Writers for The Skyline View garnered several awards at an annual Northern California conference at San Francisco State University on Oct. 30.

Each fall, the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) provides professional development for newspaper staff and faculty, acknowledging outstanding achievement by student newspapers in community colleges throughout northern California.

The Skyline View online newspaper received an award for general excellence. Editor-in-Chief Neill Herbert received recognition as Editor-in-Chief. Herbert also won second place for on-the-spot copy editing; Staff writer Elizabeth Sinclair-Smith won second place for on-the-spot news writing; and former news editor, Juan Nevarez, won fourth place for mail-in news writing.

“I feel happy,” Herbert said after the conference. “Copy editors are the unsung heroes. I wouldn’t mind pursuing it; it’s not as glamorous as news writing or taking photographs.” Herbert said his next steps were to be editor-in-chief, a position he has held since the beginning of the semester.

“We got two second place awards. There’s only one more place to go and that’s to go upwards to the next place on the list.”

Sinclair-Smith has worked in The Skyline View newsroom for several semesters. As the senior-most staff member, she has worked as writer, editor and page designer.

“I’m in complete and total shock. I’ve never won anything, and I’ve entered so many competitions,” Sinclair-Smith said outside the Cesar Chavez Student Center on Saturday. “I’m at a lack of words. I’m so happy.”

Approximately 260 faculty and students attended the one-day conference, representing 21 Northern California campuses.

“This is a reflection of their hard work,” said Journalism adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel. “It’s good for morale. It lets the campus know that they’re doing well. It’s good for the college and campus.”