Antonio Garcia among 15 staff members of The Signal to win top awards

2015 Feb 10

The staff of Georgia State University's student newspaper, The Signal, took home a total of 15 awards at the Georgia College Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest Feb. 7 in Athens, Ga., recognizing excellence among student newspapers at Georgia colleges and universities. The Signal competed in Division A against some of the largest college newspapers in Georgia.

Honors include winning first in General Excellence, the top award for GCPA for the fourth year running. The Signal placed second in Sports, News, Features and General Photography, and was the third-place winner in the Best Website category.

Staff from The Signal were also elected to serve on the GCPA board, with Antonio Garcia elected as president, Zoya Hasnain as secretary, and Ciara Frisbie as a board member for 4-year schools.

The Signal move on to the Southeast Journalism Conference on Feb. 28, where the newspaper and its staff are nominated for 11 individual awards. The conference will be hosted by Georgia State's at its Student Center and the Ramada Plaza Capitol Park Atlanta.

Students elected to serve on the GCPA board

President: Antonio Garcia

Secretary: Zoya Hasnain

Board member (for 4 year schools): Ciara Frisbie

General Placements

1st place, Division A: General Excellence

2nd place, Division A: Sports, News, Features, General Photography

3rd place, Division A: Website

Individual Placements

1st place winners, Group I (freshman/sophomores):

Ciara Frisbie (Best News Article based on Investigative Reporting)

Alex Kugaczewski (Best Entertainment Story)

Ruth Pannill (Best Photograph - News)

Nichole Place (Best Column)

1st place winners, Group II (juniors/seniors):

Candra Umunna in Best Editorial or Feature Photograph

2nd place winners, Group II

Staff (Best Editorial or Editorial Series)

Johnny Gipson/Becca Long/ Emily Lasher (Best Entertainment Feature)

3rd place winners, Group I

Lauren Booker (Best News Article based on Investigative Reporting)

3rd place winners, Group II

Leah Jordan (Best Feature Story)

Johnny Gipson (Best Entertainment Feature)

Candra Umunna (Best Editorial or Feature Photograph)

Alec McQuade (Best News Article based on Investigative Reporting)