The Rocket captures six Gold Circle Awards

Karleigh Santry, a 2016 Slippery Rock University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in communication: emerging technology, finished second in the computer generated art/illustration category for “Rock basketball prepares to go head-to-head with PSAC rivals.”

March 8, 2017

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Rocket, the independent, student-run newspaper at Slippery Rock University, has captured six awards in the news and design divisions of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association's 34th Gold Circle Awards for outstanding collegiate journalism.

The Rocket placed in the categories of sports features, single spot news photography, single feature photograph, computer generated art/illustration and photo slideshow.

Awards were presented to The Rocket in the following categories:

• Sports feature: Second place, "SRU Freshman Working to Make Her Olympic Dream a Reality" by Jordyn Bennett, a senior journalism and philosophy major from Chester; Certificate of merit, "Four former linebackers transition from the field to the sideline" by Bennett;

• Single spot news photograph: First place, "FMLA takes back the night" by Rebecca Dietrich, a senior communication: emerging technology major from Pittsburgh;

• Single feature photograph: First place, "Hunter Hayes concert showcases a twist on traditional country music" by Kendall Scott, a senior recreational therapy major from Bent Mountain, Virginia;

• Computer generated art/illustration: Second place, "Rock basketball prepares to go head-to-head with PSAC rivals" by Karleigh Santry, a 2016 graduate with a bachelor's degree in communication: emerging technology; and

• Photo slideshow: Third place, "Rock football vs. New Haven" by Dietrich

This year's competition drew more than 4,100 entries produced by students at colleges, universities and secondary schools throughout the U.S.

MEDIA CONTACT: Robb King | 724.738.2199 | robert.king@sru.edu