Two NDSU communication professionals were among the award recipients at the 2015 National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest. Becky Koch, director of NDSU Agriculture Communication, and Ellen Crawford, NDSU Agriculture Communication information specialist, were recognized at the annual fall conference in Anchorage, Alaska, Sept. 10-12.

Koch received a first place in the "Magapapers/Tabloids" category for Ag Mag, a magazine about agriculture geared primarily toward North Dakota students in grades three, four and five.

Crawford received a second place in the "News or feature releases - multiple releases" category for articles on the deadly porcine epidemic diarrhea virus affecting swine throughout the United States.

Also at the national conference, Crawford was elected to a two-year term as second vice president of the organization.

A total of 17 members of North Dakota Professional Communicators earned 27 awards for their work. North Dakota Professional Communicators is the state affiliate of the federation. The state organization's members are women and men employed in all aspects of communication.

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