UNL's Melissa Lee, Van Jensen Win Hearst Journalism Awards
Released on 04/16/2004, at 2:00 AM
Office of University Communications
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The William Randolph Hearst Foundation announced on March 28 its 20 winners in college personality and profile writing in its 44th annual Journalism Awards Program. The winners included two University of Nebraska-Lincoln students.
Melissa Lee of Lincoln finished second overall, winning a $1,500 scholarship for a profile about a former mistress of Fidel Castro.
Van A. Jensen of Lewellen won a scholarship for top 10 stories in two categories. In the sports writing category he won ninth place for an article covering Nebraska state Sen. Ernie Chambers' efforts to pay college football players. In the profile writing category he won fourth place for an article about a longtime Lewellen sports announcer who lost his sight yet continued to announce games. Jensen was awarded $750.
There were 89 students from 49 universities and colleges that participated in the program's personality and profile writing competition.
UNL is in third place nationwide in the Intercollegiate Writing Competition behind Northwestern University and the University of Missouri. Final winners will be announced in April.
CONTACT: Melissa Lee, Van Jensen, Daily Nebraskan, (402) 472-2588