1 / 3

A balloon pilot prepares to give tethered rides to the families attending the Springville Balloon Fest on Friday, June 10, 2022.

Kelcie Hartley, Daily Herald file photo

2 / 3

Graduates celebrate as confetti rains down at the end of the 2022 Utah Valley University commencement ceremony at the UCCU Center on Friday, May 6, 2022.

Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald

3 / 3

South Utah County cowboy Jason Betancourt scrambles away from a bull during the third day of the Utah State High School Rodeo finals at the Wasatch County Fairground in Heber on Thursday, June 9, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

At the Utah Press Association’s annual awards celebration and banquet Saturday, the Daily Herald came away with 10 first-place awards, three second-place awards and General Excellence for Group 4, large daily newspapers. Award-winning entries include:

First place

• Best Website
• Best Special Section — Provo Airport magazine
• Best Feature Reporting, Single Story — “Utah County children sell hot cocoa, donate thousands for Ukraine” (Harrison Epstein)
• Best Government Story — “Orem City Council to dismiss, replace 3 members of planning commission” (Genelle Pugmire)
• Best Spot News — “Provo served with lawsuit for July 2020 rape; police reopen case” (Genelle Pugmire)
• Best Sports Story — “Learning fast: Payson’s Cole Penrod continues meteoric rise with steer wrestling win at state rodeo finals” (Jared Lloyd)
• Best Sports Columns — “LLOYD: May high school sports and communities have ties that are never severed“; “LLOYD: Utah first lady Abby Cox savors Special Olympics Short-Game Challenge at Utah Open“; and “LLOYD: Strides, connections highlighted at state hoops finals” (Jared Lloyd)
• Best Feature Photo — A balloon pilot prepares to give tethered rides to the families attending the Springville Balloon Fest on Friday, June 10, 2022. (Kelcie Hartley)
• Best News Photo — Graduates celebrate as confetti rains down at the end of the 2022 Utah Valley University commencement ceremony at the UCCU Center on Friday, May 6, 2022. (Harrison Epstein)
• Best Sports Photo — South Utah County cowboy Jason Betancourt scrambles away from a bull during the third day of the Utah State High School Rodeo finals at the Wasatch County Fairground in Heber on Thursday, June 9, 2022. (Jared Lloyd)

Second Place

• Best General News Reporting — “Provo’s Squaw Peak renamed to Kyhv Peak” (Ashtyn Asay)
• Best Business Story — “After 66 years in Provo, Stevenson’s Genealogy and Copy Center closes Saturday” (Genelle Pugmire)
• Best News Series — “Orem City Council approves resolution encouraging yes vote on Proposition 2“; “Utah’s Attorney General’s Office investigating ‘dozens’ of complaints against Orem mayor and City Council“; “Vineyard and Lindon mayors clarify position on joining potential Orem School District“; and “Proposition 2 disputes continue in Orem as Election Day nears” (Genelle Pugmire)

“While it is an honor for the Daily Herald to receive General Excellence and be recognized for our reporting and photography across different news and sports beats, that’s not why we do what we do,” said Harrison Epstein, community editor for the Daily Herald. “I’m proud of this news team and grateful to work diligently in service to our readers and the people of Utah County.”

Newsletter