The South Carolina Press Association recently presented the Collegian staff  with 13 awards at its 2018 collegiate meeting April 20.

Representatives from college newspapers across the state attended the conference held at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The meeting featured a discussion about journalistic work after graduation with a panel of young professionals in the journalistic field, a presentation about innovations in multimedia journalism and roundtable discussions between newspaper staff members from different colleges.

According to Collegian editor Ian Dyke, the SCPA awards provide The Collegian staff members with additional incentive to strive for excellence.

“Going to these awards and having professional journalists and an institution like the South Carolina Press Association tell us ‘you’re doing a good job’ validates what we’re doing,” Dyke said.

The Collegian won 13 various awards, including six for writing, three for design and three for photography.

Luke McCormick, Collegian copy editor, won first place news story for his news story “Six BJU student dreamers await uncertain future.”

McCormick said the SCPA awards are a special time to celebrate what the staff has accomplished.

“The Collegian has a long-standing tradition of excellence,” McCormick said.

“Our [BJU’s] paper usually brings home a good share of the awards. It’s nice to be recognized for all the work the staff puts in each week throughout the year.”

Gerson Petit, a staff writer  who won a first place award in art and entertainment reporting, said he was surprised he won an award his first year writing on staff but was honored by the win.

Petit along with other members of staff participated in workshops at the meeting.

“I especially enjoyed the last activity before the awards ceremony,” Gerson said.

“We were able to mingle with the writers from other colleges and share ideas.”

One of the most significant awards received at the meeting was second place for general excellence.

In addition to these awards, Bill Rogers, director of the SCPA, presented Ian Dyke with the SCPA’s $3,000 Mundy Scholarship.

“This is our premier scholarship reserved for the most promising student journalist in South Carolina,” Rogers said when offering the scholarship.

Dyke is the first BJU student to receive the award.

He said the credit for this scholarship should be given to his staff members and mentors, including The Collegian’s adviser  and JMC faculty member Betty Solomon. “It wasn’t just an award for me, it was an award for our staff,” Dyke said.

“I’m proud of my staff for performing so faithfully and so well this semester.”