Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: New London/Spicer - Lakes Area Review Entry Title: From caravan to Kandiyohi County: Piñeda family seeks asylum in Willmar Entry Credit: Macklin Caruso Judge Comment: This is an incredible story. Very well written and researched. It was filled with drama, making it feel like you can't stop reading. This story put a very human face on immigration and the kindness of strangers. Very compelling and well done.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Edina Sun Current Entry Title: 'Stand up to evil' Entry Credit: Andrew Wig Judge Comment: This is an incredibly moving story. The writer truly captured Edina and the horrors she went through. The writing has a nice cadence with no wasted words. Very well done.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Detroit Lakes Tribune Entry Title: A dream trip turned nightmare: DL's Mike Guetter and friend once survived 16 days stranded in the Canadian wilderness Entry Credit: Vicki Gerdes Judge Comment: This story is really a cliff-hanger and hard to stop reading. The writer did a fantastic job of letting the story tell itself. Good writing, the flow is great and it's just very descriptive. Well done.
Competition Comment: There were 61 entries. Out of those I gave a 10 to five of them and a 9 to eight of those stories.
There were so many outstanding entries in this category and every one of these journalists should take pride in work well done.
