FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        April 30, 2008

NORTHWESTERN NEWSPAPER, STUDENTS WIN AWARDS AT OCPA

            Four former staff members and the Northwestern News itself received recognition at the annual Oklahoma Collegiate Press Association (OCPA) awards ceremony and conference.

            The student-run newspaper received highest recognition, the Award of Excellence, for front page design, and the Award of Merit, the second highest award, for inside page design.

            “I am especially pleased with the Award of Excellence,” said Melanie Wilderman, instructor in mass communications and adviser for the newspaper. “This is a step up in this category from last year and I have to attribute that to Kevin Kerr (Conway Springs, Kan., senior), who really stepped up the design during his time as editor.”

            The individual awards went to Blair Hollaway of Sand Springs, third in news writing and honorable mention in sports writing; Chance Plett of Liberal, Kan., third in ad design; Clint Claypole of Enid, third in column writing; and Erika Liechti of Squamish, British Columbia, honorable mention in feature writing.

            All graduated from Northwestern in May 2007. Since the competition covered the last calendar year, January to December 2007, their work was eligible for the competition.

            “It doesn’t surprise me that it was last year’s seniors who won the awards,” Wilderman said. “By the time they are seniors, they are producing their best work.

            “We received more individual awards than last year. In general, I am very proud of my staff, and I am pleased with the direction the paper has taken. Students seem excited to contribute to the paper, and I look forward to them doing even better work next year.”

-NW-

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