Lawrence briefs

Journal-World editors win national awards

Two Journal-World staff members have won awards in the National Federation of Press Women’s 2004 Communications Contest.

Ann Gardner, editorial page editor, won first place in the editorial category for daily newspapers.

Mindie Paget, arts editor, won second place for health writing and page layout, and third place for a section regularly edited by the entrant. Paget oversees the Journal-World’s Sunday Arts & Living section.

All entries in the national contest already had placed first in the state contest sponsored by Kansas Professional Communicators, an affiliate of NFPW. Paget was the state sweepstakes winner by virtue of her placing in multiple contest categories.

The national awards will be presented Sept. 11 at the federation’s annual conference in Lexington, Ky.

KPR to feature finalists from piano competition

The top students from the Kansas International Piano Competition at Kansas University will showcase their talents today and July 20 on Kansas Public Radio, FM 91.5.

Prize winners and finalists will perform during Rachel Hunter’s classical music program, 11 a.m. to noon.

Scheduled to play today are:

  • Erin Hales, 14, Arizona, honorable mention.
  • Grace Ma, 12, Arizona, second prize.
  • Kuok-Wai Lio, 15, Hong Kong, first prize.

And on July 20:

  • Heidi Ching, 15, Windsor, Canada, honorable mention.
  • Yvonne Chen, 14, Virginia, finalist.
  • Eric Chang, 16, California, third prize.

The competition was July 5-7. Participants have stayed at KU for a summer academy, which includes taking master and studio classes and courses in sight reading, music theory and accompanying.

KU’s Gunn Center gives science fiction awards

Kansas University’s Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction handed out its annual awards during a banquet Friday as part of its Campbell Conference.

The Theodore Sturgeon Award for best short science fiction work went to Kage Baker for her story “The Empress of Mars.”

The John W. Campbell Award for best science fiction novel went to Jack McDevitt for his novel “Omega.”

The center also inducted four writers into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.