Nine NPW members won 30 awards collectively in the NFPW Professional Communications Contest. The awards were presented June 24 at the annual NFPW conference in Cincinnati.
Three members won first place awards: Erica Pritchard received two for her photography, both sports pictures, while Lori Potter and Jessica Votipka each received one first place prize. Potter won in photography-writer for a photo essay, and Votipka won for her continuing coverage of education in Grand Island.
Collectively, NPW members won four first place, 10 second place, five third place and 11 honorable mention awards.
Mary Jane Skala, with 12 awards, was first runner-up in the sweepstakes competition, which honors members who win the most awards.
Congratulations to all the winners:
BARB BIERMAN BATIE of Lexington, freelance writer – SECOND PLACE: Columns, Humorous
THIRD PLACE: Columns, General
DIANE BECKER of Madison, Communications Director, League Association of Risk Management, Norfolk – SECOND PLACE: Single Advertisement; HONORABLE MENTION: Graphics and Design, Graphics; Public Relations Materials, Report; Public Service Program or Campaign
TERRI HAHN of Osceola, features editor, Grand Island Independent – SECOND PLACE: Page Design, Newspaper; Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant, Newspaper; Single Page, Section or Supplement Edited by Entrant, Newspaper
HEATHER JOHNSON of North Platte, area public information specialist, Mid-Plains Community College, North Platte – THIRD PLACE: News or Feature Releases, Single Release
LORI POTTER of Kearney, freelance writer – FIRST PLACE: Photography, Photographer-writer; SECOND PLACE: Photography, Photo Essay; News or Feature Photo
ERIKA PRITCHARD of Kearney, digital content editor, University of Nebraska at Kearney – FIRST PLACE: Single Photograph, General Photo; Single Photograph, Sports Photo; THIRD PLACE: Feature Story, Online Publication
MARY JANE SKALA of Kearney, reporter and columnist, Kearney Hub – SECOND PLACE: Specialty Articles, Style; Specialty Articles, History; In-depth Reporting; Specialty Articles, Business; THIRD PLACE: Feature Story, Print-based; HONORABLE MENTION: Columns, Personal Opinion; Personality Profile, Over 750 Words; Specialty Articles, Science or Technology; Specialty Articles, Physical Health; Specialty Articles, Personal Essay; Specialty Articles, Government or Politics; Honorable Mention — Specialty Articles, Food
JESSICA VOTPIKA, formerly of Grand Island, K-12 reporter at the Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona – FIRST PLACE: Continuing Coverage or Unfolding News; HONORABLE MENTION: Headlines
