Last year, NOVA Fortnightly, the newspaper of Northern Virginia Community College, became the first publication of the college to ever win a Virginia Press Association award.

Traci J. Brooks, Joshua Davis and Ling Lee won awards in photography and photo illustration for work published in 2010. They competed against mainstream newspapers.

Well, they’ve done it again.

Brooks and KJ Mushung have won VPA awards for work published in 2011, again competing against mainstream newspapers in the non-daily newspaper division.

Brooks won for the second year in a row, taking second place for photo illustration. And Mushung won first place in Virginia for pictorial photo.

NOVA Fortnightly is led by Mushung, who serves as the Newspaper Training Director. Dr. Jimmie McClellan, Dean for Liberal Arts, serves as Faculty Advisor. Brooks is the newspaper’s Photography Director.

“It’s ambitious for a college newspaper to even be a member of the Virginia Press Association,” said McClellan. “It is an extraordinary achievement for a college newspaper to be recognized.”

The Virginia Press Association holds one of the largest news contests in the nation, annually attracting more than 5,000 entries.

The mission of the VPA is to support its membership through responsive services and resources. The organization represents newspaper interests in the General Assembly through lobbying efforts. It also champions the common interests of Virginia newspapers and the ideals of a free press in a democratic society.

NOVA Fortnightly would like to thank its hard-working staff, Dr. McClellan, College-wide Student Activities Coordinator Brian Anweiler and the Virginia Press Association.

By: NOVA Fortnightly Staff

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