The Daily News won 17 first-place awards, as well as General Excellence, Editorial and Advertising Sweepstakes, and Newspaper of the Year for Division 3 at the Louisiana Press Association convention in Lake Charles on Saturday.

“We are so thrilled and humbled to be recognized by our peers in the newspaper industry,” publisher Justin Schuver said. “We always strive to provide the best newspaper we can to our readers and advertisers, and these awards are confirmation we are doing a great job.”

The Daily News earned a total of 44 awards, including its first, second and third-place finishes. All judged work was published during the 2015 calendar year.

The first-place awards included:

• Best Front Page — Staff.

• Best Single Editorial — Staff.

• Best Regular Column (Sam Hanna Award) — Randy Hammons.

• Best Overall Sports Coverage — Chris Kinkaid and staff.

• Best News Coverage — Staff.

• Best Sports Photo — Chris Kinkaid (Kinkaid also won second and third place).

• Best Photo Package — Justin Schuver.

• Best Special Section, Editorial — Staff, for Washington Parish Free Fair 2015.

• Staff Generated, Black-and-White Ad — Kim Gerald, for Gayle’s Jewelers.

• In-Paper Promotion — Kim Gerald, for “Garage Sale.”

• Best Classified Section or Page — Kim Gerald and Deborah Stevens.

• Best Success Story of an Ad — Kim Gerald, for Dr. Chevies Newman.

• Best Retailer Ad — Kim Gerald, for Magee Autoplex.

• Best Non-Traditional Use of Space Ad — Kim Gerald, for McMillan’s Nursery and Gifts.

• Best Overall Website.

• Best Online Advertising Single Ad, Static — Kim Gerald, for Brennan’s Auto.

• Best Online Advertising Single Ad, Animated — Kim Gerald, for Magee Autoplex.

The Daily News competed in Division 3, which includes newspapers with a circulation of 3,001 to 5,000. There were 23 eligible newspapers in that division.

The Alabama Press Association judged both the advertising and editorial competitions this year. Fifty-eight newspapers, publications, and college/university student newspapers submitted 2,777 entries among eight divisions.