<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-28202" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen-Shot-2016-04-08-at-9.44.25-PM-184x300.png" alt="Screen Shot 2016-04-08 at 9.44.25 PM" width="184" height="300" />During the South Carolina Press Association’s annual meeting on Saturday, March 19, the 2015 News Contest Award winners were announced, honoring journalism excellence for newspapers across the state. <em>The Island News </em>received one award for page design.

Among the 20 weekly newspapers with a circulation more than 23,000, Art Director Hope Falls took third place in the Single Page One Design category. Her compelling front page from August 20, 2015, featured a striking photo of Marines on Parris Island.

“This is the first SCPA design award for Hope and we couldn’t be more thrilled,” said publishers Kim Harding Newton and Elizabeth Newberry. “She is such a talented designer and valuable asset to our paper.”

Hope started working with <em>The Island News</em> as an intern while attending Clemson University. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Communications and minor in Business Administration, Hope became the Art Director responsible for page layout and ad design.

This is the fifth consecutive year <em>The Island News </em>has won an SCPA news contest award, with 18 awards total. With a weekly circulation of 9,500, the free paper keeps residents throughout Beaufort County connected to their community.