The Citizen took home four Professional Recognition Awards and staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel received the A. Brohmann Roth Newcomer of the Year award from the Syracuse Press Club Saturday.

Elliott-Engel was selected as a recipient of the award for her award-winning work in covering police and courts, the ongoing Indian land claim, as well as her general assignment stories. She joined The Citizen in 2004.

Staff writer Linda Ober took home a special mention award for Investigative Reporting with her story “The Smoke Hasn't Cleared,” in which she uncovered those county establishments which were still in violation of the state's Clean Indoor Air Act. Judges commented that the piece deserved “points for ingenuity.”

Lauren Ober tied for first place in the Human Interest Feature Writing category, for her piece on gay students in local high schools titled “Coming Out Of The Classroom.” Judges praised the story for taking on a difficult subject. “Getting the kids to go on the record made the story real for the readers,” they wrote.

The Citizen also earned two editorial writing awards. Editor Mikel LeFort received a first place award for “Councilors Forgot Who They Serve,” which took the Auburn city council to task for moving their Thursday evening meeting to mornings last summer, making it more difficult for citizens to attend. “An excellent lead and strong finish with plenty of meat in between,” judges wrote.

Managing editor Jeremy Boyer received a special mention award for his editorial “Cayuga County elections board fails community again,” which detailed problems with the elections board's handling of election returns. “Makes its point well!” judges wrote.

Jennifer Meyers, a staff photographer at The Citizen, earned a special mention award in the Feature Photo category for a picture she took while working as an intern for The Post-Standard newspaper in Syracuse.

The 28th annual banquet was held at the Empire Room at the New York State Fairgrounds.