The 79th Annual Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest attracted the best work from profession communicators from over the past year. There were 86 entries from members and non-members with a record number coming from outside the Chicago city limits.

The staff at Chicago Health Magazine is the recipient of the Silver Pen Award for the most First-Place winners.

First-place winners will be submitted to compete in the national contest sponsored by the National Federation of Press Women.

First Place:
Writing>Opinion>Editorial/Reviews Adrien David
Communications Programs and Campaigns>Audiovisuals Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas
Communications Programs and Campaigns>Community, institutional or internal relations
Cora Weisenberger
Editing for Print or Online Publications>Magazine/Magapaper Elise Sims
Graphics>Infographics Michelle Holdway
Page Design>Newspaper Michelle Holdway
Information for the Media>News or feature releases – multiple releases
Elise Sims
Interview (radio or television) Janice Newman
Talk Show (radio or television), Janice Newman
Speech Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas
Blogs>Personal Bonnie McGrath
Electronic Newsletter>Non-profit, government, or educational Pat Szpekowski
Creative Verse>Single poem Tracy Ahrens
Fiction for Adult Readers>Novels (More than 40,000 words) Michelle Cox
Cookbook or other how-to/instruction book Janice Newman
Young Adult>Fiction Book Kate Hannigan
Young Adult>Non-fiction Book Margot McMahon
Columns>General Marlene Cook
Columns>Personal opinion (bylined, not editorial) Joshua Friedberg
Feature Story>Magazine, newsletter or other non-newspaper publication
Katie Scarlett Brandt
Feature Story>Online publication Debra Chandler Landis
News Story>Magazine, newsletter or other non-newspaper print publication
Pat Szpekowski
News Story>Magazine, newsletter or other non-newspaper print publication
Suzanne Hanney
News Story>Online publication Georgiana Presecky
Writing>News Story>Print-based newspaper Carrie Steinweg
Writing>Specialty Issues>Arts and entertainment Joshua Friedberg
Writing>Specialty Issues>History Suzanne Hanney
Writing>Specialty Issues>Personal essay Timothy Hillegonds
Writing>Specialty Issues>Physical health Kelly K. James
Writing>Specialty Issues>Reviews Nikoleta Morales
Writing>Specialty Issues>Science or technology Linda Mulholland
Writing>Specialty Issues>Social issues Suzanne Hanney

Second Place:
Communications Programs and Campaigns>Community, institutional or internal relations
Cora Weisenberger
Graphic Design>Book designed by Entrant Anna Grob
Graphic Design>Page Design>Magazine or newsletter Erin Sullivan
Interview (radio or television) Janice Newman
Talk Show (radio or television) Janice Newman
Blogs>Personal Bonnie McGrath
Blogs>Personal Bonnie McGrath
Children’s Book>Fiction Tracy Ahrens
Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers>History Marlene Cook
Editorial>Opinion Joshua Friedberg
Feature Story>Magazine, newsletter or other non-newspaper publication
Suzanne Hanney
Feature Story>Print-based newspaper Carrie Steinweg
New Story>Print-based newspaper Carrie Steinweg
Writing>Specialty Issues>Arts and entertainment Georgiana Presecky
Writing>Specialty Issues>Business Suzanne Hanney
Writing>Specialty Issues>History Suzanne Hanney
Writing>Specialty Issues>Personal essay Nikoleta Morales
Writing>Specialty Issues>Religion Pat Szpekowski
Writing>Specialty Issues>Reviews Joshua Friedberg
Writing>Specialty Issues>Social issues Timothy Hillegonds

Third Place:
Editing for Print or Online Publications>Magazine/Magapaper Suzanne Hanney
Graphics Design>Book designed by Entrant Marlene Cook
Interview (radio or television) Janice Newman
Talk Show (radio or television), Suzanne Hanney
Blogs>Personal Mary Wagner
Children’s Book>Fiction Carrie Steinweg
Creative Verse>Single poem Tracy Ahrens
Feature Story>Magazine, newsletter or other non-newspaper publication
Pat Szpekowski
Feature Story>Print-based newspaper Nikoleta Morales
Writing>Specialty Issues>Arts and entertainment Nikoleta Morales
Writing>Specialty Issues>Business Suzanne Hanney
Writing>Specialty Issues>History Suzanne Hanney
Writing>Specialty Issues>Personal essay Joshua Friedberg
Writing>Specialty Issues>Physical health (fitness, diet, clean lifestyle)
Elise Sims
Writing>Specialty Issues>Reviews Brigid Presecky
Writing>Specialty Issues>Travel Carrie Steinweg

Honorable Mention:
Communications Programs and Campaigns>Community,
institutional or internal relations
Cora Weisenberger
Public Relations Materials> Brochures>Nonprofit, government or educational
Dr. Elana Ashley
Interview (radio or television) Janice Newman
Talk Show (radio or television) Janice Newman
Talk Show (radio or television) Janice Newman
Talk Show (radio or television) Janice Newman
Talk Show (radio or television) Suzanne Hanney
Blogs>Personal Tracy Ahrens
Blogs>Personal Tracy Ahrens
Social Media Presence>Personal Nikoleta Morales
Creative Verse>Single poem Tracy Ahrens
Feature Story>Magazine, newsletter or other non-newspaper publication
Suzanne Hanney
Writing>Specialty Issues>History Suzanne Hanney
Writing>Specialty Issues>Personal essay Joshua Friedberg
Writing>Specialty Issues>Reviews Brigid Presecky