The Gargoyle student newspaper and its journalists earn five Sunshine State Awards

Flagler College students and student-produced newspaper, The Gargoyle, won five Sunshine State Awards collectively on Aug. 4 at the 24^th Annual Sunshine State Awards.

Hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists Florida Pro Chapter, The Sunshine State Awards competition is open to all professional and student print, broadcast and online journalists in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This year, a new disaster reporting category was added to recognize work during the previous hurricane season.

“It’s an amazing showing by Flagler students, and says a lot about our Communication students,” said Brian Thompson, staff adviser of The Gargoyle.

Gargoyle students took third place in Best Disaster Reporting, behind WUFT, the PBS station in Gainesville at University of Florida.

“I’m especially proud to win these awards while competing against much larger universities across the state. It goes to show that the quality of work coming from The Gargoyle is some of the best out there,” said Gargoyle editor Katie Garwood.

Garwood won three individual awards. The other individual winner, Katherine Lewin, graduated this past spring and is currently working on a post-graduate project with Professor Tracey Eaton in Cuba.

Categories and winning entries:

Best Website

1. Flagler College Gargoyle – Staff, Flagler College Gargoyle
2. The Miami Hurricane – Sherman Hewitt, Jackie Yang, Mackenzie Miller & Thomas Fletcher, The Miami Hurricane website
3. Lynn iPulse – Adam Yurkiewitz & Brian Martin, iPulse News Website, Lynn University

Best News Story

1. The Miami Hurricane – Israel Aragon Bravo, Local residents and UM students discuss legacy of 1980 Miami Riots
2. Flagler College Gargoyle – Katie Garwood, Residents still reeling from second hurricane hit in a year
3. Flagler College Gargoyle – Katherine Lewin, Flooding leaves refugee family with moldy apartment

Best Coverage of Race and Minorities

1. The Current – Dorothy-Mae Eldemire, Recent NFL protests lack purpose
2. Flagler College Gargoyle – Katie Garwood, Keeping with his church’s tradition, Rawls speaks up for community
3. The Miami Hurricane – Marcus Lim, Staying in the United States proves a huge hurdle for some students

Best Disaster Reporting

1. WUFT News – Grace King, Janae Muchmore, Luke Sullivan & Erin O’Halloran, Hurricane Irma Aftermath
2. WUFT News – Andrea Cornejo, Strength In the Storm
3. Flagler College Gargoyle – Katie Garwood, Residents still reeling from second hurricane hit in a year

The entire list of categories and winners can be viewed on the SPJ website (student categories are at the bottom under the pro media awards) by clicking HERE.