CMU sweeps College Photographer of the Year honors

Photographers from Central Michigan University took all three spots in the Michigan Press Photographers Association’s College Photographer of the Year award Saturday.

CMU alumnus Neil Blake won first prize, with Spring Lake junior Jake May receiving second and Iron Mountain junior Libby March coming in third place.

“I was really excited to see all our hard work over the last semester pay off,” Blake said. “There’s nothing more exciting than winning an award with two of my closest friends (May and March).”

Blake, a former Central Michigan Life photographer, also received honorable mention in the Sports Picture Story category for his “Rodeo Drive” story.

March beat several professional photographers in winning first prize in the Feature Photo Story competition for her piece “Hearts Wide Open.”

“That story means so much to me,” she said. “I was so nervous and so much emotion, after I found out I got first, I threw up. I couldn’t believe it.”

May received honorable mention in the category for his story “Women of Westfall.” May and March are Central Michigan Life photographers.

Kent Miller, associate professor of journalism, took home first place in the Pictorial category for his photograph “Flying Fish.”

Other CMU alumni placed at the awards ceremony as well.

Emily Zoladz of The Grand Rapids Press received third place in the Multimedia News and Feature categories for her story, “Unconditional.” Kalamazoo Gazette photographer Jonathon Gruenke received honorable mentions in both Multimedia Project and Sports Picture Stories for his projects “Fair” and “Fight Night,” respectively.