The Northern Star received several awards at the Illinois College Press Association convention held during the weekend.

Topping the list was an article by former City Editor Ken Goze which appeared May 3, 1990. The story, “Nine faculty get top raises,” nabbed first place in the News Story category for daily papers.

ICPA judges said the story was “well-researched,” adding that Goze gave a “balanced presentation” of a “well-organized, thorough examination of (the) issues and factors.”

Other Star staff captured second place awards for their work. Cartoonist Eric Dietz, who creates “Bob McBob” as well as political cartoons, won second place in the Cartoon Strip category.

Also winning second place awards were the Star’s graphic illustration department for a minimum wage graphic and the Star Production Department and advertising representative Matt Bessler for an ad campaign for Sgt. Pepper’s, 1022 W. Lincoln Hwy.

Receiving honorable mentions were Editor-in-Chief Beth Behland, Editorial Editor Bill Schwingel, Assistant Sports Editor Wes Swietek and Star photographers Jennifer Ocic, Joe Shuman and Kathy Fox.

Behland was awarded in the In-depth Reporting category for her articles last semester on the Omega Psi Phi fraternity which was charged with abusing NIU credit cards. Schwingel won for layout and content of opinion pages.

Swietek took honors for a sports column about the NIU football team, while Ocic, Shuman and Fox were awarded for pictures from the football team’s 73-18 Homecoming romp.

ICPA is a statewide association of 21 college newspapers.