The Saint Anselm Crier ranked among the top U.S. college and university publications during the annual competition of the American Scholastic Press Association (ASPA).

The college and university division of ASPA awarded The Crier “first place with special merit” status after securing 940 points of a possible 1,000 during the 2004-2005 academic year. The newspaper has won that distinction in previous years, but last year had slipped to the basic first place category.

The ASPA judge told the staff, “Your newspaper is a window into your school for everyone to view. By attempting to follow professional guidelines, you have opened this window and succeeded in showcasing the best your students have to offer…The superior academic excellence of your newspaper should be shared with the neighboring schools in your area.”

Lindsey Valich, a senior English major from Hollis, N.H., will begin her second year as editor-in-chief in September. Fr. Jerome Joseph Day, O.S.B., assistant professor of English is the adviser.