The Iowa State Daily, iowastatedaily.net and eight staff members were awarded Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards during the regional conference held Saturday at Iowa State.

The newspaper was named the Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper among 4-year colleges and universities for 2011 in SPJ’s Region 7. Its website, iowastatedaily.net, was named the Best Affiliated Web Site among 4-year colleges and universities in the region. The Daily also won both categories in 2010.

First place winners advance to the national Mark of Excellence competition. Winners will be announced during SPJ’s national convention in September.

Visuals editor Kelsey Kremer received five awards for photography. She received first place awards in photo illustrations for her illustration of Amber Connett, feature photos for her photo of students learning the fight song at Destination Iowa State, breaking news photography for her photo from the campus reaction to Osama bin Laden’s death and generan news photography for her photo from the protests in Madison, Wis. She also received third place in general news photography for another photo from the Madison protests.

Visuals editor Tim Reuter received third place in sports photography for his photo of Rutger’s Jawan Jamison at the Pinstripe Bowl. Photographer Yue Wu received second place in general news photographer for her picture of Rick Santorum following a debate at Drake University.

Columnist Jessica Bruning received first and third place in column writing. The column writing category requires columnists to submit a set of three columns for evaluation. One set included her Political Theory 101 series of columns. The second set included columns discussing ISU’s involvement in the Agrisol project, occupy protests and the experience necessary to become president.

Former editor in chief Jessica Opoien received second place in general news reporting for her article following the Ames Straw Poll.

Assistant sports editor Jake Calhoun was awarded first place in sports reporting for his article following 37-31 win over Oklahoma State.

Reporters Taysha Murtaugh and John Lonsdale received an award for editorial writing.