CORPUS CHRISTI — Valley Morning Star staff members took home some of the biggest awards given at last night’s Texas Associated Press Managing Editors dinner.
With the background the Texas State Aquarium, the best reporters, photographers, investigative and opinion writers and more were honored from around the state.
The Valley Morning Star’s own Rick Kelley received the Star Reporter of the Year along with Victor Cerda receiving the Star Designer of the Year.
“These are just amazing accomplishments for both of these dedicated people,” VMS Editor Lisa Seiser said last night. “I am so happy for them. They both deserve these accolades. They are two of the most talented people I have ever worked with in my 24 years in journalism.”
Kelley’s reporting focuses on area growth, business and environment.
“Rick is experienced and a talented writer and reporter,” Seiser said. “His depth of reporting and ability to dig in and make the issue come to life is what separates him from the others. He is just very flexible and versatile. He develops sources and works them.”
Cerda received his honor for his efforts on several front pages of the VMS.
“Victor has the eye for page design,” Seiser said. “His ability to use typography is second-to-none. His pages often hit the ‘wow’ factor for me when I see them. I definitely know when a page has been designed by Victor.”
Kelley and Cerda beat out reporters and designers from papers around the state with similar circulation as the Star, including sister paper the Brownsville Herald, Odessa American, the Facts, Laredo Morning Times, Killeen Daily Herald, the Eagle and the Lufkin Daily News, to mention a few.
“This is truly a best of the best scenario,” Seiser said. “Rick and Victor were competing against the best reporters and designers from each of the papers. Only the best win this award. I certainly agree with the judge’s decisions.”
Seiser, who attended the ceremony on behalf of Kelley and Cerda, said the awards are a testament to the entire editorial staff.
“Without the great work the reporters, photographers and editors do, there isn’t anything to design,” Seiser said. “Without the work the designers do, stories like Rick’s and the other reporters don’t shine the way they do.”
Earlier in the day, Seiser received a second-place in feature writing for her story called “Missions to Mexico,” which was about Harlingen area Winter Texans regularly traveling to Reynosa to work on a school for the youth there.
“I obviously am pleased with the second-place,” Seiser said. “But I am disappointed that some of the other staff members didn’t receive any honors. This is a great staff at the VMS and they all deserve recognition.”
