Publisher Norberto Santana, Jr. received a standing ovation at the OC Press Club Awards last week, as he accepted the Sky Dunlap Lifetime Achievement Award, the Press Club’s highest award for lifetime achievement and community service.
In addition to the LifeTime Achievement award, Santana was also recognized for his writing with the David McQuay Award for Best Columnist.
Noah Biesiada and Hosam Elattar both took home first place awards in Public Health and Long-Form Story or Series for covering the County Board of Supervisors questioning of pandemic contracts in the wake of the Andrew Do scandal and the series following the fall out from the Santa Ana City Manager Settlement.
Photography Intern, Fashion Castillo also received a first place award for LIve Event coverage for her photo essay, OC Shines Bright for Christmas. This was Castilllo’s first win at the OC Press Club.
Voice of OC Staff Hosam Elattar and Erika Taylor at OC Press Club Awards 
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr with the David McQuay Award for Best Columnist at the OC Press Club Awards. 
Voice of OC Photography Director Julie Leopo at the OC Press Club Awards 
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana, Jr accepts the Sky Dunlap Lifetime Achievement Award at the OC Press Club Awards 
Voice of OC Freelance Journalist Maximo Santana with his award at the OC Press Club Awards. 
Fashion Castillo, center, poses with her award with Norberto Santana, Jr., and Julie Leopo.
At the LA Press Club, Voice of OC received first place awards for Columnist, Hard News and Education Reporting.
Santana won Columnist, Politics, Online for his watchdog reporting of transparency issues in Orange County, including the Huntington Beach Air Show and Bankruptcy Oversight at the County.
“A well-written series of columns highlighting the importance of using public records to make sure citizens know how their local government is operating,” said the judges.
Biesiada won for Best Education Reporting, Online for his story, Orange County Superintendent Quietly Misses a Year on Medical Leave.
Civic News Editor, Spencer Custodio also won for Best Hard News, Online. His story, Anaheim’s Scathing Audit Marks Another Chapter in a Corruption-Plagued City Hall caught judges attention as, “the city that just keeps on giving in terms of mismanagement and questionable financial decisions. Keep up the good work, Voice of OC!”
First Place
LA Press Club
- COLUMNIST, Politics, Online
- Norberto Santana Jr, Voice of OC
- EDUCATION REPORTING, Online
- Noah Biesiada, Voice of OC, “Orange County Superintendent Quietly Misses a Year on Medical Leave”
- HARD NEWS, Online
- Spencer Custodio, Voice of OC, “Anaheim’s Scathing Audit Marks Another Chapter in a Corruption-Plagued City Hall”
OC Press Club
- OC Press Club: Sky Dunlap Award – Lifetime Achievement and Community Involvement
- Norberto Santana, Jr
- David McQuay Award for Best Columnist
- Norberto Santana Jr.
- Best Public Health Story
- Noah Biesiada “Orange County Leaders Ramp Up Questioning Of Another Major Pandemic Contract,” Voice of OC
- Best Long-Form Feature Story or Series
- Hosam Elattar Santa Ana City Manager Settlement Fallout Series, Voice of OC
- Best Coverage of a Live Event
- Fashion Castillo “OC Shines Bright For Christmas,” Voice of OC
Second Place:
LA Press Club
- . CULTURE NEWS, Events
- Hosam Elattar, Voice of OC, “Anaheim’s Little Arabia is Finally Getting its Freeway Signs”
- LOCAL POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT REPORTING, Homelessness/Housing
- Spencer Custodio, Voice of OC, “Does Prop 1 Mean More Group Homes for Orange County?”
OC Press Club
- Best News Story
- Noah Biesiada “How did County of Orange executives lose track over $10 million meant to feed seniors?” Voice of OC
- Best Public Health Story
- Noah Biesiada “How Did County of Orange Executives Lose Track of Over $10 Million Meant to Feed Seniors?” Voice of OC
- Best Election Coverage
- Noah Biesiada and Hosam Elattar “Funding Campaigns,” Voice of OC
Third Place
LA Press Club
- . PERSONALITY PROFILE, Business/Government/Society Personalities
- 3rd: Hosam Elattar, Voice of OC, “A Gas Station Owner Says City Corruption Cost Him Money, Now He is Suing Anaheim”
- EDITORIAL CARTOON
- Carlos Conde, Voice of OC, “Fighting off a Press Pen in Santa Ana”
- PHOTO ESSAY (Single Topic), Culture/Entertainment
- Julie Leopo, Voice of OC, “An Original Chicano Barrio in Santa Ana Gets a New Mural and Pocket Park”
- MEDICAL/HEALTH, Diseases and Epidemics
- Hosam Elattar, Voice of OC, “Tackling Health Gaps in OC’s South Asian, Middle Eastern and North African Communities”
OC Press Club
- Best Breaking News Story
- Hosam Elattar and Noah Biesiada “OC Coroner: Former Anaheim Councilman Brandman Died of Meth Overdose,” Voice of OC
- Best Election Coverage
- Norberto Santana Jr. “The Real Judges of OC,” Voice of OC
- Best News Photo
- Maximo Santana, OC Airport Fire, Voice of OC
- Best Beat Reporting
- Hosam Elattar, Spencer Custodio and Noah Biesiada Auditing Anaheim, Voice of OC
- Best Photo Essay
- Julie Leopo An Original Chicano Barrio in Santa Ana Gets a New Mural and Pocket Park Voice of OC
- Best Religion Story
- Third Place: Hosam Elattar “Orange County Celebrates a Fresh Start This Spring,” Voice of OC
Honorable Mention
OC Press Club
- Best Religion Story
- Hosam Elattar and Erika Taylor “Light at The End of the Tunnel: OC Celebrates The Winter Holidays,” Voice of OC
- Best Feature Photo
- Maximo Santana Giant panda, Voice of OC
- The Real O.C. Award
- Norberto Santana Jr. “The Real Judges of OC,” Voice of OC
To see all the winners at the OC Press Club, click here and for the complete list of winners at the LA Press Club, click here.
