The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) named The Daily Evergreen as a 2016 national finalist for Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper, making the paper one of the top three college publications in the country.

The Daily Evergreen placed behind Northwestern University’s student paper, The Daily Northwestern. The University of Florida’s paper, The Independent Florida Alligator, was also a finalist. SPJ’s National Mark of Excellence Awards are chosen from category winners in 12 different regions and judged by professional journalists.

The society also announced that Lawrence Pintak, founding dean of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, will be honored as a Fellow of the Society, SPJ’s highest professional honor, at the 2017 Excellence in Journalism conference in September.

Pintak, a current WSU professor and former CBS News Middle East correspondent, will be recognized for his coverage of Islam and his efforts to prepare American journalists for Middle East coverage. Pintak will receive a jeweled key and a plaque for his contributions to journalism.