AC Current magazine editor Maddisun Fowler accepted the Sweepstakes award from the Texas Community College Journalism Association Friday, Oct. 30 in Austin as the Amarillo College publication was honored as the best two-year college magazine in the state.

The awards at the annual TCCJA convention followed a speech by Madelyn Bankhead, editor of the AC student newspaper, The Ranger. As winner of the 2009 TCCJA Journalist of the Year award last spring, Bankhead spent 10 weeks in Corpus Christi this summer as an intern for the Caller-Times newspaper. At this year’s convention, she gave a report on her internship along with a presentation of photos and videos from the experience.

Eleven AC students attended the convention, which this year was combined with the National College Media Convention at the Austin Hilton. AC also won 13 other awards, including three first-place certificates.

Zack Ambold took two first-place awards: for magazine cover design and for non-photographic illustration. Madelyn Bankhead placed first for magazine journalism story, and Brittani Wray placed first for newspaper layout and design. Wray also took second for newspaper feature photo.

Placing third for AC were Fowler for magazine cover design, Jake Fox for magazine journalism story, Jordan Bailey for news photo and Fowler, Ambold and Joshua Correa for magazine overall excellence.

Bill Barnett placed third in the live newswriting competition, and Bankhead received honorable mention in that category.

Taking honorable mention were Ambold and Fowler for magazine layout design and Fowler separately for another magazine layout and design entry.