Four Farmville Herald staff members — Marge Swayne, Hannah Davis, Staci Bridge and Jordan Miles — won big at the 2016 annual Virginia Professional Communicators and Virginia Press Association awards banquets recently for writing, design and photography.

Swayne, The Herald’s lifestyles editor, took home the coveted Sweepstakes Award in the VPC contest, winning five first-place awards out of the 23 awards she received.

Davis, Herald sports editor and editor of The Charlotte Gazette and The Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch, won four first-place awards out of the 15 awards she received.

All first-place winners advance to the National Federation of Press Women competition in the fall.

“We’ve known for years that Marge and Hannah are talented writers who convey the stories of others in an impactful way to our readers,” Herald Managing Editor Jordan Miles said. “These awards quantify what I and this community have known for years — that these two women are passionate about their work.”

The sweepstakes award is determined by a points system that considers the total number of entries submitted to the contest and the number and level (first, second, third, honorable mention) of awards received.

Swayne received five first place awards in columns-humorous (“Guess who-oo’s coming to dinner” and “Don’t stress — distress”); specialty articles-social issues (“Building hope with Habitat” and “Social Services with a smile”); specialty articles-religion (“Gospel writer series” and “Live nativity shares true meaning”); specialty articles-physical health, self-help (“Road to Africa” and “PSR’s special delivery”); special articles-food (“Grape expectations” and “Apple appeal”).

Swayne received eight second-place awards in feature story (“WWII veteran’s testament to duty”); specialty articles-education (“Fuqua School president sets standards” and “Black folder offers skills”); specialty articles-business (“Farmville ranks 11th” and “Carter’s Flower Shop celebrates 60 years”); special articles-history (“Farmville relives Civil War” and “Farmville’s Fiery Friday”); specialty articles-physical health, self-help (“Madeline’s House battles domestic violence” and “Free Clinic has a ball”); special articles-food (“Edwina Covington’s Thanksgiving pies” and “Farmville’s Community Garden”); single photograph (“WWII veteran’s testament”); photographer-writer (“Twin Lakes reflects on 9-11”).

Swayne had eight third-place awards in news story (“Lee letters found in Longwood Library”); personality profile-500 words or more (“Lowry turns 103”); specialty articles-agriculture (“Farming yields big rewards” and “Master gardeners share skills”); specialty articles entertainment, arts (“Art resides at Red Door” and “Pantomimes steal the show”); columns-opinion (“Climate change” and “The art of canning)”; columns-general (“View from the porch” and “Christmas Eve in a stable”); single photograph-news (“tractor-trailer overturns”); photographer-writer (“St. Andrews potato project”); Swayne also received two honorable mention awards in editorial-opinion (“America the Beautiful”); and headline writing.

Davis took first place in sports photo (“CHS spring athletes named All-Conference”), news or feature photo (“Horseshoe-throwing kid takes first place”), news story (“Harris make CHS history”) and special articles: sports, (“PECHS senior hit 1,000-point mark”) and (“PECHS wows fans in 53-51 nail-biter against Page County”).

Davis took second place in specialty articles: sports (“LU suspends Johnson, Pimentel” and “Johnson returns to Longwood hoops lineup”), news story (“Rare Essex Terraplane sold in Farmville”), sports photo (“Dinwiddie American Eliminates PEFYA In District Five Tournament”), personality profile article (“The man. The legend. Coach Gill.”), and page design on two Life section fronts.

Davis achieved third place in specialty articles: physical health, fitness, mental health, self help (From The Other Side articles on Workout of the Day at CrossFit First Due and Archery at Twin Lakes State Park), editorial article (“Thankful for Dixie Youth volunteers” and “YMCA decision should be reconsidered) and sports photo (“Season ends For PEFYA Minors”). She received honorable mention in personal opinion columns (“A labor of love at the farmer’s market” and “Remaking Thanksgiving”) and special articles: physical heath, fitness, mental health, self-help (on From The Other Side articles on hiking at Twin Lakes State Park and water aerobics at the Southside Virginia Family YMCA.)

“Davis’ stories remind me of those Chip Hilton days, especially her second submission about the ‘nail-biter,’” judges said of her entries.

VPA Awards

The design and artwork of Bridge, The Herald’s veteran graphic designer and webmaster, and Davis, who is also a designer, won third place at the Virginia Press Association’s awards banquet April 9 in Richmond.

Swayne took third-place awards in personal service writing (“Apple appeal,” “Grape expectations” and “Make healthy choices and never say diet”) and feature writing portfolio (“A testament to faith and duty,” “Giving birth to history” and “From restoration to retreat”).

“These stories are a great way of introducing history to the younger readers,” judges said of Swayne’s feature writing entry.

Miles received a third-place award for a story in the feature story writing category (“Defined by dedication”).