Bridge staff receives honors

From Staff Reports
Published Sunday, May 9, 2021

During its End-of-Year Celebration dinner and awards, several members of The Bridge independent student newspaper 2020-2021 staff were honored for their journalistic work on the paper. The event was held Saturday evening, May 8, at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen restaurant in Laredo.

In addition, one promotion was announced: Current Director of Photography and Social Media Manager Jessica Rodriguez will graduate this coming week. We welcome current Bridge staff writer Brittany Stubblefield-Engram as our new social media manager, starting in August 2021. Brittany is one of our strongest writers, who served on The Bridge staff the past couple semesters. Additional promotions will be announced in mid-August 2021. The Bridge is currently accepting applications for numerous positions. The deadline to submit an application for a staff position is Aug. 15. Interested persons may contact Assistant Professional of visual communication Thomas Robert Brown for additional information.

The Bridge Hall of Fame Inductee for Spring 2021: Director of Photography and Social Media Manager Jessica Rodriguez, “For her extensive service to The Bridge from staff photographer to director of photography and social media manager; for helping grow the photography and social media functions of The Bridge at TAMIU; and for her countless hours of creativity and proactive work.” This marks the second inductee into The Bridge‘s Hall of Fame, which began in 2019. She joins former Editor-in-Chief Matthew Balderas in the HoF.

• The Bridge Rookie of the Year: Jhoanna Angeles
• The Bridge Best Deadline Management: Jhoanna Angeles
• The Bridge Reporter of the Year: Gabrielle Prather
• The Bridge Photographer of the Year: Jessica Rodriguez
• The Bridge Best Editorial: Brittany Stubblefield-Engram for “Black to the future: turning tragedy to triumph through the lens of a Black woman,” Feb. 26, 2021
• The Bridge Best Opinion Column: Jessica Rodriguez for “Student ready for another adventure,” April 22, 2021
• The Bridge Best Illustration: Alejandro Carbajal for “Year off to unexpected start,” Feb. 12, 2021
• The Bridge Best Photo Illustration: Jessica Rodriguez for “Feel the ‘Bern-ing’ love,” March 13, 2021
• The Bridge Best General News Story: Jhoanna Angeles for “A path to citizenship,” March 13, 2021
• The Bridge Best General News Photo: Jessica Rodriguez for tennis courts construction, April 3, 2021
• The Bridge Best Hard News Story: David Gomez Jr. for “City issues quarantine orders, not applicable to TAMIU,” Sept. 7, 2020
• The Bridge Best Hard News Photo: No award
• The Bridge Best Feature Story: Gabrielle Prather for “Drive-in Movie event provides entertainment, social distancing,” Sept. 21, 2020
• The Bridge Best Feature Photo: Alejandro Carbajal for “Chef Rameriez cooks cauliflower steak,” Feb. 12, 2021
• The Bridge Best Portrait: Jessica Rodriguez for “San Miguel gives back to home town,” March 25, 2021
• The Bridge Best Sports Game Story: David Gomez Jr. for “Dustdevils swept by Buffs,” April 22, 2021
• The Bridge Best Sports Feature Story: Jhoanna Angeles for “Making Dustdevil history,” April 9, 2021
• The Bridge Best Sports Photo: No award

A new section of the awards this year was the Readership Awards, based on the number of hits each article received on our website. From more than 5,000 views–the exclusive 5K Club–all the way to the notables, articles that received at least 500 views. The following page views were calculated on May 8, 2021, by WordPress and include the time period from August 2020 to May 8.

5K Club

1. 5,601 views: “CARES Act provides campus loaner laptops” Sept. 14, 2020, story and photos by Gabriela Chapa

4K Club

1. 4,150 views: “Campus food court nearly deserted” Nov. 23, 2020, story by Angela K. Carranza and Juan Barrera with photos by Gabriela Chapa

3K Club

1. 3,327 views: “Quarantine Corner: Student forms small business during pandemic” Oct. 30, 2020, story by Jessica Rodriguez
2. 3,317 views: “Looking back on Latinx Heritage Month” Nov. 9, 2020, story by Jhoanna Angeles

2K Club

1. 2,954 views: “No classes after Thanksgiving” Nov. 9, 2020, story by Juan Barrera
2. 2,791 views: “ALUMNI SUCCESSES: Alumnus lives TAMIU international mission, makes impact” Sept. 14, 2020, by Matthew Balderas
3. 2,770 views: “TAMIU Bookstore pushes on amidst pandemic” Nov. 16, 2020, story by Jesus A. Garcia
4. 2,678 views: “Drive-in Movie event provides entertainment, social distancing” Sept. 21, 2020, photos and story by Gabrielle Prather
5. 2,600 views: “Election Day” Nov. 3, 2020, from staff reports
6. 2,495 views: “Recorded lectures not returning in winter or spring semesters” Nov. 9, 2020, by David Gomez Jr.
7. 2,451 views: “Year off to unexpected start” Feb. 12, 2021, by Alejandro Carbajal
8. 2,386 views: “Rep. Cuellar, President Arenaz to announce TAMIU CARES program” Feb. 18, 2021, from staff reports
9. 2,320 views: “City issues quarantine orders, not applicable to TAMIU” Sept. 7, 2020, by David Gomez Jr. with photos by Jessica Rodriguez
10. 2,227 views: “Spring, fall commencements canceled” Sept. 21, 2020, by Niurka Rocha with photos by Jessica Rodriguez
11. 2,203 views: “Prestigious conference awards TAMIU psychology graduate students” Sept. 14, 2020, by Angela K. Carranza
12. 2,194 views: “University reorganizes science labs for student safety” Oct. 12, 2020, by Gabriela Chapa with photos by Steven Martinez
13. 2,104 views: “COVID-19 testing continues on campus” Oct. 12, 2020, by David Gomez Jr. with a photo by Joy Davis
14. 2,049 views: “ALUMNI SUCCESSES: Online learning tries parents, teachers” Sept. 21, 2020, by Matthew Balderas
15. 2,033 views: “Petition signers urge University to reconsider face-to-face labs” Feb. 11, 2021, by David Gomez Jr.

1K Club

1. 1,931 views: “Nursing program seeking examiner applicants” Sept. 21, 2020, by David Gomez Jr.
2. 1,871 views: “Inclement Weather: University extends class cancellations through Saturday” Feb. 17, 2021, from staff reports
3. 1,854 views: “Inclement Weather: Campus closes Wednesday, Thursday” Feb. 16, 2021, from staff reports
4. 1,725 views: “Dusty’s Food Pantry expands services amid pandemic” Nov. 16, 2020, story and photos by Juan Barrera
5. 1,721 views: “Inclement Weather: Campus delays Tuesday opening” February 2021 from staff reports
6. 1,720 views: “Inclement Weather: Campus delays Monday opening” February 2021 from staff reports
7. 1,618 views: “Quarantine Corner: Student creates own small business during self-quarantine” Oct. 12, 2020, by Gabriela Chapa
8. 1,606 views: “TAMIU helps students cope with pandemic effects” Oct. 26, 2020, by Azeneth Campos
9. 1,591 views: “Garden, Dusty’s Diner team up for meals” Feb. 12, 2021, by Jhoanna Angeles with photos by Alejandro Carbajal
10. 1,543: “Grassroots organization believes efforts finally paid off” March 5, 2021, by Matthew Balderas and David Gomez Jr. with photos by Erick Barrientos
11. 1,392 views: “TAMIU faculty members receive OTotY, DTotY awards” Jan. 25, 2021, by David Gomez Jr.
12. 1,375 views: “A path to citizenship” March 13, 2021, by Jhoanna Angeles
13. 1,193 views: “SOLE adapts to new normal, creates virtual events” Oct. 26, 2020, by Gabriela Chapa
14. 1,004 views: “Entrepreneur imparts wisdom, help” Feb. 19, 2021, by Mario Lopez

NOTABLES (500-999 views)

1. 895 views: “Fees, tuition increase” April 9, 2021, by David J. Garcia
2. 891 views: “TAMIU Planetarium set to reopen June 1” April 3, 2021, by Cesar Oldham
3. 882 views: “San Miguel gives back” March 25, 2021, by Jhoanna Angeles with photos by Jessica Rodriguez
4. 839 views: “Student loan forgiveness on horizon under new administration” Feb. 12, 2021, by Brittany Stubblefield-Engram
5. 810 views: “Being No. 1 not so good” March 25, 2021, by Erick Barrientos
6. 743 views: “Dusty’s Diner offers alternate menu” April 9, 2021, by Jhoanna Angeles with photos by Alejandro Carbajal
7. 707 views: “TAMIU rejects quarantine order” illustration by Alejandro Carbajal
8. 665 views: “Perplexing pandemic times” Sept. 7, 2020, by David Gomez Jr.
9. 659 views: “’Pioneer’ leads multiple areas at TAMIU” by Gabrielle Prather with photos by Jessica Rodriguez