Shield named Division II Newspaper of the Year in Indiana, wins 54 awards

The Shield, the University of Southern Indiana's independent student newspaper, was named the Division II Newspaper of the Year at the annual Indiana Collegiate Press Association (ICPA) convention in Indianapolis on April 9.

"Everyone on staff has worked really hard this year, so it's great to see them get recognition for that," said Bobby Shipman, editor-in-chief of The Shield and ICPA president. "It was devastating to lose by one point last year, but I think it also inspired us to try even harder, and showed us that we were competing against some other great student publications in Indiana."

The Shield staff also won second place for Advertising Publication of the Year and third place in Online Publication of the Year for their division. A total of 54 awards were given to both individual students and the staff.

Below is a full list of the individual and staff awards received by USI students at the ICPA convention:

First Place

• Best Continuous Coverage of a Single Story: "Students For Life" (Gabi Wy, Bobby Shipman)
• Best News or Feature Series: "Retention series" (Bobby Shipman)
• Best Feature Story: "An evolutionary gamble" (Bobby Shipman)
• Best Sports Column: "Column: Band 'nerds' need recognition too" (Sarah Loesch)
• Best Staff Editorial: "Treat us equally" (The Shield staff)
• Best News Photo: "Students cross the Quad" (Alyssa Smith)
• Best Photo Essay/Picture Story: "Rock the REC" (Katie Rumple)
• Best Feature Photo: "Rooftop Batcop" (Nick Leighty)
• Best Front Page: "April 2, 2015" (The Shield Staff)
• Best Illustration: "The Gamble front page" (Amanda Brinkman)
• Best Informational Graphic: "Conversation starters 50 years ago" (Erin Hick)
• Best Single Issue: "December 10, 2015" (The Shield Staff)
• Best Special Issue: "The Gamble" (The Shield Staff)
• Best Special Section Front/Cover: "The Gamble magazine" (Amanda Brinkman)
• Best Ad Layout: "Page two of November 19 issue" (The Shield Staff)
• Most Creative Use of Ad Copy: "Got Your Goat?" (Armon Siadat, Brian Tenbarge)
• Best Electronic House Ad: "The Talon: A guide to USI Athletics" (Jessica Stallings)

Second Place

• Best Breaking News Reporting Online "Gun sparks a campus controversy" (Bobby Shipman, Rachel Christian)
• Best Audio Slideshow: "Back Home Again" (Alyssa Smith, Issac Williams, Hannah Spurgeon)
• Best Video: "46th annual Madrigal Feaste" (Armon Siadat)
• Best Breaking News Reporting: "Pipe burst floods O'Bannon again" (Jeanette Burbage)
• Best Continuous Coverage of a Single Story: "Religious Freedom Restrictive Act" (Bobby Shipman, Armon Siadat)
• Best In-Depth Story: "The carrot and the stick" (Armon Siadat)
• Best Entertainment Column or Review: "Spring musical cast hopes to open parent" (Bobby Shipman)         
• Best Feature Story: "Linda Bennett: Educating for the 'greater good'" (James Vaughn)
• Best Sports Column: "Come see what I see" (Sarah Loesch)
• Best Opinion Column: "In defense of the five year experience" (James Vaughn)
• Best Editorial Cartoon: "Campus Clarity"             (Philip Kuhns)
• Best Photo Essay/Picture Story: "Fan Fest" (Alyssa Smith)
• Best Illustration: "Pulling back the curtain" (Philip Kuhns)
• Best Pull-Out/Wrap Section: "Graduation insert" (Amanda Brinkman)
• Best Special Issue: "Transitions: A New Student Guide" (Jessica Stallings, James Vaughn, Armon Siadat, Sarah Loesch)   
• Best Use of Photography or Graphic Art: "Ireland Home Based Services" (Theresa Scheller)         
• Most Creative Use of Ad Copy: "Different Angle" (Theresa Scheller)
• Best Ad Design in Special Section or Supplement: "Grad Student" (Theresa Scheller)
• Best Display Ad: "Picnic Advertisement" (Theresa Scheller)
• Best House Ad: "Transitions Advertisement" (Theresa Scheller)
• Advertising Publication of the Year

Third Place

• Best Breaking News Reporting Online: "Radical" (Armon Siadat)
• Best Slideshow: "RFRA Peaceful Protest" (Alyssa Smith)
• Best Use of Twitter (The Shield Staff)
• Best Overall Website Design (The Shield Staff)
• Best Review: "Spring Awakening: 'powerful, educational, moving' " (Bradie Gray)
• Best Staff Editorial: "It's our fault" (The Shield Staff)
• Best News Photo: "Radical' preachers call for repentance" (Alyssa Smith)
• Best Sports Photo: "Cross country closes" (Alyssa Smith)
• Best Sports Page: "November 5, 2015" (Mackenzie Drew, Sarah Loesch)
• Best Overall Design: "November 5, 2015" (The Shield Staff)
• Best Informational Graphic: "2014 hunger statistics" (Jessica Stallings, Alyssa Smith)
• Best Themed Issue: "December 30, 2015" (The Shield Staff)
• Best Special Section Front/Cover: "The Talon - Fall 2015" (Amanda Brinkman, Alyssa Smith)
• Best Ad Design in Special Section or Supplement: "Car dealers are notoriously different clients" (Theresa Scheller)
• Best B&W House Ad: "READ The Shield" (Jessica Stallings)
• Best Full Color House Ad: "Spring break hiring" (Theresa Scheller)
• Online Publication of the Year