Students from Logos magazine, the Clarion newspaper and the Citrus College journalism program joined faculty advisors Patrick Schmiedt and Meg O'Neil at an April reception celebrating their accomplishments. Photo courtesy Kevin Alvarez.

Students from Logos magazine, the Clarion newspaper and the Citrus College journalism program joined faculty advisors Patrick Schmiedt and Meg O'Neil at an April reception celebrating their accomplishments. Photo courtesy Kevin Alvarez.

JOURNALISM STUDENTS HONORED AT SPECIAL RECEPTION

Citrus College celebrated the success of its journalism students at a recent reception hosted by the superintendent/president's office in the second floor lobby of the Visual Arts Building.

During the reception, the college superintendent/president congratulated the students and their faculty advisors, Meg O'Neil and Patrick Schmiedt, for the impressive performance of the college's student publications at the state convention of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC). She also praised students Megan Bender and Jessica Sosa for receiving the only two scholarships awarded by JACC this year.

In March, the Citrus College students competed against nearly 40 California community colleges at the convention, winning three important team awards and 20 individual awards. In addition, Megan and Jessica were awarded the two $500 scholarships the JACC presents to students planning to transfer to four-year institutions.

"These remarkable achievements are an indication of the students' abilities as well as a reflection of the college's outstanding journalism program," said the college superintendent/president.

The Clarion newspaper and Logos magazine were both presented with a General Excellence award, the highest honor JACC bestows upon a student publication. In addition, the Citrus College journalism program was one of four in California to be named a "Pacesetter."

The 20 individual student awards were won in on-the-spot and mail-in competitions. These included on-the-spot news judgment/layout, on-the-spot copy editing, mail-in feature story, mail-in magazine cover design and 13 other categories.

"I applaud the students of Logos magazine and the Clarion newspaper. They clearly take pride in their work and, because of this, have established Citrus College as a leader in journalism education," the college superintendent/president said at the event. "I also extend my sincere appreciation to faculty members Meg O'Neil and Patrick Schmiedt for developing the knowledge and skills of these students. Your direction and guidance have earned the college's journalism program a well-deserved reputation for excellence."

This article originally appeared in the May 2017 edition of the Citrus View.