The Wichitan, won the sweepstakes competition at the annual Texas Intercollegiate Pre

The Midwestern State University weekly student newspaper, The Wichitan, won the sweepstakes competition at the annual Texas Intercollegiate Press Association conference held last weekend in Austin. The Wichitan was ranked ahead of 16 other weekly newspapers across the state. Individual staff members won 27 awards, including 11 first place awards. The newspaper was also cited for this year's Best of Show award. This is the first sweepstakes award for The Wichitan after having placed second twice in the past five years. MSU's weekly newscast Campus Watch placed fourth in television sweepstakes and won six individual awards, including three first place awards. Just five points separated the top four schools. Thirteen additional MSU students won awards for internship work and on-site competitions. Students earning first place awards included: Alan Alberry, Amber Ashley, Bobby Hall and Tracy Simons, television documentary; Roberto Avey, Ashley Awtry, Amanda Carlson and Felicia Walker, television public affairs program; Zach Duncan, sports column; Carolyn Knothe, broadcast internship; Marcus Moody, illustration; Jessica Morris, news feature story; Jason Palmer, picture page design; Jason Palmer, sports action photo; Jason Palmer, sports feature photo; Jordan Ray, television non-feature story; Trey Reed, radio sportswriting; Camron Rushin, opinion page design; Samantha Sandell, feature story; Samantha Sandell, public relations internship; Matt Terrell, headline; Matt Terrell, humor column; Matt Terrell, news page design. Students earning second place awards included: Alan Alberry, Amber Ashley, Bobby Hall and Tracy Simons, television production; Ashley Dennis, public relations internship; Zach Duncan, sports news story; Zach Duncan, sports page design; Jason Palmer, information graphic. Students earning third place awards included: Alan Alberry, Amber Ashley, Bobby Hall and Tracy Simons, television public affairs program; Amanda Carlson, Zach Duncan and Trey Reed, television sportscast; Ya-Rei Chan and Jason Palmer, picture story; Zach Duncan, sports feature story; Zach Duncan, television advertising; Jason Palmer, feature photo; Jason Palmer, sports action photo; Camron Rushin, feature story; Neil Sommerlatte, radio advertising; Matt Terrell, critical review. Students earning honorable mention awards included: Amanda Carlson, general column; Ya-Rei Chan, feature photography; Ya-Rei Chan and Jason Palmer, photo essay; Paige Dickerson, radio newswriting; Zach Duncan, editorial writing; Jason Palmer, news photo; Jason Palmer, picture story; Jason Palmer, print internship; Jason Palmer, sports feature story; Jason Palmer, sports photography; Lindsey Rich, headline; Neil Sommerlatte, television newswriting; Alexis Stoddard, humor column; Matt Terrell, news story.