Ithaca College

 Ithacan Staff Writer Max Denning, a junior journalism major from Portland, Oregon, has been awarded the First Place National Mark of Excellence Award for General News Reporting for 2015 by the Society of Professional Journalists.

The award was for Denning's story “This Shouldn't Happen Here," which covered Ithaca College resident assistants' protest against alleged racial aggression and harassment by Public Safety officers. It appeared in the September 3, 2015, issue of The Ithacan. 

 The award was officially announced at the SPJ National Convention, held Sept. 18–20 in New Orleans. Student journalists from around the country compete for the Mark of Excellence Awards first at the regional level. First-place winners in the SPJ's 12 regions then go on to compete for the national award. Denning's story was presented with the Northeast region's award at the Region 1 Spring Conference in Hempstead, New York.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ is dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. It works to inspire and educate current and future journalists through professional development, and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press through its advocacy efforts.