Smoke Signals wins three ONPA awards

SILVERTON -- Smoke Signals received three awards from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association on Thursday, July 21, as an entrant in the annual Associate Member Publications Contest.

The journalism awards were announced during the association’s annual conference held at the Oregon Garden.

Graphic Designer George Valdez was honored in the Graphics category with a second-place award and page designer Justin Phillips was honored in the Design category with a third-place award.

Valdez’s entry included ads he created for the First Nations Powwow held in Salem and the Contest Powwow held in Grand Ronde. Phillips’ entry include Smoke Signals editions from March 1, June 1 and Sept. 1.

Photographer Michelle Alaimo also received a third-place award in Photography. Her entry included photos from Culture Camp, the fall Bike Rodeo and the annual Tribal Council Christmas Party.

Only four out of more than 20 qualifying newspapers in Oregon received awards in the Associate Member contest – The Philomath Express, The Capital Press in Salem, Hillsboro Tribune and Smoke Signals, which again was the only Tribal newspaper to receive awards from ONPA.

“If you look at the competition, you’ll understand that Smoke Signals receiving three awards was quite an honor,” said Publications Coordinator Dean Rhodes. “We went head-to-head with the heavyweights in our category and turned in a very respectable performance, winning three of the 13 awards handed out.

“The awards reflect the talent, dedication and professionalism of the entire staff, as well as the great assistance and support we receive from our Tribal colleagues and Tribal Council.”

The Associate Member Publications Contest was judged by members of the South Dakota Press Association.