Two organizations, The Virginia Press Association (VPA) and the College Newspaper Business and Advertising Managers (CNBAM), have given the staff of James Madison University's student newspaper several awards. Of those awards, The Breeze won two first-place honors from VPA. Sports Editor Tim Chapman, a sophomore who in April will begin work as the newspaper's editor-in-chief, won first place in the news-series category for his pieces about a JMU basketball player who had lost three close relatives in just six months. The CNBAM recognized The Breeze advertising staff, led by SMAD senior Gil Harrison, for excellence in advertising.

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Virginia Press Association Awards
The Virginia Press Association has awarded the newsroom staff of James Madison University’s student newspaper with seven awards in its annual college competition.

Of those awards, The Breeze won two first-place honors. Sports Editor Tim Chapman, a sophomore who in April will begin work as the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, won first place in the news-series category for his pieces about a JMU basketball player who had lost three close relatives in just six months. Judge Louise Seals called the “well-written “story “engrossing.” She applauded Chapman’s “good digging and perseverance.”

The other first-place honor went to Managing Editor and photographer Evan Dyson in the general-news category. Judges Mike Steele and Louise Seals called his photo of Cornel West “striking.” They said the photo “elevates speech photos to a new level.”

Dyson, a senior who will graduate in May, also took second place in the general-news category for his photo of a vigil following the shootings at Virginia Tech.

Other VPA awards The Breeze received include:

* Third Place, front page excellence, Editor-in-Chief Mary Frances Czarsty

* Second Place, general makeup excellence, staff

* Second Place, page design excellence, Arts and Entertainment Editor Kelly Fisher

* Second Place, sports photo, Evan Dyson

College Newspaper Business and Advertising Managers Award
A national advertising association for collegiate newspapers has recognized the advertising staff at The Breeze, James Madison University’s student newspaper, for excellence in advertising.

College Newspaper Business and Advertising Managers Inc., an association of more than 125 student newspapers, awarded The Breeze a first-place honor for Best ROP Group Promotion. The group also awarded a third-place honor for black-and-white newspaper promotional ads. The Breeze competes in the under-40,000 circulation category.

CNBAM awarded the honor at its national convention in San Antonio, Texas, the last week of March.

Gil Harrison, a senior from Vermont, served as the student advertising manager during this academic year.

The Breeze, a 9,500-circulation newspaper, is distributed free to JMU students, faculty and staff on campus and at several Harrisonburg locations. It is published on Mondays and Thursdays and is available online at www.thebreeze.org.