Samford University journalism students received 12 awards, including four first-place honors, at the annual Southeast Journalism Conference at Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, La., Feb. 19-20.

Exodus, Samford's student-produced annual publication, was named best college magazine. The publication bested entries from 38 schools in the Southeast. The magazine's art director, Ashley Bruce of Birmingham, a May 2004 graduate, was named the top college magazine page designer.

Ginny Temple of Birmingham, an Exodus section editor and article writer, was named the top college magazine writer. Temple graduated in December.

Katie Veach, feature editor of The Crimson student newspaper, was named the best feature writer. Veach is a junior religion and journalism major from Selma.

Entries, all published or broadcast during the 2004 calendar year, were judged by professional media practitioners from outside the southeast.

SNN-TV, the student television news magazine, was named the second best college TV station. Paula Greenwalt, SNN producer and anchor, was named second best television journalist. She graduated in December. Melissa Nixon, a news producer for Samford WVSU-FM, was named third best radio journalist. Nixon is a junior journalism major from Trussville. Amy Travis, a May graduate from Murray, Ky., had the second best research paper.

Other Samford journalism students who finished in the Top 10 in various categories include: W. Vince Johnson, junior from Gulf Shores, sports reporting; and Maurene Simpson, senior from Spartanburg, S.C., news reporting.
Two students were finalists in on-site competitions: Brandon Gresham of Colorado Springs, Colo., second place, page design; and Melissa Morgan of Birmingham, third place, personal column.