Samford Journalism and Mass Communication student Maribeth Browning earned the top undergraduate honor for her presentation at the American Journalism Historians Association's Southeast Symposium in Panama City Beach, Fla. Feb. 4-6.

Browning took first prize in the undergraduate category for her paper on civil rights era photojournalist Charles Moore, whose iconic images of protests in Birmingham helped define the era.

JMC student Matt Roberts presented his paper on the early 20th century reporter Walter Lippmann.

JMC professor Julie Williams accompanied Browning and Roberts to the symposium and called the event "a huge success for Samford". She said Samford student research always compares well even to the graduate level work presented at the event, but this year brought the unique honor of the inaugural award for undergraduate research.

Williams noted that JMC alumna and current University of Alabama graduate student Jenna Hippensteel also presented at the symposium.