Christmas came early for all of us at BEACON Senior News when our staff brought home more than a dozen national awards from the North American Mature Publishers Association (NAMPA) national convention in Las Vegas.

In addition to learning from other senior publications across the country, the highlight of this annual convention is the awards banquet, where senior publications big and small vie for top honors. Publications are independently judged on the quality of their written content, editing, design, photography and advertising copy by the prestigious Missouri School of Journalism. The best are then commended for their efforts with awards.

Here are the awards we brought home from this year’s competition:

General Excellence 2nd Place

Judge’s comments: BEACON Senior News provides plenty of practical and cultural touchstones for living well in Colorado. The features are rich in storytelling (living organ donors, the adventures of a motocross pro among them) and timely information (traveling on a small budget, getting the most out of your cellphone). Covers are bold, the layout is fresh and festive, and the overall impression is upbeat and cheerful.

 Profile 1st Place 

 “From Makeup to Mud” by Lauren Berg (June 2022)

 

 

Topical Issue 2nd Place 

“Recovering from Long COVID” by Melinda Mawdsley (January 2022)

How-To Feature 3rd Place 

“Origami in Everyday Life” by Jan Weeks (March 2022)

 

Annual Resource Guide (Editorial) 1st Place 

The BEACON Guide, 2022

Front Cover Photo 2nd Place

“Suck it Up, Buttercup!” (July 2021)

 

 Front Cover Illustration 2nd Place

“Whole Lotta Love” (March 2022)

 

Annual Resource Guide (Design) 1st Place 

The BEACON Guide, 2022

Feature Layout 2nd Place 

“Magic mushroom revival” (August 2021)

 Best Overall Use of Photography 1st Place

“Dress Boldly” (October 2021)

Best Overall Design 2nd Place

Best Single Ad 1st Place

 AAA Hearing: “But I didn’t hear the doorbell!” (October 2022)

 

Many other works were nominated or received honorable mention. Check them out below:

Personal Essay

"My Love Affair With Bob Ross" by Arlyn Macdonald (July 2021)

"Twenty years later: How Americans processed the September 11 attacks" by Lauren Berg (September 2021)

Profile

"Whole Lotta Love: Delta cellist played with some of music's greats" by Leanne Goebel (May 2022)

Thank you to our advertisers who faithfully support us and our gifted writers and staff who carry out our mission every single month by crafting an entertaining and inspiring resource for Western Colorado seniors. 

Above all, the BEACON would not be what it is today if it weren’t for you, readers. Thank you for reading the BEACON! 

Join our award-winning team of contributors!

We're always looking for writers, reporters and photographers to help us tell the stories of Western Slope seniors. 

We welcome articles where writers share their experiences and expertise, struggles, advice and successes all with clear takeaways that help our readers age well.

Questions? Email us! [email protected]