Christian journalism conference recognizes student achievement
November 17, 2009
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Lanae Gehring twittering a message to an awards speaker |
Undergraduate journalists of Corban were honored during the 2009 Baptist Press Collegiate Journalism Conference on Oct. 29. Corban students won seven awards, including three first place awards, for their work with the Hilltop News newspaper and Hilltop yearbook.
Journalism co-adviser Ellen Kersey said, “Our first place awards are remarkable because we are in competition with all these bigger schools.”
Twenty institutions participated in the national competition, including schools five to 10 times larger than Corban, such as Biola University (Calif.) and Liberty University (Va.).
First place award recipients are senior Kelsey Shields for Art Illustration in Yearbook on her piece “Student Life,” junior Tanner Froese for Sports Copy in Yearbook on his “Cross Country” work, and 2009 graduate Sherry Hammack for Regular Column in Newspaper for her article, “My Greatest Shortcoming.”
Froese won two other awards as well: second place for Sports/Club Design in Yearbook for his presentation of “Golf” and second place for Student Life Copy in Yearbook for his coverage of “Men’s Dorm.”
Additionally, junior Kate Schell and 2009 graduate Rachel Brown took second and third places, respectively. Schell’s award was for her photo of the “Pen and Chalice” poetry group. Brown was recognized for one of her centerspread designs in the Hilltop News.
In the past, Corban has sent its journalism team to the live presentation given by the Baptist Press in Nashville, Tenn. The organization announced last year that it would begin holding its Nashville conference biannually. This year’s presentation, then, was broadcast via the Internet from Jackson, Tenn.
Students had the opportunity to interact with speakers through Twitter. Co-advisor Christena Brooks prepared a big-screen airing of the event for Corban journalists, complete with a Campus Dining-catered dinner of chicken enchiladas, beans and rice, with apple-crumb pie for dessert.
The broadcast presentation featured speakers Jennifer Rash and Gary Fong. Rash, managing editor of The Alabama Baptist, has earned national news writing, feature writing and broadcast awards. She challenged journalists to excel in their craft, as they are an example of the Gospel. Fong’s career in photojournalism and revolution of the wedding photography industry is internationally renown. He established the Genesis Photo Agency for professional photographers to elevate the effectiveness of photography in evangelical publications. His speech encouraged constant prayer and watching God work because of it.
Corban’s journalism crews have placed as a Best Overall Newspaper in three prior years of the Baptist Press conference: third in 2004, second in 2006, and third in 2007. Moreover, in 2006, Corban won first place for Overall Yearbook.
Last May, Corban competed in the annual Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association contest. The awards ceremony was held at Oregon State University. Corban came away with eight awards, including four first places.
“We did very well in the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association contest, which pits us against secular schools in the state,” noted Christena Brooks, journalism co-adviser.
Learn more about the journalism track for English majors at Corban.
Read the current edition of Hilltop News.
By Jenny Hirschfelder, Staff Writer, Office of Marketing & Communications
503-375-7005 | jhirschfelder@corban.edu
