NDPC 2015 Communications Contest Winners

Winners of the 2015 North Dakota Professional Communicators Communications Contest were recognized at the NDPC annual spring conference in Grand Forks, N.D.

Twenty-five members earned 103 awards for their work in print media, photography, advertising, writing for and development of the web, promotion, public relations, marketing, speeches and books.

The first-place awards have been entered in the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) contest. Winners in that competition will be announced at the NFPW annual conference in Anchorage, A.K. Sept. 10-12, 2015.

Linda Sailer, Dickinson, N.D., won first place in the sweepstakes competition. Anne Denholm, Valley City, N.D., took second. Sarah Hoffbeck, Fergus Falls, Minn., and Jeanine Larson, West Fargo, N.D., tied for third. Sweepstakes winners are determined by a point system. Points vary depending on the number of entries in each category. The more entries in a category, the higher number of points awarded to those placing in the category.

NDPC is the state affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women, an organization of communications professionals from across the United States. NDPC is an organization of women and men employed in all aspects of communication: newspapers, public relations, education, magazines, television, radio, publishing, advertising, photography and freelance. 

Individual winners at the state level were:

Jane Ahlin, Fargo, N.D.
First: Writing - Columns - Personal Opinion (bylined, not editorial)

Anne Denholm, Valley City, N.D.
First: Sections or Supplements (Infrequent) - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper publication
First: Page design - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper publication
First: Single photograph - News or feature photo
First: Photographer-writer
Second: Photographer-writer
Second: Columns - Personal Opinion (bylined, not editorial)
Third: News Story - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper print publication
Third: Publications regularly edited by entrant - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper publication
Third: Single photograph - News or feature photo
Honorable Mention: Single photograph - News or feature photo

Karena Carlson, Fargo, N.D.
First: Public Service
Second: Publications regularly edited by entrant - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper publication

Carrie Carney, Fargo, N.D.
First: Direct-mail marketing  

Ellen Crawford, Fargo, N.D.
First: Specialty articles - Agriculture, Agribusiness, Aquaculture
First: Publications regularly edited by entrant - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper publication
First: News or feature releases – multiple releases
Second: News Story - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper print publication
Third: Reports (including, but not limited to, annual reports)

Lisa Farnham, Fargo, N.D.
First: Columns – General
First: Feature story - Online publication
First: Reports (including, but not limited to, annual reports)
First: Brochures - Nonprofit, government, or educational
Second: News or feature release – single release
Second: Newsletters - Nonprofit, government, or educational

Sarah Hoffbeck, Fergus Falls, Minn.
First: News or feature release – single release
First: Writing for the Web
First: Blogs - Nonprofit, government, or educational
First: Newsletters - Nonprofit, government, or educational
Second: Personality profile - 500 words or fewer
Third: Specialty articles – Education
Third: Writing for the Web
Third: Blogs - Nonprofit, government, or educational
Third: Newsletters - Nonprofit, government, or educational
Honorable Mention: Writing for the Web

Merrie Sue Holtan, Perham, Minn.
First: Specialty articles – Sports
Second: Personality profile - More than 500 words
Second: Feature story - Print-based newspaper
Second: Feature story - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper print publication
Second: Specialty articles - Home (interior decor, furniture, architecture, landscaping)
Third: Personality profile - More than 500 words

Pam Knudson, Grand Forks, N.D.
First: Feature story - Print-based newspaper
First: Specialty articles – Education
First: Specialty articles - Social issues
First: News Story - Print-based Newspaper
Second: Specialty articles - Physical health, fitness, mental health, self-help

Becky Koch, Fargo, N.D.
First: Magapapers/Tabloids

Kelly Krenzel, Fargo, N.D.
Honorable Mention: Personality profile - More than 500 words
Honorable Mention: Blogs - Nonprofit, government, or educational

Jeanine Larson, West Fargo, N.D.
First: Website edited or managed by entrant
First: Web and Social Media – Blogs
First: Social Media Campaign - Corporate or for-profit
Second: Web and Social Media - 27 - Writing for the Web
Second: Website edited or managed by entrant - Corporate or for-profit
Second: Web and Social Media - Blogs - Corporate or for-profit 
Second: Communications programs and campaigns - Community, institutional, or internal relations
Third: Web and Social Media - Social Media Campaign - Corporate or for-profit
Honorable Mention: Web and Social Media - Writing for the Web
Honorable Mention: Communications programs and campaigns - Community, institutional, or internal relations

Pam Musland, Jamestown, N.D.
First: Personality profile - 500 words or fewer

Tracy Nicholson, Fargo, N.D.
First: Editorial / Opinion - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper print publication
First: Specialty articles - Home (interior decor, furniture, architecture, landscaping)
First: Page/Section/Supplement regularly edited by entrant - Magazine, newsletter, other non-newspaper pub

Bonnie Oeschlager, Fargo, N.D.
First: Specialty articles - Physical health, fitness, mental health, self-help
Second: Website edited or managed by entrant - Nonprofit, government, or educational

Denise Pinkney, Fargo, N.D.
Second: Blogs - Nonprofit, government, or educational
Honorable Mention: Blogs - Nonprofit, government, or educational
Honorable Mention: Newsletters - Nonprofit, government, or educational

Carol Renner, Fargo, N.D.
Second: Reports (including, but not limited to, annual reports)
Third: News or feature release – single release

Linda Sailer, Dickinson, N.D.
First: Personality profile - More than 500 words
First: Specialty articles – Business
First: Single page/Section/Supplement regularly edited by entrant – Newspaper
First: Page design – Newspaper
First: Headlines
Second: Specialty articles – Education
Second: Single photograph - News or feature photo
Third: Feature story - Print-based newspaper
Third: Photographer-writer
Honorable Mention: Specialty articles - Arts and entertainment
Honorable Mention: Specialty articles - Hobby or craft
Honorable Mention: Specialty articles - Social issues

Lisa Steffens, Moorhead, Minn.
First: Website edited or managed by entrant - Nonprofit, government, or educational 

Danielle Teigen, Fargo, N.D.
Third: Feature story - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper print publication

Darrel Veldhouse, Moorhead, Minn.
First: Feature story - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper print publication
First: News Story - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper print publication
First: Audiovisuals
Second: Social Media Campaign - Corporate or for-profit
Honorable Mention: News Story - Magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper print publication

View winners list>>