Corban Sweeps Top Journalism Awards at Competition

“Corban has made its name now. They came out of nowhere and surprised other schools, which are going to redouble their efforts,” said Karen Willoughby, Corban’s journalism instructor in 2005.

Corban students Photo by: Tim King

(SALEM) - Corban students took top awards at this year’s Baptist Press Collegiate Journalism Conference in Nashville, Tenn.

Corban’s Hilltop Yearbook took first place in the overall yearbook category, besting second-place-finisher University of Mary-Hardin Baylor and third-place-finisher Liberty University.

Corban’s yearbook’s editor was Michelle Zarfas, a junior and education major.

“I’m extremely proud of Michelle and the entire journalism staff. Everyone worked many long hours to create such an incredible yearbook,” said journalism instructor Christena Brooks. “Michelle brought vision and dedication to the project, and our journalists stepped up to the plate to make it happen.”

“It’s very exciting, it’s rewarding, and it shows what we can do. I’m very proud of everybody,” said Ellen Kersey, co-advisor of student publications.

Corban’s newspaper, Hilltop News, took second place among colleges with 1,000-or-fewer students. The newspaper finished behind Union University’s Cardinal & Cream and ahead of The Cobbler of William Carey College and The Banner of California Baptist College.

Leading the newspaper to its prize were Charissa Bernard, assistant editor in fall 2005 and editor in 2006; Caleb Crossman, editor in 2005; and Lyndsey Hawk, assistant editor in 2006.

“Every student-journalist at Corban deserves to be congratulated for his or her contribution to our strong showing at this national competition,” Brooks said.

In addition to group awards, the Baptist Press gave individual prizes to three Corban students.

Grad Josh Bronson, now a sports editor in Brookings, won first place for a center-spread design, while senior Quinn Neely and grad Ashley Walbridge earned second and third place, respectively, for news-writing.