The Summerland Advocate-Messenger finished third in the Class A digital sweepstakes of the Nebraska Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest.

Awards were announced June 17, via video presentation.

SAM staff members submitted entires in 58 categories focusing on writing, photography, advertising, digital, design and creativity.

According to the Nebraska Press Association, which sponsors the contest, more than 3,100 separate entries, representing nine dailies and 66 weeklies, were judged by members of the Kentucky Press Association.

The Advocate-Messenger competed in Class A, which includes newspapers with a circulation of 859 and below.

SAM placed third in signature Page, for a double-truck spread celebrating the Christmas holiday. The ad concept was developed by Elizabeth Odell and brought to the Page by Jenna Hemenway and LuAnn Schindler.

America Needs Journalists, an advertisement celebrating National Newspaper Week, topped the field in creative ad writing. Schindler and Hemenway received the award.

A photo of the final beam being placed at the new Summerland School site, taken by Schindler, finished second in news photography.

Schindler finished second in editorial writing. The piece detailed the closing of the Coleridge newspaper and importance of local journalism.

In news writing, Schindler finished third with an article explaining the great conjunction and planetary alignment.

The SAM Thanksgiving issue, which featured a holiday survival guide, ended third in front Page design.

A combination of articles and special features, including letters to santa and descriptions of how to cook a turkey, involving area youth, finished third in youth coverage.

The Advocate-Messenger website was recognized for excellence, receiving third place.

Breaking news coverage of an accident involving a county road grader and semi-truck finished second in online coverage of breaking news.

Schindler took top honors in best sports video. The piece captured the final moments in the district cross country meet, in Ainsworth, as a runner fell to the ground and crawled across the finish line.

Schindler said she submitted approximately 40 items for judging. Submitted pieces had to be published after July 24, when SAM became a member of the Nebraska Press Association.