Loyalist College Photojournalism student and graduates win top National Pictures of the Year Awards

Belleville, Ontario, April 30, 2020 – Thirteen Loyalist College Photojournalism graduates received 2019 National Pictures of the Year (NPOY) awards from the News Photographers Association of Canada (NPAC), including Ben Nelms (2010) who was named Photojournalist of the Year. Loyalist Photojournalism student Alex Filipe was named Student Photographer of the Year.

“Congratulations to this year’s NPOY award recipients,” said Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Loyalist College President & CEO. “We follow the careers of our Photojournalism graduates closely and admire their contributions to visual storytelling. Our Loyalist community is proud of their accomplishments and those of our faculty, respected photojournalists from whom they have learned.”

Loyalist was represented by the following graduates in 14 of the 16 award categories:

Photojournalist of the Year 
Winner – Ben Nelms (2010) – CBC
Finalist – Darren Calabrese (2005) – Independent

Student Photographer of the Year 
Alex Filipe (2020)

Spot News 
First Place – Cole Burston (2010) – Getty Images
Third Place – Ben Nelms (2010) – CBC

Feature
First Place – Justin Tang (2013) – Independent

Portrait
Honourable Mention – Cole Burston (2010) – Independent

Personality 
Second Place – Darren Calabrese (2005) – Independent
Third Place – Cole Burston (2010) – Independent

Photo and Article 
Third Place – Jenna Hauck (1999) – The Chilliwack Progress

Sports Action
Second Place – Carlos Osorio (2005) – CBC

Sports Feature
Second Place – Cole Burston (2010) – Getty Images

Single Multimedia
Third Place – Melissa Tait (2010) – The Globe and Mail

Team Multimedia
First Place – Tyler Anderson (2002) – Anne-Marie Jackson (2008)
Third Place – Ryan Jackson (2006)
Honourable Mention – Deborah Baic (1997)

Picture Story – Feature
First Place – Chris Donovan (2017) – Independent
Third Place – Darren Calabrese (2005) – Independent

Picture Story – News
First Place – Darren Calabrese (2005) – Independent
Third Place – Chris Donovan (2017) – Independent

Social Issues
First Place – Ian Willms (2008) – Independent
Second Place – Chris Donovan (2017) – Independent
Third Place – Darren Calabrese (2005) – Independent

Intensive training in Canada’s only multi-year Photojournalism program gives Loyalist graduates a competitive advantage as photojournalists, reporter-photographers, multimedia producers and editors, picture and assignment editors, freelance photojournalists and photographers, and digital publishing specialists. They are employed by multimedia companies including Bloomberg News, ESPN, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Getty Images, Postmedia Network Inc., Star Metroland Media, The Wall Street Journal, and Torstar Corporation, among others.

About Loyalist College
Loyalist is Ontario’s Destination College, empowering students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. The College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Of 2017-18 Loyalist graduates, 88.5 percent were employed within six months after graduation. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com, including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 5.8 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $465 million annually to the regional economy – based on an October 2018 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist’s Belleville and Bancroft campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit YoureGoingPlaces.com.

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Contact: Kerry Lorimer, Director, Marketing, Communications and Recruitment
Loyalist College, klorimer@loyalistcollege.com, 613-969-1913, ext. 2536