University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Journalism rising senior Chris Will and  the student staff of The Independent Florida Alligator are the recipients of Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) 2022 National Mark of Excellence (MOE) Awards. These awards honor the best collegiate work published or broadcast in 2022.

Will received first place in the News Videography category for “Operation Island Rescue.” The story chronicled his trip to Pine Island, Florida, to get a sense of the full destruction following Hurricane Ian. Will also was a finalist in the Hearst Journalism Awards National Championships television category.

The Independent Florida Alligator student staff will receive the Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper in the large student enrollment category. The award, named after the co-founder of The Chronicle of Higher Education and the founder of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, includes a $5,000 prize provided by The Chronicle.

Entries that received first-place in one of SPJ’s 12 regional competitions advanced to the national competition. This year, 61 students and staff from 37 universities across the U.S. and Canada are being recognized as national winners.

National winners will now advance to the contest for the MOEy Best in Show. The MOEy and the Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper will be presented virtually during the Sigma Delta Chi awards ceremony on June 17. This virtual event can be viewed here.

Posted: June 9, 2023
Category: College News, Student News
Tagged as: Chris Will, SPJ 2022 National Mark of Excellence Awards, SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards, The Independent Florida Alligator