Annual contest showcases Hoosier communicators

Brand new members, high school students, long-time accomplished communicators and journalism educators were among the winners at the Woman’s Press Club of Indiana’s annual awards banquet June 2 in Indianapolis.

A crowd of about 40 gathered at the Hollyhock Hill restaurant to celebrate communication excellence as WPCI president Viv Sade and immediate past president Tara Puckey announced the awards, including scholarships, a service award and the club’s two top honors.

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  Kendall Miller, an award-winning photographer and executive director of Rising Sun/Ohio County Tourism, received the Kate Milner Rabb award, WPCI’s highest honor reserved for a member noted for exemplary service to the organization. Miller often serves as club photographer at events and meetings.

• Author Georgia Gianakos Buchanan received the Communicator of Achievement award and will compete at the national level with other COAs at the National Federation of Press Women conference in Bethlehem, Pa., in September.
• Indiana University student Lauren Demkovich received the Hortense Myers Scholarship, a $1,000 award that honors exemplary work by a college junior.
• Teacher Amy Smelser receive the Louise Eleanor Ross Kleinhenz Scholarship. She said she plans to use the $500 award to attend courses at the Poynter Institute, a national school for journalists in St. Petersburg, Fla.

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  Retired Indiana High School Press Association Director Diana Hadley received the Julie and Gene Slaymaker Public Service to Journalism Award, a $500 honor. Though retired, Hadley continues to spearhead student press initiatives, such as the New Voices legislation that has been presented twice in the Indiana legislature but has not passed.

Other awards:

Gena Asher

• First place, web and social media, website edited and managed by entrant: www.wpcindiana.org. Also won third place in National Federation of Press Women contest.
• First place, writing, news story in online publication: “Punjab workshop participants to create films on southern Indiana.” Also won honorable mention in National Federation of Press Women contest.
• First place, radio and television interview, “NOVA’s Paula Apsell and Doug Hamilton,” WTIU Bloomington Profiles series. Also won second place in National Federation of Press Women contest.
• Second place, radio and television interview, “Costume Scholar Pravina Shukla,” WTIU Bloomington Profiles series.

Marion Garmel

• Second place, writing, feature story: “Broad Ripple Murals” in Midtown Magazine.

Elizabeth Granger

• First place, writing, personality profile, 500 words or more: “Indiana’s Top Chefs: Daniel Orr,” Travel Indiana.
• First place, writing, personality profile, 500 words or fewer: “Indiana’s Winemakers: Best Vineyard,” Travel Indiana.
• First place, writing, feature story: “Produce for Posterity,” Home and Away.  Also won third place in National Federation of Press Women contest.
• First place, writing, specialty, business: “ZwanzigZ Pizza & Brewery,” Travel Indiana.
• First place, writing, specialty, travel: “Savor the Flavor: Just Cruising,” Home and Away.
• First place, writing, best speeches: “Scholastic Journalism Matters.” Also won honorable mention in National Federation of Press Women contest.

Tom Hayes

• First place, collegiate/educational: Faculty adviser for student publication. Also won first place in National Federation of Press Women contest. (Hayes is a new WPCI member.)

Joyce Hicks

• First, books and creative writing: “One More Foxtrot.” Also won first place in National Federation of Press Women contest. (Hicks is a new WPCI member.)

Natalie Hoefer

• First place, writing, feature story, print-based newspaper: “Growing up in Kentucky Holy Land,” The Criterion.
• First place, photography and graphics: “Young Church Responds With Resounding Joy,”  The Criterion. Also won first place in National Federation of Press Women contest.
• First place, writing, specialty articles, social issues: “Priests Join Event Opposing Immigrant and Refugee Discrimination,” The Criterion.
• First place, writing, special series on adoption: “Couple Provide Home for Five Children,” The Criterion. Also won third place in National Federation of Press Women contest.
• Second place, writing, specialty articles, religion: “A Day in the Life: ICC Director,” The Criterion.

Carley Lanich

• First place, writing, investigative journalism: “The System,” Indiana Daily Student. Also won second place in National Federation of Press Women contest. (Lanich is a new WPCI member who won the Hortense Myers Scholarship in 2017.)

Kendal Miller

• First place, photography and graphics, photo essay: “Holly Days Open for November,” Visit Rising Sun. Also won second place in National Federation of Press Women contest.
• First place, photography and graphics, single photo, news or feature: “Veteran’s Memorial Plans,” Visit Rising Sun.
• First place, photography and graphics, single, general photo: “Fog Along the Ohio River,” Visit Rising Sun.  Also won honorable mention in the National Federation of Press Women contest.
• Second place, photography and graphics, graphics: “Rock on Rising Sun” promotional flyer, Visit Rising Sun.

Viv Sade

• First place, blog: “Fright Night: 2018 Zombie Walk,” Visit Fort Wayne.
• Second place, writing, news stories: “When Poverty Traps Children.”
• Second place, personality profiles, 500 words or more: “Businessman Gives Time to Save the World.”

Breille Saggese

• First place, columns, general: ““New Shacking Style Makes the Walk Home not so Shameful; Ditching the Business Suit is Your Next Best Career Move,” Indiana Daily Student.

Jessica Shrout

• First place, web and social media, website revision with website edited and managed by entrant: “AutocarTruck.com.” Shrout is a new WPCI member.

Elizabeth Granger won the Honeycomb Award, which is given to the person who scores the most points in the state contest, with five points for first place entries, four points for second place, three points for third and two points for honorable mention.

High school students who participated in WPCI’s statewide contest earlier this year were honored at the banquet. Among the first place winners, many went on to win or place in the NFPW contest.

First place winners at NFPW are:

• Jared Rigdon and Claire Settlemyre, Lawrence North High School, News Story, “Defending DACA.”
• Caitlin Kinkead, Abbie Klinker and Hailey Schultheiss, Noblesville High School, Feature Story, “It can happen to anyone.” This entry also won the WPCI Best of the Best competition.
• Christina Yang, Carmel High School, Double-Truck Layout, “Alone in the Crowd?”
• Evelyn Sanchez, Ben Davis High School, Video News Story, “DACA.”
• Carrie Kelb, Faith Emmons and Amee Patel, Carmel High School, Yearbook, “Kwanza.”

Other high school honorees are:

• Skye McLaughlin, Noblesville High School, Editorial, second place, “Dear Moms and Dads.”
• Rebecca Qin, Carmel High School, News/Feature Photo, second place, “Oh Tomorrow.”
• Olivia Smith, Hamilton Southeastern High School, Yearbook Photo, third place, “Blue Crew.”
• Claire Rosenthall, Fishers High School, Single-Page Layout, honorable mention, “Reagan Harding shoots to victory.”
• Michael Long, Southport High School, Columns/Blogs, honorable mention, “In the Long Run.”

More:

• Enter your work in our next contest cycle in spring 2019.
• Learn how to apply for WPCI scholarships and grants.