Virginia Professional Communicators, with members from all corners of Virginia, won six first place awards in Birmingham, Alabama at the National Federation of Press Women annual competition.

First place winners included a small business consultant, a university magazine editor, newspaper journalist, legal magazine publisher, national trade association communicator and freelance arts and leisure writer. Award winners who advanced from Virginia’s statewide competition to the National Federation of Press Women 2017 Awards with distinction include:

First Place

Bonnie Atwood, Personality Profile more than 500 words – “Emily Couric What Might Have Been”

Katherine Calos, Feature – print newspaper “Living with Less”

Katherine Calos, Specialty articles – social issues “Picture imperfect; Out of the Shadows”

Julie Campbell, Publications regularly edited by entrant-magazine, newsletter, or other non-newspaper publication – “Washington and Lee Alumni Magazine”

Paul Fletcher, Columns – General “Putting the Press above it all; Fakin’ it”

Kimberly Loehr, Brochures, non-profit – “Build and Protect: A Blueprint for Architects and Engineers”

Second Place

Sunni Brown, Marketing program or campaign for new or existing service or product, “Queally Center”

Kimberly Loehr, Community, institutional or internal relations “Build and Protect”

Cynthia Price, Marketing program or campaign for new or existing service or product, “Queally Center”

Martha Steger, Specialty articles, Arts and Entertainment, “Inside Downton Abbey’s Library”

”American Bandstand’s Regulars”

Third Place

Paul Fletcher, Columns – Humorous – “Publishers Notebook: ‘See You Later’; ‘Clowns to the Left of Me’”

Virginia Johnson, Specialty Articles – Reviews “Irena’s Children: A True Story of Courage”

“Escape to Virginia: from Nazi Germany to Thalhimers Farm”

Virginia Johnson, Writing for the Web “Discover the Past in HQ’s Virginiana Room”

Kimberly Loehr, Website edited or managed by entrant – “Lightning Protection Initiative, Lightning.org”

Honorable Mention

Frances Crutchfield, Speech – “With a Song”

Martha Steger, Columns – Informational, “Three Locations to Explore Along the Blue Ridge Parkway”

“Lancaster Blossoms in Pennsylvania Dutch Country”

Joan Tupponce, Feature Story – Magazine, newsletter or other non-print newspaper, ” The Arc of Loving”

Congrats to all the winners!