Staff members of The Crimson White won four first place awards and placed in 12 other categories this weekend at the Southeast Journalism Conference in Lafayette, La.

The newspaper won the Best Public Service Journalism award, and Abbey Crain was named 2013 College Journalist of the Year in the annual “Best of the South” contest.

Crain, a senior majoring in journalism, was awarded for her work on the “The Final Barrier,” detailing discrimination in the recruitment process of The University of Alabama’s traditionally white sororities.

(See also “The Final Barrier: 50 years later, segregation still exists“)

“I am honored to have received this award from SEJC,” Crain said. “To be considered the top in my field, especially by other journalists across the country, is probably one of the coolest things that’s ever happened to me.”

In conjunction with her award, Crain received a $1,000 cash prize.

The Crimson White’s Best Public Service Journalism first place award was also for “The Final Barrier.”

“I’m especially thrilled at Abbey Crain’s selection as College Journalist of the Year and at The Crimson White’s first place finish in the Best Public Service Journalism category,” said Mark Mayfield, associate director and editorial advisor of the Office of Student Media. “‘The Final Barrier’ and the newspaper’s follow-ups represented the very best in reporting this past year, not only in college journalism, but far beyond it. What this Crimson White staff has accomplished will be remembered years from now.”

(See also “UA students win 13 awards from Society of Professional Journalists“)

Additionally, News Editor Mark Hammontree won a first-place award for Best News Writer, and Photo Editor Austin Bigoney took home first place for Best Press Photographer.

“I am so proud of all of our work that was recognized at the Southeast Journalism Conference this past weekend,” Mazie Bryant, editor-in-chief of The Crimson White, said. “The Crimson White has had an incredibly strong year because of the hard work and determination from every member of our staff, and I am so pleased to see that people are taking notice.”

The Crimson White also finished second in the Best College Newspaper category, among more than 40 member universities across the Southeast.

“I’ve had a chance to see firsthand just how hard The Crimson White journalists have worked. They absolutely deserve these honors. I’m so proud of them,” Mayfield said. “The SEJC awards underscore the depth of the newspaper’s coverage, from news, sports and culture to photography and design. This is a strong staff, and I think the wide range of the awards they received proves that.”

(See also “CW editor, reporters receive award for ‘The Final Barrier’“)