Aztec Press wins prestigious national awards

The Spring 2010 Aztec Press staff gathers for a group photo. The student newspaper will resume publication in the fall, on Sept. 2.

Aztec Press won a pair of prestigious first-place regional awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, then was named a national finalist in both categories.

At the SPJ regional conference in San Francisco on May 1, the Aztec Press won a first-place Mark of Excellence award for all-around best newspaper for two-year colleges.

Senior reporter Liza Porter captured an individual first-place Mark of Excellence award in feature writing for her series on non-traditional students, “Going Back, Looking Forward.”

First-place winners advance to the national level. In competition against 11 other regions, the Aztec Press entries reached the top three and were named national finalists.

Aztec Press Editor in Chief Daniel Gaona accepts a first-place regional award from Kevin Smith, SPJ national president, in San Francisco.

Related story: Opinion page  farewell column by Editor in Chief Daniel Gaona:

http://aztecpressonline.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=3036