Peninsula Beacon writer/photographer Scott Hopkins captured five awards during an annual ceremony honoring the best work by members of the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).
The awards were presented by retired TV news anchors Carol LeBeau and Marty Levin at the Bali Hai restaurant July 11. Former Fox5 anchor Loren Nancarrow, who is battling a brain tumor, was the featured speaker.
Hopkins began writing on a regular basis for the paper five years ago. He started by covering Point Loma High School football but has since expanded into other areas.
“Scott is a passionate journalist and his contributions to the Beacon week after week have been a mainstay of our community coverage,” said managing editor Kevin McKay.
Hopkins’ award-winning entries were:
• FIRST PLACE, SPORTSWRITING: A story about the reun-ion of former players from the PLHS girls’ basketball state championship team who re-turned after 25 years for an emotional salute to their deceased coach Lee Trepanier.
• FIRST PLACE, PHOTO ESSAYS: Top honors for images captured at the 2012 PLHS graduation ceremony. His essay noted that many parents shedded tears both on the first day of kindergarten and again as they watched their children receive diplomas.
• SECOND PLACE, PHOTO ESSAYS: This series depicted the youthful energy of class competition during halftime of the Pointers’ annual Homecoming football game.
• HONORABLE MENTION, SPORTS WRITING: Following the suicide of former Chargers great Junior Seau, Hopkins told of the time PLHS head football coach Mike Hastings and Seau played together on a county all-star team. • HONORABLE MENTION, EDUCATION WRITING: Hopkins earned this honor for his story of the vastly diverse backgrounds of four PLHS students involved in the Reality Changers program.
“It’s a great feeling when fellow professionals find excellence in your work,” Hopkins said.
A former journalism major at SDSU, Hopkins is a retired elementary school teacher.