Northwest Association of Journalism Educators serves colleges in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho. Community colleges and small (2500 students or fewer) four-year universities are eligible to participate. This year, 14 community colleges participated, as did the four-year Saint Martin’s University from Lacey, Washington.

The Indy also received two more first-place awards for its staff editorial “The People, The Press, The President: Breaking Down the Walls,” highlighting the complicated relationship the between the media and the Trump administration, and first place in “Best Use of Multimedia” for the premiere of the publication's sports podcast, “Sports Talk.” The staff editorial was also published in the Columbian as part of a partnership between the two news organizations.

Visuals Editor Diana Aristizabal, former Sports Editor Nolan Welch, former Photography Editor Carson McNamara and former Multimedia Editor Preston Hendrickson also captured individual first-place awards. Photo Editor Andy Bao and previous Multimedia Editor Hendrickson earned the highest amount of individual awards from the Indy staff, with Bao gathering four and Hendrickson three.

In addition to the previously named students, earning individual second-place awards were Kaitlynn Bonn, Trey Wilkins-Luton and Nathan Baird. Third-place awards went to Camille Munster and Dustin Kogler; honorable mentions went to Steven Mitchell, Elliott Lang, Sandra Maszak, Marvin Pena and Adeena Rose Wade.

The Indy produces a magazine-style print publication every three weeks. Its award-winning articles can be seen online at www.clarkcollegeindependent.com.

Finken also teaches in and directs the college’s journalism program. The writing coach is Jim Camin, a former editor for the Oregonian. Contest results were announced May 17.

About Clark College

Located in Vancouver’s Central Park and serving more than 12,000 students per quarter, Clark College is Washington state’s second-largest single-campus, for-credit community college. The college currently offers classes at two satellite locations: one on the Washington State University Vancouver campus and one in the Columbia Tech Center in East Vancouver. Additionally, its Economic & Community Development program is housed in the Columbia Bank building in downtown Vancouver.