Northwest News

Northwest student journalists bring home awards
4-19-05

Northwest Mississippi Community College's student newspaper, The Ranger Rocket, earned top honors in the state in the Mississippi Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest and from the Mississippi Community/ Junior College Press Association.

After three days of two separate competitions, the newspaper and its staff members took 18 first-place awards out of a possible 30 categories, including earning the award for general excellence in both competitions.

It also received 25 awards in second and third place spots, including honorable mention. "The advisers are so proud of this year's group of journalism students," said Darrin Devault, journalism instructor. "We think highly of the work they produce for the newspaper and yearbook, and it's nice to have it recognized statewide."

The Mississippi Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest consisted of 20 categories. Awards were presented March 31 during the annual O.C. McDavid Conference at the Ag Museum in Jackson.

The Ranger Rocket received an honorable mention in Best Layout and Design, first place for Best Front Page and first place in General Excellence.

Newspaper staff members (from left) Brooke Sellers, Jordan Herod, Amanda McKeown, Nathan Gregory, Chelsea Holland and Bud Sorey attend the Mississippi Community/Junior College Press Association's spring conference in Biloxi.


Newspaper and yearbook staff members and advisers (from left) Julie Bauer, Courtney Mims, Cristy Earnhart, Christy Cox, Lee Nelson, Nancy Patterson, Amanda Brooks, Byron Dodson, David Sexton, Terry Eubanks, April Wroblewski and Darrin Devault attend the Mississippi Press Association's O.C. McDavid Conference in Jackson.


Individual winners for The Ranger Rocket were as follows:

Best Spot News Story: Elton Bray of Holly Springs, first place; and freshman Courtney Mims of Hernando, third place.

Best Sports Column: Sophomore Buddy Jones of Horn Lake, second place.

Best General Interest Column: Sophomore James "Bud" Sorey of Pearl, first place; sophomore Donna Taylor of Como, third place; and Mims, honorable mention.

Best Cartoon: Freshman Lee Nelson of Senatobia, first and second place.

Best Spot News Photograph: Mims, first place; and Sorey, third place.

Best Sports Photograph: Sorey, first place; and Jones, second place.

Best Sports News Story: Sophomore Jordan Herod of Abbeville, first place; freshman William Browning of Oxford, second place and honorable mention.

Best Sports Feature: Former student Tim Daniel of Senatobia, third place.

Best Feature Story: Sophomore David Sexton of Senatobia, first place; Sorey, second place; and freshman Terry Eubanks of Springfield, Mo., third place.

Best General News Photograph: Sorey, first place; Mims, second place; and Eubanks, third place.

Best Feature Photograph: Sorey, second place and freshman Nathan Gregory of Senatobia, third place.

Best Retail Advertisement: Former student Alicia Hannah of Batesville, third place.

Best Spot News/Investigative Package: Mims, Nelson, freshman Chelsea Holland of Senatobia and sophomore Andrea Hobson of Ashland, first place; and Mims, Nelson, former student Angie Barmer of Senatobia and sophomore Nichole Hendricks of Potts Camp, second place.

Best Graphic: Hendricks, first place; and Mims, third place.

Best Editorials: Eubanks, Barmer, Mims and sophomore Stacey Fuller of Hernando, third place.

The Mississippi Community/Junior College Press Association (MC/JCPA) Newspaper Competition consisted of eight categories. Awards were presented April 2 at a conference in Biloxi.

Overall awards included first place for Layout and Design and General Excellence and third place for Editorials.

Individual winners for The Ranger Rocket were:

Best News Story: Mims, first place.

Best Feature Story: Eubanks, first place; and Sexton, second place.

Best Photograph: Sorey, first place (tie).

Best Column: Eubanks, first place.

Best Sports Story: Jones, second place.

Best Advertisement: Nelson, second place.

The Rocketeer yearbook also grabbed six awards in the MC/JCPA competition.

It placed first in Cover Design, second in Typography and Copy, and third in Layout and Design, Structure and Photography.