Students receive Mark of Excellence Awards

Southeastern Louisiana University communications students and Southeastern Channel staff recently received first place and finalist awards in the 2024 Region 12 Mark of Excellence competition sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists.

In the category of “television sports reporting,” graduate student Haley Dupre’ of Donaldsonville gained first place honors with her feature story on Southeastern athlete Slavko Stavic. Southeastern received second place in the category for a profile of professional wrestling instructor Luke Hawx produced by former Southeastern Channel sports director Brendon Smith of Baton Rouge.

The new Southeastern Channel production “Southeastern Perspectives” garnered second place in the “television news magazine” category. The hour-long investigation of local and regional issues and events was produced by Southeastern Channel staffers Emmbre Perry of Chalmette, Stephen Dottolo of Folsom, Alexis Shubert of Ponchatoula, Kristian Steilberg of Tickfaw and Lizzie Fonseca of Mandeville.

Winners of the 2024 Mark of Excellence competition were named at the Society of Professional Journalists Region 12 conference last month at the University of Memphis.

The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. The Region 12 Mark of Excellence competition included entries from colleges and universities throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee.