The staff of Monroe County Community College’s student newspaper, Agora, has once again earned numerous state-level awards in 2021.
The Agora won two Michigan Community College Press Association awards in the Division 2 category, which is composed of nine colleges. The contest period covered March1, 2020 to Feb. 28, 2021.
Jerry Meade, a resident of Monroe, took third place in the News Story category for his story on the Futures for Frontliners Program. “A very important story for MCCC’s students,” one of the contest judges wrote. “Jerry explained what the Futures for Frontliners program entailed and how it works. As a reporter, he included voices from experts and a student.”
Mead also earned honorable mention in the In-Depth Enterprise Reporting category for his story on the college’s transition to online learning. “This August 2020 piece was a good idea as students presumably got ready for the fall semester with lots of questions about how and where they’d find the services they need,” the judge wrote.
The Agora also took home four awards this year from the Michigan Press Association’s 2020 College Better Newspaper Contest. The results were released on March 25, and the contest period was Aug. 1, 2019, through July 31, 2020. MCCC competes in Division 3 against other two-year college publications or newspapers publishing less than weekly in Michigan.
Abby Nisely, a resident of Carleton, won third place in the Best Writer category.
Ida resident, Juliet Jefts, took first place in the Feature Story category for her story about the MCCC Symphonic Band and Agora Chorale honoring its long-time oboist, the late Chales F. Pease of Toledo.
Todd Salisbury of Monroe took third place in the News Story category for his story about MCCC making PPE at the start of the pandemic.
The Agora staff took third place for Non-Front Page Design for its Feb. 24, 2020, page 8 and 9 spread featuring a story about a new piano donated to MCCC and the success of local musician Reese Hindley Johnson, a 14-year-old freshman at Monroe County Middle College.
Matthew Bird-Meyer, a member of the faculty of MCCC who teaches journalism and humanities and Monroe resident, serves as the advisor to the staff of the Agora.
All of the award-winning stories and other news and information provided by the reporters and editors of Agora can be found at www.mcccagora.com
About Monroe County Community College
Founded in 1964, Monroe County Community College is a public, two-year institution supported by tax monies from Monroe County, educational funds from the State of Michigan and student tuition.
The college’s mission is to enrich and transform lives by providing opportunities and excellence in higher education. The Main Campus is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Mich., 48161, with easy access to Toledo and Detroit. The Whitman Center is located at 7777 Lewis Ave.,Temperance, Mich., 48182, near the Ohio-Michigan Border. Detailed information about MCCC is available at www.monroeccc.edu.