Ball State's student-run newspaper was recently honored as one of the nation's best college publications, winning about 20 percent of the awards given by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA).

For the eighth consecutive year, the Daily News received a Gold Crown Award, the organization's top honor, given by CSPA in the college newspaper division. The student newspaper's writers and editors also received 57 Gold Circle Awards, breaking Ball State's record of 52 set in 2005.

"This is a testament to the hard work that these students all put in, the late nights spent pounding the newspaper together, the weekends and breaks they gave up to be in the newsroom," said Vince Filak, journalism professor and the Daily News' adviser. "It is also a testament to the education they've garnered as well as the opportunities this university has provided."

The newspaper staff was honored March 17 at the annual College Media Advisers/Columbia Scholastic Press Association's 24th Gold Circle Awards program in New York. The annual competition for individual achievement by student writers, editors, designers and photographers attracted entries from 1,800 colleges, universities and secondary schools throughout the nation.

"Once again, critics have placed the Daily News among the elite of college news organizations," said Daily News editor David Studinski, a senior from Fort Wayne. "I'm extremely proud of our staff, and thankful for Ball State's continued support of a free student press."

The CSPA is an international student press association uniting student journalists and faculty advisers at schools and colleges through educational conferences, idea exchanges and award programs.

Ball State's 57 Gold Circle Awards were the most collected by any college student newspaper and an increase from 31 awards the publication received last year.

A complete listing of awards can be found at www.columbia.edu/cu/cspa/ under "awards."