Higgin's winning shot. Jeremiason's winning photo. Thoma's winning snap. Jacobson's winning photo.

Mascot earns 5 MNA Awards

Minneota Mascot photographers Brian Jeremiason and Sue Jacobson captured first-place honors in separate photography categories at the recent Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest.

Scott Thoma and Byron Higgin each received a second-place photography award. The Mascot also earned a third-place award for Non-Dailies over 1,000 subscribers for Use of Photography as a Whole.

Jeremiason earned his first-place award in the Portrait and Personality category for his photo of the Minneota volleyball players celebrating after capturing the Class A state volleyball championship. The photo appeared in the Nov. 14, 2018 Mascot.

Judges said: “Great Photograph. It is moving to see the players’ excitement, but also the crowd. Love the fresh response to the win.” Jacobson took first in the News Photo category for a photo of wild geese camped in a flooded field.

That photo appeared in the April 3, 2019 edition.

Judges said: “Beautiful wildlife photo”. Thoma won second in the Portrait and Personality division for a photo of City Hall Bar & Grill manager Jordan Dressen hoisting his then 9-month-old son Harlan over his head and sharing a smile during the Summer Bash the day before Father’s Day. That photo appeared in the Mascot on June 19, 2019.

Judges said: “Photograph feels very real and the connection can be felt when viewing it.” 

Higgin earned his second-place award in the News Photo category for his photo of the Porter Harvest Fest Waterfight competition. That photo appeared in the Mascot on Aug. 21, 2019. There were no judge’s comments.

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