Growing Up in Santa Cruz Receives National Awards

Growing Up in Santa Cruz got some great news. We won four top awards in an international family magazine contest.

As you readers know, printing a magazine or any news source is an uphill battle and getting some good news was a much-appreciated reward.
The prizes came from the Parent Media Association, which represents family magazines around the world. We won for the best cover, the best calendar, the best humor column and public service for our series on the local hazards of the drug, Fentanyl.

Here’s what the judges said:

(Gold Medal) Special Series
“Fentanyl Epidemic Hits Our Town”; Suki Wessling, Brad Kava, Sophie Veniel

This collection of material springs from a staff member’s personal tragedy and guides other parents about the dangers and possible interventions related to Fentanyl use by young people. The well-organized primary article includes compelling local data and literacy information, while another piece offers varying viewpoints on how readers might best approach any potential drug use by their own kids.

Front Cover Illustration
“Back to School”;
Patty Benson, Christy Shults

Every element on this cover is creatively integrated into the illustration, including the headline, nameplate and date. Masks, shoes, notebooks, water bottles, pens, pencils and more are included. There is much to see, urging readers’ eyes to wander the page and discover.

(Gold Medal) Humor Column
“Adventures in Momming”; Patty Benson

Using cartoon imagery as a base, this column boils down funny aspects of parenting into concise servings packed with lighthearted insight. For example, a map of Teen Island uses clever puns to capture the rough terrain of teenage moodiness.

(Silver Medal) Calendar Design

Christy Shults’s Clean organization and consistent structure provide easy navigation for readers. The typography makes effective use of bold and normal fonts. Soft pastel colors enhance the presentation for an overall accessible and readable listing.

I’m so proud of our staff not just for winning these awards, but for doing the best family and community journalism in the Bay Area all year round over the past 25 years. I’m so thankful to each and every one of them.
Everything we do here is to help our readers know the community better. They call it “hyper-local,” which means that all of our writers and stories are based in Santa Cruz with the intention of guiding families to the schools, businesses, health tips, products and information they need and won’t find anywhere else.

With that in mind, I also want to thank our advertisers and the generous donors who helped us get through the pandemic. We wouldn’t be here without them and the fact that they support getting valuable information to Santa Cruz families shows that they care so much for our community. Please support them and give them your business. They are the best.

We wish you a happy holiday season and a terrific 2023.

Brad Kava
Editor and Publisher