The Collegian is proud to announce that former photo editors Andrew Riggs and Joseph Hollak have won a breaking news photography award from the Society of Professional Journalists.

Riggs and Hollak won a Region 11 Mark of Excellence Award for their coverage of the police-involved shooting near campus on Aug. 30, 2006. The actual place awarded will be announced on May 5 in Fullerton, Calif.

Hollak, a senior digital media major, was The Collegian photo editor in spring 2005. It was by chance that Hollak was on campus when the shooting occurred. Hollak happened to have a camera in his truck, which he used to capture the images that would run on the front pages of The Collegian.

“I was thrilled to have gotten the content online before any other local news organization,� Hollak said.

Riggs, a senior photojournalism major, was photo editor at the time of the shooting.

He got the phone call that brought him to campus early that morning from then Collegian adviser Greg Lewis.

“It was somewhat early in the morning and I came to campus,� Riggs said. “At the time it was pretty hectic; it was the second day of school.�

Riggs said he remembered being carted around in between classes. He said in trying to cover the event, there was a “long amount of waiting with action in between,� Riggs said.

Riggs said he was “pretty stoked� about the award and added that he was definitely surprised to find that he and Hollak had won.
“It’s cool. Hollak and I can have something to bond over, if you will,� Riggs said.

Hollak said, “I’m just doing it for the people.�