Three DCCCD newspapers named tops in country

by PegNews wire

Three of the nation's top 15 community college newspapers publish right here in north Texas -- specifically for students in the Dallas County Community College District -- according to the Associated College Press.

Three DCCCD student newspapers have been named national finalists in ACP's Pacemaker Award competition: the "Brookhaven Courier" (Brookhaven College); the "North Lake News-Register" (North Lake College); and the "Richland Chronicle" (Richland College). Winners will be announced during ACP's annual conference in Washington, D.C., scheduled Oct. 24-28.

DCCCD's student newspapers were three among only 55 college newspapers in the country named as finalists; only 15 papers in that total number represented the nation's community colleges. One other two-year institution in Texas -- the "San Jacinto Times" in Pasadena – placed with DCCCD's three finalists. Only one other Texas institution – the University of North Texas -- placed among the nation's daily four-year college newspaper finalists.

ACP and the Newspaper Association of America Foundation have sponsored the Newspaper Pacemaker competition since 1971; ACP began the awards in 1927. Judges select Pacemakers based on: coverage and content; quality of writing and reporting; leadership on the opinion page; evidence of in-depth reporting; design; photography; art; and graphics.

Newspaper Pacemakers are judged in three categories: four-year dailies; four-year non-dailies; and two-year papers. Pacemakers are selected by the staff of a professional newspaper in the host city for the ACP/CMA national college media convention.

The North Lake News-Register won the Pacemaker Award in 2004 and the paper's editor, Josh Bohling, was recognized as a 2004 Leader of the Student Press in North America. The Richland Chronicle was named a Pacemaker in both 2000 and 2001 and also earned finalist status in 2003 and 2006.

* (Dallas) -- Lorene Strickland, professor of English at Brookhaven College, recently was named "Cambridge Who's Who" Professional of the Year in Literature Instruction in Higher Education. Only one individual from each of the 99 disciplines included in "Cambridge Who's Who" receives the designation "Professional of the Year" based on their accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership, and service.

Strickland has taught a variety of American, British and world literature courses for 50 years. She also has supervised students from the University of Texas at Dallas for 10 years and, through Brookhaven College, has directed 12 international tours for adults and students to Great Britain, Greece and Italy.

Strickland holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in English from Stephen F. Austin University and has completed her doctoral coursework in English and higher education at the University of North Texas. She has served as a study abroad advisor and English coordinator at BHC, division chair at Mountain View College, and a Matthews Fellow at UNT.

Source: DCCCD