Student journalists from Las Positas College (LPC) brought home an impressive 19 awards, including six first-place honors, at the recent NorCal Regional Conference for the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC). This success, highlighted by the coveted General Excellence Award for The Express newspaper, caps off a remarkable season of accolades for LPC's Journalism and Media Studies (JAMS) Department.

In addition to the JACC honors, LPC students have also garnered statewide recognition at the California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA) Awards, including a first-place win by Justin Gomes for his news photography and top-ranking positions for both The Express print and online editions.

“We felt honored,” said The Express editor-in-chief Jakob Arnarsson, whose award-winning pieces include a profile on men’s basketball player Alex Martin and playoff coverage. “All the work we’ve put into this paper has gotten recognized, and it’s a feeling that only has us working harder.”

Rain Hepting, copy editor and editorial cartoonist, secured two first-place awards in live copy editing and editorial cartooning, while Olivia Fitts, news and opinions editor, and Gabriel Carver won first place for their illustration on a story covering campus issues.

Notably, Fitts was also named a finalist for Reporter of the Year by the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), marking LPC’s second consecutive year among the nation’s top 10 journalism students at two-year colleges. “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 Fitts and to help them hone their skills.”

The season’s achievements underscore the drive and solidarity of LPC's journalists. “They are talented. They grind. They have great camaraderie. They represent what student media is all about,” said Marcus Thompson, professional mentor to the students. “And they’ve got plenty of plaques to show for it.”

Award Highlights:

· ACP: Finalist – Olivia Fitts, Reporter of the Year (Two-Year Schools)
· JACC First Place: Jakob Arnarsson (Profile Feature, Sports Game Story), Olivia Fitts and Gabriel Carver (Photo Illustration), Paul George (Column Writing), Rain Hepting (Editorial Cartoon, Copy Editing)
· CNPA First Place: Justin Gomes (News Photo)

This season of awards not only celebrates student excellence but also reinforces LPC’s commitment to hands-on learning and professional development in journalism. For more information on Las Positas College’s award-winning Journalism and Media Studies program, please visit: www.laspositascollege.edu/jams/

Front row (l to r): Melissa Korber, Sydney Breckenridge, Camille Leduc, Jakob Arnarsson, James Sevilla, Simon Clarke, Rain Hepting. Middle row (l to r): Luke Vavuris, Ian Kapulis, Mel Llamas (brown hat), Sabrina Hossain, Olivia Fitts, Gabriel Carver. Back row (l to r): Jason Chang, Francis Kennedy, Peter Zimmer, Justin Gomes.
 

About Las Positas College

Las Positas College currently enrolls nearly 8,500 day and evening students. The College offers a curriculum for students seeking career preparation, transfer to a four-year college or university, or personal enrichment. The College provides university transfer classes, retraining classes for those in need of employment or career advancement, a first-time educational opportunity for many adults, enrichment classes for those seeking a broader perspective, and career and technical training for those entering the technical and paraprofessional workforce. Las Positas College excels in helping students transfer to the University of California system, the California State University system, and other four-year institutions. Las Positas College is a learning-centered institution focused on excellence and student success and is fully committed to supporting all Tri-Valley residents in their quest for education and advancement.