Marlin Chronicle Wins 19 National Awards

The Marlin Chronicle, VWU’s student newspaper, earned 19 awards from the Society for Collegiate Journalists (SCJ) 2023 National Contest. The SCJ announced that staff members of the Chronicle won first place in the feature page, news stories, editorial cartoon and infographics categories.

“I am very proud of the Marlin Chronicle team and its achievements this year,” Editor-in-Chief Connor Merk ’23 said.

“This media enterprise, which comprises nearly 30 students, is extremely talented and provides an excellent voice for our campus community.”

The Marlin Chronicle is a student-led publication that has served the campus since 1982. The Society for Collegiate Journalists is the nation’s oldest honor society for student media leaders and has about 100 active chapters nationwide and 1,200 members.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT CONNOR MERK ’23

In May, Connor Merk ’23 received his VWU bachelor’s degree in Business and Political Science, with a minor in Communications. But it was how he achieved his degree that made him stand out.

Merk’s academic performance earned him an impressive four awards during the spring convocation for Batten Honors College: President’s Leadership Award, Journalism Award, Political Science Award and Management, Business and Economics Robert

H. Cass Outstanding Senior Award.

If that wasn’t enough, during his junior and senior years, Merk served as editor-in-chief of VWU's awardwinning student newspaper “The Marlin Chronicle.” He also showcased his leadership skills as the founder and chairman of the Virginia Wesleyan University Republicans, fostering a vibrant political discourse on campus. Merk is now off to Pepperdine University to pursue a master’s degree in public policy.