The Southern Ute Drum newsroom brought home 13 awards from last week’s Colorado Press Association newspaper conference, where the 2025 Better News Media contest winners were announced on Saturday night, Aug. 16 in Thorton, Colo. The Drum won a total of six first place awards and seven second place awards in both the Editorial and Photo & Design categories – among those was a first-place award for “Best Website” in the newspaper contest’s Class 8 division. 

Reporter/Photographer Divine Windy Boy took home a total of four individual awards in the Photo & Design and Editorial categories, including two first place wins in Photography & Design; where she was recognized for her in-depth photo coverage of cultural events and regional powwows in 2024, in addition to earning a second place win for Best Photography Portfolio. 

Graphic Specialist, Robert L. Ortiz earned accolades in newspaper layout & design for the feature titled, “Exploring ‘The New Radical.’”  

Videographer, Conrad Thompson took home a second place win in Photo & Design for his ariel drone coverage during the demolition of the historic Southern Ute Boarding School. 

Southern Ute Admin. Assistant, Krista Richards earned second place in the Best Feature Photograph category for her full-page image of a young archer at the Southern Ute Tribal Fair, which was featured as the newspaper’s special section front. Where a contest judge commented, “A lot of really good entries that were tough to judge. Well done!” 

Newspaper Editor, Jeremy Wade Shockley was recognized for his environmental feature titled “The Nature Conservancy tours Tribe’s Spring Creek restoration efforts,” where he won second-place for Best Environmental Story.  Shockley also took home a coveted first-place win for Best Photography Portfolio for his in-depth cultural and environmental coverage at the newspaper in 2024.  

The Colorado Press Association’s 147th annual convention, a collaboration between the Colorado Media Project and COLab, was held in Denver this year. The CPA convention is open to – and hosted sessions relevant to – all Colorado media, not just CPA members. The theme of this year’s convention was “Building capacity to meet the moment,” highlighting key focus areas of the three-day conference.  

“Colorado has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s most collaborative and innovative news ecosystems,” the Colorado Press Association said in anticipation of last year’s annual gathering in Denver. The Southern Ute Drum newspaper has been an active member of the Colorado Press Association since 2010.  

The Colorado Press Association’s  

‘Better News Media’ contest 

• 2nd place, Editorial – Best Environmental Story – Jeremy Wade Shockley “The Nature Conservancy tours Tribe’s Spring Creek restoration efforts” 

• 2nd place, Editorial – Best Education Story – Divine Windy Boy “Education looks to the future and honors the past” 

• 2nd place, Editorial – Best Sports or Sports Event Story – Jeremy Wade Shockley “Exploring ‘The New Radical’” 

• 1st place, Mixed Media – Best Website – Jeremy Wade Shockley, Divine Windy Boy, Robert L. Ortiz, Krista Richards, Rosaleigh Cloud, Conrad Thompson 

• 2nd place, Photography & Design – Best Feature Photograph – Krista Richards “Passing Down Traditions” 

• 1st place, Photography & Design – Best News Photograph – Divine Windy Boy “Honoring Veterans powwow style”

• 2nd place, Photography & Design – Best News Photograph – Conrad Thompson “A change of perspective: End of an era for Southern Ute Boarding School” 

• 1st place, Photography & Design – Best Page Design – Robert L.  Ortiz “Exploring ‘The New Radical’” 

• 1st place, Photography & Design – Best Photo Slideshow- Gallery or Photo Essay – Divine Windy Boy “Kicking up dust at the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance” 

• 2nd  place, Photography & Design – Best Photo Slideshow- Gallery or Photo Essay – Jeremy Wade Shockley “Bear Dance brings Ute tribes together” 

• 1st place, Photography & Design – Best Photography Portfolio – Jeremy Wade Shockley “Photography Portfolio” 

• 2nd place, Photography & Design – Best Photography Portfolio – Divine Windy Boy “Photography Portfolio” 

• 1st place, Photography & Design – Best Sports Photograph– Jeremy Wade Shockley “Exploring ‘The New Radical’”