First honoree of the night: At the Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards, Saint Mary’s earned a pair of first place awards and additional recognition for writing and photography. / Homepage of San Francisco Press Club
Saint Mary’s Brings Home Top Honors in Writing and Photography in Bay Area Journalism Awards
Theologian Tom Poundstone recognized for a dispatch from Rome on the election of Pope Leo. Photographer Joe Oliver captures “The Goose” mid-flight. SMC Olympians, basketball, and more highlights for writing and photography.
At the Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards this week, when broadcast and digital and print journalists from around the San Francisco Bay Area gathered to celebrate the best work of the past year, Saint Mary’s College was recognized with the very first award of the evening. And there were more to come, honoring Saint Mary’s contributions to writing and photography.
The awards were presented at the 48th annual gala, a sold-out event which was held on December 9 at the historic Julia Morgan Ballroom at the Merchants Exchange in downtown San Francisco. Hosted by the San Francisco Press Club, the awards are judged by fellow journalists from press clubs outside the Bay Area. And with an eye toward recognizing important work throughout journalism’s ecosystem, the awards include recognition of small and large newsrooms, television and radio, as well as college and university media.
Along with Saint Mary’s, among the winners of multiple awards this year are public broadcaster KQED, the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco news site Mission Local, KNTV NBC Bay Area, and the San Francisco Examiner.
“From thoughtful perspectives on events of global importance, like the election of Pope Leo, to smart writing and and stellar photography of Gaels basketball, it’s wonderful to see the caliber of work we do at Saint Mary’s recognized on this stage,” said Steven Boyd Saum, who serves as Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Content at SMC. “The work and the stories we have to tell is something the whole community can be proud of.”
First Place | “A Dispatch from Rome: SMC’s Tom Poundstone on the Culmination of a Conclave and the Selection of Pope Leo XIV”
Saint Mary’s Professor of Theology and Religious Studies Tom Poundstone earned first place in the blog and commentary category, competing against submissions from all colleges and universities. Poundstone was in Rome for the papal conclave, and he brought to bear both first-person observation and decades of scholarship to illuminate the experience for readers. In social media posts and stories for the SMC NewsCenter, he captured the texture and significance of the moment alike.
First Place | “The Goose Is Airborne” by Joe Oliver
Saint Mary’s earned top honors in the category of college sports photography, for “The Goose Is Airborne.” Photographer Joe Oliver captured Men’s Basketball player Augustas Marculionis mid-leap in a game in which the Gaels defeated the University of Utah at their home court last December. Assistant Athletic Director for Communications Ryan Barnett wrote the story in which the photo appears on the SMC NewsCenter.
Second Place | “Olympians over the Decades: the Gaels Who Have Competed in the World’s Foremost Sports Competition” by Hayden Royster and Steven Boyd Saum
Saint Mary’s earned runners-up honors in feature writing for "Olympians over the Decades: the Gaels Who Have Competed in the World’s Foremost Sports Competition.” On the eve of the 2024 Paris Olympics, SMC’s Hayden Royster, who serves as associate editor, and Steven Saum, put together an overview of the Saint Mary’s alumni who have competed in this storied global competition over the past century—from Los Angeles to Tokyo, Seoul to Turin. They have brought back medals and indelible memories, competing in sports from boxing to bobsled, basketball to synchronized swimming, gymnastics to speed skiing, track and field to volleyball. And they haven’t only competed for the United States: The Gael family includes Olympians from Australia, Japan, and Great Britain, as well.
Third Place | “Three on Gaels Basketball” by Steve Kroner
Last season longtime Bay Area sports journalist Steve Kroner began writing “Kroner’s Corner” for SMC Athletics, bringing storytelling chops and insight gleaned from years of experience to pieces focusing on Gaels Athletics, notably on the basketball court and the softball diamond. Three of his columns earned recognition as among the best in columns published by a college or university: the surprising creation of Lithuania West in Moraga; the impact of big man Mitchell Saxen on years of college play; and the chemistry of what made for a special crew of Saint Mary’s men on the maplewood. With photography included in this series, the SMC contributors include Gaels athletics photographer Tod Fierner as well as Bryan Navarro, who serves as Executive Director for Communications for University Advancemen. Deputy Athletics Director for External Operations Ryan Reggiani was also recognized in the award for launching the series.
Third Place | “Gael Force in the House: SMC vs. Gonzaga” by Francis Tatem
The Saint Mary’s vs. Gonzaga games bring together rivals for what’s perennially a fierce competition. In the 2024–25 season, the Gaels bested the Zags in their first matchup of the season, at home in Moraga. For one photo of students in the stands cheering on the Gaels, photographer Francis Tatem earned recognition in two categories—sports photography and feature photography. And for those keeping score, the Gaels went on to defeat Gonzaga on their home court in Spokane as well, securing the West Coast Conference regular season title with that victory in the Kennel.
Earlier this year Saint Mary’s also earned awards for photography and design in the Collegiate Advertising Awards and from the University and College Design Association, and for writing in the regional competition for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
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