CHICAGO—Pat Szpekowski, a correspondent for The Observer,  received three first place awards, one second place and one honorable mention from the Illinois Woman’s Press Association recently.

Szpekowski received a first place in Writing/Specialty Articles, Religion, for the 2014  stories “Shamrock Shave” and “Algonquin Parish Begins Centennial Year,” both about St. Margaret Mary Parish in Algonquin. The judge noted “the nice newsy and conversational style of the stories.”  

She also received an honorable mention for Writing/Personality Profile for “Woodstock Woman Among March for Life Founders.” That judge said the story was “a nice profile of a passionate woman; very informative and interesting.”

Szpekowski’s other awards were in the Public Relations/Advertising categories.

Her first place winners advance to the National Federation of Press Women’s national competition.

Winners will be announced at the national conference Sept. 10-12, in Anchorage, Alaska.

Szpekowski, APR, is president of PR Strategies/PmS Advertising, Inc., in Elgin. She is also a member of the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association board.