Feature Story Division 2
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- Place Name: First Place
Contestant Name: Tarrant County College
Entry Title: Sharing faith through music
Entry Credit: Fred Nguyen
Judge Comment: This is a beautifully chosen story and a strong example of what features journalism can do at its best: slow the reader down, introduce them to someone they might pass on campus without really seeing, and leave them feeling something. Your writing is confident and controlled. Great use of personal details and use of quotes that deepen the portrait instead of repeating what you already told us. The result is heartfelt without being sentimental.
- Place Name: Second Place
Contestant Name: Tarrant County College
Entry Title: Summer loving: Lucky's adventure
Entry Credit: Ash Petrie
Judge Comment: This is a great feature that is surprising, campus-specific, and instantly repeatable in conversation. I laughed out loud. Great comedic timing and the pacing keeps the reader moving. The scenario is inherently funny in a way that doesn’t feel forced and you let the absurdity speak for itself.
- Place Name: Third Place
Contestant Name: Del Mar College
Entry Title: Two men enter, one man kings
Entry Credit: Chandler Carroll
Judge Comment: This is a strong example of excellent feature instincts: you took a niche topic and made it readable and compelling for someone who wouldn’t normally click. That’s not easy. The structure is tight, the writing keeps a steady forward pull, and you do a good job explaining enough for understanding without bogging the story down. Most importantly, you sustain curiosity all the way through, which is the core skill in feature writing.
- Place Name: Honorable Mention
Contestant Name: San Antonio College
Entry Title: Pulitzer Winner’s Career Started in SAC’s Journalism Program
Entry Credit: Gissela Hernandez
Judge Comment: This is a smart and worthy story choice. Alumni profiles can easily drift into résumé recaps, but your subject’s career has genuine narrative weight and visual intrigue. You show strong storytelling discipline by highlighting what makes this person impressive and by giving readers a clear reason to keep reading. The photography angle also has natural appeal. Readers can instantly picture the world you’re describing, which is a big advantage in feature writing.
Note: Push for one or two signature moments that define the career: a decisive break, a failure, a risk, a turning point, a strange assignment that gives the story narrative shape. Let quotes add voice and personality, not just credentials. When possible, tie the alumni story back to current students: what can they learn, what doors did the university open, or how does this person still connect to campus, etc.
- Competition Comment: Across this category, the strongest entries shared two qualities: excellent story selection and confidence in narrative storytelling. You chose subjects that were emotionally resonant, genuinely funny, or unexpectedly fascinating.
Two reminders for everyone:
Tie the story clearly to your student body or university. Even a great story loses power if readers don’t understand why it matters here. This was the case for a few well-written entries that didn't explain why your average reader should care.
Write with more color and narrative specificity. The best features show instead of telling. Look for scenes, sensory details, and small “only here” moments. Let quotes do what they do best: reveal personality, emotion, and perspective. Use quotes to add voice and emphasis, not to provide basic explanation the writer can cover more cleanly.
