Drake student work has reached the finals of the Society of Professional Journalists Region 7 Mark of Excellence contest. Winners will be announced at the region’s annual conference at the University of Central Missouri on April 5–6. The Drake finalists are:

• Best Independent Online Student Publication: Urban Plains
• Best Podcast: Hold Up, Jessica Spangler and Mitch Kedzior
• Best Online Sports Reporting: Jessica Spangler
• Best Online Feature: Samantha Ohlson
• Best Student Magazine: Drake Magazine
• Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper: Times-Delphic
• General News Reporting: Rachel James and Phong Ly
• Breaking News Reporting: Marie Nalan
• Best Online Sports Reporting: Andrew Beall
• General News Photography: Grace Hulin
• Breaking News Photography: Lorien MacEnulty
• Best Sports Photography: J.D. Pelegrino

Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication