Fumie Iida was not prepared when she went to the Journalism Association of Community Colleges conference (JACC).

The conference taught her how to be a better photographer and what it was like working under pressure.

However, the conference did not teach her was how to react when judges selected her as a first-place winner.

“I couldn’t believe that I won,” Iida said. “But I saw my picture was on the screen and said, ‘That’s the picture I took.'”

Competing against 45 community colleges, the Union took home 12 awards at including a first-place finish by Fumie Iida, staff writer and staff photographer, and Ronda Ayers, managing editor and co-news editor, in the team features competition.

“I was really surprised I was even able to compete,” said Anna Mavromati, who won an honorable mention in opinion writing. “Because this is my first semester, at most, I thought I might have been an alternate.”

Students also attended workshops throughout the day learning about different aspects of journalism.

“I enjoyed the competition and critique,” Iida said. “Professional photographers gave me some good suggestions on how to make me a better photographer. I had those suggestions in my mind during the competition and it helped me.”

The conference, from April 1-3, brought forth winners in categories that spanned the gamut.

In the on-the-spot competition, Ayers also received an honorable mention in news writing. Photographer Haruko Kata earned an honorable mention in news photography. Stella Sutphin, opinion editor, earned an honorable mention in front-page tabloid design.

Journalism students also participated in the “bring-in” competition, where students submit previously published works for judging.

In the bring-in competition for magazine cover design, Crystal Lafata and Kym Parsons took first place. Lafata and Parsons also received honorable mention for magazine design.

Mike Mandzak, cartoonist, earned an honorable mention in the category of editorial cartoon.

Grace Choe, staff ontributor, finished fourth in profile feature and John Sakata, sports editor, received an honorable mention.

Sarrah Harris, editor in chief, said that the experience motivated her.

“I am extremely proud of the staff and of all its accomplishments,” Harris said. “We hope to improve the newspaper by applying the techniques we learned at the conference.”