Peninsula Beacon writer/photographer Scott Hopkins took home several awards at a recent banquet honoring local media members.
The San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists ceremony was held July 10 at the Bali Hai restaurant on Shelter Island. Former KGTV news anchors Carol LeBeau and Lauren Reynolds presented the awards.
Hopkins swept the Breaking News Category for non-daily newspapers, winning first and second place. His account of the last-minute decision to scrap plans for Point Loma High’s annual night homecoming football game received top honors. School principal Hans Becker’s decision was made after the game took on political overtones amid community controversy over permanent lighting planned for the school’s stadium.
The mid-season resignation of PLHS baseball coach Jesse Nunez in May 2013 received second-place honors in the Breaking News Category. Hopkins’ story described how apparent tension and controversy with school officials and parents had plaqued Nunez’s tenure.
A series of stories on the astonishing recovery of shooting victim Will Barton garnered Hopkins second place in the News or Feature Series Category. Barton, a PLHS alum, was given less than a 1 percent chance of surviving multiple gunshot wounds when he was ambushed by a deranged gunman as Barton walked home from work.
An action photo taken by Hopkins at the 2013 Powder Puff football game between PLHS senior and junior girls received Honorable Mention in the category of Best Feature Photo among all San Diego news media. The facial expressions of a girl running with the football and her relentless pursuer made the photo stand out.
A retired teacher, Hopkins has been contributing to the Peninsula Beacon for the last five years.