The IV LEADER inherited a tradition of excellence that stretches back to its earliest predecessor the Hi-Co Scanner, founded in 1933. In recent years, the newspaper has regularly been recognized as First Class and awarded Marks of Distinction by the Associated Collegiate Press; in 1989 the newspaper, then called the Apache, was named an All American. The newspaper is also regularly named First Place or First Place With Special Merit by the American Scholastic Press Association., and staff members have won several individual awards from the A.S.P.A.
The staff has also won three Gold Circle Awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, one for a column, one for a photo spread and one for a freehand cartoon, and a staff member was a finalist in Rolling Stone Magazine’s Collegiate Journalist of the Year competition for a feature story.
At the state level, the newspaper has won first or second place among tri-weekly and monthly community college newspapers every year since 1986. And staff members regularly win numerous individual awards in the Illinois Community College Journalism Association’s yearly competition.
In 2002, the newspaper won two First Place awards and one Second Place in the Southern Illinois University Community College Newspaper Awards, the first year the newspaper participated in that competition. The newspaper received First for Excellence in Graphic Design, tied for First in Excellence in News Photography, and was Second in Overall Excellence. The SIU-C journalism staff evaluated three issues, in each category, published during 2002.
David Msseemmaa, Managing Editor during 2001-2002, received a Certificate of Merit in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Awards for a column entitled "One Face of Racism Can Stay Away." In that national competition, which judged community college and university newspapers together, only three of the 200 awards presented, were won by community college students. Msseemmaa's column had won a First Place in the state competition in spring 2001. Msseemmaa also was awarded Best News Photograph from the American Scholastic Press Association for a photo of the Shippingsport Bridge.
The staff won First Place in Overall Excellence, Second Place in Merit and 13 individual awards from the Illinois Community College Journalism Association in competition with other tri-weekly and monthly newspapers. Overall Excellence is based on an evaluation of three issues; Merit is based on individual awards won. The competition covers issues published from March through February.
The individual awards the staff won from the Illinois Community College Journalism Association were:
1st in Features to Jamie Annel, Beth Kalisiak and Cassie Pratt for "Instructor Discusses Guatemala Visit."
1st in Sports News to Billy Cruz for "Koopmann's Eagles Ranked #2 in Nation."
1st in Arts to Nick Tintori and Micah Riordan for "Trailer Worth Cloning."
1st in Arts to "Weezer Gives Double the Fun at Shows" to Jim Morris.
2nd in News to Nate Bloomquist for "Phase II of Campus Renovations Begins."
2nd in Layout to the Editorial Staff (for March 19, 2001, May 3, 2001, Dec. 6, 2001.)
3rd in Opinion to Marla Buchanan for "Yep, I'm White Trash...and Proud of It."
3rd in Editorial to Manuel Garcia Sanchez and Brooke Fisher for "Oops, We Did It Again."
3rd in Sports News to Billy Cruz for "Eagles Overcome Adversity, Adjust Chemistry."
3rd in Features to Dave Msseemmaa for "Teachers, Students Divided on Mascot Issue."
3rd in Single Photo to Marc Znaniecki for "Looking Through a Glass Eye."
3rd in Computer Graphics to Nate Bloomquist and Dave Msseemmaa for "Water Cooler Talk for the IVCC Board."
3rd in Freehand Cartoon to Aaron Coley for "This hurts me...."
In 2001 the staff won First Place in Merit, First Place in Overall Excellence and 15 individual awards from the Illinois Community College Journalism Association in competition with other tri-weekly and monthly newspapers. This year was the first time the staff ranked first in both categories: Merit based on individual awards and Overall Excellence based on evaluation of three issues.
The newspaper was also recognized for Outstanding Sports Coverage by the American Scholastic Press Association for the March 13, 2000 issue. John Baracani was the sports editor at that time.
The individual awards the staff won from the Illinois Community College Journalism Association were:
1st in Features to Nate Bloomquist for "Local bridge spans a gap across time"
1st in Photo Spread to Dave Msseemmaa for "Local bridge spans a gap across time"
1st in Opinion to Dave Msseemmaa for "One face of racism can stay away"
1st in Sports News to Dave Msseemmaa for "Lady netters have hopes set on national tourney"
1st in Layout for issues dated April 27, 2000; Dec, 7, 2000; and Feb. 1, 2001.
2nd in Features to Dave Msseemmaa for "India earthquake hits home for English instructor"
2nd in Photo Spread to Jennifer Petersen for "Geology students trip on big rocks"
2nd in Computer Graphics to the staff for "Who are we?"
3rd in News to Nate Bloomquist for "College not to blame for late schedules"
3rd in Opinion to Nate Blomquist for "This paper isn't fit to be trashed or hidden"
3rd in Sports Feature to Nate Bloomquist for "Athlete Study Groups"
3rd in Sports Feature to Nate Bloomquist for "Recruiting: College coaches busy in off season"
3rd in Single Photo to Dave Msseemmaa for "1 and 2 and 3...: First Responders"
3rd in Freehand Cartoon to Scott Wollack for "And you thought surviving freshman year meant passing your classes"
3rd in Computer Graphics to Dave Msseemmaa for "Making the grade"
In 2000 the staff won First Place in Merit, 18 individual awards and Third Place in Overall Excellence from the Illinois Community College Journalism Association in competition with other tri-weekly and monthly newspapers. The individual awards were:
1st in News to Nate Bloomquist and Jo Zulkowsky for "Bomb Scare Evacuates College"
1st in Single Photo to April Biswell for "Hey guys, wait up"
1st in Single Photo to Nate Bloomquist for "Looks like this is laundry day"
1st in Arts to Ted McLendon for "Cheeseball Radio"
1st in Sports Feature to Holli L. Rapp for "Strong View About Apache Nickname Expressed"
1st in Sports Feature to Holli L. Rapp for "Bice Spices up Lady Apaches"
1st in Computer Graphics to Editorial Staff for "IVCC Students Spring Semester"
1st in Computer Graphics to Editorial Staff for "Final Exam Schedule"
2nd to Staci J. Sessler in news for "$23 Million Construction Plan Proposed"
2nd in Photo Spread to Staci J. Sessler for "Geology Students Rock and Roll"
2nd in Photo Spread to Staci J. Sessler for "Soberfest a Reality Check"
2nd in Arts to Ted McLendon for "Two Essential Additions"
2nd in Sports News to Nate Bloomquist for "Lady Apaches Are Among Nation's Elite"
2nd in Freehand Cartoon to Gerry Dowell for "Wouldn't it be Cheaper to Move the Parking Lots?"
2nd in Layout to Editorial Staff
3rd in Features to Randa Anthony and Amy Vohs for "Jagasia: From India to IVCC"
3rd in Editorials to Randa Anthony and Nate Bloomquist for "New Books Create New Headaches"
3rd in Sports News to John Baracani for "Apaches 4 - 1 in Conference, Share Lead"
In 1999 the staff won First Place in Merit and 11 individual awards from the Illinois Community College Journalism Association in competition with other tri-weekly and monthly newspapers. The individual awards were:
1st in Editorials to Staci J. Sessler for "Stressed Out Now,"
1st in Criticism of the Arts to Julie Goetsch for a column on Jerry Springer
1st in Freehand Cartoon to Gerry Dowell for a cartoon about problems with the biology lab ventilation system
1st in Single Photo to Holli L. Rapp for a women's basketball photo, "Outta my way"
1st in Single Photo to Holli L. Rapp for a photo captioned "Baby, sitting"
1st in Sports News to John Baracani for "Season Canceled, Conroy Out"
2nd in News to Jo Zulkowsky for "Rambo Hits Cyberspace in 1999"
2nd in News to Jo Zulkowsky for "$1 Million Spent on Upgrading"
2nd in Opinion to Al Steinz for a column "Valentine's Day or Valentine's Dollar"
3rd in Freehand Cartoon to Aubrey Walder for a cartoon about Funny Fotos
3rd in Features to April Biswell for "Reggie Registration Comes to Life"