SEARCY — Harding University students returned from the 25th annual Southeast Journalism Conference held Feb. 18-19 in Troy, Ala., with several awards for their work with the campus newspaper, the Bison, and website, the Link.
The students’ submissions for the Best of the South competition were among 331 entries from 33 eligible schools.
Participating schools were located throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.
The Bison campus newspaper ranked seventh among the 33 competing newspapers eligible for the Best College Newspaper category.
The school outranked several others, including the University of Alabama. Senior print journalism major and Bison editor-in-chief Sarah Kyle of Fort Collins, Colo., attended the conference to accept the award.
The Link campus website ranked fifth in the Best College News Website category, outranking several schools, including the University of Mississippi.
Senior public relations major and Link editor Tiffany Jones of Falls Church, Va., attended the conference to accept the award.
Senior print journalism major and Bison opinion editor Jessica Ardrey ranked sixth in the Opinion Writing category.
Sophomore graphic design major and Bison graphic designer Henrique Ruiz ranked fourth in the Graphic Design category.
Kyle also placed first in an on-site communication law competition.
The Southeast Journalism Conference serves as a learning experience and competition for students of the organization’s member schools.
The organization ranks students involved in campus newspaper, television and radio across 24 categories.
It also hosts several workshops for students to attend throughout the two-day conference to help them improve their skills and network with other student journalists.