Arizona Daily Wildcat alumni have inducted 56 fellow alums into the Daily Wildcat Hall of Fame since its inception in 2001. Our alumni have distinguished themselves nationally in journalism and many other fields. The Daily Wildcat Hall of Fame includes Pulitzer Prize winners as well as alumni who excelled in law, business, technology, film producing, education, and even horse-racing.
Now it’s time for another round of nominations. Know someone who deserves to be honored in the Hall of Fame? Please submit a nomination by April 15.
Since 2008 we have concurrently recognized outstanding younger alumni with the Daily Wildcat Young Alumni Awards. This award recognizes alumni who have been out of school for 10 years or less and who have begun to make their mark professionally in any field. Please submit your nomination by April 15.
We are in the early stages of planning a Wildcat Alumni Hall of Fame and Young Alumni awards ceremony for late fall 2013/early spring 2014. Stay posted.
Daily Wildcat Timeline
Hello everyone,
My name is Luke Money and I am the current editor in chief at the Wildcat, for the next month at least. For the past week or so I’ve been working on creating the Daily Wildcat Facebook timeline. But I need some help. I went through and added in the major timestamps in Wildcat history (first issue, when we became a daily, etc.) but I want this to be more than a regurgitation of a brochure. I want it to be a lively, complete history of the Wildcat, as told by its alumni. That’s where you all come in. If you can think of major moments during your time at the paper (big awards, big stories, big problems, big anything) and send me a specific date and brief description of the event, I can add it to our timeline so all of our Facebook followers can see it. I can be reached at alumnicat@dailywildcat.com. I hope to hear from a lot of you soon.
Cheers,
Luke Money
Recognition for Daily Wildcat
WILDCAT NAMED PACEMAKER FINALIST
Both the print Daily Wildcat and the online dailywildcat.com have been named finalists for the prestigious Pacemaker award to be announced at the national college media convention in Orlando this fall. The winner will be picked from 10 finalists. The Pacemaker, presented by the Associated Collegiate Press, recognizes outstanding achievement in college media.
The Wildcat was last named a finalist for both print and online editions in 2007 (though ultimately not a winner in either). The only time the Wildcat swept into the winner’s circle for both awards was in 1998.
“GUTSIEST” COLLEGE PAPER
You’ve got to like this random award for the Wildcat – named one of the 5 “gutsiest” college papers in the country by Mother Jones magazine in its September issue.
9/11 COMMEMORATIVE WRAP GETS KUDOS
Like most news outlets, the Daily Wildcat issued a commemorative edition for the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. The Wildcat’s project was in the form of a 4-page “wrap” around the regular Friday, Sept. 9 edition. The commemorative cover was high-fived around the country for its simplicity and elegance and was picked up on many design and news sites. Here’s a look at it from Charles Apple’s blog at copydesk.org.
Wildcat Production Manager retires
After 28 years of overseeing the production of more than 4,000 Wildcats, Fred Smith is retiring August 4, 2011. Here’s the commemorative (and not entirely factual) Wildcat “front page” staff and former students produced for him. Any memories you’d like to share? Please comment!
Alumnus Issues $50,000 Challenge
Dear Wildcat Alumni & Friends:
I am writing to let you know of a new gift the Wildcat has received. This is a commitment of $50,000 from alumnus Chris Halligan ’89, who was a Wildcat sports writer. Chris has indicated he wants to support student initiatives, development and training in all areas in the Wildcat workplace.
Chris has also issued a challenge for other alumni and friends to match his gift over the next five years with a goal of $10,000 each year. In the months ahead we will organize a fund drive to help meet and track this challenge, and we hope you will be able to participate. If you would like to begin now by donating, please visit our “How to Donate” page.
As the college media landscape evolves, the Wildcat has responded by widening its digital footprint, creating new advertising platforms, and adapting to shifting readership habits. The need to provide our student workforce with the training and tools to meet these challenges will take the support of all of you who value the Daily Wildcat experience and independent campus journalism.
Our thanks to Chris Halligan—a successful technology entrepreneur who was inducted into the Daily Wildcat Alumni Hall of Fame this past March—for initiating this challenge. “Do good things,” he wrote when making his gift. With your help, we will.
Mark Woodhams
Director, Arizona Student Media
and Adviser, Arizona Daily Wildcat
Daily Wildcat Staff Wins SPJ Honors
Arizona Daily Wildcat staffers earned 7 regional Mark of Excellence Awards at the Society of Professional Journalists convention in San Diego this spring, including 5 first place winners. One first place winner – for multimedia sports reporting – was later announced as a national finalist.
The winners are:
- 1st place multi media sports reporting – Colin Darland/Lance Madden
- 1st place editorial writing – Heather Price-Wright
- 1st place news photography—Mike Christy
- 1st place sports column writing – Kevin Zimmerman
- 1st place general column writing – Kristina Bui
- 2nd place news photography – Lisa Beth Earle
- 3rd place best all around college daily – Arizona Daily Wildcat
In other competition this spring, the Daily Wildcat won “best of show” at the Associated Collegiate Press’ national newspaper convention in February, and the dailywildcat.com was named a Pacemaker finalist, also by the ACP.
ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET A BIG DEAL
Nearly 100 Daily Wildcat staff turned out for our annual awards banquet on May 4, held once again on the lovely patio at Old Pueblo Grille. Staff were honored for year-long achievement in such areas as reporting, sales, customer service, graphic design, photography, illustrations, copy editing, multimedia and much more. This year we added the Wildcat Impact Award “for innovation and enterprise”, which was won by students in 3 different areas of the operation. From the newsroom, Colin Darland earned an Impact award for his redesign of the online paper; from advertising, Daniela Saylor was honored for her success coaching and training peers in sales; and from production, Lindsey Cook was recognized for stepping up as senior production coordinator and revamping several kep production processes.
Winning the signature advertising award – The George Morley Award for Achievement – was Jasmin Bell, a 3-year veteran of our classifieds advertising office. The Clyde Lowery Award for Professionalism and Integrity, the newsroom’s major honor, was won by Heather Price-Wright, another multi-year veteran who served as opinions editor and copy chief.
A number of graduating seniors were honored for their service to the paper with a Daily Wildcat Alumni Award. On hand to present these awards on behalf of all Wildcat alumni were former EIC Alex Dalenberg and former photo editor Lisa Beth Earle. Winners are (including major positions held):
- Jessica Leftault, Design Chief, Managing Editor
- Mike Christy, Photographer, Photo Editor
- Bethany Barnes, Reporter, Asst News Editor
- Tim Kosch, Sports Editor
- Ken Contrata, Copy Chief, Managing Editor
- Heather Price-Wright, Opinions Editor, Copy Chief
- Bryan Roy, Online Editor, Sports Writer
- Brandon Specktor, Arts Editor
- Christine Bryant, Graphic Designer
- Sarah Dalton, Sales Coordinator, Advertising Rep
- Grego Moore, Advertising Rep
- Daniela Saylor, Advertising Rep
- Jasmin Bell, Classified Advertising
