2011 Best of South winners

The Southeast Journalism Conference named Chelsea Boozer, a junior journalism student at the University of Memphis, the 2011 Journalist of the Year and named Dr. Michael Chute, a faculty member at Union University, as the Journalism Educator of the Year, at its 26th annual convention in Martin, TN., Feb. 11, 2012.

Boozer was selected from among seventeen students nominated by faculty advisers and peers for the award from 40 schools eligible to submit nominees. Chute was nominated by fellow faculty in the conference and chosen by a selection committee comprised of former recipients of the award.

In addition to the top two awards, 177 students were ranked in 26 categories as being among the “Best of the South” in the SEJC’s annual journalism awards competition.

The SEJC competition is open to the organization’s member schools from eight states — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee —recognized in its constitution as eligible to enter the contest. This year’s competition included 433 entries from 40 eligible member schools. Judges for the competition included 23 journalism professionals from newspapers, broadcast outlets and magazines across the country.

The purpose of the SEJC contest is to function as a journalism teaching-tool, as well as a competition. All entries are given a rating, and judges are encouraged to provide comments and professional advice. The ratings and commentaries are given to each school’s faculty delegate to distribute to his or her students who enter, regardless of whether their entry won top recognition. A comprehensive list of this year’s winners is attached.

2011 “Best of the South” Winners

News Reporter
1. Cain Madden University of Mississippi
2. Ashley Falterman & Katelyn Tibodeaux Nicholls State University
3. Cole Avery University of Louisiana-Monroe
4. Chelsea Boozer University of Memphis
5. Elizabeth Conn Auburn University
6. Elizabeth Rose University of Louisiana-Lafayette
7. Jamie Futral Loyola  University New Orleans
8. Todd Barnes Middle Tennessee State University
9. Alex Brown Union University
10. Hope Rurik University of Louisiana-Lafayette
Feature Writer
1. Miriam Taylor University of Mississippi
2. Leslie Gamboni Loyola  University New Orleans
3. Miranda Dollarhide Auburn University
4. Annalise Kraus Belmont University
5. Erica Horton University of Memphis
6. Hope Rurik University of Louisiana-Lafayette
7. Will Isern University of West Florida
8. Emily Henagan University of Louisiana-Lafayette
9. Clarece Polke Florida A&M University
10. Will Tucker University of Alabama
Arts and Entertainment Writer
1. Becca Andrews Middle Tennessee State University
2. Hannah Jones University of Southern Mississippi
3. Hunter Ingram East Carolina University
4. Jhoni Jackson Georgia State University
5. Savannah Harrison Troy University
6. Chuck  Acheson Tennessee Tech University
7. Mary Margaret Alexander Mississippi State University
8. Caroline Gernhauser Spring Hill College
9. Michelle Corbet University of Memphis
10. Josh Cooper University of West Florida
Opinion – Editorial Writer
1. Tray Smith University of Alabama
2. Nicholas Markopoulos Auburn University
3. Scott Carroll University of Memphis
4. Kristen Kittell Austin Peay University
5. Margaret Brinson Union University
6. Angus McKellar East Carolina University
7. Aston Pittman University of Southern Mississippi
8. W. Paul Smith University of West Florida
9. Jeremy Smith Grambling State University
10. Erina Love Grambling State University
Sports Writer
1. John Martin University of Memphis
2. Will Trusler Middle Tennessee State University
3. James Carskadon Mississippi State University
4. James Summerlin Union University
5. Eric Roberts The University of Alabama at Birmingham
6. MyLinh Hoang Xavier University of Louisiana
7. Travis Thornell University of Southern Mississippi
8. Josh Weiss University of Tennessee at Martin
9. Stephen Wade Mississippi College
10. D.J. Dunson Georgia State University
Special Events Reporter/Editor
1. Lucy Berry University of North Alabama
2. Nicholas BeJeaux Southeastern Louisiana University
3. Melissa Holman Nicholls State University
4. Cameron Gupton East Carolina University
5. Peter Waselkov, Helena Corzan, Jacqueline Chandler University of Alabama at Birmingham
Press Photographer
1. Eli Baylis University of Southern Mississippi
2. Ebbie Davis Union University
3. Austin McAfee University of Mississippi
4. Srdjan Marjanovic University of Louisiana-Monroe
5. Jessica Wethington Louisiana Tech University
6. Drew Hoover University of Alabama
7. Whitney Jarreld Lipscomb University
8. Jordan Moore University of Southern Mississippi
9. Keli Mazza Spring Hill College
10. Eric Evans Mississippi State University
News Graphic Designer
1. David Hoernlen Austin Peay State University
2. Srdjan Marjanovic University of Louisiana-Monroe
3. Brian Pohuski University of Alabama
4. Brandi Wilson University of Alabama at Birmingham
5. Victoria Boatman University of Mississippi
6. Henrique Ruiz Harding University
7. Petre Thomas University of Mississippi
8. Cheryl DeYeso University of Tennessee at Martin
9. Sarah Hutto Troy University
10. Treasure Hightower Union University
News-Editorial Artist/Illustrator
1. Josh Clark University of Mississippi
2. Christy Walker Austin Peay University
3. Nathan Backes Mississippi State University
4. Timothy Weaver East Carolina University
5. Joseph Melancon Troy University
6. Micah Smith/Jeana Davis Mississippi College
7. Antonio Rosales Georgia State University
8. Michelle Chang The University of Alabama at Birmingham
9. Kelsey Hargrove University of Louisiana-Monroe
10. Rachel Suhs – Auburn Auburn University
Newspaper Page layout Designer
1. Miranda Dollarhide Auburn University
2. Patrick Armstrong Austin Peay University
3. Kelly Belton Louisiana Tech University
4. Josh Lemons University of Tennessee at Martin
5. Courtney Polivka Middle Tennessee State University
6. Cole Epley University of Memphis
7. Jenelle Grewell Austin Peay University
8. Sam Winstrom Loyola University New Orleans
9. Kristen Marks Union University
10. Brittany Carr University of West Florida
Magazine Page Layout Designer
1 Wilken Tisdale Florida A&M University
2 Kaitlin Riley Loyola University New Orleans
Magazine Writer
1. Marquavius Burnett University of Alabama
2. Kristen Swilley Florida A&M University
3. Melanie Ziems Loyola University New Orleans
Radio Journalist
1. Alessi Johnson University of Louisiana -Lafayette
2. Zane Hill University of Louisiana -Lafayette
3. Allison Jones University of Tennessee at Martin
Television Journalist
1. Chrissy Carter Southeastern Louisiana University
2. Sammi Bjelland Harding University
3. Stephen Quinn University of Mississippi
4. Rachel Ellis Troy University
5. Kyle Walker East Carolina University
 
 
Advertising Staff Member
1. Juan Gonzales Southeastern Louisiana University
2. James Michael Cox Southern Mississippi University
3. Jennifer Taylor Samford University
4. William Rowland Union University
5. Samantha Kendall Tennessee Tech University
Journalism Research Paper
1. Katherine Pullen Union University
2. Miranda Sain Georgia State University
3. Stephanie Katz Southeastern Louisiana University
Public Service Journalism
1. Katherine Pullen, Ebbie Davis,  Margaret Brinson Union University
2. Jenelle Grewell, Patrick Armstrong Ausin Peay State University
3. Hayley Taylor University of West Alabama
College Audio News
1. Louisiana Focus University of Louisiana-Lafayette
2. WJTM University of Tennessee at Martin
3. KDAQ 89.9 Louisiana Tech University
College Video News
1. The Southeastern Channel Southeastern Louisiana University
2. TV-16 News Harding University
3. Lumination News Liscomb University
4. Samford News Network Samford University
5. Studio 96 University of West Alabama
College Magazine
1. Journey Florida A&M University
2. Connect Belmont University
3. Bama Life University of Alabama
4. Exodus Samford University
5. The Wolf Loyola University New Orleans
College Newspaper
1. The Auburn Plainsman Auburn University
2. The East  Carolinian East Carolina University
3. Cardinal & Cream Union University
4. The All State Austin Peay University
5. The Crimson White University of Alabama
6. The Tech Talk Louisiana Tech University
7. The Voyager University of West Florida
8. The Reflector Mississippi State University
9. Sidelines Middle Tennessee State University
10. The Oracle Tennessee Tech University
College Website
1. iPulse Lynn University
2. Belmont Vision Belmont University
3. FAMUTVNews.com Florida A&M University
4. Cardinal & Cream Union University
5. The Link Harding University
6. The Voyager University of West Florida
7. The Crimson White University of Alabama
8. The Student Printz University of Southern Mississippi
9. Kaleidoscope University of Alabama – Birmingham
10. The East Carolinian East Carolina University
 
Multimedia Journalist
1. Katlyn Moncada Union University
2. Dacia Idom Louisiana Tech University
3. Kristen Swilley Florida A&M University
College Journalist Of The Year
1. Chelsea Boozer University of Memphis
2. Hope Rurik University of Louisiana-Lafayette
3. Margaret Brinson Union University
4. Hannah Rogers Mississippi State University
5. Alex Brown Union University
6. Abbey Way East Carolina University
7. Maya Jones Xavier University of Louisiana
8. Chantale Glover Florida A&M University
9. Patricia Lammle Lynn University
10. Amanada Haggard Middle Tennessee State University
College Radio Station
1. WUTM University of Tennessee at Martin
2. WTST Tennessee State University
College TV Station
1. Trojan Vision Nightly News Troy University
2. Campus 31 East Carolina University
3. Lumination News Lipscomb University
4. MSTV – 98, Take 30 Mississippi State University
5. News Watch 99 University of Mississippi

Promoting Journalism in the Southeast Region