During the 150th annual meeting of the Mississippi Press Association last weekend in Biloxi, The Vicksburg Post was named one of the best community daily newspapers in the state.

Earning a total of 21 awards for editorial excellence, nine of which were first place, The Post finished third overall in the general excellence category.

“2015 was a year of some significant changes in our operation, specifically in our newsroom,” said Post publisher Tim Reeves. “And, even with those changes — some dramatic — the staff worked hard to create some amazing work; work that was recognized as excellent by their peers.”

Editor Jan Griffey (Best Lede), sports writer Ernest Bowker (Best Sports News Story) and former sports writer Cory Gunkel (Best Sports Feature Story) each won a first place award.

Former Post photographer Justin Sellers received three first place awards, claiming the top prize in best personality portrait, best spot news photograph and best sports feature photograph.

The newspaper’s “24 Hours in Vicksburg” special section in February 2015, was named the best special section of the year and Vicksburg Living, The Post’s new community magazine, was named the third best magazine in the state in just its first year of competition.

The newspaper’s daily editorial page was judged the best in The Post’s category as was the newspaper’s redesigned website, www.vicksburgpost.com.

The MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest is for work published in the newspaper or online from Jan. 1, 2015 through Dec. 31, 2015. The work published in 2016 will be judged in early 2017, with the awards being presented during the 2017 Mississippi Press Association Convention in late June.

Here is a list of other awards presented to The Post:

• Third Place — Best Magazine Periodical (Vicksburg Living)

• Third Place — Best Design

• Third Place — Community Service Award

• Third Place — Best Front Page

• Third Place — Best Sports Action Photograph (Justin Sellers)

• Third Place — Best Feature Story (Austin Vining)

• Third Place — Best Sports News Story (Ernest Bowker)

• Second Place — Best Feature Story (Jan Griffey)

• Second Place — Best Personality Portrait (Justin Sellers)

• Second Place — Best Sports Page or Section

• Second Place — Best Lede (Ernest Bowker)