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The Tidewater News brought home more than 30 awards during the Virginia Press Association’s annual awards banquet, including the VPA award for overall excellence in advertising.

The awards were presented at VPA’s annual awards banquet, which was held on Saturday, April 12, at the Omni Richmond Hotel. The Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association (ONPA) judged this year’s VPA entries. 

The Tidewater News competes in the VPA’s Non-Daily Group 2 category against 27 other non-daily papers with circulations 1,600 to 3,999 throughout the state. 

First-place awards in the news and advertising contests receive three points, second-place awards receive two points, and third-place awards receive one point.

The Tidewater News took home 12 first-place awards, 12 second-place awards and eight third-place awards. 

Below are the awards won by the staff of The Tidewater News:

First Place

Automotive — Mitzi Lusk

Digital Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Entertainment — Mitzi Lusk

Fashion and Personal Care — Mitzi Lusk

Food and Drug — Mitzi Lusk

General Make-Up — Loretta Lomax

Member Self-Promotion — Loretta Lomax

Multiple Advertisers and Themed Pages — Mitzi Lusk

Page Design — Loretta Lomax

Real Estate — Mitzi Lusk

Small Space Ads — Mitzi Lusk

Special Sections (Standalone section nonslick cover) — Loretta Lomax

Second Place

Automotive — Mitzi Lusk

Digital Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Education, Churches and Organizations — Mitzi Lusk

Entertainment — Mitzi Lusk

Fashion and Personal Care — Mitzi Lusk

General News Photo — Titus Mohler

Headline Writing — Titus Mohler

Home and Garden — Mitzi Lusk

Member Self-Promotion — Loretta Lomax

Multiple Advertisers and Themed Pages — Mitzi Lusk

Professional Services (Medical and Health Care-related only) — Mitzi Lusk

Real Estate — Mitzi Lusk

Third Place

Digital Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Education, Churches and Organizations — Loretta Lomax

Entertainment — Mitzi Lusk

Feature Writing Portfolio — Titus Mohler

Home and Garden — Mitzi Lusk

Member Self-Promotion — Michelle Gray

Professional Services (Medical and Health Care-related only) — Mitzi Lusk

Public Safety Writing — Titus Mohler

Sports Writing Portfolio — Titus Mohler