UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Work by four Penn State students was selected as the best — regional winners that advanced to the national competition — in the Region 1 Mark of Excellence Awards.
Those winners of the competition, part of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence, were:
- Lexi Elder, Still Photography, “Caring for Mr. Franz”;
- Noah Riffe, Breaking News Photography, “Supporting Trump”;
- Ariel Simpson, Television In-Depth Reporting, “Lack of Minority Coaches: Where Does Pennsylvania Stand”; and
- Callaway Turner, COVID-19: Video Coverage, “Appalachian Arts Community Finds Hope”.
The national competition will be conducted in September. Region 1 comprises central and eastern Pennsylvania as well as eight other states — Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
In addition to the four winners, the work of eight other Penn State students was selected as a finalist in the competition. Those students (Riffe was a winner and a finalist) were:
- Nico Boyd — Photo Illustration, “Dizzying Reaction”
- Josie Chen — COVID-19: Video Coverage, “Paralympics Postponed”
- Cameron Gregory — Television Feature Reporting, “Pregnancy During Pandemic”
- David Eckert — Online Sports Reporting, “The Old Freshmen”
- Jack Hirsh — Television Sports Reporting, “Stephen Beattie: Penn State’s Basketball’s Glue Guy"
- Jack Hirsh — Online Digital Sports Videography, “Penn State Golf Seniors Moving Forward After Lost Season”
- Lily LaRegina — COVID-19 Coverage: Photo, "A New Normal"
- Jordan Pietrafitta — Feature Photography, “Their Night to Shine”
- Noah Riffe — Breaking News Photography, “Kitchen Mess”
- Josh Starr — Television Sports Reporting, “Allergic to Outside"