By Ali Hendricks
The Butler Collegian’s editors have been awarded yet again, this time by the Indiana Collegiate Press Association in conjunction with the Hoosier State Press Association.
Photo Editor Maria Porter ’11 was awarded first place for her photo called “Bulldogs Lose,” which appeared on the front page of The Collegian after Butler’s 2011 loss in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship Game. Editor in Chief Hayleigh Colombo ’12 won a third-place award for news coverage on her story called “Students, Faculty, Staff Left With Permit, No Parking.”
Contest judge Ben Montgomery of The St. Petersburg Times called Porter’s picture “gripping photograph that captures the odd juxtaposition of streamers and a player bearing the posture of defeat” and said it “tells a story without words.” He said Colombo’s story was “solid investigative work that should raise red flags for administration at Butler about the awful parking situation.”
Colombo said she is proud of this award and hopes it inspires the rest of the staff.
“It is thrilling to be recognized for the first part in a series of stories that has kept me on my toes since I started working on it last May,” Colombo said. “I hope the award inspires the rest of my staff to find stories that matter and put in as much time or work reporting on them until they are the best they can be.”
Porter says this award could not have come at a better time for her.
“I’m honored,” Porter said. “I feel like it comes at a really good time for me because I’m graduating this semester. It’s my last semester at The Collegian, it’s my last week at The Collegian, and so it’s good to be recognized in this way at this time. It’s kind of like closure.”
Twelve Indiana schools submitted work to the contest and seven of them were chosen as winners, including The Collegian. Other winning schools included Indiana University, DePauw, Purdue and Notre Dame.
Staff Advisor Loni McKown said she is proud of The Collegian staff for being one of the contest winners.
“Once again, The Collegian has been recognized for excellence,” McKown said. “Of all the colleges and universities in the state of Indiana who submitted entries to the contest, Butler was singled out for two awards. That’s a terrific accomplishment.”
In October, the Collegian won four national awards at the Associated Collegiate Press conference in Florida, including the highest award given to student publications, the Pacemaker.
Media Contact:
Marc Allan
mallan@butler.edu
(317) 940-9822
