The Compass Wednesday, March 24, 1993 5
The Compass wins
Top National Award
Photo by Shelia Johnson
The Compass, ECSU's student newspa
per, has received the prestigious Medal
ist award from the Columbia Scholastic
Press Association, the main ranking
^ncy for college newspapers nation-
^or the years 1989-92, The Compass won
first-place awards in the catagory, but
this is the first year the student paper has
won in the inedalist catagory.
Judffis^ve The Compass 972 out of a
possible 1,000 points, accordingto the
paper's advisor, Stephen March.TTie pa
per was evaluated on such catagories as
writing style, accuracy and com^eteness
in news coverage, photography, design,
balaiKe in news coverage, adherence to
professional standards and overall excel
lence.
The Compass, published by the
University's Department of Language,
Literature & Communication, received
the top award for pap>ers published dur
ing the 1992-93 academic year. Craig
Avondo and Mark Morris served as edi
tors.
'Tm thrilled we won the Medalist rat
ing this year," said March, an assistant
professorin the Department. "Thaf sbeen
our goal from the first year I was here
(1988.) "Everyyear,after each contest, the
staff and editors studied the judges' cri
tiques and worked on our areas that
n^ed improvement. It's all finally f>aid
off in this award."
March said the medalist ranking as
well as The Compass' other first place
awards, pay off for students who work
on the paper.
"Awards like these greatly enhance
students' ei^loyment opportunities,"
March said. "When prosperave employ
ers see students have been a part of an
award-winning student news organiza
tion, ttey are impressed. The awards and
the student's puolished work in The Com
pass give them a valuable edge in today's
highfy competitive job market."
Marchsaid several graduatesof ECSU's
News Media Program who have
launched careers in communications have
them in their careers."
In commenting on The Compass, judges
wrote, "It's obvious you have a t^ented
and hard-working staff. The paper reads
very well, and the design improvements
make The Compass sparkle.'
March said mat although the staff and
editors deserve the "real credit" for the
award, he thanked Dr. Helen Caldwell,
ECSU's Vice Chancellor for Academic
Affairs, "for giving us the funds back in
1989 to buy our desKtop publishingequip-
ment," which enabled students todomore
wdth graphics and design.
"I also want to thank ECSU Chancellor
Dr. Jimmy Jenkins for this award," March
said. "1>. Jenkins has shovm he supports
the student paper by having an open
door policy to Compass reporters and by
supporting the right of the students to
express themselves freelj^, in news cover-
age and opinion pages/
March also thanked former chairper
son of the Department Dr. Anne
Henderson, and the I^partment's cur
rent chairperson. Dr. Linda Callahan, for
their support of the school paper.
1
Mrs. Elizabeth Bias CofiekJ explains why she is pledging $25,000 to ECSU’s capital
campaign, during the Founder’s Day Cererrwny, while Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Jenkins
listens in the background. Cofield, the daughter of former ECSU President John
Henry Bias, pledged the gift on behalf of herself and her husband, James, in memory
of their parents.
%
r
Photo by Shtlia Johnum
Dr r-, ^ „ .r, ^ I Inivprsitv Concert Band during Founder’s Day. The band performed “March Of the War Priest,” “Festlvo.”
ana The Fre^e UnS Choir directed by Billy C. Hines also pettormed. Freshman Nikita Sutton sang a moving renedtion of the hymn. "Precious
Lord". ' ; : . ' . . •