Journalism And Media Studies

Plaque build up: Recognition abounds for JAMS students
LPC’s media students bring home 26 awards from regional, state and national journalism competitions

It’s award season for the student media at Las Positas College. The students of Las Positas racked up.

Six first-place awards at the NorCal Regional Conference for the Journalism Association of Community Colleges capped what’s been a sensational few months for the Journalism and Media Studies Department. The 19 awards won over the weekend included the coveted General Excellence for the print publication.

“We felt honored,” said Jakob Arnarsson, editor-in-chief of The Express newspaper. “All the work we’ve put into this paper has gotten recognized, and it’s a feeling that only has us working harder.”

Arnarsson took first place for his profile feature on men’s basketball player Alex Martin and first place for his coverage of men’s basketball playoffs.

Rain Hepting, copy editor and artist extraordinaire, also won two first-place awards. One was for the live copy editing competition and the other was for their editorial cartoon titled “Awareness vs. Acceptance” to accompany Hepting story on Autism Acceptance Day. Hepting also won third place for another editorial cartoon.

Olivia Fitts, news and opinions editor of The Express, and Gabriel Carver, now at San Francisco State, won first place for their illustration for the story on the mice infestation.

Paul George won for his column series Dad’s Rambling Again.

The awards coup at JACC comes on the heels of a major accomplishment by Olivia Fitts. She was named by Associated College Press as one of 10 finalists for Reporter of The Year in the nation for two-year schools. It’s the second-consecutive year a Las Positas student was declared one of the 10 best by ACP, which has member schools through four America and Canada. Lizzy Rager, who currently attends UCSB, won second place in this category last year.

“Olivia Fitts is competing with some of top journalists in the nation for this award — an award that recognizes her hard work, commitment to the truth and, especially, her unique ability to tell a compelling story,” said Melissa Korber, head of the Journalism and Media Studies Department. “For the second year in a row and the fifth time since the program entered this national arena in 2012, LPC is home to an elite college journalist. The JAMS program is fortunate to welcome naturally talented writers like Olivia and to help them hone their skills.”

Fitts will learn her ranking next month when the results are announced.

The California Newspaper Association Awards this summer kicked off LPC’s awards season.

Justin Gomes, editor-in-chief of the newspaper for spring 2024, won 1st Place for news photo for capturing a campus protestor speaking with a campus safety officer. Gomes also took 3rd Place for his Feature Photo on Day of the Dead. And both Paul George and C.J. Flores received 2nd Place honors — George for his “Dad’s Rambling Again” column and Flores for his profile of Hawks’ men’s basketball’s Isaiah Victor.

Both The Express newspaper and the online publication, LPCExpressNews.com, received 4th Place in the General Excellence category.

“The students deserve this,” said Marcus Thompson, professional mentor to the media students. “They are talented. They grind. They have great camaraderie. They represent what student media is all about — and they’ve got plenty of plaques to show for it.”

Individual Awards
ACP
Finalist: Olivia Fitts — Reporter of The Year, two-year schools

JACC
1st Place: Jakob Arnarsson — Profile Feature Story (Alex Martin)
1st Place: Jakob Arnarsson — Sports Game Story
1st Place: Olivia Fitts and Gabriel Carver — Photo Illustration (Mice)
1st Place: Paul George — Column Writing
1st Place: Rain Hepting — Editorial Cartoon
1st Place: Rain Hepting — Copy Editing
3rd Place: Rain Hepting — Editorial Cartoon
4th Place: Jakob Arnarsson — Sports Feature Photo
4th Place: Gabriel Carver — Online Photo Story Essay
4th Place: Olivia Fitts — Critical Review
4th Place: Justin Gomes — Feature Photo
Honorable Mention: Paul George — Editorial
Honorable Mention: Justin Gomes — Photo Story Essay
Honorable Mention: Justin Gomes — Sports Action Photo
Honorable Mention: Camille Leduc — Critical Review
Honorable Mention: Luke Vavuris — Feature Photo, On-the-Spot Awards

CNPA
1st Place: Justin Gomes — News Photo
2nd Place: Paul George — Columns
3nd Place: C.J. Flores — Profile Story
3rd Place: Justin Gomes — Feature Photo

Staff Awards
JACC
General Excellence in Print: The Express
2nd Place: The Express — Front Page Layout
4th Place: The Express — Inside Page Layout

CNPA
4th Place: The Express — General Excellence, print
4th Place: LPCExpressNews.com — General Excellence, online

The Express weighs: Should the death penalty be abolished? Let us know what you think?

https://lpcexpressnews.com/should-death-penalty-die-in-america/

Check us out on the Quad today during Welcome Back Week! Learn about our amazing award-winning media! Find out about Journalism Club! Las Positas CollegeHavikBrandon Byrne

https://lpcexpressnews.com/womens-volleyball-suffer-heartbreaking-defeat-losing-streak-continues/

Las Positas College Melissa Korber

Women’s volleyball suffer heartbreaking defeat, losing streak continues With the score at 23-20 in favor of the Las Positas women’s volleyball team, the Nest found itself collectively ready to celebrate. The Hawks were just two points away from winning the third set to complete a would-be dominating 3-0 victory over the Diablo Valley Vikings. Two points to get their f...

Havik Las Positas College Melissa Korber

Congratulations to all the Las Positas College students who attended the Associated Collegiate Press and Journalism Association of Community College conference from March 7 to March 9 in La Jolla. You all worked hard, learned lots, and won many awards!

Here's my list of awards from the conference—a total of 24 awards! Wow!

Spring 2024 Associated Collegiate Press and Journalism Association of Community Colleges Awards

ACP Best of Show (National/International):
1st Place Literary Magazine: Havik https://havikjournal.wixsite.com/website

10th Place People’s Choice for All Media at Conference: Havik
2nd Place Feature Magazine (Two-year Campus): Naked

3rd Place Website (Two-year Campus): https://lpcexpressnews.com/
6th Place Newspaper/Newsmagazine (Two-year Campus): The Express

JACC Awards (California)

General Excellence: The Express
General Excellence: Naked Magazine
1st Place Column Writing: Paul George, Dad’s Rambling Again
1st Place Bring-in News Judgment/Layout: Justin Gomes

2nd Place Feature Photo: Justin Gomes
3rd Place Magazine News Feature: Gavin Barbera
Barbera

3rd Place Magazine Photo Story-Essay: Justin Gomes
3rd Place On-the-spot Sports Photo: Gabriel Carver

4th Place Column Writing: Georgia Whiting, Kicking and Streaming whiting
4th Place On-the-spot Sports Writing: Jakob Arnarsson
4th Place On-the-spot Team Feature: Camille Leduc and Gabriel Carver

Honorable Mention Profile Feature Story: Peter Zimmer
Honorable Mention Profile Feature Story: Georgia Whiting
Honorable Mention Editorial: The Express Editorial Board
Honorable Mention Environmental Portrait: Justin Gomes
Honorable Mention Photo Story-Essay: Justin Gomes
Honorable Mention Magazine Cover Design: The Naked Magazine Staff
Honorable Mention Magazine Design/Layout: The Naked Magazine Staff
Honorable Mention On-the-spot Copy Editing: Brighton Matus (edited)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Leaders of The Express take home prestigious international awards

Four LPC journalism students recently received international acclaim for their work on The Express in 2022 and 2023. Three were recognized for excellence in writing. Another was recognized for excellence in design.

All four awards were from the Associated Collegiate Press, an international organization dedicated to promoting quality journalism at colleges and universities.

Lizzy Rager, former editor-in-chief of The Express, won 2nd place for 2023 Reporter of the Year for students at two-year schools. Her portfolio of work showcased four stories to garner one of the highest awards ever at The Express:

CLPCCD Trustee Luis Reynoso posts anti-LGBTQ+ content on LinkedIn https://lpcexpressnews.com/clpccd-trustee-luis-reynoso-posts-anti-lgbtq-content-on-linkedin/

Fake students steal money and class spots https://lpcexpressnews.com/fake-students-steal-money-and-class-spots/

District trustee Luis Reynoso’s ‘homophobic’ and ‘inappropriate’ remarks reprimanded at intense meeting https://lpcexpressnews.com/clpccd-trustee-luis-reynoso-censured-over-homophobic-social-media-and-inappropriate-and-harmful-conduct/

College waste streams have issues https://lpcexpressnews.com/college-waste-streams-have-issues/

Rager is currently studying communication and political science at UC Santa Barbara. She is the assistant news editor for the college’s paper, The Daily Nexus. In her short time there, she has covered campus activism and county news.

“I’m more than elated to be recognized for my efforts at The Express. Working with its staff and advisers has taught me so much about reporting and helped set fire to my dream of becoming a professional journalist. I am extremely grateful for them,” Rager said. “With this acknowledgement, I will continue to report with diligence, creativity and a dedication to the truth — always with human stories at the forefront.”

CJ Flores, also a former editor-in-chief of The Express, earned Honorable Mention recognition for a sports feature he wrote in spring 2023. His profile — Hawks guard Isaiah Victor is getting exactly what he wanted — chronicled the leadership maturation of an LPC basketball star who went from ready to transfer to leading the team back to the playoffs. https://lpcexpressnews.com/hawks-guard-isaiah-victor-is-getting-exactly-he-wanted-2/

Flores just finished an internship with the San Francisco 49ers and will be studying journalism at the University of Oregon beginning this spring quarter.

“It’s a humbling experience and an honor for my work to be seen on such a big stage,” Flores said. “I’m truly grateful that my work is being recognized. I’m also incredibly thankful to the Las Positas media program. I’m so grateful for the guidance and inspiration that set me on the path to the career of my dreams.”

Current editors of The Express also earned high honors from the Associated College Press in the “Clips and Clicks” contest showcasing work from fall 2023.

Paul George, a copy editor and columnist, earned 2nd place in the Opinion category for “22 (Paul’s Version): A dad’s experience at a Taylor concert.” In the same contest, https://lpcexpressnews.com/22-pauls-version-a-dads-experience-at-a-taylor-concert/

The Express’ newly installed editor-in-chief Justin Gomes earned 5th place in the Newspaper Spread/Design category. The winning design featured his photos of LPC’s “Dia De Los Muertos” event. (featured image)

Gomes said he was honored to receive the award, especially considering it’s a product of focusing on the work. He’s hoping to bring that spirit to his staff this semester.

“When I did the original layout, awards weren't in my mind,” Gomes said. “I hope it can serve as an inspiration to future students.”

Gomes and his staff are preparing their first issue of the spring semester. The Express, along with Naked Magazine and Havik, will showcase even more of their work at ACP’s Spring National Media Conference in San Diego this March.

Photo of adviser MMelissa Korberand Justin Gomes by BBrandon Byrne

https://lpcexpressnews.com/

LPC SOCCER STAR CASTILLO LANDS NATIONAL HONOR
Las Positas College men’s soccer coach Andy Cumbo knew he could always count on sophomore center back Luis Castillo this past season.
Now he can count on another thing — Castillo is an All-American.
The Hawks’ standout two-way defender was selected on Dec. 6 to the United Soccer Coaches Junior College Division III Men’s All-American Second Team.
“He’s great on both sides of the ball and was dominant in the air,” Cumbo said of Castillo. “In addition to his class on field, he is a well mannered, respectful and hard working young man. He made his mark this year and we are proud and appreciative of him.”
Castillo, of Hayward, a Hawks team captain and leader, was also a first-team Coast-South selection after helping the Hawks to a 13-8-2 overall record and a trip to the Northern California Regional Playoffs. He appeared to enjoy all aspects of the LPC program, especially getting a chance to compete alongside top-quality players.
“I just wanna say thank you to my Coach Andy Cumbo and to my assistant coaches for the opportunity to let me represent LPC. I’ve learned a lot of new things from them, and thank you to my teammates for making this a memorable season,” Castillo said.
Known as Luigi, Castillo made an “immediate and continual impact” this season, overcoming injuries to always give his best on game day, the coach said.
The Hawks surged down the stretch, going 5-1 in the final six conference games, to nail down a playoff spot.
Las Positas, as the 14th seed, fell to host No. 3 West Valley 3-0 in Round 1 of the Northern California Regional Playoffs.
Cumbo loved the quality he saw from his men’s squad, describing it as “probably the best team I’ve had here.”
What advice would Castillo give to young players? “Always set their goals high, the sky’s the limit.”

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The school is offering free tuition for new full-time students.

To read more about this money-saving opportunity, click the link below.

🖊️: Alan Lewis

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Fencing extraordinaire puts LPC fencing on the map In the year 2014, the screen lit aglow with shadowy figures, a cautionary horn sounding in the background. From a tiny metal hilt, blue plasma energy emitted into a sword, grasped in a scrappy boy’s hands. Towering over him, a man with black robes grasped the same sword, but in red. The two force ...

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