Fresno City College Rampage students took home several awards at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges Conference for outstanding journalism held at San Joaquin Delta College on Saturday, Nov. 3.

“I didn’t expect myself to win, I’m always doubting myself until the last minute,” multimedia editor Larry Valenzuela said as he reflected on the moment he won his first award during the event. He took home a total of three that night.

JACC granted awards to the following FCC students:

Anthony De Leon, honorable mention (copy editing)
Ben Hensley, 2nd place (news writing)
Larry Valenzuela, 2nd, 3rd place (feature photo, photo award)
Paulina Rodriguez Ruiz, Loren Daniels, honorable mention (Feature Story)
Ram Reyes, 4th place, two honorable mentions (inside page layout, photo awards, design awards)
Rampage Staff, 1st place, (editorial)
Rampage Staff, General excellence
Rampage Staff, Online general excellence
Tommy Tribble, 3rd place, (copy editing)

While not all participants won awards, one in particular brought home a priceless perspective gained from attending JACC.

“The opening keynote speaker Joaquin Alvarado gave a speech on the importance of being a journalist,” said Rampage entertainment editor Anjanae Freitas . “I spent most of the day soaking in the fact that I was lucky enough to attend an event which allowed me to listen to lectures, compete in on the spot competitions, and mostly importantly make connections and contacts with other journalists.”

Those new to The Rampage learned of the event during class early this week and have shown interest in JACC. “I think it’s a good thing overall, it gives students insight on how to become a better journalist,” said Rampage reporter Karl Cooke.

The annual event, which is a non-profit organization established in 1955, allows college students to network with peers from across California.

“It was actually really exciting to meet other editors, so many of them were in much more dire situations than I am,” says Tommy Tribble, editor-in-chief at The Rampage.

JACC also offered workshop activities to students, allowing them to view editor roundtables, attend briefings on social media success and offered sports writing tips to those interested.