The Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists recognized The Day for its outstanding coverage of the coronavirus pandemic in its annual contest.

The Day's special section, "The Lost Year," placed first in the COVID series category. Scott Ritter designed the best page one, "Pandemic deaths leave an unfillable void." Jacinta Meyers was first in editorial cartoon with "Vaccine zeros."

Erica Moser placed first in business reporting for an article on how the restaurant industry faced hiring difficulties during the pandemic.

"The language of the pandemic," an informational graphic written by Timothy Cotter and designed by Maria Reagan, also placed first.

In all, The Day received 23 awards, 11 of them for first place, in the contest's largest circulation category.

"We're competing against papers bigger than us but The Day has always punched above its weight class," said Cotter, the executive editor. "I've never seen a newsroom work harder than what ours did during the pandemic and the results keep getting recognized."

Moser also was first in education reporting for "Critical race theory has proved divisive. What is it?"

Sean D. Elliot was first in sports photo for "Out of the box." He also was third in sports photo, second and third in news photo, and third in feature photo.

Kristina Dorsey's article on chef Jacques Pepin, "C'est magnifique!," took the top spot in leisure reporting.

Vickie Fulkerson was first with a sport feature about NFA senior Valeria Yraita-Zevallos.

The Day's "Looking for the Todt family," reported by Taylor Hartz and Sten Spinella and produced by Peter Huoppi and Carlos Virgen, was first in audio storytelling.

Hartz also got a first place award in indepth reporting for "From Kabul to New Haven: 30 hours to freedom."

Other winners: John Ruddy, third, feature story, and second, headline writing; Scott Ritter, second, infographic design; Elizabeth Regan, third, religion reporting; Joe Wojtas, Greg Smith, Erica Moser, third, reporting series; Peter Huoppi, second, video storytelling, and Huoppi and Rick Koster, third place; and Sarah Gordon, second, feature photo.