The Richland Chronicle staff attended the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) annual convention March 23-25 in Fort Worth and brought home five awards and seven honorable mentions. TIPA members include student media from two and four-year schools in Texas.

The association holds an annual convention, inviting students from across the state to attend seminars and learn from some veterans in the journalism industry.

TIPA also allows for student newspapers to submit their best work from the previous calendar year to be judged in contests.

Chronicle cartoonist Jerry Weiss took home three awards for his collegiate lampoons, including first place for best cartoon strip/ panel and third place for best editorial cartoon about final exams and student loan debt respectively.

Alex Ortuno, former managing editor, notched two third place finishes in best illustration for his provocative image covering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and best static information graphic with a detailed outlook on new DART routes.

Lastly, Chronicle editor-in-chief Blanca Reyes, along with staff members Haley Aguayo and Ryan Bingham-Duff, won third place for in-depth reporting for their write-up

on former Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke’s campaign event at Dallas College. Richland competes in Division 2 against schools including Midwestern State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Rice University, Del Mar College, and Tarrant County College.