Earlier this week, the Kansas Press Association announced the winners of the 2024 KPA Awards of Excellence competition, with the Fort Leavenworth Lamp staff receiving a near-record number of awards across multiple categories.
Lamp Editor Prudence Siebert took first place in Photographer of the Year, a category in which photojournalists from newspapers across the state are eligible to submit a portfolio of work, regardless of circulation, ranging from the largest newspaper to the smallest.
“Great angles and stories told through a variety of images demonstrating a great deal of photo diversity,” the judge commented.
Siebert also received first place in General News Photo with a photograph of Cody Clark’s parents and brother planting a tree in his memory at the skatepark that he helped design.
“Definitely the strongest photo in terms of impact in this category,” the judge wrote.
Siebert and freelance journalist Tanja Vass placed first in Feature Package — which is judged on writing and photo quality, photo usage and package layout — as well as second place in Best Story/Picture Combination for single-day event coverage, with their photographs and story about the free little neighborhood library opening in front of the Sutler House on Scott Avenue.
“There are times we overlook things that will make people smile about and appreciate their community,” the judge commented. “Good job taking advantage of that with a story that mixes heritage with today.”
The article and photos from the skatepark memorial tree planting also earned a third-place award for Siebert and Vass in Best Story/Picture Combination.
In another near category sweep, Siebert earned second and third place in the Photo Package category with her Leavenworth County Veterans Day Parade images and photos from the Month of the Military Child assembly at Eisenhower Elementary School.
Siebert also placed second in the Feature Photo category with an autumn image taken at Cider Hill Family Orchard and third in the Best Environmental Portrait category with a photograph of Scouts BSA supporter Carol Gersema.
Siebert’s piece on 13-year-old Kansas City Chiefs Superfan “Goggle Girl” Maddie Fuller earned a second-place award in Youth Story, as well as a second-place award in Sports Feature Story.
“Incredible photos, and a very fun feature about a memorable junior sports fan,” the Youth Story judge wrote.
“What a great fan profile! Her enthusiasm and that of her parents comes right off every line,” the Sports Feature Story judge wrote.
In preparation of taking a week of leave last summer, Siebert compiled two “Retro Issues,” highlighting some of her favorite assignments and those of her former co-workers, so that issues of the Lamp would still published despite her absence. The Retro Issues re-showcased the work of talented journalists and brought to light some outstanding moments at Fort Leavenworth from over the years. The Retro Issues took second-place honors in the Special Section – Editorial category. This award honors the work of Siebert and former Lamp reporters Diane Alpeter, Melissa Bower, Jan Dumay, then-Pfc. Adrian Lugo, Katie Peterson, Lia Russell, Tisha Swart-Entwistle and Jennifer Walleman, and celebrates roughly two decades of local community journalism coverage.
“I really liked the idea of this section — to go back in time and review some of your favorite stories and pictures. I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to choose these,” the judge wrote.
A seven-week-long series highlighting some of Fort Leavenworth’s outstanding volunteers placed second in the Series category, with judging “based on writing style, community importance of event, enterprise and thoroughness of reporting.”
“Wonderful example of a planned series that invites readers into your newspaper,” the judge commented. “Made me feel connected to a community I've never visited.”
The volunteer series included the work of Siebert, Vass, Frontier Army Museum Museum Specialist Megan Hunter, FAM Museum Specialist Christian Roesler and FAM volunteer Brian Allen.
A photo essay by Siebert featuring portraits of Fort Leavenworth Stray Facility pets, which ran over the course of five weeks during the holiday season and was dubbed “Adoptable Pets in Ugly Sweaters,” took third place in the Series category.
“Wonderful execution of a fabulous idea,” the judge wrote. “Every paper should do this!”
The Fort Leavenworth Lamp also took first place in Design and Layout Excellence, which “is an overall evaluation of the newspaper’s design and layout,” with judging based on each page’s design and layout in complete issues from early, mid and late in the year, as well as use of white space, font selections, and the use of photographs and graphics.
The Fort Leavenworth Lamp was produced under a no-cost-to-the-government contract until October 2023 when it was moved under the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation umbrella. The publication is overseen by the Fort Leavenworth Garrison Public Affairs Office.
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