The Poway News Chieftain and Rancho Bernardo News Journal won 14 awards, including six first-place honors, at the San Diego Press Club’s 52nd annual Excellence in Journalism Awards competition.

The ceremony was held on Oct. 28 at the Encore Event Center in San Diego.

The competition is among the largest in the country, honoring the work by hundreds of San Diego County media and communications professionals, according to the organization.

All of the Poway News Chieftain and Rancho Bernardo News Journal awards were in the non-daily newspapers division.

Rancho Bernardo and 4S Ranch reporter Elizabeth Marie Himchak won nine awards, including three first-place honors. They were:

Criminal Justice, first place, “Friends & Family Community Connection disbanded after embezzlement”

Education, first place, “Tiny house built by PUSD students goes up for auction”

Health & Medicine, first place, “RB man hopes his autobiography will inspire others with medical challenges”

Food Reporting, second place, “Rancho Bernardo to-go senior meal program going strong”

Gardening, second place, “Bernardo Gardeners spring tour to provide lots of inspiration”

Visual/Fine Arts Reporting, second place, “Rancho Bernardo Library exhibit features artist’s ‘Personal Connections‘”

Feature – Serious Subject, third place, “Celebration of Courage shines spotlight on domestic violence”

Profile, third place, “Northeastern’s new police captain began his career there 30 years ago”

Entertainment Reporting, honorable mention, “Noel Paul Stookey — of Peter, Paul and Mary — comes to RB“

Poway reporter Julie Gallant won four awards, including two first place honors.

Reviews, first place, “’The Death of Us All’ celebrates nun who died protecting Amazon rainforest” 

Visual/Fine Arts Reporting, first place, “Japanese artist combines graphic arts and nature in Poway exhibit” 

Education, third place, “Funding cut for new Poway Unified program for students with disabilities”

Education, honorable mention, “Poway elementary students help pilot comic book that teaches two kids about hunger”

Columnist Wayne Chan won a first place honor.

Column-Light Subject, first place, “Wayne’s World“

To see a list of all the 2025 award winners, visit sdpressclub.org.