Three current and two former staffers of the Western Courier, Western Illinois University's student newspaper, were recently recognized for their contributions to collegiate-level journalism.
WIU students Adam Sacasa (senior, journalism, Skokie, IL), Ken Woods (junior, journalism, Broadview, IL) and Jon Oakley (junior, journalism/broadcasting, Plainfield, IL), who are pictured above, as well as Zach Wingerter (B.A., journalism, Macomb, IL) and Brent Busby (B.A., broadcasting, La Prairie, IL), who both graduated in December 2008, were recently bestowed with honors from the Illinois College Press Association in the ICPA's annual student journalism competition.
"I'm extremely pleased by the Western Courier staff's honors in the 2008 ICPA student journalism competition," said Rich Moreno, director of student publications at Western.
"I think the most important thing the students learned during ICPA's annual conference, held earlier this year, is what they need to do to get better. Everyone came away from the conference filled with a renewed sense of purpose."
Western Courier staffers' winning entries included:
First Place, Best Sports Column for "What's in a Name? Maybe Everything," by Zach Wingerter (available online at media.www.westerncourier.com/media/storage/paper650/news/2008/
09/10/Opinion/Whats.In.A.Name.Maybe.Everything-3423340.shtml)
Second Place, Adam Sacasa, Best Sports Photography (Sacasa's award-winning photo is available for viewing online at media.www.westerncourier.com/media/storage/paper650/news/2008/
04/25/Sports/necks.Fall.To.Illini.Prepare.For.Sdsu-3349080.shtml)
Second Place, Brent Busby, Best Critical Review (Non-film) for "Slipknot—'All Hope Is Gone'" (available online at media.www.westerncourier.com/media/storage/paper650/news/2008/
09/03/TheEdge/Slipknot.all.Hope.Is.Gone-3412295.shtml)
Third Place, Jon Oakley, Best Headline for "Hunt Nails Down Hammers"
(available online at media.www.westerncourier.com/media/storage/paper650/news/
2008/12/01/Sports/Hunt-Nails.Down.Hammers-3563320.shtml)
Honorable Mention, Ken Woods, Best Sports Feature for "Parental Control" (available online at media.www.westerncourier.com/media/storage/paper650/
news/2008/11/19/Sports/Parental.Control-3552210.shtml)
"Zach's first place showing for best sports column was particularly deserving, because he's a very talented writer with a real flair for humor," Moreno added. "I'm also gratified that Adam was recognized for his hard work and talent as a sports photographer. Adam is one of those shooters who really lives and breathes photography -- he's always got the police band radio blaring next to his desk -- so it's nice to see him win."
