February 29, 2000

Bowling Green, Ky. -- Two Western Kentucky University students have won honors in the sports writing competition in the 40th annual William Randolph Hearst Foundation's Journalism Awards Program.

Jerry Brewer, a senior from Paducah, placed third in the competition and received a $1,000 scholarship. Brewer, co-editor of the College Heights Herald this semester, entered a story on the Women's National Basketball Association that he wrote during an internship at The New York Times.

Western's School of Journalism and Broadcasting will receive a matching $1,000 award.

Travis Mayo, a senior from Maysville, placed 19th for a story about organ transplant recipients who were going to compete in the Bluegrass State Games. Mayo wrote the story during an internship at the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Western is second in overall points behind Northwestern University after four of six writing competitions.