North Central College student journalists earn three awards at state competition

North Central College student journalists earned three awards Feb. 22-23 during the 30th annual Illinois College Press Association (ICPA) convention.

North Central’s student-run newspaper, The Chronicle, received three awards in a division for schools with enrollment of fewer than 4,000 students. Senior Rachael Hilton of Naperville, an English/journalism major, earned a third-place honor in the Feature Story category. Former Chronicle editor Rebecca Creamer, a 2012 graduate, received the third-place spot in the Non-Sports Column category. Staff writers and editors of The Chronicle earned an honorable mention in the General Excellence category.

College newspapers from institutions of all sizes across Illinois, including staff members of The Chronicle, attended the conference  Feb. 22-23 in Chicago. Editors from the Illinois Press Association were enlisted to judge entries from students in a variety of newspaper-related categories.

In addition to awards, North Central students were able to gather valuable information from seminars during the ICPA convention. Keynote speaker Shamus Toomey, managing editor of DNAinfo.com Chicago, was joined by several Chicago-area journalists, including Chuck Burke, senior editor and designer of the Chicago Tribune, to teach the next generation of reporters and editors critical skills in the field.

North Central's Chronicle student newspaper, which was first published in 1873, may be viewed online at chronicle.noctrl.edu. The newspaper’s faculty advisor is Kay O’Donnell, assistant professor of journalism. North Central College offers majors in journalism, interactive media and other areas of communication studies. Visit northcentralcollege.edu/majors/journalism to learn more about North Central's journalism program. Visit illinoiscollegepress.wordpress.com to learn more about the ICPA.