Judging the Merit Awards Program

By Don Knight, Awards Chair Start with about 1,500 entries. Assemble 10 professional civilian judges. Add 40 hours of judging over 3 days, then announce the winners in more than 40 categories involving photography, print journalism, videography and radio. That's the recipe for another Merit Awards Program, a joint effort by the USMCCCA and the U.S. Marine Corps. The final scenario will unfold on a hotel ballroom stage at New Orleans in September, when active duty Marines, most of them combat correspondents, step forth to claim their awards for tasks well done. Meanwhile, the 10 judges have received, or soon will,  an impressive certificate of appreciation for their service. They were presented at two of the four judging sessions on behalf of Gen. James F. Amos, Marine Commandant, by Col. Brian Salas, director of public affairs and his deputy, Lt. Col. Chris Hughes. Lou Priebe was a newcomer among the judging panels. He brought a long and productive career as an award-winning writer and public relations executive in Washington, D.C. to the judging of print entries.  "Darn good subject matter, a really interesting day," he said. He was especially impressed with entries from the Marine base newspapers."They really tell what's going on, not only on base but in the neighboring communities,"  Priebe, a former Army infantryman, added: "I'm ready to help the Marines anytime." GySgt. Brenda Varnadore, who supervised the photo and print judging for the Division of Public Affairs,  said a listing of the award winners would be released during the coming week.