Bakersfield College’s student newspaper and online production – the Renegade Rip and TheRip.com – earned general excellence for work published in fall 2010 and spring 2011 at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges annual Southern Regional Conference at Cal State-Fullerton on Oct. 14-15.
To achieve general excellence, publications must earn a certain points value judged by professional journalists. For print publication, the Rip received the highest score – 111 points – among the 25 other newspaper entries. Southwestern College near San Diego was second with 108. The Rip entered three consecutive issues from the spring 2011 semester.

Rip students attending the conference participated in workshops, contests, tours of the Mass Communications program at Fullerton, and other journalism-related events. Approximately 30 community colleges and 300 students participated.
Several Rip students earned mail-in contest and on-the-spot awards at a ceremony in the CSUF student union Oct. 15. During the conference, students participated in on-the-spot contests that included coverage of live events and completing assignments within a one-hour period after the event.

Renegade Rip award winners

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

** The Renegade Rip student newspaper

** TheRip.com online publication

MAIL-IN AWARDS

First place

** Annie Stockman, magazine photo

Second place

** James Licea, critical review

Fourth place

** Annie Stockman and Mateo Melero, magazine cover

Honorable mention

** Gregory D. Cook, feature photo

** Zak Cowan, magazine opinion

** Chrystal Fortt, line illustration

** Megan Luecke, sports action photo

** Michael Morrow, profile feature story

** Michael Wafford, editorial

ON-THE-SPOT AWARDS

Second place

** Gregory D. Cook, sports action photo

Third place

** Zak Cowan, copy editing

Honorable mention

** Zak Cowan, sports story

** Chrystal Fortt, broadcast newswriting