FSC communication graduate wins award in Florida College Press Association competition

LAKELAND, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2008) — Florida Southern College alumnus Derek Lokey was awarded third place in the Best Sports Story category of the Florida College Press Association’s 2007 Better College Newspaper Contest. Lokey, a 2007 graduate, was a staff member of FSC’s Southern newspaper when he wrote the story.

The association announced the winners of the contest last month. The contest was open to college newspapers at four-year colleges and universities in Florida. Active and former editors, publishers and photographers from Florida newspapers served as judges for the competition.

Lokey’s winning article was a feature on Florida Southern College’s then-first baseman Fred Popp and his return from a season on the sidelines due to injury. Lokey, originally from Bainbridge, Pa., majored in communication with a concentration in news media.

“Derek is an excellent writer, even though his primary interest was in broadcast journalism,” said Dr. Mike Trice, assistant communication professor and the Southern’s advisor. “Because our communication program encourages students to be prepared to deliver the news in multiple formats, we were able to take advantage of his writing skills on the student newspaper. For this particular article, Derek was in the unique position of profiling a teammate on the baseball team. And while Derek was able to witness first-hand Fred Popp’s frustration with his injury and the challenges he faced in his rehab, Derek also was able to convey those emotions to the reader.”