Columbia honors ULV journalists
Campus Times
April 16, 1999
The University of La Verne Communications Department shines, as writers
are honored with coveted national awards.
Campus Times and La Verne Magazine writers receive several
1999 Gold Circle Awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association,
a national organization that sponsors a print journalism competition every
year.
"Best in the nation is a heady statement, especially when it comes
from a prestigious, east-coast rating contest," said Dr. George Keeler,
La Verne Magazine adviser. "I'm so proud of all my students.
Just imagine -- we topped Yale and Drake."
Michelle Thornton, junior, received first place in the Health Opinion
category for her Nov. 6, 1998, Campus Times column, "Pink
sticker provides access to life." The piece was about the importance
of being an organ donor.
"It is nice to be recognized as a national writer," Thornton
said.
"I wrote the article because I wanted people to realize that when
you die, you can save another person's life. All you have to do is put a
little pink sticker on your driver's license."
Thornton received $250 from the American Medical Association, which
sponsored the Health Opinion category.
Other winners in news were junior Araceli Esparza, sophomore Shiva Rahimi,
junior Veero Der-Karabetian and alumna Christie Reed.
Sophomore Michael Anklin won first place in the Magazine Non-Fiction
category for his Spring 1998 La Verne Magazine story, "From
Saigon to the White House to La Verne: A Life in Pictures." Anklin
chronicled the career of La Verne resident and small business owner Van
Lim.
Lim began his career as a war photographer for United Press International
in Vietnam, then went on to covering the White House and eventually opened
Top Hour Photo in La Verne.
"The story was a gift. It was so interesting that all you had to
do was just write it down," Anklin said.
"I am proud of the article, and it makes me feel like I am on the
right track as far as my writing and the career path I have chosen."
Rob Strauss, an alumnus of the department, won first place for his column,
"From the Editor"
in the Spring 1998 issue of La Verne Magazine. Senior Ryan Sones
won third place for his color cover design on the Winter 1998 La Verne Magazine.
Also, junior Alen Zilic and Echelle Avelar, a former student, received
honors for their color photography on the front and back covers of the Spring
1998 issue of La
Verne Magazine.
