Bell Ringer wins awards at GCPA and SRPI

Staff report

The Bell Ringer, the student newspaper at Augusta University, recently won several collegiate press awards, including best sports photography in the annual Georgia College Press Association contest.

That award was won by Shelby Foster for a photograph she took of AU men’s basketball player Rafael Monteiro last February during an AU game (see photo above). The GCPA judges stated of Foster’s composition: “So much story being told on a layup. You see the determination on Monteiro’s face and I can practically hear what the coach on the bench is saying. Great stuff.”

The Bell Ringer sports section, led by sports editor Carlos Rodriguez, finished in third place for GCPA’s Best Campus Community Service—Sports behind first place the Red & Black at the University of Georgia and the Valdosta State Spectator.

In the Southern Regional Press Institute contest, Rodriguez took first place for Best Sports Story with his article on AU’s Mackenzie Taylor, who converted from being a soccer player to an undefeated conference champion in cross-country. Rodriguez also won for best sports photography for his photo of AU men’s basketball center Tyshaun Crawford dunking against four USC Aiken players (see below). Bell Ringer sports writer Justin Brosemer came in third in sports photography for his photo of an AU preseason practice in which Lee Flenor is dunking (see below).

At SRPI, Sam Turner, who graduated with a degree in communication in December, won for Best Commercial or PSA. Her PSA titled “It Wasn’t Worth It” was done in Arthur Takahashi’s audiovisual production class last fall and was part of the Georgia Cancer Center’s PSA campaign against smoking. Turner now works for Fox 54 TV in Augusta.

Bell Ringer managing editor Rakiyah Lenon took third in news reporting for her piece on last fall’s senatorial campaigns in Georgia. She covered press conferences at the Augusta airport.

The Bell Ringer website finished in third place in the Best Website competition.

Rodriguez and Professor David Bulla, chair of Communication, gave a presentation on sports podcasting during the SRPI conference, which is hosted by Savannah State University. Rodriguez is host of “The Sports Squad.”