Professional Awards

2022 — News Leaders Association’s Al Neuharth Breaking News Reporting Award (Finalist)

The staff of the Times-Picayune was recognized for its coverage of Hurricane Ida. Shifting off of Saints coverage for the weekend, I wrote six articles about widespread power outages, 9-1-1 outages, EMS outages, and loose barges in the Mississippi River.  I also floated over to the digital desk and authored several of our emergency text alerts to readers, edited hundreds of breaking news photo cutlines, and helped craft headlines.

2022 — Louisiana Sports Writers Association (First Place): Breaking News

• Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: ‘I am not retiring from New Orleans’.

2022 — Press Club of New Orleans (First Place): Best Sports Feature

• Hurricane Ida snuck up on the Saints. Here’s how they pulled off their Dallas evacuation

2022 — Press Club of New Orleans (Third Place): Best Sports Feature

• Yes, babies are being named after Taysom Hill. Here’s the origin story of the Saints QB’s unique name

2022 — Louisiana Sports Writers Association (Honorable Mention): Pro Event Coverage

• Jameis Winston’s injury inspired the Saints to beat the Bucs — and drew tears from Sean Payton

2021 — PFWA’s Bob Oates Beat Writing Award (Third Place):

• News 1: Drew Brees slammed after he says ‘he’ll never agree with’ protests during anthem
  
• News 2: Saints exploring playing games at LSU’s Tiger Stadium since fans aren’t yet allowed in Superdome
• Feature 1: Demario Davis’ daughter lost her eye to cancer. This is how it changed the Saints linebacker and his family.
• Feature 2: ‘The world is starting to take notice’ of Saints DE Trey Hendrickson. No one close to him is surprised.
• Game Story 1: Alvin Kamara goes ballistic on Christmas and Saints clinch NFC South (again)
• Game Story 2: Using Taysom Hill and run, run, run, Saints throttle QB-less Broncos
• Wild card: Drew Brees injury overview: Collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a look at the recovery time

2021 — Finalist for the Terez A. Paylor Emerging Writer Award, presented by the PFWA

• Presented to an up-and-coming NFL writer who best exemplifies the qualities that made Terez such a respected member of the PFWA family, someone who is passionate about football and the craft of writing, who values building relationships and cares about their colleagues.

2020 — Press Club of New Orleans (First Place): Best Sports Feature

• Demario Davis’ daughter lost her eye to cancer. This is how it changed the Saints linebacker and his family.

2020 — Louisiana Sports Writers Association

• Breaking News (Third Place):
  • Drew Brees slammed after he says ‘he’ll never agree with’ protests during anthem

2019 — APSE Top 10 (Sixth Place): Category A | Beat Reporting

• Saints QB Drew Brees to have surgery to repair torn ligament in thumb, expected to miss 6 weeks
• Drew Brees’ early return, Teddy Bridgewater’s superb relief show Saints’ moxie in win vs. Cardinals
• How is Drew Brees brushing his teeth already? A look inside the Saints QB’s procedure
• For Demario Davis, it was faith that saved this Saints linebacker: ‘My heart changed’
• For 12 Saints, hundreds in NFL camps, small-school road makes for uphill climb: ‘Patience is key’

2019 — Louisiana Sports Writers Association:

• College Event (First Place):
  • LSU senior gymnasts have ‘nothing to regret’ as careers conclude

• Pro Features (Third Place):
  • For Demario Davis, it was faith that saved this Saints linebacker: ‘My heart changed’

• Pro Event (Honorable Mention):
  • Drew Brees’ early return, Teddy Bridgewater’s superb relief show Saints’ moxie in win vs. Cardinals

2019 — Press Club of New Orleans (Second Place): Best Sports Feature

• For Demario Davis, it was faith that saved this Saints linebacker: ‘My heart changed’

2019 — Louisiana Press Association (First Place): Breaking News Reporting

• Small plane crash in south Lafayette kills 5 passengers; see latest details from officials
• Carley McCord, killed in Lafayette plane crash, known as a kind person, fierce worker
• Carley McCord, sports reporter and Steve Ensminger’s daughter-in-law, killed in Lafayette plane crash

2018 — APSE Top 10 (Second Place): Category D | Beat Reporting

• Arlee Warriors, Scarlets to move up to Class B
• Missoula Hellgate ends football win drought after 2,177 days
• ‘This is for Two Eagle:’ Arlee’s suicide awareness campaign about more than just basketball
• ‘Through hell and back:’ Columbia Falls running star in race of her life against cancer
• Sentinel’s Shelby Schweyen shines at AA track/field divisionals

2018 — APSE Top 10 (Fourth Place): Category D | Features

• ‘Through hell and back:’ Columbia Falls running star in race of her life against cancer

2018 — Montana Newspaper Association (Second Place): Sports Features

• Anxiety, depression after concussions cause Gage Smith to walk away from Montana football

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Collegiate — National and Regional Individual Awards

2017 — SPJ Region 7 Mark of Excellence Finalist — Online Sports Reporting

• Five years later: the final Border War

2017 — Second Place Pinnacle Award — Sports Multimedia Story

• Five years later: the final Border War

2017 — APSE Top 10: Student Contest Portfolio

• Darreon Jackson commits to Kansas after alleged sexual assault at Boise State
• Off-the-court Kansas basketball news affects fans’ perceptions
• Five years later: The final Border War
• A timeline: Frank Mason III’s award-winning senior season
• Josh Jackson’s suspension derails Kansas in Big 12 tournament

2016 — Writer of the Year Finalist (Great Plains Media)

2015 — Jim Murray Memorial Award

• Cliff Cushman: a Jayhawk, an Olympian, an MIA veteran

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Collegiate — National, Regional Awards as an Editor

2017 — Third Place Pinnacle Award — Best Special Section

• Retired Jerseys of Allen Fieldhouse

2017 — Third Place Pinnacle Award — Best Viral Video

• The Cathedral of College Basketball

2017 — Pinnacle Award Finalist — Best Social Media Presence

2017 — SPJ Region 7 Mark of Excellence Finalist — Best Affiliated Website

2016 — CMBAM First Place — Best Special Section