Marilee Lorusso
Staff Writer

For the second year in a row, the Campus Times took the the two highest honors – along with numerous other awards – at the Society of Professional Journalists Inland Southern Calforina Pro Chapter 2004 Excellence in Journalism Awards Banquet Saturday.

The Campus Times won the overall prize for Best College Newspaper, as well as the Sweepstakes Award for the most decorated student journalist, which went to senior journalism major Chrissy Zehrbach.

“It’s a big compliment to everyone you work with,” said Zehrbach, who was the newspaper’s editor in chief for fall 2004.

The former editor in chief was recognized for her story “Administrators spike men’s volleyball” which was awarded first for Best Sports Story.

She also took second place in the editorial category “No volleyball makes no cents.”

Zehrbach said both pieces required a lot time and research and she was proud of how they turned out.

“You never write something expecting to win an award,” she added.

Along with Zehrbach, several other Campus Times staff members were recognized for their work.

Junior Stephanie Duarte won second place in Best News Story category for “Founders suffers from years of neglect.”

Former student Kenneth Todd Ruiz took third in that category for “Dreier denied Honorary Degree.” He also took third place in the Best Feature Story Category for “War in Iraq weighing heavily on ULV senior.”

Junior John Patrick won second place in the Best Column category for “Welcome to Jonestown.” Senior Matt Paulson took third place in the Best Sports Story category for “Victory over Redlands, Cal Lu puts ULV on top.”

“We usually do very well, which makes me proud of our school and the publication,” said Paulson, who was editor in chief in fall 2003.

Senior Gloria Diaz was recognized with second place in the category of Best Layout/Design for “Dreaming the Night Away.”

To complete this photo spread on the ULV production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Diaz went to rehearsals for the play and spent time with the actors.

“When you get something like this, it pays off,” she said.

Sophomore German Jimenez won first place for Best Sports Photo for “Women’s Basketball vs. La Sierra.

SPJ is nation’s largest professional journalism association. Many universities including UC Riverside and Cal Poly Pomona, competed with ULV, with professional journalists serving as judges.

“It’s a tribute to the students’ hard work and the newspaper’s continued growth and improvement,” said Elizabeth Zwerling, faculty adviser to the Campus Times and assoicate professor of journalism.

Marilee Lorusso can be reached at mlorusso@ulv.edu.