MDC Student Newspapers Win 24 Awards at Florida Community College Press Association Convention
MDC student reporters at the 2010 FCCPA convention and awards ceremony.
Miami, October 29, 2010 - Miami Dade College (MDC) student journalists representing The Falcon Times, the Catalyst and Metropolis, won 24 awards – seven of which were first place honors – at the Florida Community College Press Association’s (FCCPA) annual convention held this month in Ocala, Florida. Recently, these fine publications joined forces for the newly revamped and unified MDC student newspaper, The Reporter.
Lazaro Gamio, an electronic intermedia major at New World School of the Arts at MDC, led the pack with four awards, including two first place honors for Best Design and Best Illustration.
"It's great to be here with my colleagues, winning awards for all the hard work we've done in the past year," said Gamio, who currently serves as the Wolfson Campus bureau chief for The Reporter. "But, if this serves as anything, it serves as motivation to outdo ourselves next year."
In addition, Gamio received an Inner Circle Award for winning four awards. Falcon Times illustrator, Akeem Mayers, who won three awards, also received an Inner Circle Award. Mayers has won six FCCPA awards in two years.
Other first place honors went to: Andrea Orellana, Humor Writing; Miguel Chateloin, Ad Design; Russell Quinoa, Sports Column; Melody Aleman, Editorial Cartoon; and Aaron Pabon, Editorial.
MDC recently combined its three student newspapers to launch The Reporter. The paper debuted on Oct. 4, features 16 pages on a biweekly schedule, has a circulation of 10,250 per print cycle, and is supplemented by a website with video and audio content. It’s distributed at all eight campuses and has newsrooms at the North, Wolfson and the Kendall campuses.
The submissions judged by the FCCPA were from the 2009-10 school year. Monique Madan, editor-in-chief of The Reporter, expects next year will be even better.
"This newspaper is going to reach new levels," Madan said. "With the talents from all campuses combined, I have faith that we will set the standard for student journalism in Florida."
FIRST PLACE:
Lazaro Gamio, Design, Metropolis.
Lazaro Gamio, Illustration, Metropolis.
Andrea Orellana, Humor Writing, Metropolis.
Miguel Chateloin, Ad Design, Catalyst.
Russell Quinoa, Sports Column, Catalyst.
Melody Aleman, Editorial Cartoon, Catalyst
Aaron Pabon, Editorial, Catalyst.
SECOND PLACE:
Lazaro Gamio, News Story, Metropolis.
Lazaro Gamio, Comic Strip,Metropolis.
Akeem Mayers, Editorial Cartoon, Falcon Times.
Akeem Mayers, Illustration, Falcon Times.
Michael Finch II, Arts Review, Falcon Times.
Jeannie Rodriguez, Feature Story, Falcon Times.
Staff Award, Online Competition, Falcon Times.
Alejandro Junco, Feature Photo, Catalyst.
THIRD PLACE:
Sergio N. Candido, News Story, Falcon Times
Sergio N. Candido, In-Depth Reporting, Falcon Times.
Akeem Mayers, Comic Strip, Falcon Times.
Andrea Orellana, General Column, Metropolis.
Tii Kenya Xynn, Feature Photo, Metropolis
Thomas Silva, Feature Story, Metropolis.
Marlon Gallo, Picture Story, Catalyst.
Marlon Gallo, News Photo, Catalyst.
Samantha Puentes, Comic Strip, Catalyst
Media-only contacts:
Juan Mendieta, 305-237-7611, jmendiet@mdc.edu, MDC communications director
Tere Estorino, 305-237-3949, testorin@mdc.edu, MDC media relations director
Sue Arrowsmith, 305-237-3710, sue.arrowsmith@mdc.edu, media specialist
Tarnell Carroll, 305-237-3359, tcarroll@mdc.edu, media specialist
Alejandro Rios, 305-237-7482, arios1@mdc.edu