JJC Student Newspaper Brings Home Multiple Awards

Writers at The Blazer, Joliet Junior College’s student-run newspaper, won 19 awards at the annual spring conference and contest of the Illinois Community College Association.

Eight individual reporters took home hardware in categories ranging from headline writing and news and sports stories.

"I am always excited to see The Blazer staff rewarded for their hard work,” said Robert Marcink, JJC English professor and academic advisor for The Blazer. “They put in a lot of time trying to bring the news of the campus to the college community, and the awards tell them that they are doing the job right.”

Three students earned multiple awards. Adam Tumino’s five awards include first place for Sports News and Headline Writing and third place for Reporter of the Year. Among Joseph Crump’s four total awards were first place for Sports Feature and second for Sports Feature Photo. Leonna Toodle won second for News Photo and Feature Photo.

The full list of award recipients is as follows:

Adam Tumino - Lockport

First Place for Sports News

First place for Headline Writing in Division 1

Second Place for Sports Column in Division 1

Third Place for Reporter of the Year in the open category

Third Place for News Story in Division 1

Joseph Crump - Joliet

First Place for Sports Feature in Division 1

Second Place for Feature Photo and Sports News in Division 1

Third Place for News Story in Division 1

Third Place for Editorial Writer of the Year in the open category.

Jarek Martinez - Plainfield

First Place for Headline in Division 1

Joe Bielanski - Lockport

First Place for Sports Feature in Division 1

Leonna Toodle - Detroit, Michigan

Second Place for News Photo in Division 1

Second Place for Feature Photo in Division 1

Sean O'Dell - Peotone

Honorable Mention for Feature Writing in Division 1

Madeline Wheaton - Plainfield

Second Place for Page Design in Division 1

Malek Clay - Chicago

Honorable Mention for Feature Writing in Division 1

The Blazer also won three team awards; third for General Excellence in Division 1, third for Website in the open category, and honorable mention for News Story of the Year in the open category.

Last semester, JJC’s student newspaper also received first place honors for Best in Show at the Illinois Community College Journalist Association fall Conference.

"The awards are a testament to the writing instruction the students get here at JJC. I teach them the the journalistic style, but they have to have a strong writing foundation to adapt to that style," said Marcink.

For media inquiries, contact Communications and Media Coordinator Scott Harvey at 815-280-2844 or sharvey@jjc.edu.