The Commuter won 21 awards at the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual collegiate day May 2. Linn-Benton Community College hosted the event in the school’s Commons Cafeteria, where the staffs and advisors of several college newspapers across the state gathered to network, learn from speaking sessions, and enjoy an awards banquet celebrating student journalism.
In addition to those activities, ONPA Executive Director Laurie Hieb gave away two $1,000 scholarships via raffle to attending students.
ONPA Collegiate Media Day featured three speakers: Penny Rosenberg, regional editor at the Albany Democrat-Herald and Corvallis Gazette Times; Samantha Swindler, features reporter for The Oregonian; and Andy Cripe, news and sports photographer for the Philomath News.
At the awards banquet, The Commuter’s entries competed against other Oregon two-year colleges. Submissions were from the calendar year 2024. The Commuter won 21 awards, with eight different staff members winning individual honors.
Best section
The Commuter staff, Sports – third place
The Commuter staff, A&E – first place
Best special section
The Commuter staff, “Meet the Team” – third place
Best writing
Ryland Bickley – third place
Best news story
Kacey Montgomery, “CS Program Cuts” – second place
Sarah Rose Larson, “Future Growth” – first place
Best feature story
Ryland Bickley, “AI at LB” – second place
Anthony Drews, “Crafting a Kaleidoscope” – first place
Best sports story
Ethan Birmingham, “Serving up Success” – third place
Brenda Autry, “QueenPins” – first place
Best review
Mika Winder, “Sugar J’s: Reinventing Ice Cream” – third place
Ryland Bickley, “Wall of Eyes” – second place
Best columnist
Brenda Autry – first place
Best sports photo
Brenda Autry, “QueenPins” – third place
Best feature photo
Brenda Autry, “Beyond the Classroom with Cameren Moran” – second place
Best photography
Brenda Autry – third place
Micah Teague – second place
Best design
Kailyn McQuisten – first place
Best graphic
Kailyn McQuisten, “Summer’s End with Common Koi” – second place
Kailyn McQuisten, “AI at LB” – first place
Best house ad
Kailyn McQuisten – first place
You can view the full list of winners here.
Photo gallery by Micah Teague:
