Jaclyn Lippelmann, photography coordinator for the Catholic Standard and the Spanish-language El Pregonero newspapers of the Archdiocese of Washington, was named as the “Photographer of the Year” at the 2017 Catholic Media Conference in Quebec City, Canada.

Her honor capped a successful year for both papers, with each receiving 15 Catholic Press Awards at the conference’s June 20 banquet. Catholic Standard staff members also received an award for a book they helped produce this past year honoring Cardinal Wuerl on his 10th anniversary as archbishop of Washington.

The paper’s editor, Mark Zimmermann, wrote a letter nominating Lippelmann for photographer of the year in the Catholic press, “because with photos that are technically beautiful and get to the heart of each story, she captures the moment with images that show how our Catholic faith unfolds every day in quiet and unforgettable ways.”

This spring, Lippelmann also received a St. Joseph the Worker Award, given to outstanding employees of the Archdiocese of Washington.

The Catholic Standard received four first place awards at the Catholic Media Conference in Quebec City, which is sponsored by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada. Lippelmann won a first place award for best news photo story for her coverage of World Youth Day in Kraków, Poland in the summer of 2016.

The Catholic Standard’s managing editor Richard Szczepanowski, Zimmermann and Lippelmann received a first place award for best coverage of Mother Teresa’s canonization. Szczepanowski’s feature on Mother Teresa’s goddaughter won a first place award for best personality profile.

Catholic Standard reporter Kelly Seegers and Lippelmann received a first place award for their coverage of local Catholics competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, including gold medal winning swimmer Katie Ledecky.

El Pregonero’s awards included a first place honor for “Publication of the Year” in the Spanish language division.

The Catholic Standard received a third place award for “Newspaper of the Year” in its division, and the newspaper’s editor Zimmermann received two second place awards for editorials. Szczepanowski received a second place award for best coverage of local politics, and he and Seegers were honored with a second place award for best reporting for children, for the Catholic Standard’s Junior Saints section. Lippelmann received a second place award for her online photo gallery of last year’s priest ordination Mass.

The paper’s four honorable mention awards were for its special section on Catholic school graduates, its cover designs by production artist Javier Diaz with photos by Lippelmann, Seegers’ story on the impact of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program on a St. Anthony School family, and Lippelmann’s photos of Easter in Washington.

Here are the awards won by Catholic Standard staff members and judges’ comments:

•  First place, Photographer of the Year – Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard. Judges praised her “engaging, high quality imagery” and said, “the quality and use of light in each photo adds to the story. Tight cropping and well layered images help the viewer to immediately focus on the messages.”

•  First place, Best News Photo Story – Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard, for her photos of World Youth Day in Kraków, Poland. “The compilation of images shows in a very telling way how young people interact with their faith. There are cheers of excitement as well as somber prayer. But what is most telling of this generation’s relationship with faith are the images of participants holding candles while listening with headphones, making the connection between traditional and modern practices.”

•  First place, Best Coverage of Mother Teresa’s Canonization, Non-weekly Diocesan Newspaper, Circulation 25,000 or less – Richard Szczepanowski, Mark Zimmermann and Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard. “A must-read story about feeling the presence of Mother Teresa from a personal, first-hand perspective after 30 years.”

•  First place, Best Personality Profile, Non-weekly Diocesan Newspaper, Circulation 25,000 or less – “New saint’s goddaughter: Like St. Teresa of Kolkata, Maria McMurtrie likes to pray, and to hug and serve others,” story by Richard Szczepanowski, photos by Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard. “This is a deeply touching account of a truly remarkable relationship between a saint and a powerful soul living with a disability. The first-person quotes stand out like sparks of hope while the narrative facilitates a pace of ease.”

•  First place, Best Coverage of the Olympics – Stories by Kelly Seegers, photos by Jaclyn Lippelmann of the Catholic Standard, for coverage of Olympic gold medal winning swimmer Katie Ledecky and wrestler Kyle Snyder who represented the United States, and Thea LaFond, who competed in the triple jump representing her home country of Dominica. “All of the articles presented crafted details of the role faith has played in these Olympic athletes’ quests. The stories are highly descriptive and tie together the challenges these athletes face in their day-to-day training and how faith and commitment has allowed them to accomplish their lofty goals.”

•  Second place, Best Editorial on a Local Issue, Non-weekly Diocesan Newspaper, Circulation 25,000 or less – “Prescription to kill is bad medicine in Maryland,” by Mark Zimmermann, Catholic Standard. “Well researched and argued, this editorial condemning the push for legalized physician-assisted suicide is bolstered by its list of credible opponents. Juxtaposing the faith perspective with that of many medical professionals brings the reader pause.”

•  Second place, Best Editorial on a National/International Issue, Non-weekly Diocesan Newspaper, Circulation 25,000 or less – “Way of Cross, and Easter hope, for suffering Middle East Christians,” by Mark Zimmermann, Catholic Standard. “Pairing interviews with a woman religious and archbishop who both address the horrors of Christian genocide in the Middle East provides necessary context for the reader. Zimmermann adds detailed support from government statements addressing the horror. Thus by weaving personal stories and political assessment, he effectively presents information to shape public opinion.”

•  Second place, Best Coverage of Local Politics – Richard Szczepanowski of the Catholic Standard for coverage of assisted suicide legislation in Maryland and the District of Columbia. “Assisted suicide advocates found tough opposition from Maryland Catholics, and that opposition got full coverage in these articles. First, a warning of the dangers, coupled with a strong editorial and directions for those wanting to get involved. Then, the news that the bill was being withdrawn. So the Catholic Standard shifted to a District of Columbia bill that would legalize assisted suicide. Highlight: The story of a man very much alive who was told he was terminally ill. Outstanding focus.”

•  Second place, Best Reporting on Special Age Group (Children and teens younger than 18) – “Mother Teresa is Church’s newest saint,” and “November is Black Catholic History Month,” Catholic Standard’s Junior Saints children’s section produced by Richard Szczepanowski and Kelly Seegers. “Such creativity! The use of the word search to pull in young readers and teach them something about the topic was quite clever. The writing is at an excellent level for younger readers while not putting off adults. The artwork and writing by kids make a nice additional point of entry as well.”

•  Second place, Best Freestanding Presentation of Online Photo Gallery or Slideshow – “Archdiocese of Washington’s Mass of Priestly Ordination” by Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard. “…Fantastic coverage and really good photography. Some nice moments captured through unique perspectives.

•  Third place, Newspaper of the Year, Non-weekly Diocesan Newspaper, Circulation 25,000 or less – Catholic Standard (consecutive issues on Mother Teresa’s canonization, first anniversary memories of Pope Francis’s visit to Washington, and roundup on Blue Ribbon schools). “A well-designed paper that has strong graphics and aesthetically pleasing pages. The reporting is superb, and the variety of story topics was impressive. The vibrant colors and strong photographs enhance the reader’s experience.”

•  Honorable mention, Best Regular Special Supplement – “Class of 2016: Catholic school graduates share their stories,” by Catholic Standard staff.

•  Honorable mention, Best Feature Writing, Non-weekly Diocesan Newspaper, Circulation 25,000 or less – “Mother sees scholarship as ‘grace from God:’ D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program provides expanded educational options for city’s families,” story by Kelly Seegers, photo by Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard.

•  Honorable mention, Best Front Page, Tabloid – Catholic Standard, cover designs by production artist Javier Diaz, photographs by Jaclyn Lippelmann.

•  Honorable mention, Best Multiple Picture Package, News – “Easter in Washington,” photos by Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard.

•  2017 Catholic Press Association Book Awards, honorable mention, Best Design and Production – “Sharing our Gifts: Cardinal Wuerl’s 10 Years in Washington,” design and production by Georgina Stark, special projects manager for Archdiocese of Washington’s Secretariat of Communications; writing by Mark Zimmermann, Catholic Standard’s editor, and photo editing by Jaclyn Lippelmann, photography coordinator for the Catholic Standard and El Pregonero.

“Congratulations to our team for the honors received from the Catholic Press Association,” Zimmermann said. “The awards reflect their talent, faith and hard work that they offer day in and day out. The greatest honor for all of us is serving the people of the Archdiocese of Washington by telling the story in our different media platforms of how Jesus’s love unfolds every day in our family of faith here and around our nation and world.”

CS PHOTOS BY JACLYN LIPPELMANN At the recent 2017 Catholic Media Conference in Quebec City, Canada, Catholic Standard Photography Coordinator Jaclyn Lippelmann was named “Photographer of the Year” by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada.