Tumbleweeds Magazine Reaps Press Honors

Tumbleweeds Magazine received nine awards in the New Mexico Press Women 2022 Communications Contest, announced in April, for work published in 2021.

Our Winter 2021-22 issue, “Cheering for Progress,” received first place honors in Editing for Print or Online Publications (Magazine/Magpaper format), for co-editors Claudette Sutton and Kristen Cox Roby. 

Willow Shaffer, a Santa Fe High School student, won first place for her essay, “The Omnipresent Feeling of Nothingness,” about the emotional challenges of the pandemic, in the category Specialty Articles: Social Issues. 

 Juliana Ciano, program director of Reunity Resources, received second place for “Growing Together” (Specialty Articles: Green/Environmental), offering tips for gardening with children. 

Laura Gonzales, education director of El Rancho de las Golondrinas, won second place for her article, “El Baile de las Cascarones” (Specialty Articles: History), describing a colorful, joyous New Mexico tradition.

Rachel Shreve, communications director for Cooking with Kids, received second place honors for her article with recipes, “Let’s Get this Tamale Party Rolling” (Specialty Articles: Food). 

Kathryn York of the Railyard Park Conservancy also won second place, for “Embracing the Spring Thaw” (Specialty Articles: Science or Technology), on exploring nature close to home. 

Zoey Barnes, a social worker, mother and frequent Tumbleweeds’ book reviewer, won third place for “Reading Through Those Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Days” (Specialty Articles: Reviews), on using good books to get through hard times.

Connie Tooker Nuñez, director of Del Norte LOV Foundation, took third place for her “Giving an A to STEM,” an interview with STEM Santa Fe’s founder Dr. Lina S. Germann (Specialty Articles: Science or Technology).

Jennifer Villela’s article, “The Children’s Hour: Any Time, Anywhere,” on an award-winning Albuquerque-based radio program, received an honorable mention (Specialty Articles: Arts and Entertainment).

Overall, Tumbleweeds came in second in the Organization Sweepstakes Award for the total award points received by an organization statewide for works produced in print, radio, television or online in 2021.

New Mexico Press Women, an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women, is New Mexico’s largest inclusive organization of professional journalists and communicators.  Monthly meetings and an annual conference support women and men pursuing careers as reporters, editors, authors, bloggers, designers, artists, photographers, publicists and freelancers, including students, active professionals and retired professionals. Find information on joining here.