Top journalism entries advance to Air Force contest

Published Feb. 19, 2009

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- A reservist from the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick AFB, Fla., landed five individual awards, including Air Force Print Journalist of the Year, in the 2008 Air Force Reserve Command Media Contest.

In addition to winning the command's top journalism award, Tech. Sgt. Paul Flipse took awards for best art/graphics, sports article, news photograph and sports photograph. Sergeant Flipse also edits "Angel's Wings," the wing magazine, which came in second in the command's best publication category.

"Gulf Wing," the 403rd Wing's magazine at Keesler AFB, Miss., was named the command's best publication. "Liberty Press," the 512th Airlift Wing's newsletter at Dover AFB, Del., finished a close third.

Reservists and civilian employees from 23 AFRC units submitted 173 entries to the command contest, which ended here Jan. 24.

Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., AFRC commander, announced the command's top awards Feb. 13 in a memorandum to unit commanders.

In addition to Sergeant Flipse, six others won individual command awards and had their work go forward to the 2008 Air Force Media Contest in Washington, D.C., Feb. 9-13. The first-place winners and runners-up in their categories are:

News article: first place - Tech. Sgt. Julie Briden-Garcia, 301st Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas; second place - Jeffrey Melvin, 908th AW, Maxwell AFB, Ala.; and third place - Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston, 917th Wing, Barksdale AFB, La. (deployed to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq)

Feature article: first place - Capt. Wayne Capps, 315th AW, Charleston AFB, S.C.; and second place (tie) - Staff Sgt. Timothy Huffman, 439th AW, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., and Staff Sgt. Grant Saylor, 446th AW, McChord AFB, Wash.

Sports article: first place - Sergeant Flipse, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB; second place - Staff Sgt. Steve Lewis, 512th AW, Dover AFB; and third place - Staff Sgt. Joshua Moshier, 934th AW, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, Minn.

Commentary: first place - Will Alexander, 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March ARB, Calif.; second-place - Sergeant Flipse, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB; and third place - Senior Airman Andria J. Allmond, 512th AW, Dover AFB

Series: first place - Master Sgt. Raymond, Padgett, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB

Art/graphics: first place - Sergeant Flipse, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB; second place - Senior Airman Lou Burton, 911th AW, Pittsburgh IAP ARS, Pa.; and third place - Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Ontiveros, 94th AW, Dobbins ARB, Ga.

Photojournalism: first place - Senior Master Sgt. Sandi Michon, 439th AW, Westover ARB; second place - Sergeant Lewis, 512th AW, Dover AFB; and third place - Tech. Sgt. Charlie Miller, 445th AW, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

News photograph: first place - Sergeant Flipse, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB; second place - Tech. Sgt. Andrew Biscoe, 439th AW, Westover ARB; and third place - Airman Chelsea Gitzen, 94th AW, Dobbins ARB

Sports photograph: first place - Sergeant Flipse, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB; second place - Tech. Sgt. Steve Staedler, 440th AW, Pope AFB, N.C.; and third place - Tech. Sgt. Eric Sharman, 459th Air Refueling Wing, Andrews AFB, Md.

Outstanding new print journalist: first-place - Tech. Sgt. James Branch, 94th AW, Dobbins ARB

Air Force Print Journalist of the Year: first place - Sergeant Flipse, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB; and second place - Sergeant Lewis, 512th AW, Dover AFB

Others qualifying to advance to the Air Force competition by category are:

- Feature photograph - Master Sgt. Kevin Brody, 440th AW, Pope AFB

- Portrait/personality photograph - Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens, 403rd Wing, Keesler AFB

- Illustrative photograph - Tech. Sgt. Luke Johnson, 940th ARW, Beale AFB, Calif.

- Pictorial photograph - Maj. Chad Gibson, 403rd Wing, Keesler AFB.

Air Force Reserve Command also recognizes people outside of the public affairs community for their help in telling the command's story through articles and photographs. They are:

Stringer writer: first place - Lt. Col. Patrick Johnson, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB; second place -- Lt. Col. Michael E. Laughton, 459th ARW, Andrews AFB; and third place -- Col. David Konneker, 403rd Wing, Keesler AFB

Stringer photographer: first place - Capt. Steven K. Sartain, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB; second place - Master Sgt. Steve Martin, 403rd Wing, Keesler AFB; and third place - Maj. Jerome Hall, 934th AW, Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP ARS

Results of the Air Force Media Contest are expected to be announced in late February. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)