Student trustee Jacob Wong recieves the Big Tipper award from news editor Maura Callahan during the Source Awards Nov. 19 in The Ranger newsroom in Loftin. The award thanked him for consistantly providing new tips and information to The Ranger. Photo by Milena Arias.
By The Ranger
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Without sources, The Ranger would have a hard time keeping up with activities around the district.
As a thank you since 2006, The Ranger staff nominates sources for awards each semester. The awards also recognizes behaviors that prove helpful to the training of young journalists.
The staff welcomed nominees and other sources with coffee and treats in Nov. 19 The Ranger newsroom in Loftin Student Center.
Usha Venkat, director of information technology was awarded The Informant, which pays tribute to a source who always has all the information a reporter needs.
Other nominees were basketball adviser Steven Ochoa; Marisa Martinez, senior specialist for student life; Thomas E. Billimek, chair of psychology and sociology; Mario Muñiz, district public relations; planetarium Coordinator Bob Kelley; mortuary science Chair Felix Gonzalez; student trustee Jacob Wong; Elizabeth Haynie, Republican Club president; and Alamo Colleges Deputy Chief Joe Pabon.
Deputy Chief Joe Pabon receives the “Sure Thing” award from news editor Maura Callahan during Source Awards Nov. 19 in The Ranger newsroom in Loftin. His award notes him as The Ranger’s most reliable source this semester. Photo by Milena Arias.
“The Ranger is resourceful and insightful, bringing to the forefront what needs to be said,” Wong said.
Jeff Hunt, chair of fine arts won Patience is a Virtue as someone who gets repeated requests for information but always responds politely and efficiently.
Honorable mention went to Counselor Rosa Marie Gonzalez.
Other nominees were Richard Farias, director of student life; Rick Varner director of the Scobee Education Center; Steven Lewis, director of EcoCentro; Mike Swain, dental laboratory technology program coordinator; Jo-Carol Fabianke, assistant vice chancellor academic success; and Delia De Luna, disabilities support services counselor.
Jane Focht-Hansen, English professor and writing center director, was the day’s big winner, taking home two awards: Mother Hen dedicated to sources who take reporters under a wing and guide them through a new beat, and Defender of Free Press, awarded to a source who personifies First Amendment rights or one who literally defends The Ranger’s right to publish and operate independently.
English Professor Kim Hochmeister won Booster Club, which honors the biggest supporter of The Ranger. Actions include sending the journalism program new students, sharing news tips and supporting The Ranger by letter, phone, email or visits to the newsroom.
“I am totally honored and so pleased,” Hochmeister said. “Every semester, I encourage my students to read The Ranger and always pass out issues in class.
“The Ranger is a jewel in the crown for San Antonio College,” Hochmeister said.
Ranger editor Bleah B. Patterson talks to English Professor Kim Hochmeister and Dr. David Rodriguez, coordinator for the counseling and advising center, Nov. 19 outside the Ranger newsroom in Loftin for the 2014 Source Awards. The awards included Booster Club, Patience is a Virtue, and Overexposed. Photo by Milena Arias.
Honorable mention was awarded to Joan Fabian, visual resource specialist.
Student trustee Jacob Wong was awarded Big Tipper, for a source who consistently provides news tips on a variety of topics, not only for their own department or projects.
“I can’t reach everyone all the time, but The Ranger can,” Wong said.
Administrative assistant Alicia Morse was presented honorable mention.
Other nominees were astronomy Professor Alfred Alaniz and Simon Sanchez, president of the Student Leadership Coalition at Palo Alto College.
Pabon won The Sure Thing, which recognizes The Ranger’s most reliable source. This source returns phone calls, provides accurate and complete information, directs reporters to other sources if necessary and politely declines to comment when unable to comment. This source also reads the published story and provides feedback.
Morse was awarded honorable mention.
Other nominees were Wong; Craig Coroneos, humanities coordinator at Northwest Vista College; Martha Buchanan, coordinator of foreign students; Martha Castro, assistant for the vice president of college services; and David Mrizek, vice president of college services.
Varner was presented with Forgive and Forget, which honors someone The Ranger has wronged unnecessarily but who is gracious enough to offer a second chance.
Overexposed notes a source photographed many times and who appeared in print many times. The Rangers men’s and women’s basketball teams shared the award.
Underexposed recognizes a source photographed many times but without the payoff of appearing in print or online often. Dr. Jo-Carol Fabianke, assistant vice chancellor academic success, won and honorable mention went to Chancellor Bruce Leslie.
Coroneos won Medal of Honor, which recognizes a source who speaks out despite the potential risk to career.
Dr. Robert Vela, president of this college, was presented the Piñata for a source who survived a lot of hits from The Ranger but still provides reporters with information.
Fabianke received honorable mention.
Ranger promotions manager Katherine Garcia and photographer Neven Jones hug behind Calendar editor Pam Paz as the 2015 staff gathers Nov. 19 at the Source Awards in the Ranger newsroom in Loftin. In Spring 2015, Garcia will become editor and Paz will be assistant production manager. Photo by Milena Arias.
District 8 trustee Clint Kingsbury was named Trusty Trustee, a board member The Ranger counts on to speak up about student concerns.
Wong received honorable mention.
After source awards were announced, media communications Chair Marianne Odom introduced the spring 2015 editorial staff chosen Nov. 18 by the Student Publications Board.
The new staff consists of journalism sophomore Katherine Garcia, editor; communication arts sophomore Mandy Derfler, managing editor for web; photography sophomore Cynthia Herrera, assistant managing editor for news; radio, television and film graduate Richard Montemayor, assistant managing editor for features; journalism freshman Aaron Martinez, calendar editor; English sophomore Pamela Paz, assistant production manager; photography sophomore David Guel, photo editor; photography sophomore Daniel Carde, multimedia editor; and journalism sophomore Roxanne Eguia, advertising and promotions manager.
Illustrators are communication sophomore Estefania Benitez and education sophomore Alexandra Nelipa.
The Ranger Online continues publishing daily at www.theranger.org while the next print issue of The Ranger will be on stands Feb. 9.
For more information, call The Ranger at 210-486-1776.
