The Oxford EAGLE was singled out as best in its audience category Saturday at the 150th annual convention of the Mississippi Press Association.

The EAGLE received first place in the general excellence category, with papers in Biloxi, Natchez, Hattiesburg, Ridgeland and Charleston also taking home the honor.

The EAGLE also brought home 11 other first-place awards, nine second-place and nine third-place, ranging from photos and stories to page design and headline writing.

“I am extremely proud of the dedicated and hardworking staff of The EAGLE,” said Editor Stephanie Rebman. “These awards are a rewarding culmination for members of the staff who give countless hours of service to the community both in print and on the ground. We are proud to serve as the top news outlet for Oxford and Lafayette County.”

First-place awards include:

• Davis Potter, sports feature story, “Fans soak in Oxford’s ‘crazy ride’”

• Rob Sigler, general interest column

• Rob Sigler, commentary column

• Bruce Newman, sports feature photo, “State champs”

• Bruce Newman, general news photo, “Ole Miss Graduation”

• Bruce Newman, feature photo, “Slippin’ and slidin’”

• Bruce Newman and Alyssa Schnugg, photo story combination, “Oxford’s cemeteries contain bits of history”

• Bruce Newman, personality portrait, “Puncher’s Chance”

• Editorial page

• Special section, Profile 2015

• Design

Second-awards included:

• Alyssa Schnugg, spot news story, “Oxford’s ‘Elvis’ dies at age 51”

• Bruce Newman, sports feature photo, “MHSAA state football championships”

• Bruce Newman, feature photo, “Double Decker Celebration”

• Bruce Newman, pictorial series, “No Horsing Around”

• Bruce Newman and Alyssa Schnugg, photo story combination, “Deck the Halls”

• Sports page or section

• Lifestyles page or section

• Stephanie Rebman, lede

• Davis Potter, sports column

Third-place awards went to:

• Davis Potter, game story, “Oxford routs Rebs for 5A state championship”

• Alyssa Schnugg, general interest column

• Alyssa Schnugg, commentary column

• Bruce Newman, spot news photo, “County Fire”

• Bruce Newman and Stephanie Rebman, photo story combination, “Kudzu King”

• Special section, FYI

• Alyssa Schnugg, lede

• Headline

• Website

“We believe this newspaper can be one of the best small dailies in the region,” said new EAGLE publisher David Magee, who begins work this week. “The general excellence award and the many staff recognitions reveal the talent and quality of work being delivered to readers on a daily basis right now. It’s a wonderful platform to build from, and rewarding to see valuable community journalism and journalists recognized.”

The 2015 Better Newspaper Contest was judged by volunteers from the Tennessee Press Association.

Eighteen daily newspapers submitted 1,044 entries in the contest; 54 non-daily newspapers submitted 1,510 entries. Awards for advertising excellence will be handed out in January during MPA’s Mid-Winter Conference.