May

Record-setting, award-winning students

Journalism, speech communication and IDP students win the most awards in Met Media history.

By Rachel Bruner

May 2, 2017

Students in the journalism, speech communication and IDP majors made Met Media history with 20 total awards—the most awards they’ve ever received—from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Region 9 Mark of Excellence awards ceremony.

The annual regional contest includes colleges and universities from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. First-place winners are automatically entered into the national contest to compete against 11 other regions. National winners will be announced later this spring.

Photojournalism awards

Brandon N. Sanchez won best Feature Photography for “Colorado Music Country Hall of Fame Entertainer of the Year – Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts,” while Alyson McClaran was a double finalist for “Broncos celebrate 2016 Super Bowl victory” and “Got weeds? Try goats.”

Abreham Gebreegziabher won best General News Photography for “Thousands converge to protest,” while Michael Ortiz was a finalist for “United by dream yet divided; Denver Marade split by political interest.”

Gebreegziabher was also a finalist in the Sports Photography category for “Metro loses in RMAC semifinals.”

Magazine awards

Metrosphere Staff won Best Student Magazine for Volume 35, Issue 3.

In the Non-Fiction Magazine Article category, Victoria Edstedt was a finalist for “Seen and Heard” as well as Dayna L. Himot for “Bringing Back Burning Man: ‘The Awesome Sweater Project.’”

Online award

Mary-Kate Newton won Best Use of Multimedia for “Elyria-Swansea and the voices behind I-70’s expansion.”

Television awards

Noticiero TVMET won Best All-Around Television Newscast for the full show on Nov. 18, and the Met Report was a finalist for the Nov. 4 show.

Jhocelyn Avendaño won best Television Feature Reporting for “An Open Door for the Homeless,” while Josh Cozart was a finalist for “Vertical Fitness Club.”

Ashley Craven was a finalist in Television General News Reporting for “Air Buds.”

Melanie Townsend was a finalist in Television Breaking News Reporting for “Everybody Wants Some – An EMET Exclusive.”

Miranda McHodgkins won best Television In-Depth Reporting for “Street Preachers on Campus,” while Andrea Herrera was a finalist for “Proposition 106.”

John Madden won best Television Sports Photography for “Chris Smiley: Outrunning Cancer,” while Anthony Rodriguez was a finalist for “Interview with Sophomore Pitcher Julian Garcia.”