SUN editor wins award

Monday, March 25, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

SUN Assistant Managing Editor Ken Ward has won first place in a national education writing competition.

He took top honors in the opinion/editorial category of the Excellence in Journalism Awards. The contest was sponsored by the Center for Education Reform, a Washington, D.C.-based research and advocacy group.

Ward's Aug. 6 column, "Getting F's and feeling good about it," examined the Clark County School District's routine practice of promoting students regardless of their grades or attendance.

Judges called the article "an outstanding demonstration of comprehensive and objective coverage of education-reform issues."

Judging was conducted by a panel of journalists, professional educators and school reform leaders. The competition drew more than 200 entries; first-place awards come with $750 checks.

The Center for Education Reform's board of directors is chaired by California State Board of Education member Jerry Hume and includes former U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett and former Delaware Gov. Pete duPont.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization was founded by Jeanne Allen, author of "The School Reform Handbook -- How to Improve Your Schools."