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The University Press, Lamar’s student newspaper, earned 25 awards at the Press Club of Southeast Texas 28th Annual Excellence in the Media & Newsmaker of the Year Gala June 7 at the MCM Eleganté Hotel in Beaumont.

Additionally, two staffers, Managing Editor, Olivia Malick, and Online Editor, Cade Smith, received scholarships from the club each totaling approximately $5,000.

The UP won 10 first place finishes overall. The Press Club does not offer a student category, Lamar students compete in categories with professional media outlets.

“We are always proud of our students and their work,” said Andy Coughlan, director of student publications and UP adviser. “The students develop all the story content for the UP and work hard to put out the best newspaper in print and online. It’s rewarding for them to be recognized for their efforts, and it’s rewarding as an adviser to see them learn and apply good journalistic skills.”

UP first place award winners include the following:

- Editor, Cassandra Jenkins, won the category "Sports Page Design/Layout (non-daily)" for the Oct. 18, 2018 issue of UP.

- Managing Editor, Olivia Malick, won several categories including "News Page Design/Layout (non-daily)" for her “Election 2018 Breakdown” package, "Graphic/Cartoon/Illustration" for “Procrastination” and also for "Magazine News Story" for her story in "Upbeat" magazine, “Silent Killers: From HIV to HPV, STDs are at all-time high.”

- Online Editor, Cade Smith, won the category "Sports News (non-daily)," for “Blocked.”

- Photo Editor, Noah Dawlearn, won "Photo Essay or Picture Page" for “Sitting Duck.”

- Staffer, Eleanor Skelton, won the category "News Story (non-daily)" for “LU to host sexual awareness events in April” and for her "Environmental Story" titled “Arcadia offers community renewable energy opportunity.”

- The staff won the categories "News Feature Page Design/Layout" for their collaborative effort in producing “The Jostle for ‘Oscar,’” a run-down of the year’s Oscar nominations and for "Overall Newspapers Excellence (non-daily)" for the Nov. 8, 2018 issue.

UP second place awards went to:

- Cade Smith in the "News Photo" category for “LU hit by 200 mph winds.”

- Cassandra Jenkins for "Overall Excellence Page Design/Layout" for “Garden in Bloom.”

- UP Editor, Shelby Strickland, won "Investigative Reports" for  “Waco, A 4-parts series” that re-visited the Branch Davidian stand-off near Waco in 1993.

- Eleanor Skelton won the "Faith-based/Inspirational Story" for “Killing spree survivor turns trauma into art” and for the category of "Guest Column" for her opinion article," titled, “Fighting misinformation: Being a journalist in the fake news era.”

- Photographer Noah Dawlearn won in the "Photo Essay or Picture Page" category for “Clouds of Color" and "Magazine Photography" category for “Joe Elwell,” an in-depth feature about the long-time host at Lamar’s KVLU 91.3 FM radio station.

UP third place awards went to:

- Olivia Malick for her 2018 election wrap-up “Dems win House, GOP holds Senate”” in the category of "News Story (non-daily)" and also for “No more silence," in the "Graphic/Cartoon/Illustration."

- Staffer Mandy Forsythe won "Sports Feature (non-daily)" for “Lasting Legacy.”

- Former staffer and recent LU grad, Hannah LeTulle, won the "Feature Photo" category for “The Good, The Bad, The Tatted."

- May graduate Abigail Pennington” won "Sports Photo" for her fall Cardinal sports coverage with “LU football dominates season opener, 70-7.”

- Cassandra Jenkins won both "Headline" and Magazine Feature Story" for her feature, “Missing Link.” 

Eleanor Skelton received an honorable mention for "Open Category Column"  for “Prep for natural disasters,” lessons she learned during Hurricane Harvey.  

Nearly 300 people attended the event, that celebrated the Club's 50th year, this year's "Newsmaker of the Year" and the hard work of hundreds of communication professionals from Southeast Texas.

Paula O'Neal, long-time executive director of "Some Other Place" was honored as this year's "Newsmaker of the Year." 

The four other "Newsmaker of the Year" finalists recognized throughout the evening included Keith Carter, Most Rev. Curtis J. Guillory, the late W.T. Johnston and DeAndre Nico.

The winner was selected by popular vote among the Club's members.

Hundreds of winners were collectively honored with 266 awards announced throughout the evening. A total of 514 entries were received for this year's contest, which featured 99 individual categories. Eighty-six first-place trophies were awarded along with 77 second place, 62 third place and 40 honorable mention certificates.

For a complete list of winners, visit .

For additional information contact Stephan Malick, University Press, (409) 880-8102 or at smalick@lamar.edu.