Edgewood Students Make Us Proud

Students (left to right): Lori Tomaselli, Maisie Ramsay, Brianna Donovan, and Katjusa Cisar holding their awards and, in the background, Jack Vitek, On The Edge faculty advisor, holding the additional award certificates.

         Edgewood’s student journalists swept the prizes at the Wisconsin Newspaper Association’s yearly contest with four first prizes and five Certificates of Merit in a competition with 45 other college newspapers in the state. The prizes were announced at the WNA convention in Wisconsin Dells on Feb. 9. 

         On the Edge won three of six first prizes in the all-important writing categories (General Reporting, Feature Writing, and Editorial) while The Badger Herald of U.W.-Madison won two first prizes (Sports Reporting and Column Writing) and The UWM Post of U.W.-Milwaukee took a first prize in Investigative Reporting. On the Edge also took a first prize in Advertising. 

         This was the best showing for On the Edge since the competition began in 1999. On the Edge easily eclipsed the other private universities and colleges in the state, with The Marquette Tribune of Marquette University finishing second with three third prizes and three Certificates of Merit. 

         Former co-editor Katjusa Cisar was the big winner with three first prizes, one of which she shared with co-editor Maisie Ramsay. Cisar won a first in General Reporting for her story on Edgewood and Facebook, a first in Feature Writing for her piece about an Edgewood student who converted to Islam, and a first in Editorial Writing with Ramsay for their editorial critiquing Edgewood’s new mission statement. 

         In addition to her first in Editorial Writing, Maisie Ramsay took home a Certificate of Merit in Feature Writing for her trends piece on a bondage evening at one of Madison’s three bars offering fetish nights. 

         Advertising editor Tom Klein won a first in Advertising for his original Journey Music ad. 

         Former co-editor Brianna Donovan, who graduated in December 2005, took three Certificates of Merit for her work first semester last year, two in Investigative Reporting: one for her story on race issues in the dorms and another for an alumni artist whose work was used by the college without permission or credit. Donovan captured a third Certificate of Merit this year in Feature Writing for her piece on Edgewood student Amy Pickett’s life with her post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from serving in Iraq with the National Guard. Last year Donovan placed first in the state in Investigative Reporting and third in the nation in Reporting for her story on two sex assaults in Stevie dorm. 

         In October On the Edge was honored as a national finalist for Best College Newspaper at the Associated Collegiate Press convention in St. Louis.

         On behalf of the Student Newspaper Advisory Board, I want to congratulate Katjusa Cisar, Brianna Donovan, Tom Klein, and Maisie Ramsay on their statewide awards. Congratulations to the entire staff of On the Edge. Congratulations also to Prof. Jack Vitek, faculty advisor to On the Edge. All of you have made us proud. You represent the very best of Edgewood College. 

David Young

Chair, Student Newspaper Advisory Board

 

2005-2006 On the Edge

 

National Finalist for Best College Newspaper (Katjusa Cisar, Brianna Donovan, and Maisie Ramsay, co-editors)

 

 

2004-2005 On the Edge

 

National Third Prize for Investigative Reporting (Brianna Donovan and Patricia Israel)

 

National Honorable Mention for Editorial Writing (Katjusa Cisar)

 

Wisconsin First Prize for Investigative Reporting (Brianna Donovan and Patricia Israel)

 

Wisconsin Third Prize for General Reporting (Katjusa Cisar)

 

 

2003-2004 On the Edge

 

Wisconsin First Prize for General Reporting (Tere Dunlap)

 

 

All in all, a remarkable run for On the Edge--three years of sustained excellence.

 

Congratulations to all of the students named above, and to all of the staff of On the Edge these past three years.

 

Congratulations to Prof. Jack Vitek for his outstanding service as faculty advisor to On the Edge.

 

Thanks to the Student Newspaper Advisory Board for their steadfast support: Sandy Cullen, John Fields, Melanie Herzog, Fred Kauffeld, Cindy Rolling, and Jack Vitek.

 

Thanks to the English Department for hosting the reception.

 

 

David Young

Chair, Student Newspaper Advisory Board