TROY – Four Troy University journalism students have been ranked among the region’s best by The Society of Professional Journalists, and the University’s nightly news TrojanVision has earned accolades.

In this year’s, Region 3 Mark of Excellence Award competition, collegiate journalists submitted more than 3,100 entries in 43 categories.

Earning Mark of Excellence awards from TROY are:

Erica Proffer, a senior broadcast journalism student from Newville, garnered first place in the television news category, and third place in television breaking news

Tropolitan editor Sam Neely, a senior print journalism major from Huntsville, took a third-place award for editorial writing.

Greg Phillips, a senior broadcast journalism major from Mobile, earned a second-place finish in the sports column category and Michael Rodgers, a junior print journalism major from Red Level, earned a third-place award in sports writing.

The TrojanVision team earned a second-place award for its television newscast.

The honorees were awarded certificates on April 8 at the Region 3 Conference held at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga. First place regional winners will advance to the national round of judging which takes place in early April. Winners will be announced in mid May.

In addition to the Society of Professional Journalists’ awards, the Alabama Associated Press Broadcasters Association named three TROY students as award winners: Proffer, for Best News Anchor, Josh Gauntt, a sophomore broadcast journalism major from Valley, for Best Feature Reporter, and Dava Snell, a senior broadcast journalism major from Slocomb, for Best Use of Medium in radio broadcasts.

In the Southeastern Journalism Conference Best in the South Awards, Proffer earned a fourth-place award for Best Feature Reporter, Bridget Coleman, senior broadcast journalism major from Brantley, and Asriel Stevens, a senior broadcast journalism major from Dothan, earned a second-place award for Best Radio Journalists, and TrojanVision earned the number one spot as Best TV Station.

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