Biola University’s student media publications won 13 awards at the 2009 Baptist Press Collegiate Journalism Conference held on Oct. 29 at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. Students’ work from The Chimes newspaper, The Point magazine and the Biolan yearbook competed against other Christian colleges and universities around the United States.

Biola dominated in the photojournalism and newspaper divisions where students won first, second and third place. Biola swept the photo division of portrait/personality with images taken by visual journalism majors. Juniors Kelsey Heng and Sarah Sunderman, and seniors Lindsey Minerva and Christina Schantz, took the images for the spring issue of The Point.

Sunderman won two awards for the photo “Boy Meets Wild” that was used to depict a male college student getting ready to head into the wilderness.

“I invested so much in last semester's issue, so winning two awards makes my excitement of seeing my work in print that much more real,” said Sunderman.

The Chimes won first place in the category of overall wide web and third place as a collegiate print publication. Many of The Chimes writers were also awarded for their writing skills. Alumna Michelle Rindels (’09) won three awards in the categories of feature stories and regular column. Katie McIntosh, a senior, won second place for center spread design and Kathryn Watson, a sophomore, received second place for the news story “Alumni Giving Growing, Still Low.” Kyle Gilbertson (’09) shared third place with Rindels for the feature story “Blessed Assurance.”

Michael Longinow, Chair of Biola’s Department of Journalism, served as a judge for the category of cartoons, graphics and writing. As faculty adviser for The Chimes, he was proud that Biola was able to win many awards and show strength at the conference.

"Biola's student journalists have showed again that they're willing to push themselves beyond mediocrity," said Longinow. “Chimes writers, photojournalists and designers are keeping their eye on the best of what's happening in print media, and they're emulating excellence. It shows. Contest judges are noticing."

The Biolan, Biola’s yearbook, won first place in the yearbook category for their distinguished copy and design. Brian Miller, adviser for the Biolan and Creative Director in Integrated Marking Communications at Biola, is also proud of the hard work shown by the yearbook staff.

“Creative design, innovative photography, exceptional story telling and overall, a thorough and engaging picture of Biola 08/09 is how I would describe the work of last years hard working, Biolan team, led by LaShunte Rockett,” said Miller. “I was thrilled to hear that the team's work has been honored by the 2009 Baptist Press Journalism Conference with First Place in the Overall Yearbook category. I'm so proud of this Biolan team. They are so deserving of this honor and recognition.”

For those not able to attend, the conference was held through a live-stream webcast feed that showed seminars and announced the award winners. The Baptist Press is a news wire service that covers Christian and secular issues hoping to make an impact in people’s life, work and ministry. The collegiate conference provides Christian student media groups an opportunity to hear from Christian journalists about their higher purpose as a journalist for the Christian and secular world.

Written by Jennifer Thach, Media Relations Intern. Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator, can be reached at (562) 777-4061 or through email at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu