NIC newspaper, cartoonist finalists for national awards

COEUR d'ALENE - North Idaho College's student newspaper The Sentinel and its cartoonist Connor Coughlin have been named finalists in the national 2013 Associated Collegiate Press awards.

The Sentinel was one of seven two-year school papers to be named a finalist in the annual competition. ACP Newspaper Pacemaker contest has awarded general excellence in collegiate newspapers for 86 years and entries were judged by the staff at the Miami Herald this year.

In addition, NIC cartoonist Connor Coughlin, of Coeur d'Alene, has been named one of 10 finalists for the national 2013 ACP Editorial Cartoon Award. Coughlin, one of two community college students nominated for this award, will be competing against students from the University of Georgia, Savannah College of Art and Design, the University of Texas, the University of Hawaii, and others. There were more than 150 entries this year.

Winners and honorable mentions will be announced at the ACP/CMA National College Media Convention in New Orleans on Saturday, Oct. 26.

"I'll never forget Connor's first cartoon for the Sentinel. It ran last year in the Sentinel's first fall issue last year. It was unattributed, so I chastised the editors in my group critique for finding a professional cartoon on the Internet and publishing it without giving credit. I was then informed that Connor had submitted it. I told them if he was going to submit such high quality work, the least we could do is give him credit," said Geoff Carr, adviser to The Sentinel. "Since then he has contributed a number of editorial comics and strips that look professional in terms of artistry and message. It is a pleasure having Connor on staff."