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Alumni, Pendulum students named regional winners in journalism competition

By Colin Donohue, staff

April 12, 2016

Al Drago '15 was honored with four regional wins in photography categories.

This photo illustration by Elon students Stephanie Hays '18 and Hali Tauxe-Stewart '18 was named the Region 2 Photo Illustration winner in the SPJ Mark of Excellene Awards competition.
51±¬ÁÏÍø students from The Pendulum, a student news media organization, and alumni were honored in April with several Mark of Excellence Awards — including eight regional winners — at the Society of Professional Journalists Region 2 conference in Richmond, Virginia.

Alumnus Al Drago ’15 was named a regional winner in four photography categories for work he freelanced and completed for student media. Alumna Katy Canada ’15 was also named regional winners for multimedia journalism work they produced. The student winners included Stephanie Hays ’18 and Hali Tauxe-Stewart ’18, Leena Dahal ’17 and Alex Simon ’17.

Region 2 awards were given in newspaper, TV, radio, arts/graphics and online categories. Awards are given to regional winners and finalists, with the winners moving on to the national competition, at which time they will compete with winners from the other 11 regions. Region 2 comprises North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware. Below is the list of winners and finalists.

  • WINNER – Leena Dahal ’17 for General Column Writing for and
  • WINNER – Katy Canada ’15 for In-Depth Reporting for
  • WINNER – Alex Simon ’17 for Sports Writing for
  • WINNER – Stephanie Hays ’18 and Hali Tauxe-Stewart ’18 for Photo Illustration for
  • WINNER – Al Drago ’15 for Breaking News Photography
  • WINNER – Al Drago ’15 for Feature Photography
  • WINNER – Al Drago ’15 for General News Photography
  • WINNER – Al Drago ’15 for Sports Photography
  • FINALIST – Tommy Hamzik ’17 for General News Reporting for
  • FINALIST– Leena Dahal ’17 for General News Reporting for
  • FINALIST – Hali Tauxe-Stewart ’18 for General News Photography for
  • FINALIST – Stephanie Hays ’18 for Photo Illustration for
  • FINALIST – Al Drago ’15 for General News Photography

National winners and finalists will be honored at the SPJ Excellence in Journalism conference Sept. 19 in New Orleans. Last year, Michael Bodley ’16 and Drago were named national SPJ winners. Bodley won for Breaking News Reporting, and Drago won for Breaking News Photography, General News Photography and Feature Photography.

Alumna Mary Kate Brogan ’14, a production editor at the Daily Press in Newport News, Virginia, attended the Region 2 conference and accepted the awards on behalf of the winners.

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