The DA Awards
Awards 2023 -2024
West Virginia Press Association, Editorial
- First Place, Best in-depth or investigative reporting: “Sodexo-run WVU dining halls repeatedly violated health code standards,” Duncan Slade, Jules Ogden and Trenton Straight
- Second Place, Best photographer/videographer: The DA TikTok account, Dylan Gay
- Second Place, Best sports special edition: Fall 2022 Football Preview, The DA staff
- Third Place, News photography: “Morgantown High students walk out in protest of pride flag ban,” Trenton Straight
West Virginia Press Association, Advertising
- First Place, Best special edition: 2022 Valentine’s Day edition, DA advertising staff
- Second Place, Best
Awards 2022 -2023
Associated Collegiate Press
- Best Overall Newspaper Issue, Fifith Place
West Virginia Press Association, Editorial
- First Place, Best business, economic or labor reporting: “There are way fewer student workers this year, WVU data shows,” Camren Gandee
- First Place, Best sports news and feature reporting: “How WVU football players get paid to endorse biscuits, law firms and Little General,” Charles Montgomery
- First Place, Best video: “Local farmer rebounds from pandemic setback,” The DA news staff
- Second Place, Best news feature: “Cannabis is more than recreation in this WVU program,” Jules Ogden
- Second Place, Best single issue: Dec. 2, 2021, The DA newsroom
- Second Place, Sports photography: WV baseball team looks on, Tiffany Vannoy
- Third Place, Best illustration, cartoon or graphic: The two-month battle for a vaccine mandate, Annika Godwin
West Virginia Press Association, Advertising
- Second Place, Best online motion ad: We’re moving our print day to Wednesdays, Megan Rinker
- Third Place, Best classified section: The DA classified page 11-11-21, Jami Christopher
- Third Place, Best color ad, quarter page or less: Full Throttle, Advertising production staff
- Third Place, Best newspaper promotional campaign: WVU Student Media, Megan Rinker
College Media Association
- David L. Adams Apple Award for Best Facebook Page
Awards 2019-2020
First place, Best Student News Reporter, Joe Severino
College Media Association
Distinguished Adviser Award
Pinnacle Awards
West Virginia Press Association
Advertising (Division III, Weeklies over 4,000 circulation)
- First place, Best Process Color Ad Larger Than A Half Page, "Prospect and Price Creative", Maggie McLister
- First place, Best Recruitment Ad, "Interested?", DA News Team
- First place, Best Online Motion Ad, "Bent Tree Ticker", DA Sales and Production Team
- First place, Best Newspaper Promotional Campaign, "Prospect and Price Creative", Maggie McLister
- Second place, Best Process Color Ad Larger Than A Half Page, "The Domain - Floorplan to Future", Hannah Williams
- Third place, Best Process Color Ad Larger Than A Half Page, "Mylan Park The Aquatic", Hannah Willams
- Third place, Best House Ad, "DA Valentine's Day Promo", Hannah Williams
- Third place, Best Recruitment AD, "Join The DA", Hannah Williams
- Third place, Best Theme Page Classified, "Mountaineer Messenger", DA Classified
- Third place, General Excellence in Advertising (statewide for Division III, Weeklies over 4,000 circulation)
West Virginia Press Association
Editorial (Division III, Weeklies over 4,000 circulation)
- First place, Best Sports Event Reporting, "The reason why Holgorsen left breaking down his WVU, UH Contracts", John Lowe, Jared Serre
- First place, Feature Photography, "A woman plays with a dog at Coopers Rock", Tim Shaw
- First place, Sports Photography, "Iowa State's Lawrence White and West Virginia's Winston Wright Jr. fight for ball", Duncan Slade
- Second place, Best In-Depth or Investigated Reporting, "Evaluating pedestrian safety in Morgantown one year after student death", Joe Severino
- Second place, Best Special Section, "April Fools' Edition", DA Staff
- Third place, Best In-Depth or Investigative Reporting, "Nolan Burch wrongful death and settlement", Joe Severino
- Third place, Best Illustration, Cartoon or Graphic, "Throwdown in Morgantown", Staff
Society of Professional Journalists (Regional)
- Finalist, Sports Photography, Duncan Slade
- Finalist, Editorial Writing, Douglas Soule
- Finalist, DA Staff, General News Reporting
Awards 2018 - 2019
Associated Collegiate Press
Best in Show - ACP/CMA Conference 2019
Fourth place, Large School Website
Tenth place, Large School Newspaper
Columbia Student Press Association, Columbia University
Gold Circle Awards
Certificate of Merit, In-depth News Story, "WVU Loan Default Rate the Highest
in the Big 12", Alayna Fuller
Certificate of Merit, Informational Graphic, "The High Cost of Being Greek", Haleigh Holden
Columbia Student Press Association, Columbia University
Gold Medalist
College Media Association Pinnacle Awards
Advertising
Finalist, Best Ad Campaign, Chateau Royale
Finalist, Best Display Ad, Prospect and Price Creative
West Virginia Press Association
Advertising (Division III, Weeklies over 4,000 circulation)
First place, Best Agency Advertisement, "Puppy Pilates", WVU Medicine Creative Staff
Second place, Best Agency Advertisement, "Drinking Buddy", Clara Warner
Third place, Best Process Color Ad Half Page or Less, "Greek Life", Hannah Williams
Third place, Best Special Section, "Housing", DA Staff
First place, Best Special Section, "The DA's Most Influential", Staff
First place, Best In-Depth or Investigative, "Child-care assistance program", Joe Severino
Third place, Best Governmental Affairs Reporting, "WVU loan default highest in Big 12", Alayna Fuller
Third place, Best Single Issue, Nov. 5 "Horns Down", Staff
Third place, Best Newspaper Design, Staff
Third place, Best Sports Event Reporting, "Simmons' touchdown a long time coming", Chris Jackson
Finalist, Sports Columns, John Lowe
Finalist, Sports Writing (Mountaineers Love Beer), Douglas Soule
Finalist, Breaking News, Jordyn Johnson, Joe Severino, Douglas Soule
College Media Association, Best of Show Awards
Websites, Large Schools (More than 10,000 students)
Fifth place, thedaonline.com
Ranked 8th most influential college newspaper 2018
Awards 2017 - 2018
Society of Professional Journalists (Regional)Finalist, Sports Photography, Ryan Alexander
West Virginia Press Association
2018 Advertisement of the Year, "Panera Delivers" by Brooke Marble
Advertising (Division III, Weeklies over 4,000 circulation)
Third place, Overall General Excellence in Advertising, Staff
First place, Best Agency Ad, "What's at the end of your straw?", WellWVU
Creative Team
First place, Best Recruitment Ad, "The DA is now hiring", Staff
First place, Best Single Newspaper Online Promotional Ad, "Color Your Campus", Staff
First place, Best Special Section, Graduation Edition, Staff
Frist place, Best Online Motion Ad, "Panera Delivers", Brooke Marble
Second place, Best Classified Section, Staff
Second place, Best Newspaper Promotinal Campaign, Staff
Thrid place, Best House Ad, "Coloring Book Winner", Staff
West Virginia Press Association
Editorial
(Division III, Weeklies over 4,000 circulation)
First place, Sports Photography, "Wide receiver Gray Jennings is tackled in the air", Ryan Alexander
Second place, Sports Photography, "Pascal Derwaritsch makes a place for the ball", Tristian Wright
Second place, Best Sports Columnist, "Chris' Corner", Chris Jackson
Third place, Best Sports Feature, "Molded by experience, Mazzulla is humbled to live the dream.", Chris Jackson
Third place, Best Special Section, "Over the years.." Celebrating 150 years
of WVU, Staff
Third place, Best Coverage of Breaking News, "Man follows WVU student to
her car, makes demands.", Douglas Soule
Awards 2016 - 2017
Associated Collegiate Press Newspapers Pacemaker Awards
Winner, Best Newspaper
Honorable Mention, Newspaper Page One Design of the Year
College Media Association Pinnacle Awards
Individual Writing Awards
Honorable Mention, Caity Coyne, Best Breaking News Story for "Baker arrested
two months before resignation, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct."
Honorable Mention, Adrianne Uphold, Best News Package category for " Naloxone:
A second chance at life."
Advertising
Winner, Best Online Ad, Jackson Montgomery, Best Online Ad, Rt. 7 Auto
Repair
Second Place, Staff, Best Social Media Strategy, Thankful Tree
Honorable Mention, Jackson Montgomery, Best Display Ad, Chateau Royale
Design
Second Place, Staff, Best Newspaper Nameplate
West Virginia Press Association
E
ditorial (Division II, Dailies with less than 16,000 circulation)
First place, Best Front Page, Andrew Spellman, "Under Rated, Under the
Radar, Under Dawgs"
First place, Best Single Issue, staff, "We are one WVU"
First place, Feature Photo, Ryan Alexander, cover of the mountaineer from the Missouri game
Second place, Best Sports Feature, Chris Jackson, "Zitel overcomes odds to find role at WVU"
Third place, Best Front Page, Andrew Spellman, "We are one WVU"
Third place, Best Illustration, Nick Rhoads, clown cover
Third place, Best Special Section, Joel Whetzel, "The Year in Review."
West Virginia Press Association
Advertising (Division II, Dailies with less than 16,000 circulation)
2017 Advertisement of the Year, DA Promo Video, Staff
First place, Best Progress Edition, Graduation, Staff
First place, Best Online Promotion Ad, Dress for Success, Staff
First place, Best Single Newspaper Online Promotional Ad, DA Promo Video, Staff
Second place, Best Online Motion Ad, Dress for Success, Staff
Second place, Best Process Color Ad ½ Page or Less, The Cupcakerie, Staff
Third place, Best Spot Color Ad ½ Page or Less, Fright Farm, Staff
Third place, Best Full Page Ad Campaign, Fashion Forward, Staff
CMBAM (College Media Business and Advertising Managers)
Second place, Best Self Promotion Video Ad, Staff
Third place, Best Special Event, Thankful Tree, Staff
Honorable Mention, Best Sales Pitch or Proposal, Sheetz, Staff
Honorable Mention, Best Ancillary Operation, PR Street Team, Staff
Society of Professional Journalists (Regional)
First place, Feature Photo, Andrew Spellman, Dog days at the pool
First place, News Photo, Andrew Spellman, Profits over people
First place, Editorials, Brandon Ridgeley
Finalist, Breaking News, Kayla Asbury
Finalist, Feature Writing, Alainia Conrad
Finalist, Photo Illustration, Askar Salikhov
Finalist, Sports Columns, David Statman
Society of Professional Journalists (National)
Finalist, Feature Photo, Andrew Spellman, Dog days at the pool
American Scholastic Press Association
Most Outstanding Weekly Newspaper
First Place ranking, College newspapers