The Illinois Community College Journalism Association recognized the newspaper as First Place in Merit and First Place in Excellence Overall for issues published from March 2000 through February 2001. In both categories, the Apache tied with the Harbinger published at Illinois Central College.
Apache editor Nate Bloomquist earned five individual awards, and managing editor Dave Msseemmaa earned six.
The individual awards included five First Place Awards:
- In Features, a story about the Shippingsport Bridge by Bloomquist.
- In Photo Spread, a two-page feature about the Shippingsport Bridge by Msseemmaa.
- In Opinions, a column headlined "One face of racism can stay away" by Msseemmaa.
- In Sports News, a story about the women's tennis team looking to nationals by Msseemmaa.
- In Layout, to the editorial staff.
Second Place Awards were:
- In Features, a story headlined "India earthquake hits home for English instructor" by Msseemmaa.
- In Photo Spread, a one-page feature about a geology field trip by Jennifer Petersen.
- In Computer Graphics, a graphic of enrollment, by the editorial staff.
Third Place Awards were:
- In News, a story about the college schedules being late by Bloomquist.
- In Opinions, a column headlined "This paper isn't fit to be trashed or hidden" by Bloomquist.
- In Sports Features, a story about athlete study groups by Bloomquist.
- In Sports Features, a story about coaches recruiting by Bloomquist.
- In Single Photos, a picture of the First Responders by Msseemmaa.
- In Freehand Cartoon, an illustration of campus construction by Scott Wollack.
- In Computer Graphics, a one-page design headlined "Making the Grade," which graded the basketball teams by Msseemmaa.
The Merit Award is based on awards won by individual staff members. The award for Overall Excellence is based on an evaluation of three issues of the newspaper. The Apache is judged in competition with other tri-weekly or monthly community college newspapers.
Bloomquist and Msseemmaa attended the ICCJA conference at Northern Illinois University April 23 where the awards were presented.
The Apache has earned a First or Second Place in the state competition every year since 1986. This is the first year the newspaper has won a First Place in both categories since the Overall Excellence Award was added three years ago.
In other competition, the Apache was named a First Place newspaper and recognized for Best Sports Coverage by the American Scholastic Press Association. The sports award was for stories published in the March 13, 2000, issue under the supervision of sports editor John Baracani.
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