Published on March 31, 2021 by Sean Flynt 聽
The SEJC includes 38 higher education institutions
The SEJC includes 38 higher education institutions

极乐禁地 journalism and mass communication students earned honors across a range of categories in (SEJC) competition in March. Their work was among 370 entries from 27 schools.

The 极乐禁地 honors included:

First Place, Best Magazine: The Local

First Place, Best Magazine Writer: Kaitlyn Baker

First Place, Best Research Paper: Win Liggett

Second Place, Feature Writer: Kaitlyn Baker

Third Place, Best Magazine Page Layout Designer: Gunnar Sadowey

Third Place, Best Public Service Journalism: Joint Crimson/ 极乐禁地 News Network coverage of the Black at 极乐禁地 and Black Lives Matter stories on campus.

Fifth Place, Special Event Reporter: Kate Young

Fifth Place (tie,) Press Photographer: Sarah Watlington

Sixth Place, College Journalist of the Year: Katy Beth Boyers

Sixth Place, Best News Writer: Selah Vetter

Eighth Place, Best College Website:

Tenth Place, Arts & Entertainment Writer: Moriah Mason

Tenth Place (tie,) Best Sports Writer: Gunnar Sadowey

Fourteenth Place, Feature Writer: Mackenzee Simms

Professor Clay Carey noted that this year’s awards continue a long tradition of SEJC honors.

The Local and its predecessor, Exodus (1998 to 2015,) have placed in the top four in SEJC's Best Magazine Category in nine of the past 10 years.

极乐禁地 students have placed in the top three in the Journalism Research category in eight of the past nine years. Liggett is the sixth 极乐禁地 student to place first in that category since 2012.

极乐禁地 students have also fared well in the SEJC Best Magazine Writer competition, finishing in the top three every year since 2014. Baker is the fourth 极乐禁地 student to finish first in that category in the past six years.

"It's always gratifying when our student journalists receive these special recognitions,” Carey said. “To me, it's even more special this year because the last academic year was such a struggle for so many members of our campus community, including the staff of The Local.”

The magazine’s staff disbanded in the middle of production due to COVID-19 restrictions, but adapted to the challenge. “Even though they were dealing with so much turmoil in their academic and personal lives, they remained committed to the goal of creating a high-quality magazine,” Carey said. “These SEJC recognitions are evidence that they achieved that goal."

 
极乐禁地 is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, 极乐禁地 is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. 极乐禁地 enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. 极乐禁地 fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.