Credit: Submitted
Bucks County student journalists have done it again.
The students who report for and publish the The Centurion, Bucks County Community College’s student newspaper, won a record 17 awards in the statewide 2021 Keystone Student Media Awards competition that is hosted by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.
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The Centurion is a regular winner in the annual awards and competes in the two-year college division.
Since 2010, The Centurion has won more than 130 awards.
The news organization won awards for layout and design and reporting ranging from topics related to the pandemic, crime, sports, and the 2020 election.
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Tony Rogers, the community college’s journalism professor and a veteran reporter, said he was proud of the work done by student journalists, especially given the circumstances in 2020.
“Our campus shut down last March and since then the students have had to write and edit their stories and lay out the paper from home. The fact that they did such excellent work under such trying circumstances is absolutely amazing to me. I couldn’t be more proud,” said Rogers, who serves as the faculty advisor for The Centurion.
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Like many, the student journalists were forced to work from home. They reported and put together The Centurion via Zoom, email, and text message. The editors put software on their home computers and laptops so they could layout the newspaper.
Rogers pointed to Alyssa Moore, the current editor-in-chief, and Sarah Siock, who was last year’s editor-in-chief and is now studying at Rider University in New Jersey.
“Alyssa and Sarah were in uncharted territory when they took on the job of running a student newspaper in the midst of a global pandemic,” Rogers said. “This has undoubtedly been the toughest year for everyone in the history of this college, but Alyssa and Sarah absolutely rose to the occasion and met those challenges head-on.”
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For Moore, putting together the newspaper from home was an interesting challenge.
“I had to try to replicate the system that we had going in the journalism classroom in my own room, which was a lot more difficult than I expected. But overall, things worked out pretty well and that is thanks to the journalism team that is so passionate about the work we do,” she said.
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Several students from graphic design Professor Michael Kabbash’s classes worked to help put the newspaper together during the pandemic.
“Professor Kabbash’s students have been a godsend to us this year and we really appreciate their help,” Rogers said.
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While The Centurion typically distributes print copies at the Bristol Township, Newtown Township, and Upper Bucks County campuses of the community college, the lack of students on campus led to a PDF version of the newspaper being sent to all students via email.
Below is the list of winners from The Centurion:
- General News, Second place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – Sellersville Teen Shot Dead at State Park – Payton Schreier
- Ongoing News Coverage, Second place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – The 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic – Centurion Staff
- Ongoing News Coverage, Honorable Mention, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – Special Report: The 2020 Presidential Election – Centurion Staff
- Public Service/Enterprise Package, First place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – The Results and Winners of Bucks’ 2020-2021 Student Body Election – Alyssa Moore, Dakoda Carlson, Olivia Ruddell, Kristen Reiter
- Feature Story, Second place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – Coping With Boredom During COVID-19 – Alyssa Moore
- Personality Profile, Second place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – Ethel Rackin is a Professor and a Poet – Shannon Goldhahn
- Sports Story, First place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – Spring Athletics Forced to End Seasons Due to COVID-19 – Karagen Kelly
- Sports Story, Second place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – Mens’ Basketball Fall Short of Playoffs by One Win – Cole Schug
- Sports Story, Honorable Mention, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – 2020 Philadelphia Union Season Preview – Skyler Hoffner
- Review, First place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – RDJs Dolittle Does Little – Bradley Hare
- Review, Second place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – Sonic the Hedgehog Speeds Past Everyone’s Expectations – Bradley Hare
- Layout and Design, First place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – Bucks prepares for the Coronavirus (Centurion Vol 55 Issue 9) – Sarah Siock, Alyssa Moore, Shannon Goldhahn
- Layout and Design, Second place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – Joe Biden Wins Presidential Race (Centurion Vol 56 Issue 5) – Alyssa Moore, Dakoda Carlson, Olivia Ruddell, Kristen Reiter
- Website, First place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion, www.bucks-news.com – Centurion Staff
- Video Story, First place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – Effort to Provide Low-Cost Textbooks Gains Momentum – Sarah Siock
- Video Story, Second place, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – Acme Workers Keep Shelves Stocked During the Pandemic – Jon Corley
- Video Story, Honorable Mention, Bucks County Community College – The Centurion – Students Make the Adjustment to Online Classes – Sarah Siock
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