Student Publications Honored
The Fairmont State University and Pierpont & Community Technical College's student
newspaper and yearbook were honored in the 2007 Society for Collegiate Journalists
competition.
Fairmont State student publications claimed 11 awards in all, five for the newspaper,
the Columns, and six for the Mound, the yearbook.
The student newspaper, the Columns, received a first place honor in the competition
for general excellence among newspapers published less than once a week, marking the
first time the newspaper claimed the top honor.
"This is amazing. We are excited here in the journalism program," said Kevin Z. Smith,
Director of Student Publications. "You always want to be the best. Each year we got
close, so we worked harder, and finally achieved that mark. This is a strong testament
to the editor and staff of last year's newspaper. A lot of hard work goes ahead of
awards like this. Being called the best small college paper in the nation is something
special."
The newspaper staff took second place in reporting for its coverage of a student
who died from a staph infection, third place in cartooning and honorable mention for
overall sports page design and a hard news story about water woes canceling classes.
The 2007 Columns staff included editor Sarah Mauller of Fairmont; managing editor
Kristen Woods of Elkview; and staff members Rachel Skubis, Molly Born, Jessica Stanley
and Andrew Boyles, all of Fairmont, Lucien Knights of Philippi, Beth Reynolds of Buckhannon
and Lisa Respole of Bellaire, Ohio.
The Mound placed fourth in general excellence. The Mound won a third place in yearbook
reporting and honorable mentions for coverage, theme, photography and design.
The Mound staff included editor Rachel Skubis and design editor Eric Braham of Kingwood.
Writers included Meredith Byrd of Bridgeport, Jaime Shreve of Craigsville and Jaime
Mayhorn and Sarah Mauller, both of Fairmont.
Fairmont State student publications have won 61 SCJ awards since first entering the
competition in 1999. The newspaper has a circulation of 2,000.
