Awards

Every year, The Diamondback enters multiple categories in the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark Of Excellence Awards. Here are a few of the award-winning stories from this year and years past.

2021

Feature Writing (Large School Division)

Indianapolis’ Black music scene comes to life at NCAA men’s basketball tournament — David Suggs

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

General Column Writing (Large School Division)

Selected work of Anthony Liberatori

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Breaking News Photography (Large School Division)

Hyattsville barbershop holds COVID-19 vaccine clinic with UMD, Luminis Health partnership — Julia Nikhinson

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

General News Photography (Large School Division)

After Atlanta shooting, UMD students hold vigil to heal and confront anti-Asian hate — Eric Harkleroad

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Broadcast/Online News Videography (Large School Division)

‘I need people to care’: The voices of UMD’s vigil for victims of anti-Asian hate — Amelia Jarecke and Kimi Fleming

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Podcast

Behind the scenes of LGBTQ TikTok — The Diamondback staff

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

2020

Breaking News Reporting (Large School Division)

UMD lifts at least 10 suspensions after issuing 19 for noncompliance with COVID-19 rules — Angela Roberts

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

General News Reporting (Large School Division)

UMD workers union fights for improved COVID-19 protection (As campus reopening looms, UMD union fights for worker protection; UMD community protests new guidelines urging staff return to campus; UMD DOTS driver worries for job after barring group without masks from boarding bus; Workers call for improved COVID-19 guidelines across USM institutions in state hearing; Here’s what it’s like for a UMD employee working in quarantine and isolation housing)— Angela Roberts and Clara Longo de Freitas

National Mark of Excellence winner
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

UMD students fight for pass/fail grading option amid coronavirus pandemic (“Not a good look”: UMD students say delayed withdrawal deadline isn’t a pass/fail stand-in; SGA unanimously passes resolution asking UMD to reconsider pass/fail decision; ‘Cold shoulder’: Students blast UMD administration for grading decision at town hall; Results from UMD undergraduate survey underline hardships students faced in the fall) — Christine Zhu, Clara Longo de Freitas, Lyna Bentahar, Amanda Hernández and Eric Neugeboren

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

In-Depth Reporting (Large School Division)

At UMD, doctoral students depend on their advisers. What can happen when things go wrong? — Angela Roberts

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Feature Writing (Large School Division)

‘There’s hope’: How one DACA recipient journeyed to UMD and is fighting for a better life — Amanda Hernández

Sports Writing

Maryland women’s soccer is unapologetically Black, and it wants young Black girls to know — David Suggs

Editorial Writing

The Diamondback Editorial Board

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

General Column Writing (Large School Division)

Selected work of Malcolm Ferguson

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Selected work of Serena Saunders

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper

The Diamondback

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

General News Photography (Large School Division)

County pastor leads hundreds in Black Lives Matter protest — Joe Ryan

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Prince George’s County’s first female fire chief — Julia Nikhinson

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Feature Photography (Large School Division)

Lifting the trophy, Maryland men’s basketball celebrates first Big Ten title — Joe Ryan

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Sports Photography (Large School Division)

Maryland women’s basketball’s Taylor Mikesell celebrates yet another three-pointer — Julia Nikhinson

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Maryland gymnastics celebrates season-high 196.975 — Julia Nikhinson

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Online Feature Reporting

Pregnancy in Prince George’s County: Women reflect on bringing new life to state COVID-19 epicenter — Angela Roberts

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Online In-Depth Reporting

For those raised in College Park’s Lakeland, the wounds left by its destruction remain — Clara Niel

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Online/Digital Feature Videography

Beauty in the Human Spirit’: David C. Driskell’s art legacy — Amelia Jarecke

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Podcast

Locked in Leonardtown — The Diamondback staff

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

COVID-19: Newspaper, Magazine and Online Coverage (Large School Division)

“It feels like a void”: Grief through the eyes of one UMD student in the age of COVID-19 — Clara Longo de Freitas

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Residents of UMD sorority house no longer quarantining after COVID-19 test mix-up (Residents in at least two UMD Greek life houses quarantining after positive COVID-19 cases; Residents of UMD sorority house no longer quarantining after COVID-19 test mix-up; Fourteen results from UMD’s COVID tests were miscommunicated to campus community members) — Eric Neugeboren

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

COVID-19: Video Coverage

With COVID-19 cases on the rise, UMD students are still going to bars — Kimi Fleming

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

UMD freshmen adapt to college life during the pandemic — Amelia Jarecke and Matt Perez

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

COVID-19: Digital (Still) Photography

UMD classroom sanitized after possible coronavirus expose — Julia Lerner

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

2019

General News Reporting (Large School Division)

Under the travel ban, some UMD students from Iran haven’t seen their families in years — Carmen Molina Acosta

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

In-Depth Reporting (Large School Division)

More than a year after Maria Fisher’s death, her loved ones still search for answers — Christine Condon

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

We placed heat sensors in every UMD dorm without A.C. Here’s what we found. — Angela Roberts, Matt McDonald and Rosa Pyo

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Feature Writing (Large School Division)

For some women at last week’s protest, removing their shirts meant taking back control — Victoria Ebner

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

General Column Writing (Large School Division)

Selected work of Max Foley-Keene

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Selected work of Zachary Jablow

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Sports Writing (Large School Division)

Nick Cross didn’t play football until high school. Now he stars for Maryland’s secondary.
— Andy Kostka

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Eli Crognale, the youngest in a soccer-filled family, has made his own name at Maryland — Eric Myers

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Editorial Cartooning

Selected work of Haoran Li

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

General News Photography (Large School Division)

United by frustration, hundreds of UMD students join global climate strike in Washington, D.C. — Julia Nikhinson

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Students gather for midnight remembrance of Richard Collins on his 26th birthday — Julia Nikhinson

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Photo Illustration (Large School Division)

A killing on campus: Following the trial for ex-UMD student accused of stabbing Richard Collins — Hannah Gaskill and Julia Nikhinson

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

We placed heat sensors in every UMD dorm without A.C. Here’s what we found. — Julia Nikhinson

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Sports Photography (Large School Division)

Hovering around .500, Maryland baseball believes it’s “really close” to a breakthrough — Joe Ryan

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Online Sports Reporting

‘Every day it’s a struggle’: One year later, Jordan McNair’s death is still raw — Andy Kostka

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Podcast

Little bus of horrors: Halloween 2019 at UMD — Staff of The Diamondback

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

2018

Breaking News Reporting (Large School Division)

DJ Durkin’s firing (Maryland fires coach DJ Durkin, one day after Board of Regents recommended he stay; “A roller-coaster”: Maryland football reacts to DJ Durkin’s return, firing; “I can’t believe it took them this long”: UMD students react to DJ Durkin’s firing) — The Diamondback staff

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

DJ Durkin’s reinstatement (UMD’s DJ Durkin, Damon Evans will keep jobs, Wallace Loh to retire in June; Jordan McNair’s parents: Keeping Durkin, Evans is like being “punched in the stomach”; “How many more kids have to die?”: UMD students react to Durkin’s return, Loh’s retirement; UMD President Wallace Loh is retiring. Here’s a look at his eight-year tenure.; DJ Durkin’s coaching potential and personal testimony won over Maryland’s Board of Regents) — The Diamondback staff

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

In-Depth Reporting (Large School Division)

Despite mounting evidence, top boosters stand by Maryland football’s DJ Durkin — Andy Kostka

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Maryland football culture report (Report finds DJ Durkin struggled to lead Maryland football, didn’t rein in abusive coach; Report finds Rick Court terrorized Maryland football players and wasn’t held accountable; Report finds Damon Evans led a chaotic athletic department, didn’t monitor football program; Report finds Kevin Anderson fostered feuds, lack of accountability in athletic department; Report finds Wallace Loh failed to control athletic department, address abuse allegations) — The Diamondback staff

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Former UMD AD Kevin Anderson intervened in sexual misconduct case involving football players — Christine Condon

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Online News Reporting

Despite heavy redaction, surveillance videos provide insight into Jordan McNair’s final workout — James Crabtree-Hannigan and Andy Kostka

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Online In-Depth Reporting

“We need this desperately”: grad teaching assistants could get collective bargaining rights — Angela Roberts

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Online Feature Reporting

College Park wants to be a top-20 college town. Here’s how close it is to getting there. — Staff of The Diamondback

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Online Sports Reporting

After Cliff Tucker died, a Maryland basketball alumni game helped his loved ones heal — Andy Kostka

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

911 records indicate medics didn’t recognize severity of Jordan McNair’s condition — James Crabtree-Hannigan

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper

The Diamondback

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Breaking News Photography (Large School Division)

Organizers address protestors in front of the Main Administration Building (from At “Justice for Jordan” rally, UMD student groups clash over football support) — Jon Orbach

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Sports Photography (Large School Division)

Testudo waves the Maryland flag (from: Maryland men’s basketball is 0-5 vs. the ACC since joining the Big Ten. Is the team cursed?) — Andi Wenck

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Feature Photography (Large School Division)

Michael Bell sits next to his confessional; DuRay Jones and his family gather around their counter; Jones coaches an elementary school football team; Jones helps a player fasten his helmet; the University of Maryland Service Building (from: “Maryland has wrecked my life”: The story behind a $3 million racial discrimination lawsuit at UMD) — Julia Nikhinson and Elliot Scarangello

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Amit Dadon speaks at the Vote for Change Rally (from: UMD student, Stoneman Douglas alum holds gun control rally ahead of midterms) — Julia Nikhinson

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Editorial Writing

Why did it take UMD so long to care about Jordan McNair’s death?; Firing DJ Durkin doesn’t fix the system that enabled him; UMD’s external diversity report is a sloppy, meaningless mess — The Diamondback editorial board

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

General Column Writing

UMD should cut ties with companies that help kill Yemeni children; Why has “Fearless Ideas” become a meme?; The United States needs a war on loneliness — Max Foley-Keene

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Photo Illustration

The Diamondback’s Year in Review — Staff of The Diamondback

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Editorial Cartooning

Arming teachers; Thin ice; Good cop/bad cop — Eva Shen

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

2017

Breaking News Reporting (Large School Division)

“Hatred and tragedy”: following the homicide of Richard Collins III — The Diamondback staff

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

In-Depth Reporting (Large School Division)

“It’s real”: a seven-part look at how sexual assault is handled at the University of Maryland — The Diamondback staff

National Mark of Excellence winner
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Online In-Depth Reporting

“It’s real”: a seven-part look at how sexual assault is handled at the University of Maryland — The Diamondback staff

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Feature Writing (Large School Division)

“I can never escape” — Taylor Swaak

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

“Undocumented and unafraid”: For DACA students at Maryland, studying and living requires resilience — Natalie Schwartz

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Sports Writing (Large School Division)

Back to business: Antoine Brooks defied odds to star for Maryland football – Dan Bernstein

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Playing in silence: As athletes continue protesting racism, Maryland’s remain silent. Why? – Kyle Melnick

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Best Use of Multimedia

“It’s real”: a seven-part look at how sexual assault is handled at the University of Maryland — The Diamondback staff

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

General News Reporting

UMD Trump supporters say they feel voiceless on a liberal campus — Natalie Schwartz

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Online News Reporting

“On her own” — Hallie Miller and Ellie Silverman

National Mark of Excellence finalist
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Best All-Around Radio Newscast

The Dive: “When It’s Over” — The Diamondback’s Diversions staff

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Breaking News Photography

Firefighter responds to five-alarm fire at College Park apartment complex — Tom Hausman

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Editorial Writing

In the face of hate, UMD community must not grow numb; UMD officials must acknowledge student concerns, not deflect them; Email from mock trial coaches highlights misunderstanding of diversity — The Diamondback editorial board

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Sports Column Writing

Maryland football must step up in Texas’ hostile road environment; Maryland football’s upset over Texas is one of its best wins in program history; Maryland basketball coach Mark Turgeon has his most experienced trio ever — Kyle Melnick and Dan Bernstein

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Editorial Cartooning

Midterm Week; Gun Violence; Net Neutrality — Eva Shen

National Mark of Excellence finalist
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Photo Illustration

A year in review — Evan Berkowitz and Tom Hausman

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

2016

Breaking News Photography (Large School Division)

Israel Fest protest — Josh Loock

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Editorial Cartooning

Stronger Together, DAPL, Johnny Depp — Eva Shen

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

General News Photography (Large School Division)

College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn awards local hero, Renita Smith — Tom Hausman

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Sports Photography (Large School Division)

Goalkeeper Cody Niedermeier after Maryland men’s soccer’s NCAA tournament loss — Matt Regan

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper

The Diamondback

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Breaking News Reporting (Large School Division)

A murder-suicide stuns College Park — Michael Brice-Saddler, Andrew Dunn, Natalie Schwartz and Mina Haq

National Mark of Excellence finalist
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

General News Reporting (Large School Division)

White nationalist posters found at the University of Maryland — Ellie Silverman and Talia Richman

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Ex-student sues UMD after expulsion for sexual assault — Ellie Silverman

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

In-Depth Reporting (Large School Division)

Police use pepper spray on graduation party of mostly black students — The Diamondback Staff

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Sports Column Writing

It’s time to listen to Melo Trimble; Tyrrell Pigrome’s first Maryland football start tempers his rookie-year hype; Maryland football would reap benefits of making freshmen available to the media — Callie Caplan and Kyle Stackpole

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Best Affiliated Website

The Diamondback’s website

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Online Feature Reporting

ProtectUMD has 64 demands to aid vulnerable students. These are the stories behind them. — The Diamondback Staff

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Evolution of a fandom — Danielle Ohl

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Best All-Around Radio Newscast

The Dive Episode 4: Mr. President — Michael Errigo, Patrick Basler, Jay Reed, Anna Muckerman and Josh Magness

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

2015

Editorial Writing

Selected editorials — The Diamondback editorial board

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Feature Writing (Large School Division)

Maryland’s hidden epidemic — Jon Banister

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

General Column Writing (Large School Division)

For the love of God, there was Satan, Letter from an Op-editor, The perfect human can’t be designed — Yi “Patrick” An

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Transgressive art is desecration of beauty; Not everything intended as art is art; Gun control — Andrew Adeola

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Sports Column Writing (Large School Division)

Selected columns — Ryan Baillargeon and Daniel Popper

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Sports Writing (Large School Division)

Fastest to 500 — Callie Caplan

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Online News Reporting

University of Maryland expels record number of students for sexual assault — Ellie Silverman and Darcy Costello

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Online Opinion & Commentary

Not everything intended as art is art; Holistic perspective improve healthcare; Biden should have run — Andrew Adeola

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Online Sports Reporting

The miss — Josh Needelman

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

2014

Breaking News Photography (Large School Division)

Black lives matter — Sung-Min Kim

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

General News Photography (Large School Division)

Brown wins democratic nomination, faces Larry Hogan in general election — Christian Jenkins

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Sports Photography (Large School Division)

Ohio State Quarterback Cardale Jones hurdles safety Anthony Nixon — Chester Lam

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Editorial Writing (Large School Division)

The Diamondback selected editorials — The Diamondback Editorial Board

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

General Column Writing (Large School Division)

I’ll see you at the movies; Why I want to become a doctor; Blurred lines of Justice and Vengeance — Yi “Patrick” An

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Selected Diamondback columns — Erik Shell, Caroline Carlson, and Matt Schnabel

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

General News Reporting (Large School Division)

Marylanders fight for rights to die after national attention drawn to ‘death with dignity’ — Talia Richman

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

In-Depth Reporting (Large School Division)

University data breach exposes 300,000 student, faculty SSNs — Laura Blasey, Mike King, and Joe Antoshak

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Sports Column Writing

Selected Diamondback sports columns — Daniel Gallen and Aaron Kasinitz

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Best Use of Multimedia

Post-classical — Danielle Ohl

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Online Feature Reporting

The art of getting by: Life as a transgender student at the University of Maryland — Quinn Kelley

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

Online Opinion & Commentary

Selected Diamondback columns — Robert Cobb, Ben Stryker, and Eric Bricker

Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner

Online Sports Reporting

Breaking down Urban Meyer’s offense — Daniel Popper

Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist

2013

Breaking News Reporting (Large School Division)

Winner: “Two UMD students dead after College Park murder-suicide” — The Diamondback Staff

In-Depth Reporting (Large School Division)

Winner: “State prepared for health insurance exchanges opening today” — Yasmeen Abutaleb

Feature Writing (Large School Division)

Winner: “Jayson Blair: 10 years later” — Yasmeen Abutaleb

Sports Writing (Large School Division)

Winner: “Brothers Bernhardt” — Aaron Kasinitz

Editorial Writing

Winner: The Diamondback staff

General Column Writing

Winner: Lauren Redding, Erik Shell and Mike King

Sports Column Writing

Winner: Daniel Gallen and Aaron Kasinitz

General News Photography (Large School Division)

Finalist: “The Life of Loh” — James Levin

Sports Photography (Large School Division)

Winner: “Mullins College Cup semifinals celebration” — Christian Jenkins

Online In-Depth Reporting

Finalist: “Decoding the Code of Student Conduct” — Teddy Amenabar, Darcy Costello and Alex Kirshner

Online Sports Reporting

Finalist: “The Boy from Fukushima” — Daniel Popper, Daniel Gallen and Aaron Kasinitz

2012

General News Reporting (Large School Division)

Second Place: “The rise and fall of a dynasty” — Yasmeen Abutaleb and Rebecca Lurye

Feature Writing (Large School Division)

Second Place: “Incoming graduate student was a victim of Colorado shooting” — Laura Blasey

Sports Writing (Large School Division)

First Place: “Larger than life: Six things you don’t know about A.J. Francis” — Connor Letourneau

Second Place: “’Living the dream’: The Zachary Lederer story” — Chris Eckard

Editorial Writing (Large School Division)

Second Place: The Diamondback Editorial Board

Sports Column Writing (Large School Division)

Second Place: Connor Letourneau

Third Place: Josh Vitale

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper

First Place: The Diamondback

Feature Photography (Large School Division)

First Place: “Proteus Bicycles” — Charlie DeBoyace

Sports Photography (Large School Division)

Third Place: “Heartbreak in Hoover” — Charlie DeBoyace

2011

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper

Second Place: The Diamondback

Editorial Writing

Third Place: The Diamondback staff

Feature Writing

Second Place: Tramp ships and turntables — Richard Abdill

General Column Writing

First Place: Christopher Haxel

Third Place: Osama Eshera

General News Reporting

First Place: Ten years gone — Yasmeen Abutaleb and Rachel Roubein

Sports Column Writing

First Place: Columns by Jeremy Schneider

Sports Writing

First Place: Team Tyler — Conor Walsh

Second Place: With Turgeon, a new look — Chris Eckard