Cronkite Students Win National Photojournalism Awards

Two Arizona State University students have won top honors in a national photojournalism competition. Deanna Dent placed fourth and Jeremiah Armenta placed eighth in the Hearst Awards, which honor the best work by college journalists nationally. Both students are seniors in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Dent was honored for four photographs in the portrait, personality and feature category. Her images depict a child waiting for her mother at a women’s shelter in Phoenix, a student who discovered boxing after coming to ASU from Kuwait, a young protestor at a rally against illegal immigration and fans at an Angel and Airwaves concert in Mesa. Because she finished in the top five, a portfolio of her work will be considered in the final round of the national photojournalism competition next June. Armenta’s work in the same category included photos of a graffiti artist, a monster truck driver and migrant workers. Both students won cash awards. “It’s a real honor to place in this contest – and to have two students in the top 10 is extraordinary,” said Cronkite School Assistant Dean Kristin Gilger, who worked closely with the students in classes and at The State Press. “Their work exemplifies how powerful photography can be in telling stories.” Dent, 22, of Scottsdale, has interned as a photojournalist at The Arizona Republic and the East Valley Tribune newspapers. She has also served as photo editor and photographer for The State Press, ASU’s daily student newspaper. Armenta, 26, of Phoenix, also interned at The Arizona Republic and has worked as a photographer for The State Press and The State Press Magazine. The two were among 70 entrants from 39 schools across the country competing in the photo category. Eligible schools are allowed to submit only two entries each. Last year, ASU students placed second in the nation overall in the Hearst competition, which includes awards in photojournalism, writing and broadcasting. Earlier this fall, Cronkite student James Kindle placed 17th in the feature writing category of the Hearst Awards. More than 110 students nationally were entered in that competition.