Normandale Community College’s student newspaper, the Lions’ Roar, took home 12 awards in this year’s Minnesota Newspaper Association Better College Newspaper contest for Minnesota two- and four-year colleges and universities.

 In results announced during the MNA annual convention in Bloomington today, the paper and its 2010-2011 staff finished first in five categories, second in another five and won honorable mention in two more.

 “This is the best showing we’ve ever made in the MNA contest,” said Mark Plenke, the newspaper’s adviser. “We were fortunate to have had a staff of talented writers and photographers led by an outstanding editor, Matt Homan, who brought a strong news sense, edgy editorial topics and serious design talent to the paper.”

 The Lions’ Roar and its staff took first place in five contest categories:

• typography and design (newspaper staff)
• headline writing (newspaper staff)
• picture story (Amanda Brown)
• portrait and personality photo (Ben Rasmussen)
• design portfolio (Matt Homan)

 It was awarded second place for:

• general excellence (newspaper staff)
• general reporting (newspaper staff)
• local breaking news (Steve Dodds)
• photo story (Amanda Brown)
• editorial (Matt Homan)

 The general excellence judge wrote: “A very bold presentation with the best use of visuals in the contest. This judge is sad to see they no longer have a print edition, but the quality reporting should continue online.”

 The Lions’ Roar converted to an all-online format this fall.

 The paper received honorable mention for its website (www.lionsroar.info) and for government and public affairs reporting (Rebecca Freeman, this year’s editor in chief).

 Only the University Chronicle of St. Cloud State University won more awards (16) in the contest. Rochester Community and Technical College’s newspaper, Echo, won first place for general excellence.