By Staff
DOWAGIAC -- The Southwester, the campus newspaper of Southwestern Michigan College, has been named best overall newspaper by the Michigan Community College Press Association The paper also earned first place in online design and second place in overall design.
Approximately 12 Michigan community colleges submitted their newspapers in the annual competition, which was judged by professional journalists.
Awards were presented at MCCPA's annual conference in Battle Creek on April 12. Papers published between March 6, 2002, and March 5, 2003, were eligible. SMC's newspaper, which underwent a redesign in February 2002, was awarded second place for feature design for a double-page spread April 11, 2002, called "A Day at SMC," which features photos shot by the digital photography class. Student Lindsey Drake of Niles earned second place in the review writing category for her story on Vibe magazine.
Student Violet Greenfield of Edwardsburg earned honorable mention in the personality profile category for her article on faculty member Angie Curneal-Palsak. Student Claire Martin of Buchanan earned honorable mention recognition for her first-person commentary "I Can Do This, I Told Myself."
Adjunct faculty member and production coordinator Fred Dodd was also recognized for excellence in photography and design.