2021 STPA Better Newspaper Contest Sweepstakes Winners
These are the top winners named in the last year's STPA Better Newspaper Contest, based on aggregate scores from the contest's numerous categories. They were presented during the convention held in Uvalde, Texas.
Accepting the iconic "front-page trophies" after earning the most aggregate points in their respective divisions in the 2021 STPA Better Newspaper Contest are, from left: Ken Esten Cooke, Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, Division 2 (large weeklies); Marc Robertson, Frio-Nueces Current, Division 1 (small weeklies), and Regina Keilers, The Fayette County Record, Division 3 (semi-weeklies).
JOURNALISTS OF THE YEAR -- The Willis Webb Journalist of the Year Award was presented in 2021 to winners from each of the 3 divisions (from left): Marc Robertson, Frio-Nueces Current, Division 1 (small weeklies); Andy Behlen (acccepted by Nonnie Barton), The Fayette County Record, Division 3 (semi-weeklies), and Sam Fowler, Pleasanton Express, Division 2 (large weeklies.)
PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE YEAR -- The Photographer of the Year Award was presented in each of the 3 divisions to winners (from left): Manuel Azocar III, Frio-Nueces Current, Division 1 (small weeklies); Sam Fowler, Pleasanton Express, Division 2 (large weeklies) and Jeff Lowe (accepted by Jim Lowe), Lapasas Dispatch Record, Division 3 (semi-weeklies).
Division 1
Griff Singer Award of General Excellence
1st Place: News of San Patricio
2nd Place: Colorado County Citizen
3rd Place: Goldthwaite
Page design
1st Place: Sealy News
2nd Place: News of San Patricio
3rd Place: Colorado County Citizen
Lifestyle pages
1st Place: Colorado County Citizen
2nd Place: Hays Free Press
3rd Place: News of San Patricio
Special section
1st Place: Colorado County Citizen
2nd Place: Copperas Cove Banner
3rd Place: Goldthwaite Eagle
Editorial writing
1st Place: Colorado County Citizen
2nd Place: Gonzales Inquirer
3rd Place: Ozona Stockman
Humorous column writing
1st Place: Sealy News.
2nd Place: Karnes Countywide
3rd Place: Colorado County Citizen
Serious column writing
1st Place: Gonzales Inquirer
2nd Place: Ozona Stockman
3rd Place: Sealy News
News photos
1st Place: Hays Free Press
2nd Place: Gonzales Inquirer
3rd Place: Advance Guard Press
Feature photos
1st Place: Goldthwaite Eagle
2nd Place: Copperas Cove Banner
3rd Place: Colorado County Citizen
Sports photos
1st Place: Goldthwaite Eagle
2nd Place: Ozona Stockman
3rd Place: The News of San Patricio
News writing
1st Place: Gonzales Inquirer
2nd Place: Sealy News
3rd Place: Goldthwaite Eagle
Feature writing
1st Place: Goldthwaite Eagle
2nd Place: Colorado County Citizen
3rd Place: Karnes Countywide
Sports coverage
1st Place: Flatonia Argus
2nd Place: Sealy News
3rd Place: Gonzales Inquirer
Headline writing
1st Place: Hays Free Press
2nd Place: Gonzales Inqurier
3rd Place: Karnes Countywide
Display advertising
1st Place: Colorado County Citizen
2nd Place: Flatonia Argus
3rd Place: Sealy News
Joyce and Fred Latcham Community Service Award
Gonzales Inquirer
Journalist of the year
Vince Leibowitz, Colorado County
Photographer of the Year
Moses Leos, Hays Free Press
Judy and Bill Wilkerson Sweepstakes Award
1st Place: Colorado County Citizen, 700 points
2nd Place: Gonzales Inquirer, 475 points
3rd Place: Goldthwaite Eagle and Sealy News (Tied with 450 points apiece)
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Division 2
Griff Singer Award of General Excellence
1st Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post
2nd Place: The Rockdale Reporter
3rd Place: Port Aransas South Jetty
Page design
1st Place: The Rockdale Reporter
2nd Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post
3rd Place: Port Aransas South Jetty
Lifestyle pages
1st Place: The Rockdale Reporter
2nd Place: Pleasanton Express
3rd Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post
Special section
1st Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post
2nd Place: Port Aransas South Jetty
3rd Place: Pleasanton Express
Editorial writing
1st Place: The Rockdale Reporter
2nd Place: Port Aransas South Jetty
3rd Place: Pleasanton Express
Humorous column writing
1st Place: The Rockdale Reporter
2nd Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post.
3rd Place: Port Aransas South Jetty
Serious column writing
1st Place: Port Aransas South Jetty
2nd Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post
3rd Place: The Rockdale Reporter
News photos
1st Place: Port Aransas South Jetty
2nd Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post
3rd Place: Pleasanton Express
Feature photos
1st Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post
2nd Place: Frio-Nueces Current
3rd Place: Pleasanton Express
Sports photos
1st Place: Frio-Nueces Current
2nd Place: Port Aransas South Jetty
3rd Place: Cuero Record
News writing
1st Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Radio post.
2nd Place: Frio-Nueces Current
3rd Place: Hondo Anvil Herald
Feature writing
1st Place: Frio-Nueces Current
2nd Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post
3rd Place: Port Aransas South Jetty
Sports coverage
1st Place: Pleasanton Express
2nd Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post
3rd Place: Hondo Anvil Herald
Headline writing
1st Place: Frio-Nueces Current
2nd Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Post
3rd Place: Port Aransas South Jetty
Display advertising
1st Place: Pleasanton Express
2nd Place: Port Aransas South Jetty
3rd Place: The Cuero Record
Joyce and Fred Latcham Community Service Award
No entries.
Willis Webb Journalist of the Year
McKenzie Moellering, Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post
Photographer of the Year
Zach Perkins, South Jetty
Judy and Bill Wilkerson Sweepstakes Award
1st Place: Fredericksburg Standard-Post, 975 points
2nd Place: Port Aransas South Jetty, 750 points
3rd Place: Rockdale Reporter, 525 points
Division 3
Griff Singer of Award of General Excellence
1st Place: Beeville Bee-Picayune
2nd Place: El Campo Leader-News
3rd Place: Kingsville Record Uvalde Leader-News
Page design
1st Place: Beeville Bee-Picayune
2nd Place: El Campo Leader-News
3rd Place: Uvalde Leader-News
Lifestyle pages
1st Place: El Campo Leader-News:
2nd Place: Fayette County Record:
3rd Place: Uvalde Leader-news
Special section
1st Place: El Campo Leader-News
2nd Place: Fayette County Record
3rd Place: Lampasas Dispatch Record
Editorial writing
1st Place: Fayette County Record
2nd Place: Beeville Bee-Picayune
3rd Place: Uvalde Leader-News
Humorous column writing
1st Place: Fayette County Record
2nd Place: El Campo Leader News
3rd Place: Uvalde Leader-News
Serious column writing
1st Place: El Campo Leader-News
2nd Place: Boerne Star
3rd Place: Uvalde Leader-News
News photos
1st Place: El Campo Leader-News
2nd Place: Uvalde Leader-News
3rd Place: Fayette County Record
Feature photos
1st Place: Uvalde Leader-News
2nd Place: Lampasas Dispatch Record
3rd Place: El Campo Leader-News
Sports photos
1st Place: Uvalde Leader-News
2nd Place: Boerne Star
3rd Place: Fayette County Record
News writing
1st Place: Fayette County Record
2nd Place: Kingsville Record
3rd Place: Lampasas Dispatch Record
Feature writing
1st Place: Uvalde Leader-News
2nd Place: Lampasas Dispatch Record
3rd Place: Fayette County Record
Sports coverage
1st Place: Boerne Star
2nd Place: Lampasas Dispatch Record
3rd Place: Beeville Bee-Picayune
Headline writing
1st Place: Fayette County Record
2nd Place: Beeville Bee-Picayune
3rd Place: El Campo Leader-News
Display advertising
1st Place: El Campo Leader-News
2nd Place: Lampasas Dispatch Record
3rd Place: Fayette County Record
Joyce and Fred Latcham Community Service Award
Beeville Bee-Picayune
Willis Webb Journalist of the Year
Alexandria Randolph, Lampasas Dispatch Record
Photographer of the Year
Pete Luna, Uvalde Leader-News
Judy and Bill Wilkerson Sweepstakes Award
1st Place: El Campo Leader-News, 825 points
2nd Place: Fayette County Record, 750 points
3rd Place: Uvalde Leader-News, 625 points