Patrick Wellever said his desire to create global awareness is why he wants to be a journalist.

A 2004 research trip to China with 10 other students and an adviser resulted in an article on the social impacts of environmental protection initiatives.

"Part of my story was to show the side that isn't told," said Wellever, an anthropology and journalism junior. "I've always been fascinated by culture."

The story was published last spring in EJ Magazine, a publication of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, and recently received 10th place in feature writing in the 2005 national Hearst Journalism Awards Program.

"I didn't expect anything to come of that," Wellever said.

Journalism senior Dave Weatherwax also received an award — seventh place in the photojournalism portrait/personality and feature division.

Weatherwax declined to comment about the award.

Both awards come with a $500 prize and a plaque from the foundation.

Weatherwax and Wellever also are State News photographers.

The Hearst Awards are considered the Pulitzer Prize for college journalists. In order to win, students must be journalism majors, involved in a campus media outlet and have published clips to submit.

"It's a very nice honor to have on your résumé," said L.A. Dickerson, of the MSU School of Journalism's Victims and the Media Program.

Dickerson said the journalism school nominates two students per category.

"Usually the hardest thing is narrowing it down to the two candidates," she said.

The students will be honored during a Journalism School awards convocation April 22 at the Kellogg Center.