Great Plains Journalism Awards

Joe Kelley

The 10th annual Great Plains Journalism Awards, sponsored by the Tulsa Press Club, will welcome Joe Kelley, news director and host of Orlando’s Morning News show on 96.5 WDBO, as its distinguished lecturer at its annual conference and awards luncheon May 10 at the Mayo Hotel. Tickets and sponsorships are available at tulsapressclub.org

Kelley previously worked at KRMG in Tulsa and has been recognized for his successes as an on-air personality and community leader. He has received awards from Radio and Records Magazine, Radio Ink Magazine, the Dallas Press Club, the Las Vegas Women in Communications and the Oklahoma Associations of Broadcasters.

Joining Kelley as a featured speaker will be acclaimed food and drinks writer Todd Price of NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, and St. Louis Magazine’s esteemed staff writer Jeannette Cooperman.

Todd A. Price. (Dinah Rogers Photo)

Price is the lead reporter of a team that dominates food coverage in New Orleans and aims to be the paper of record for local dining news. Price also served as the local editor of Zagat, and has written for Food Arts, Gambit Weekly, New Orleans Magazine, OffBeat Magazine and the Chronicle of Higher of Education.

Jeannette Cooperman

Cooperman was named to the FOLIO: 100 list of the “the best and brightest” in the magazine industry. Her articles on social trends and injustices, grisly crimes, interesting people, and intense subcultures have won numerous national awards. She holds a Ph.D. in American Studies, has authored five books and has been published in O Magazine, Real Simple, Bark, Glamour and Family Circle.

The Great Plains Journalism Awards is a regional contest honoring print, web, TV and magazine journalists for outstanding stories, photography and design. The eight-state competition includes Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Past speakers and contest judges have featured some of the biggest names in journalism, including CBS News’ Anthony Mason, Judy Woodruff of PBS, and Pulitzer Prize winners Jacqui Banaszynski and Lane DeGregory.

Contest finalists will be announced after an extensive judging process; winners will be awarded on May 10.

Following its mission to promote high standards in journalism, the Tulsa Press Club will present Dan Harrison Memorial Scholarships to winners in five student categories. Students in attendance also will have the opportunity to have portfolio reviews with Kelley.

We are now accepting submissions for the 2019 Great Plains Journalism Awards. Enter at betternewspapercontest.com. Entries will be received through 10:59 p.m., Feb. 4, 2019.

Click here for a complete brochure detailing rules, categories and requirements.

To pay for your entries, visit tulsapressclub.org/sponsorship-tickets.

Any questions can be submitted to greatplainsawards@gmail.com.

Details about the 2019 Distinguished Lectureship and Conference are pending. Stay tuned!

Categories are being finalized and our 2019 contest will open Dec. 1, 2018. Entries will be accepted through Jan. 31, 2019 at betternewspapercontest.com. All entries must be published must be from the 2018 calendar year. Journalists from newspapers, magazines and websites across the region are invited to submit their best work.

Dan Harrison Memorial Student Scholarships for student winners will be awarded in five categories: Student Editor of the Year, Student Writer of the Year, Student Photographer of the Year, Student Designer of the Year and Student Broadcaster of the Year. Three additional student categories — Student Broadcast, Student Website and Student Newspaper — will also be named.

The Tulsa Press Club is proud to announce the 2018 Great Plains Journalism Awards winners.

The Great Plains Journalism Awards is a regional contest honoring print, web, TV and magazine journalists for outstanding stories, photography and design. The eight-state competition includes Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Omar Villafranca, correspondent with CBS News in its Southern Bureau, received the Distinguished Lecturer Award and gave the keynote lunch address at the May 4 event at the Mayo Hotel. The top nine overall winners are:

Great Plains Newspaper of the Year: Tulsa World
Great Plains Magazine of the Year: Omaha Magazine
Great Plains Website of the Year: Omaha World-Herald
Great Plains Designer of the Year: Tim Parks, Omaha World-Herald
Great Plains Newspaper Writer of the Year: Josh Dulaney, The Oklahoman
Great Plains Newspaper Photographer/Portfolio of the Year: Sarah Hoffman, Omaha World-Herald
Great Plains Magazine Photographer/Portfolio of the Year: Liz Painter, 605 Magazine
Great Plains Magazine Writer of the Year: Wyndham Wyeth, Arkansas Life
Great Plains Student Newspaper of the Year: The University Daily Kansan

More than 600 entries were received this year, with winners and finalists named in 72 professional and student categories. Four student journalists were awarded $1,500 scholarships named after former Tulsa Press Club president and ONEOK executive Dan Harrison.

Thank you to our 2018 sponsors: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation Businesses, ONEOK, Hillcrest HealthCare System, ONE Gas, Trust Company of Oklahoma, Tulsa World Media Company, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Langdon Publishing, Tulsa Community College and the Mayo Hotel.

Below is a list of the 2018 Great Plains Journalism Awards winners and finalists by publication.

Flip through the official book here.

605 Magazine
Great Plains Magazine Photographer/Portfolio of the Year: Liz Painter
Liz Painter, finalist
Alana Snyder, finalist
John Snyder, finalist
Kyle Determan, finalist
Taylor Hanson, finalist

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Review: Philip Martin
General News Photography: Mitchell Pe Masilun
Entertainment Feature: Philip Martin, John Deering
Food: Kelly Brant
Online Feature Writing: Emma Pettit
Specialty Feature: Celia Storey, Michael Storey
Editorial Portfolio: David Barham
Best Website Design-Overall: Arkansas Online Staff
Staff, finalist
Tommy Metthe, finalist
Ben Krain, finalist
Emma Pettit, finalist
Gavin, Lesnick, finalist
Arkansas Online Staff, finalist
John Deering, finalist
Hunter Field, finalist
Amanda Claire Curcio, finalist
Jillian Kremer, finalist
Kirk Montgomery, finalist
Stephen Thornton, finalist
Eric Harrison, finalist
Brandon Riddle, finalist
Sean Clancy, finalist
Frank Fellone, finalist
Lisa Hammersly, finalist
Sandra Tyler, finalist
Eric Besson, finalist

Arkansas Life
John David Pittman, finalist
Magazine Photography-Multiple: Arshia Khan
Great Plains Magazine Writer of the Year: Wyndham Wyeth
Magazine Feature Writing: Jordan Hickey
Magazine Column Writing: Seth Eli Barlow
Rett Peek, finalist
David Priest, finalist
Katie Bridges, finalist
Emma Devine, finalist
Jordan Hickey, finalist
Arshia Khan, finalist
Whydham Wyeth, finalist
Johnny Sain, finalist
Wesley Hitt, finalist

The Curbside Chronicle
Magazine Portrait: Joshua Officer
Whitley O’Connor, finalist
Quit Nguyen, finalist

The Daily Republic
Portrait: Matt Gade
Feature Photography-Single: Matt Gade
Matt Gade, finalist

The Frontier
Online General News: Clifton Adcock
Dylan Goforth, finalist
Clifton Adcock, finalist

Global Sisters Report
Dawn Araujo-Hawkins, finalist

KFOR Channel 4
Spot News Video: Marc Dillard, Jon Slater

KTUL Channel 8
Maureen Wurtz, finalist
Andrejs Dabars, finalist
Bryan Clemmer, finalist

Land Line Magazine
John Bendel, finalist
Tyson Fisher, finalist

Lincoln Journal Star
Journal Star Staff, finalist
Cindy Lange-Kubick, finalist
Peter Salter, finalist

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Special Section: Staff

Oklahoma Humanities Magazine
Viet Thanh Nguyen, finalist
Carla Walker, finalist
Oklahoma Humanities, finalist

Oklahoma Watch
Business Reporting: Warren Vieth
Jennifer Palmer, finalist
Trevor Brown, finalist
Mollie Bryant, finalist

The Oklahoman
Sports Action Photography: Sarah Phipps
Sports News Photography: Jim Beckel
Sports Column: Berry Tramel
Sports Blog: Berry Tramel
Great Plains Newspaper Writer of the Year: Josh Dulaney
General News Reporting: Brianna Bailey, Jaclyn Cosgrove
Best Website Design-Project: Richard Hall
Staff, finalist
Bryan Terry, finalist
Sarah Phipps, finalist
Todd Pendleton, finalist
The Oklahoman, finalist
Chris Landsberger, finalist
Carla Hinton, finalist
Richard Hall, finalist
Josh Dulaney, finalist
Tim Money, finalist
Adam Kemp, finalist
Jenni Carlson, finalist
NewsOK.com, finalist
Doug Hoke, finalist

Omaha Magazine
Magazine Photography-Feature: Bill Sitzmann
Magazine Specialty Photo: Bill Sitzmann
Magazine Cover: Bill Sitzmann, Matt Wieczorek
Multimedia Graphic-Project or Series: Otis Twelve, Joe Pankowski
Great Plains Magazine of the Year: Staff
Bill Sitzmann, finalist
Thomas Sanchez, finalist
Doug Meigs, finalist
Matt Wieczorek, finalist
Christopher Marshall, finalist
Otis Twelve, finalist

Omaha World-Herald
Headline Portfolio: Haylee Pearl
Sports Video: Brendan Sullivan
Beat Reporting: Erin Duffy, Joe Dejka
Sports Page Design: Tim Parks
Great Plains Designer of Year: Tim Parks
News Page Design: Jessica Thompson
Graphics/Illustration: Matt Haney
Online Project: Staff
Sports Feature: Dirk Chatelain
Feature Video: Brendan Sullivan
Great Plains Newspaper Photographer/Portfolio of the Year: Sarah Hoffman
Feature Photography-Multiple: Sarah Hoffman
Sports Reporting: Dirk Chatelain
Great Plains Website of the Year: Staff
Narrative Story/Series: Henry Cordes
Feature Writing: Matthew Hansen, Sarah Baker Hansen
Rich Mills, finalist
Chris Christen, finalist
Heidi Thorson, finalist
Heather & Jameson, finalist
Jessica Luna, finalist
Kali Rahder, finalist
Micah Mertes, finalist
James Kellerman, finalist
Jessica Thompson, finalist
Chris Machian, finalist
Dirk Chatelain, finalist
Megan Farmer, finalist
Barbara Soderlin, finalist
Matthew Hansen, finalist
Michael O’Connor, finalist
Aaron Sanderford, finalist
Tim Sacco, finalist
Todd Cooper, finalist
Betsie Freeman, finalist
Sarah Hoffman, finalist
Katie Myrick Parks, finalist
Michael Boehnlein, finalist
Staff, finalist
Sam McKewon, finalist
Henry Cordes, finalist
Ryan Soderlin, finalist
Jeff Koterba, finalist
Steve Jordon, finalist
Paige Yowell, finalist

Sauce Magazine
Magazine Page Design: Meera Nagarajan
Carmen Troesser, finalist

St. Louis Business Journal
Business Feature: Steph Kukuljan
Jacob Kim, finalist
Katlyn Keller, finalist
Steph Kukuljan, finalist

St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Project/Investigative Reporting: Kevin McDermott, Jack Suntrup, Kurt Erickson
Personal Column Portfolio: Tony Messenger
Wade Wilson, finalist
Dan Martin, finalist
Benjamin Hochman, finalist

Sunflower Publishing
Amanda Nagengast, finalist
Bill Stephens, finalist
Kevin Anderson, finalist
Katie Moore, finalist
Nathan Pettengill, finalist
Janni Leiste, finalist
Brian Goodman, finalist
Kelly Gibson, finalist
Jason Dailey, finalist
Amber Fraley, finalist

Tulsa Kids Magazine
Entertainment/Specialty Blog: Diane Kondos
News Blog Writing: Betty Casey
Tara Rittler, finalist

The Tulsa Voice
Feature Page Design: Madeline Crawford
Best Website Design-Single Page: Madeline Crawford, Maxx Crawford
Angela Evans, finalist

Tulsa World
General News Video: Mike Simons
News Photography-Multiple: Mike Simons
Sports Feature Photography: Ian Maule
Great Plains Newspaper of the Year: Staff
Editorial Cartoon: Bruce Plante
News Package: Staff
Cody Stavenhagen, finalist
Ian Maule, finalist
Mark Cooper, finalist
Staff, finalist
Tim Stanley, finalist
Mike Simons, finalist
Stephen Pingry, finalist
Kyle Margerum, finalist
Jessie Wardarski, finalist
Andrea Eger Canfield, finalist
Wayne Greene, finalist
Michael Smith, finalist
Jimmie Tramel, finalist
Jessica Rodrigo, finalist

Tulsa World Magazine
Magazine News Writing: Debbie Jackson, Jimmie Tramel, Randy Krehbiel, Jason Collington, Michael Overall
Magazine Profile Writing: Ginnie Graham
Jimmie Tramel, finalist
Staff, finalist
Michael Overall, finalist
Michelle Pollard, finalist

STUDENT CATEGORIES
The Collegian – University of Tulsa
Kayleigh Thesenvitz, finalist
Hannah Kloppenburg, finalist
Michaela Flonard, finalist

The Connection – Tulsa Community College
Zach Redwood, finalist
Monique Moore, finalist

The LU Gazette – Langston Univeristy
Specialty Photo: Brittni Logan

Kansas State Collegian – Kansas State University
Dan Harrison Memorial Student Photographer of the Year: Cooper Kinley
Cooper Kinley, finalist
Emily Lenk, finalist

Kansas State University Athletics Communcations – Kansas State University
Cooper Kinley, finalist

The O’Colly – Oklahoma State University
Dan Herrison Memorial Student Website of the Year: O’Colly Staff
Dan Harrison Memorial Student Broadcaster of the Year: Katelyn Fuller
Bullet Broadcast Staff, finalist
Devin Wilber, finalist
O’Colly Staff, finalist

The Oklahoma Daily – University of Oklahoma
Caitlyn Epes, finalist

The University Daily Kansan – University of Kansas
Dan Harrison Memorial Student Broadcaster of the Year: Mallory Houser
Dan Harrison Memorial Student Editor-in-Chief of the Year: Conner Mitchell
Dan Harrison Memorial Student Writer of the Year: Darby VanHoutan
Dan Harrison Memorial Student Newspaper of the Year: Lara Korte, Conner Mitchell
Lara Korte, finalist
Christian Hardy, finalist
Conner Mitchell, finalist
Missy Minear, finalist

Finalists have ben named for the 2018 Great Plains Journalism Awards. The Awards Luncheon is set for May 4 at the Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tickets are $50; $45 for media/students. Tickets can be purchased at shop.tulsapressclub.org. A complete schedule of events is here. CBS News’ Omar Villafranca will be recognized as the Distinguished Lecturer, with workshops led by ProPublica Illinois’ Louise Kiernan, attorney Douglas “Doug” Dodd and National Geographic’s Andrea Leitch.

605 Magazine
Kyle Determan
Taylor Hanson
Liz Painter
Alana Snyder
John Snyder

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
David Barham
Amanda Claire Curcio
Sean Clancy
Eric Besson
Kelly Brant
John Deering
Frank Fellone
Hunter Field
Lisa Hammersly
Eric Harrison
Ben Krain
Jillian Kremer
Gavin Lesnick
Philip Martin
Tommy Metthe
Kirk Montgomery
Mitchell Pe Masilun
Emma Pettit
Brandon Riddle
Staff
Celia Storey
Michael Storey
Stephen Thornton
Sandra Tyler

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Magazines
Seth Eli Bartow
Katie Bridges
Emma Devine
Jordan Hickey
Wesley Hitt
Arshia Khan
Rett Peek
John David Pittman
David Priest
Johnny Caroll Sain
Wyndham Wyeth

The Curbside Chronicle
Whitley O’Connor
Joshua Officer
Quit Nguyen

The Daily Republic
Matt Gade 

The Frontier
Clifton Adcock
Dylan Goforth

The Gazette – Langston University
Brittni Logan

Global Sisters Report
Dawn Araujo-Hawkins

Kansas State Collegian
Cooper Kinley

Kansas State University Athletics Communications
Cooper Kinley

KFOR
Marc Dillard
Jon Slater

KTUL
Bryan Clemmer
Andrejs Dabars
Maureen Wurtz

Land Line Magazine
John Bendel
Tyson Fisher

Lincoln Journal Star
Cindy Lange-Kubick
Peter Salter
Staff

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Staff

Oklahoma Humanities Magazine
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Carla Walker

The Oklahoman
Brianna Bailey
Jim Beckel
Jenni Carlson
Jaclyn Cosgrove
Josh Dulaney
Richard Hall
Carla Hinton
Doug Hoke
Adam Kemp
Chris Landsberger
Tim Money
Todd Pendleton
Sarah Phipps
Staff
Bryan Terry
Berry Tramel

Oklahoma Watch
Trevor Brown
Mollie Bryant
Jennifer Palmer
Warren Vieth

Omaha Magazine
Christopher Marshall
Doug Meigs
Joe Pankowski
Thomas Sanchez
Bill Sitzmann
Staff
Otis Twelve
Matt Wieczorek

Omaha World-Herald
Michael Boehnlein
Dirk Chatelain
Todd Cooper
Henry Cordes
Erin Duffy
Joe Dejka
Megan Farmer
Betsie Freeman
Matt Haney
Matthew Hansen
Sarah Baker Hansen
Sarah Hoffman
Steve Jordon
James Kellerman
Jeff Koterba
Chris Machian
Sam McKewon
Micah Mertes
Rich Mills
Michael O’Connor
Katie Myrick Parks
Tim Parks
Haylee Pearl
Tim Sacco
Aaron Sanderford
Barbara Soderlin
Ryan Soderlin
Staff
Brendan Sullivan
Jessica Thompson
Paige Yowell

Omaha World-Herald Magazine
Chris Christen
Heidi Thorson
Heather and Jameson
Jessica Luna
Kali Rahder

St. Louis Business Journal
Katlyn Keller
Jacob Kirn
Steph Kukuljan

St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Kurt Erickson
Benjamin Hochman
Dan Martin
Kevin McDermott
Tony Messenger
Jack Suntrup
Wade Wilson

 Sauce Magazine
Meera Nagarajan
Carmen Troesser

Sunflower Publishing
Kevin Anderson
Jason Dailey
Amber Fraley
Kelly Gibson
Brian Goodman
Jenni Leiste
Katie Moore
Amanda Nagengast
Nathan Pettengill
Bill Stephens

Tulsa Kids Magazine
Betty Casey
Diane Morrow-Kondos
Tara Rittler

TulsaPeople Magazine
Michelle Pollard

The Tulsa Voice
Madeline Crawford
Maxx Crawford
Angela Evans

Tulsa World
Mark Cooper
Andrea Eger
Wayne Greene
Kyle Margerum
Ian Maule
Stephen Pingry
Bruce Plante
Jessica Rodrigo
Mike Simons
Michael Smith
Staff
Tim Stanley
Cody Stavenhagen
Jimmie Tramel
Jessie Wardarski

Tulsa World Magazine
Jason Collington
Ginnie Graham
Debbie Jackson
Randy Krehbiel
Michael Overall
Staff’
Jimmie Tramel

Final details are being set for the 2018 Great Plains Journalism Awards.

On Thursday, May 3, The Tulsa Press Club will host a meet and greet from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the clubhouse. Mix and mingle with conference speakers, out-of-town journalists and guests. Free admission. Cash bar.

Purchase your luncheon ticket at shop.tulsapressclub.org. Tickets are $50; $45, student/media.

On Friday, May 4, conferences will be held in the Mayo Museum inside The Mayo Hotel, 115 W. Fifth St. (Click here for the 2018 schedule of events.)
10 a.m.: Louise Kiernan, Editor-in-Chief of ProPublica Illinois
Strategies for writing about complex topics

11 a.m.: Luncheon Registration

11:30 a.m.: Awards Luncheon — Welcome and Introduction, President’s Remarks, Awards Presentation (Lunch served during awards), Presentation of the Dan Harrison Memorial Scholarships, Distinguished Lectureship Speaker: Omar Villafranca. Luncheon at The Mayo Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom.

1 p.m.: Break

1:15 p.m.: Omar Villafranca, CBS News national correspondent
Covering natural disasters  

2 p.m.: Break

2:15 p.m.: Doug Dodd, partner with Doerner Saunders Daniel and Anderson
Social media and copyright compliance

3 p.m.: Break

3:15 p.m.: Andrea Leitch, Senior Digital Director, Travel and Adventure for National Geographic
Digital storytelling

4 p.m.: Break

5 p.m.: Happy Hour Reception
(All luncheon ticketholders are welcome to join us for a post-event reception at the Mayo’s Penthouse Bar.)

Thank you to our 2018 sponsors!
Publisher:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma
Cherokee Nation Businesses

Executive Editor:
ONEOK

Editor:
Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Hillcrest HealthCare System
Langdon Publishing
Mayo Hotel
ONE Gas
Trust Company of Oklahoma
Tulsa Community College
Tulsa World

Great Plains Journalism Awards, sponsored by the Tulsa Press Club, will welcome Omar Villafranca, correspondent with CBS News in its Southern Bureau, as its distinguished lecturer at its annual conference and awards luncheon May 4 at the Mayo Hotel.

Omar Villafranca CBS News Correspondent
Photo Cr.: Michele Crowe/CBS
©2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Villafranca’s assignments have sent him to the front lines of the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, and in 2017 placed him in the path of major hurricanes that battered the U.S. and the Caribbean. He also led CBS News’ coverage of a deadly shooting by a Tulsa County reserve deputy that eventually led to the resignation of the longtime Tulsa County Sheriff.

The Great Plains Journalism Awards is a regional contest honoring print, web, TV and magazine journalists for outstanding stories, photography and design. The eight-state competition includes Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. Entries are now being accepted for the 2018 contest. Entries must have been published between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2017. Finalists will be announced after an extensive judging process; winners will be awarded on May 4.

Joining Villafranca as featured speakers are S. Douglas “Doug” Dodd of Doerner, Saunders, Daniel & Anderson, LLP law firm in Tulsa, Andrea Leitch of National Geographic, and Louise Kiernan of ProPublica Illinois.

Dodd represents national and local media companies in media and intellectual property matters with an emphasis on First Amendment and defamation issues.

Leitch serves as Senior Director of Travel and Adventure. She oversees the digital strategy for NatGeoTravel.com and leads a team of editors, producers, and photo editors who tell stories about far-flung places, fascinating cultures, and amazing adventures across digital platforms.

Kiernan is editor-in-chief the first regional operation of ProPublica. She came to ProPublica from Northwestern University, where she was an associate professor of journalism, focusing on investigative and narrative reporting, and the leader of the program’s social justice and investigative journalism specialization.

Following its mission to promote high standards in journalism, the Tulsa Press Club will present Dan Harrison Memorial Scholarships to winners in five student categories. Students in attendance also will have the opportunity to have portfolio reviews with Villafranca.

Questions regarding contest submissions should be sent to greatplainsawards@gmail.com or call Anne Brockman at 918-585-9924, ext. 226 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.). Complete rules and regulations are available at greatplainswards.org.

Professional journalists and students can submit their entries for the 2018 awards. Deadline for entries is Jan. 31, 2018.

To promote the highest standards of journalism, the Tulsa Press Club and Benevolent Association presents the Great Plains Journalism Awards. Journalists from newspapers, magazines and websites across the region are invited to enter their best work from the 2017 calendar year. After an extensive judging process, winners will be recognized at a spring 2018 ceremony in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Details are still pending. Download a printer-friendly version of the brochure here.

The Tulsa Press Club is proud to announce the 2017 Great Plains Journalism Awards winners.

The Great Plains Journalism Awards is a regional contest honoring print, web, TV and magazine journalists for outstanding stories, photography and design. The eight-state competition includes Oklahoma, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Anthony Mason, CBS News’ senior national correspondent and co-host of CBS This Morning: Saturday, received the Distinguished Lectureship Award and gave the keynote lunch address at the May 1 event.

The top nine overall winners are:
Great Plains Newspaper of the Year: Omaha World-Herald
Great Plains Magazine of the Year: Tulsa World Magazine
Great Plains Website of the Year: The Des Moines Register
Great Plains Designer of the Year: Tim Parks, Omaha World-Herald
Great Plains Writer of the Year: Adam Kemp, The Oklahoman
Great Plains Newspaper Photographer of the Year: Laurie Skrivan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Great Plains Magazine Photographer of the Year: Bill Sitzmann, Omaha Magazine
Great Plains Magazine Writer of the Year: Mariam Makatsaria, Arkansas Life
Great Plains Student Newspaper of the Year: The Baker Orange

More than 600 entries were received this year, with winners and finalists named in 70 professional and student categories. Four student journalists were awarded $1,250 scholarships named after former Tulsa Press Club president and ONEOK executive Dan Harrison.

Thank you to our 2017 sponsors: BlueCross Blue Shield of Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation Businesses, ONEOK, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Hillcrest HealthCare System, ONE Gas, Trust Company of Oklahoma, Tulsa Community College and Tulsa World Media Company.

Below is a list of the 2017 Great Plains Journalism Awards winners and finalists by publication.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

• Project/Investigative Reporting: Lisa Hammersly, Brian Fanney
• Business Feature: Jessica Seaman, Emily Walkenhorst
• Food: Kelly Brant
• General News Photography: Mitchell Masilun
• Staff, finalist
• Kate Bridges, finalist
• John Brummett, finalist
• John Deering, finalist
• Matt Jones, finalist
• Nicholas Hunt, finalist
• Jeannie Roberts, finalist
• Paul Sawyer, finalist
• John Sykes Jr., finalist
• Stephen Thornton, finalist

Arkansas Life Magazine

• Feature Writing: Wyndham Wyeth
• Magazine Profile Writing: Mariam Makatsaria
• Magazine Page Design: Kelley Lane
• Magazine Specialty Photo: Rett Peek
• Bonnie Bauman, finalist
• Katie Bridges, finalist
• Jordan P. Hickey, finalist
• Nicholas Hunt, finalist
• Arshia Khan, finalist

The Daily Republic

• Sports Action Photography: Matt Gade

The Des Moines Register

• Beat Reporting: Mackenzie Ryan
• Specialty Feature: Kathy Bolten, Grant Rodgers, Brian Powers
• News Photography, Multiple: Brian Powers, Rodney White
• Courtney Crowder, finalist
• Michael Zamora, finalist

Fly Over Media

• Michael Todd, finalist

The Frontier

• Online Feature Writing: Ziva Branstetter
• Online General News: Kevin Canfield
• Dylan Goforth, finalist

KFOR

• Marc Dillard, finalist
• Kristen Shanahan, finalist
• Jon Welsh, finalist

KTUL

• Bryan Clemmer, finalist
• Kristen Dickerson, finalist
• Burt Mummolo, finalist
• Global Sisters Report
• Dawn Araujo-Hawkins, finalist

Lincoln Journal Star

• Personal Column Portfolio: Cindy Lange-Kubick
• Bria Christopherson, finalist
• Frances Gardler, finalist
• Peter Salter, finalist
• Steven M. Sipple, finalist

The New Territory

• Jacob Zlomke, finalist

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

• Editorial Portfolio: Doug Thompson
• Dan Holtmeyer, finalist
• Staff, finalist

The Oklahoman

• Sports Reporting: Berry Tramel, Jenni Carlson, Anthony Slater, Erik Horne
• Review: Brandy McDonnell
• Graphics/Illustration: Todd Pendleton
• Specialty Photo: Steve Gooch
• Portrait: Bryan Terry
• Sports Feature Photography: Bryan Terry
• Multimedia Graphic: Staff
• News Blog Writing: Steve Lackmeyer
• Website Design Project: Richard Hall, Tim Watson
• Staff, finalist
• Newsok.com, finalist
• Silas Allen, finalist
• Brianna Bailey, finalist
• Jim Beckel, finalist
• Ray Carter, finalist
• Jaclyn Cosgrove, finalist
• Melissa Howell, finalist
• Chris Landsberger, finalist
• Paul Monies, finalist
• Sarah Phipps, finalist
• Darla Slipke, finalist

Oklahoma Gazette

• Entertainment Feature: Ben Luschen

Oklahoma Humanities Magazine

• Anne Richardson, finalist
• Carla Walker, finalist

Oklahoma Watch

• Clifton Adcock, finalist
• Trevor Brown, finalist
• Jennifer Palmer, finalist
• Nate Robson, finalist
• Thomas Thoren, finalist
• Warren Vieth, finalist

Omaha Magazine

• Magazine Portrait: Bill Sitzmann
• Magazine Photography, Feature: Bill Sitzmann
• Magazine News Writing: Greg Jerrett, Sam S., Doug Meigs
• Marisa M. Cummings, finalist
• Kristen Hoffman, finalist
• Christopher Marshall, finalist
• Charles Trimble, finalist
• James Vnuk, finalist
• Douglas Wesselman, finalist
• Matt Wieczorek, finalist

Omaha World-Herald

• News Package: Henry Cordes, Matthew Hansen, Paul Goodsell, Mike Reilly, Matt Haney
• Narrative Story/Series: Dirk Chatelain
• Feature Writing: Dirk Chatelain
• Business Reporting: Cindy Gonzalez, Russell Hubbard
• Sports Feature: Dirk Chatelain
• Sports Column: Dirk Chatelain
• Special Section: Staff News
• Page Design: Ian Lawson
• Feature Page Design: Jessica Thompson
• Sports Page Design: Margaret Riedel
• Editorial Cartoon: Jeff Koterba
• Headline Portfolio: Haylee Pearl
• Feature Photography, Single: Ryan Soderlin
• General News Video: Brendan Sullivan
• Feature Video: Brendan Sullivan
• Sports Video: Megan Smith
• Sports Blog: Dirk Chatelain
• Staff, finalist
• Todd Cooper, finalist
• Megan Farmer, finalist
• Kate Folsom, finalist
• Erin Grace, finalist
• Matthew Hansen, finalist
• Sarah Baker Hansen, finalist
• Dave Croy, finalist
• Sarah Hoffman, finalist
• Micah Mertes, finalist
• Pam Miller Jenkins, finalist
• Katie Myrick, finalist
• Tim Parks, finalist
• Paul Sawyer, finalist
• Barbara Soderlin, finalist
• Ben Vankat, finalist
• Tammy Yttri, finalist

Presence Magazine

• Shane Bevel, finalist

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

• Spot News Photography: Robert Cohen
• Feature Photography, Multiple: Laurie Skrivan
• Online Project: Laurie Skrivan, Nancy Cambria, Josh Renaud
• Santiago Carlos Ayulo, finalist
• Blythe Bernhard, finalist
• Jesse Bogan, finalist
• Stephen Deere, finalist
• Ethan Erickson, finalist
• JB Forbes, finalist
• Ian Froeb, finalist
• Evan Hill, finalist
• Doug Moore, finalist
• Daniel Neman, finalist
• Judith Newmark, finalist
• Tod Robberson, finalist
• Ryan Soderlin, finalist

Sauce Magazine

• Magazine Cover: Carmen Troesser, Meera Nagarajan

Sunflower Publishing Magazine

• Photography, Multiple: Brian Goodman, Nathan Pettengill
• Sunny Bryant, finalist
• Ken Davis, finalist
• Seth Jones, finalist
• Jenni Leiste, finalist
• Doug Stremel, finalist
• Torren Thomas, finalist

Topeka Capital-Journal

• Staff, finalist
• Jan Biles, finalist
• Megan Chilson, finalist
• Stewart Cole, finalist

Tulsa Kids Magazine

• Magazine Column Writing: Kiley Roberson, Betty Casey
• Entertainment/Specialty Blog: Betty Casey

TulsaPeople Magazine

• Best Overall Website Design: Anna Bennett, Madeline Crawford

The Tulsa Voice

• Best Website Page Design: Madeline Crawford, Maxx Crawford

Tulsa World

• General News Reporting: Paighten Harkins, Corey Jones, Curtis Killman, Arianna Pickard, Samantha Vicent
• Spot News Video: Mike Simons
• Staff, finalist
• Mike Brown, finalist
• Scott Cherry, finalist
• Kelly Hines, finalist
• Ian Maule, finalist
• Bruce Plante, finalist
• Cody Stavenhagen, finalist
• Jimmie Tramel, finalist
• Jesse Wardarski, finalist
• Jerry Wofford, finalist
• Corey Young, finalist

Tulsa World Magazine

• John Clanton, finalist
• Christopher Smith, finalist
• Jimmie Tramel, finalist

Wichita Eagle

• Kelsey Ryan, finalist

STUDENT CATEGORIES

The Oracle – Oral Roberts University

• Dan Harrison Memorial Student Designer of the Year: Tabitha Levi
• oruoracle.com, finalist

The O’Colly – Oklahoma State University

• Dan Harrison Memorial Student Photographer of the Year: Kurt Steiss
• Dan Harrison Memorial Student Writer of the Year: Stetson Payne
• The O’Colly, finalist
• Nathan Ruiz, finalist
• Sierra Winrow, finalist

The Baker Orange – Baker University

• Dan Harrison Memorial Student Editor in Chief of the Year: Sarah Baker
• Lauren Freking, finalist

The Collegian – The University of Tulsa

• Elias Brinkman, finalist
• Dalton Stewart, finalist

The Connection – Tulsa Community College

• Cecil Sunny-Phillip, finalist
• Erica Wilson, finalist

Columbia Missourian – The University of Missouri

• Blake Nelson, finalist