Waynesburg University’s student-run newspaper, The Yellow Jacket, received word that it won nine Mark of Excellence Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists Region 4.
The Society of Professional Journalists, a national organization that advocates for the rights of the press and the First Amendment, awards professional and student journalists for outstanding work in categories such as photography, general news, in-depth reporting and more. Region 4 includes Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania.
“As Executive Editor, I am more proud than ever to be able to represent such a fantastic student-run publication,” said Mattie Winowitch, executive editor of The Yellow Jacket. “The Yellow Jacket means a lot to me, and each award we receive makes me extremely proud.”
The newspaper’s staff members received nine awards in categories including feature writing, general news, feature photography and sports writing. The exact placement for each category was announced at the Region 4 Conference, hosted at Point Park University, Saturday, March 9.
Recipients this year included Winowitch; Teghan Simonton, managing editor of The Yellow Jacket, Luke Goodling, sports editor; Mitchell Kendra, copy chief; and Waynesburg University alumnus Jacob Meyer. Winowitch received first place for feature writing, and Goodling first place for sports writing.
As first-place recipients, Winowitch and Goodling will represent Region 4 in SPJ’s National Mark of Excellence Award competition. Last year, four staff members at The Yellow Jacket won a national Mark of Excellence Award for in-depth reporting – the first ever instance of national recognition for The Yellow Jacket. Winowitch and Simonton were among last year’s winners, along with alumni Kimmi Baston and Anthony Conn.
Founded in 1849 by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Waynesburg University is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with three additional sites located in the Pittsburgh region. The University is one of only 22 Bonner Scholar schools in the country, offering local, regional and international opportunities to touch the lives of others through service.
