Loyalist College Photojournalism student wins NPOY Student Photographer of the Year award

Belleville, Ontario, June 3, 2021 – Three Loyalist College Photojournalism students were recognized in the News Photographers Association of Canada (NPAC) 2020 National Pictures of the Year (NPOY) student awards category, including Alex Lupul who was named Student Photographer of the Year.

“When we see the hard work and ingenuity of our students recognized so early in their professional journeys, we know this is only the beginning of their incredible contributions to photojournalism and our understanding of world events,” said Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Loyalist College President and CEO. “Congratulations to our award-winning Photojournalism students and their caring faculty who lead the charge in humanizing relevant, timely stories, which powerfully reflect the societies in which we live.”

Photo by Alex Lupul

Learning about the importance of photojournalism and the power of visual storytelling in the midst of a global pandemic has been challenging, but also rewarding. “In many ways this award feels like confirmation that my efforts, during a year unlike any other, have positively impacted my development as a photojournalist,” said Lupul, a first-year student. “The NPOY awards have a long-standing history of showcasing the best in Canadian photojournalism. It is an honour to be among such esteemed company and selected by NPAC as Student Photographer of the Year.”

Photo by Alex Lupul

Recognized alongside Lupul are classmates Sabah Tasneem Rahman, who was awarded Second Place for 2020 NPOY Student Photographer of the Year, and Christie Leja who earned an Honourable Mention in the same category.

“This is a personal and a professional milestone for me, and I am looking forward to what is in store during my final year of studies at Loyalist College,” said Rahman. “I am so grateful for the mentorship and guidance the Photojournalism faculty have provided, especially during these unprecedented times.”

Loyalist College’s two-year Photojournalism Ontario college diploma program is a destination for students from across Canada and around the world who want to learn the ‘triple-threat skill set’ of multimedia storytelling through video production, digital photography, and news and feature writing. Graduates enjoy a competitive advantage as cross-platform photojournalists, multimedia producers and editors, photographers, picture and assignment editors, and digital publishing specialists. Often they work nationally and internationally in multimedia content creation for news organizations, wire services, and for digital and traditional publishers. Graduates 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.

Applications are currently being accepted for Loyalist College’s Photojournalism program this September. Please contact recruiter@loyalistcollege.com to request a voucher code to cover the $95 application fee!

About Loyalist College
Ranked one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges and #1 in the country for industry research income as a percentage of total research income, Loyalist College empowers students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. As Ontario’s Destination College, the College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Of 2018-19 graduates, 88.8 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 College 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 College is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 3.7 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $382 million annually to the regional economy – based on a March 2020 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist College’s Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto 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