Bellisario College of Communications

Penn State entries earn eight first-place finishes in Region 1 SPJ competition

A photo story about a pastor preaching his last sermon won first place for Photo Essay/Slideshow in the Region 1 competition. Credit: Natalie Book. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Work from Penn State students earned eight first-place finishes as the Society of Professional Journalists recognized the best collegiate journalism in the Northeast with its Region 1 with 2024 Mark of Excellence Awards.

Mark of Excellence Awards entries are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience. Judges were directed to choose entries they felt were among the best in student journalism.

Penn State’s winners were:

SPJ’s Region 1 comprises Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania (central/eastern), Rhode Island and Vermont. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other winners from the 12 SPJ regions. National winners will be notified in late spring.

Penn State entries were part of the large school division with at least 10,000 students.

Last Updated May 6, 2025