Several members of Lake Land College’s student-run newspaper, The Navigator News, are being recognized after earning multiple awards at the 2024–2025 Illinois Community College Journalism Awards. The annual competition highlights outstanding reporting and overall publication excellence from community colleges across the state.
Two students received first-place honors for Best News Story, showcasing the strength of the newsroom’s reporting this past year. Aisha Salami, originally from Nigeria, and Mark Naroze of Charleston both earned top recognition for their coverage, with Naroze also finishing second in the Reporter of the Year category. Salami added another award to her list with a third-place finish for Best Page Design, for both editorial and visual storytelling skills.
Charleston student Darrius Frazier stood out with multiple awards during the ceremony, earning first place for Best News Column and a third-place finish for Best Sports Column. Noella Kasera, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, received second-place recognition for Best Staff Editorial, while Cecil Howell of Mattoon earned honorable mention for Editorial Writer of the Year. The awards reflected a broad range of strengths across the newsroom, from opinion writing to in-depth reporting.
Recognition extended beyond student writers as well. Lake Land College staff member Kim Hunter, Director of Student Success, earned second place for Best Feature Photo for her contributions to the publication. As a team, The Navigator News also received honorable mention for the Mike Foster General Excellence Award, which recognizes overall quality across print, digital, and social media platforms.
The recognition highlights the hands-on learning experience students gain through the publication, where they develop skills in reporting, editing, layout, photography, and digital publishing while covering campus and community news.
More information about The Navigator News, including current stories and student work, is available online at www.thenavigatornews.com.
