AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
The Awards of Excellence competition honors overall excellence throughout a publication. Honors are given in each EPA membership category. (On-line publications are not presently eligible for this contest.) The top award in each category is the “Award of Excellence”; judges may also give “Awards of Merit.”
Christian Ministries
Award of Excellence: Youthworker, Will Penner, editor; Ross Cluver, art director; Salem Publishing and CCM Communications, publisher. The judge said, “This publication manages to blend writing style, audience needs and important illustrations into an effective and fun package.”
Awards of Merit: Journal of Christian Nursing, Judith Allen Shelly, editor; Cathy Walker, managing editor; Kathy Burrows, art director; Nurses Christian Fellowship/Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, publisher. Leadership, Marshall Shelley, editor; Raymond C. Whitlock III, art director; Christianity Today International, publisher. Worship Leader, David Di Sabatino, editor; Bob Payne, art director; Chuck Fromm, publisher.
Denominational
Award of Excellence: Beacon, Diane McDougall, editor; Michael Miller, Journey Group, art director; Evangelical Free Church of America, publisher. The judge said, “The exuberance of the Evangelical Free Church comes through in the writing style. Beautiful graphics and excellent cover. All in all, a great publication.”
Awards of Merit: The Banner, John Suk, editor; Dean R. Heetderks, art director; CRC Publications, publisher. Today’s Pentecostal Evangel, Hal Donaldson, editor; Matt Key, art director; Gospel Publishing House, publisher.
General
Award of Excellence: Moody Magazine, Elizabeth Cody Newenhuyse, editor; Journey Communications, art director; Greg Thornton, publisher. The judge said, “Good writing that manages to be engaging and informative. Beautiful design that generally tells the readers the kind of content they will be reading.”
Awards of Merit: Books & Culture, John Wilson, editor; Jennifer McGuire, art director; Paul D. Robbins, publisher. Christian Single, Valerie Hancock, editor; Susan Maywald, art director; LifeWay Christian Resources, publisher. Sports Spectrum, Dave Branon, editor; Steve Gier, art director; Discovery House Publishers, publisher.
Missionary
Award of Excellence: World Vision Today, Shelly R. Ngo, editor; Journey Group, Inc., art director; World Vision, Inc., publisher. The judge said, “Your content (photos and text) takes your mission to a new level. Extraordinary publication that uses photographs and text to their full advantage. You should be commended for your skills and vision.”
Awards of Merit: Beyond, Kristin Elkinton, editor; Bud Speck, art director; JAARS Inc., publisher. Trans World Radio, David McCreary, editor; Charlene Hayden and Kathryn Carson, art directors; Trans World Radio, publisher. Send!, Terry Dryden, editor; Rod Karmenzind, art director; Gospel for Asia, Inc., publisher.
Newsletter
Award of Excellence: Plugged In, Bob Smithouser, editor; Jim Cail, art director; Focus on the Family, publisher. The judge said, “Great job of combining the youthful jargon with the substantive writing. Excellent combination of contemporary design trends with substantive design format.”
Awards of Merit: Jubilee Extra, David Carlson, editor; Peter Gross, art director; Prison Fellowship, publisher. The Voice of the Martyrs, Tom White, editor; The Voice of the Martyrs, publisher. Youth Culture @ Today, Randy Buckwalter, editor; Tom Piotrowski, art director; Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, publisher.
Newspaper
Award of Excellence: Indian Life, Viola Fehn, editor; Yisa Akinbolaji, art director; Intertribal Christian Communications, publisher. The judge said, “Excellent work using a combination of news style and feature style. Great design driven by the content or articles. Great work!”
Awards of Merit: Alabama Baptist, Bob Terry, editor; Jennifer Davis Rash, managing editor. Inside Journal, Jeff Peck, editor; Peter Gross, art director; Prison Fellowship, publisher. Living Light News, Jeff Caporale, editor; Adriana Cruces, art director; Living Light News, publisher.
Organizational
Award of Excellence: Christian Research Journal, Elliot Miller, editor; Dwayne Cogdill, Cognition Design, art director; Christian Research Institute, publisher. The judge said, “Excellent work making often dry research into readable, enticing prose. Your graphics and illustrations are well-conceived and content-driven.”
Awards of Merit: Decision, Bob Paulson, editor; Peter Taylor, art director; Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, publisher. Worldwide Challenge, Judy Nelson, editor; Greg Breeding, Journey Group, art director; Campus Crusade for Christ, publisher.
Youth
Award of Excellence: Go! Janna Jones, editor; Aaron Cessna, art director; North American Mission Board, SBC, publisher. The judge said, “Effective application of the readers’ wants and needs along with what editors think is important. The best of the best combining excellent writing, marvelous graphics and effective content.”
Awards of Merit: Breakaway, Michael Ross, editor; Tom Hook, art director; Focus on the Family, publisher. Brio, Susie Shellenberger, editor; Lexie Rhodes, art director; Focus on the Family, publisher. Campus Life, Chris Lutes, editor; Doug Fleener, art director; Christianity Today International, publisher.
The Awards of Excellence judges were Donald Ranly and Jan Colbert of the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri.
Most Improved Publication
Award of Excellence: Woman’s Touch, Lillian Sparks, editor; Creative Center, art director; General Council of the Assemblies of God, publisher. The judge said, “The design changes and writing content of the revision move this magazine to the forefront in reader appeal AND reader rewards. This is worth reading and rereading.”
Awards of Merit: Holiness Today, Franklin Cook and Gay Leonard, editors; Ted Ferguson, art director; Nazarene Publishing House, publisher. Money Matters, Chuck Thompson, editor; Crown Ministries, publisher. Youthworker, Will Penner, editor; Ross Cluver, art director; Salem Publishing/CCM Communications, publisher.
The Most Improved contest was judged by William Thorn of the Marquette University Journalism Department in Milwaukee.
HIGHER GOALS
Biblical Exposition
First Place: Christianity Today, “Is the God of Muhammad the Father of Jesus?” by Timothy George
Second Place: Priscilla Papers, “The Cultural Context of Ephesians 5:18-6:9” by Gordon Fee
Third Place: Baptist Press, “Joseph of Nazareth Meets Planned Parenthood” by Russell D. Moore
Fourth Place: Clubhouse Jr., “Clues to Christ” by Suzanne Hadley
Fifth Place: The Operation Reveille Shofar, “New Paradigm for Outreach: Gospel Restores Honor to the Dishonored” by Bruce Sidebotham
Judge: Howard Hendricks, distinguished professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and chairman of the Center for Christian Leadership
Cause of the Year: Peace in the Middle East
Each year the EPA Board of Directors chooses a special emphasis. For 2002, that emphasis was peace in the Middle East.
First Place: Books & Culture, “A Conversation on Books About Islam and the Middle East” by Philip Yancey and John Wilson
Second Place: Christianity Today, “How to Confront a Theocracy” by Jeff M. Sellers
Third Place: The Banner, “The View From Ramallah” by Lenore Vander Zee
Fourth Place: Sports Spectrum, “Pitching Peace” by Richard Daigle
Fifth Place: Moody Magazine, “Evangelical Support of Israel Raises Questions” by Tamela Baker and Allan Sholes
Judge: Al Janssen, writer-in-residence for Open Doors with Brother Andrew, and former EPA award-winner
Critical Review
First Place: Christian Research Journal, “Appeal Denied” by Bob and Gretchen Passantino
Second Place: Books & Culture, “Turning the World Upside Down” by Mark A. Noll
Third Place: Youth Culture @ Today, “P.O.D.: Loud and Clear?” by Tom Piotrowski
Fourth Place: Sojourners, “What Words Cannot Capture” by Kimberly Burge
Fifth Place: Priscilla Papers, “What About the ‘Gender-Accurate’ TNIV?” by John R. Kohlenberger III
Judge: Chris Willman, senior writer at Entertainment Weekly magazine
Editorial
First Place: Christianity Today, “A Secularist Jihad” by Douglas LeBlanc
Second Place: AFA Journal, “Who You Callin’ an Extremist?” by Ed Vitagliano
Third Place: Alliance Life, “To the Hardest Places” by Peter N. Nanfelt
Fourth Place: Citizen, “Nice Guys, Really” by Matt Kaufman
Fifth Place: Books & Culture, “The Scandal of Arming America” by John Wilson
Judge: Russ Pulliam, associate editor and columnist for the Indianapolis Star newspaper and director of the Pulliam Journalism Fellowships
Evangelistic Article
First Place: Mennonite Brethren Herald, “Good News in Bad Times” by Jim Coggins and James Toews
Second Place: Brio, “Am I Really a Christian?” by Susie Shellenberger
Third Place: The Messianic Times, “When Life and Death Meet Under Fire” by Rebekah Kolber
Fourth Place: The Banner, “Forgiveness for Jose?” by Dirk van der Vorst
Fifth Place: On Mission, “When God Calls, Listen” by Mark Littleton
Judge: Lyle W. Dorsett, professor in School of Evangelism at Wheaton College
Fiction
First Place: Go!, “Light and Shadow” by Nicole Phinney
Second Place: Books & Culture, “The Bird Who Married a Blue Light” by Diane Glancy
Third Place: Breakaway, “Message of Forgiveness” by Lisa Brock
Fourth Place: Voice of Prophecy News, “Making It in Hollywood” by David B. Smith
Fifth Place: Club Connection, “The Camp Bathhouse” by Ginger Casebeer
Judge: Jerry B. Jenkins, novelist, former editor of Moody Magazine and former EPA president
First-Person Article
First Place: Stillpoint, “Commencement 2002” by Peggy Wehmeyer
Second Place: Sports Spectrum, “Just Getting Started” by David Robinson with Darryl Howerton
Third Place: The Alabama Baptist, “Reflections on Romans 8:28” by Bob Terry
Fourth Place: Discipleship Journal, “The Good Gift” by Michael A. Johnson
Fifth Place: Christian Single, “The Long and Winding Road” by Janis Whipple and Kelly Tolson Lotochinski
Judge: Helen Hosier, bookstore owner turned author of over 60 books
General Article
First Place: Books & Culture, “Maya Mysteries” by Wendy Murray Zoba
Second Place: Citizen, “The Fever” by Jeff Hooten
Third Place: Charisma, “When It’s Hard to Believe” by Andy Butcher
Fourth Place: Journal of Christian Nursing, “Caring for Children of Other Faiths” by Sue E. Steen and Betsy A. Anderson
Fifth Place: World Vision Today, “The Hope Bearers” by Nigel Marsh
Judge: Jim Dahlman, former magazine editor and currently associate professor at Milligan College in Tennessee
Humorous Article
First Place: Sojourners, “Dateline: Our Nation’s Capital” by Ed Spivey Jr.
Second Place: Christian Single, “Meet the Parents” by Becca Cipriani
Third Place: Clubhouse Jr., “The Pirates Who Don’t Do What?!” by Karl Pradel
Fourth Place: Youth and Christian Education Leadership, “How to Be a Sorry Sunday School Teacher” by Lance Colkmire
Fifth Place: Books & Culture, “The Corrections” by Eric Metaxas
Judge: Robert Darden, senior editor of The Door and lecturer at Baylor University
Interview Article
First Place: Discipleship Journal, “Captivated by God” by Connie Willems
Second Place: War Cry, “Islam and the Gospel of Grace” by Jeff McDonald
Third Place: Breakaway, “Wake’s Up” by Manfred Koehler
Fourth Place: Today’s Pentecostal Evangel, “Faith and Prayer in Life’s Toughest Times” by Scott Harrup
Fifth Place: Citizen, “Alan Keyes Is Making No Excuses” by Matt Kaufman
Judge: Paul Fromer, former editor with InterVarsity and at Christianity Today and past EPA president
Personality Article
First Place: Christianity Today, “Still Somebody” by Edward Gilbreath
Second Place: Sojourners, “Martha Stewartship” by Julie Polter
Third Place: Ministries Today, “Not Just a Dreamer” by Joel Kilpatrick
Fourth Place: Today’s Christian Woman, “A Higher Calling” by Camerin Courtney
Fifth Place: Books & Culture, “The Shaming of Lech Walesa” by Agnieszka Tennant
Judge: Bob Welch, columnist at the Register-Guard newspaper in Eugene, Oregon, author of seven books, and winner of Gold Medallion Award
Poetry
First Place: The Banner, “Wadi Zohar” by Jeff Brower
Second Place: Books & Culture, “Two Icons” by Scott Cairns
Third Place: Mennonite Brethren Herald, “Mourning/Morning” by Henry Rempel
Fourth Place: Sojourners, “On the Road to Emmaus” by Rose Marie Berger
Fifth Place: Clubhouse Jr., “What Kind of Hero?” by Carrie Clickard
Judges: Joni Eareckson Tada, author, artist, and founder of Joni and Friends ministry, and Paul Willis, professor at Westmont College
Reporting
First Place: Charisma, “Nigeria’s Miracle” by J. Lee Grady
Second Place: Christian Leader, “Taking Care of Family Business” by Connie Faber
Third Place: Christianity Today, “ ‘New’ China: Same Old Tricks” by Tony Carnes
Fourth Place: Biola Connections, “Evangelicals on the Decline” by Holly Peters
Fifth Place: The Voice of the Martyrs, “Carrying the Cross in Pakistan” by Gary Lane
Judge: Steve Rabey, award-winning freelance journalist from Colorado Springs
Single-Theme Section/Issue
First Place: Moody Magazine, “A Church That Feels Like Home”
Second Place: Enrichment, “Leadership in the Local Church”
Third Place: Decision, “9/11/02: Real Hope”
Fourth Place: On Mission, “Postmodernism”
Fifth Place: Light and Life, “Aging”
Judge: Terry White, founder, Minnesota Christian Chronicle and the Christian Communicator, and past EPA president
Standing Column
First Place: Sports Spectrum, “Pro and Con” by Allen Palmeri and Ted Kluck
Second Place: Holiness Today, “Essay” by Gay Leonard
Third Place: Woman’s Touch, “The Growing Edge” by Nancie Carmichael
Fourth Place: Christian Research Journal, “Practical Apologetics” by Gregory Koukl, Joe Dalls and Randy Alcorn (Article 1, Article 2, Article 3)
Fifth Place: The Voice, “From the Editor” by Tessa Chierici
Judge: Holly G. Miller, published author of 13 books and more than 2,000 articles, and associate editor for The Saturday Evening Post
Cartoon
First Place: The Banner, “The real question is, ‘Why would I want to dance on the head of a pin?’“ by Tim Walburg
Second Place: Clubhouse, “Johnny Grav and the Visioneer” by Dennis Jensen
Third Place: Citizen, “Politically Correct Army Men” by Dave Clegg
Fourth Place: Christianity Today, “Teen Study Bible” by Ed Koehler
Fifth Place: Christian Reader, “Fasting 101: A Quick Course” by Mary Chambers
Judge: Chuck Asay, prize-winning editorial cartoonist for the Colorado Springs Gazette syndicated with Creators Syndicate Inc.
1-, 2-, 3-Color Cover
First Place: Plugged In, “Spiderman: A New Perspective” by Jim Cail
Second Place: Pray!, “God’s Cosmic Clock” by Bridget McNamara
Third Place: Beacon, “A Lasting Influence” by Tamara Reynolds & Michael Miller
Fourth Place: Alliance Life, “Getting It Done” by Beryl Glass
Fifth Place: Jubilee Extra, “Behold, the New Man” by Dara Schminke & Jeff Peck
Judge: Wayne Kiser, president of Graphic and Editorial Services and past adjunct faculty, Wheaton Graduate School
Full-Color Cover
First Place: Breakaway, “Christians in the NFL” by Tom Hook
Second Place: In Touch, “Committed to the Course” by Victor Rodriguez
Third Place: Christianity Today, “China” by Dan Bigelow/snapshot by Li Shi-xiong
Fourth Place: Word Alive, “Singapore Evening Portrait” by Dave Crough
Fifth Place: Sports Spectrum, “Allan Houston” by Steve Gier
Judge: Jim Langford, senior designer at Hallmark Cards
1-, 2-, 3-Color Original Art
First Place: Plugged In, “Girl Power” by Kirsten Ulve and Jim Cail
Second Place: Outreach, “Nursery Check-in” by Keith Locke
Third Place: Books & Culture, “Alvin Plantinga” by Klaus Ernst
Fourth Place: Church Herald, “Advent Devotions Coloring Page” by Marian Heibel Richardson
Fifth Place: The Operation Reveille Shofar, “Iraqi Religious Faultlines” by Bruce Sidebotham
Judge: Terry Julien, freelance illustrator and past award recipient in this category
Full-Color Original Art
First Place: Moody Magazine, “God, I Know You Love Me” by Nicholas Wilton
Second Place: Christian Home & School, “Escaping the Public School Monopoly” by Rich Bishop
Third Place: Physician, “Building a Marriage Bridge” by John Corbitt
Fourth Place: Light and Life, “Unexpected Outcomes” by Scott Holladay
Fifth Place: The Banner, “Choosing a Pastor” by Scott Holladay
Judge: Bonnie Rieser, Seattle-based commercial artist and instructor at Cornish College of the Arts
Photo Feature
First Place: World Vision Today, “Left Behind” photos by Jon Warren; design by Journey Group, Inc.
Second Place: Decision, “God’s Love Is Big in Texas” photos by Greg Schneider; design by Peter Taylor
Third Place: Worldwide Challenge, “Cameroon” photos by Guy Gerrard; text by Erik Segalini; design by Journey Communications
Fourth Place: Brio, “Never the Same Missions Trip” photos by Ron Nickel; design by Lexie Rhodes
Fifth Place: Send! “Harvest Above the Clouds” by Rod Karmenzind
Judge: Mark Reis, award-winning photographer and deputy photo director, Colorado Springs Gazette
Single Photo/Candid
First Place: World Vision Today, “Left Behind” by Jon Warren
Second Place: Worldwide Challenge, “A General Returns” by Guy Gerrard
Third Place: Decision, “Little Girl Praying” by Greg Schneider
Fourth Place: Brio, “Ecuadorian Boy Praying in City Dump” by Ron Nickel
Fifth Place: Leaders for Today, “Haggai Alumna with Buddhist Nun” by Billy Grimes
Judge: Jerilee Bennett, award-winning photographer, Colorado Springs Gazette
Single Photo/Controlled Setting
First Place: Today’s Pentecostal Evangel, “Uzbekistan Orphan” by David Dobson
Second Place: Campus Life, “Could Life Get Any Worse?” by Jim Callaway
Third Place: Moody Magazine, “There I Go Again” by Scott Ferguson
Fourth Place: Enrichment, “Rediscovering Servant Leadership” by David Edmonson
Fifth Place: Christianity Today, “L. Venchael Booth” by Greg Puls
Judge: Richard Shock, Denver-based corporate photographer
Two-Page Spread Design
First Place: Campus Life, “Is God Even Real?” by Doug Fleener
Second Place: Worldwide Challenge, “Cameroon” by Greg Breeding
Third Place: Books & Culture, “The Enigma of Anger” by Jennifer McGuire
Fourth Place: World Vision Today, “Left Behind” by Journey Group
Fifth Place: In Touch, “The Secret of Success” by Shannon Yentzer
Judge: Kevin Gatta, owner and principal designer, Gatta Design & Co., and full professor of Graphic Design, Pratt Institute, N.Y.
Typography and Lettering
First Place: Christianity Today, “The Top Tomato” by Gary Gnidovic
Second Place: Beacon, “Setting Hearts on Fire” by Michael Miller
Third Place: Campus Life, “Chaz Lamar Shepherd” by Doug Fleener
Fourth Place: Marriage Partnership, “The Appeal of Porn” by Doug Fleener
Fifth Place: Enrichment, “The Minister as a Lifelong Follower-Leader” by Richard Slaton
Judge: David A. Scott, designer for Association of Christian Schools International in Colorado Springs
Publication Design
First Place: Moody Magazine by Journey Communications
Second Place: Worldwide Challenge by Greg Breeding
Third Place: Books & Culture by Jennifer McGuire
Fourth Place: Go! by Aaron Cessna
Fifth Place: Beacon by Michael Miller, Journey Group
Judge: William Korbus, professor emeritus, department of journalism at the University of Texas at Austin
Publication Redesign
First Place: Breakaway by Tom Hook
Second Place: Indian Life by Yisa Akinbolaji and David Uttley
Third Place: Today’s Pentecostal Evangel by Matt Key and Keith Locke
Fourth Place: Current Thoughts & Trends by Lisa Palmgren
Fifth Place: Youthworker by Ross Cluver
Judge: Kelly Vorhauf Bryant, freelance illustrator and assistant professor of graphic design at Auburn University