Federal Way Mirror staff took home 13 awards at the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual meeting last weekend in Chelan.

This included an award in honor and memory of Mary Lou Goss, a former Mirror employee who lost her lung cancer battle in February. The association awarded Goss the Dixie Lee Bradley award posthumously, which included $500 to be used for the scholarship the Mirror set up in Goss’s honor.

Former sports editor Casey Olson took first place for Best Comprehensive Coverage of Dom Cooks, a Decatur High School student who passed away from brain cancer in April.

Olson’s coverage of Cooks and what he meant to the Federal Way community also won Olson two more awards. Olson placed first in Best Education Story for coverage of Decatur’s special commencement ceremony that the school held for Cooks in February. Cooks and his twin sister Diamond received their diplomas in front of a standing-room only crowd.

Olson also placed second in Best Sports Personality Profile for his story about Cooks, who got back on the football field one last time during the Gator’s homecoming game against Auburn Mountainview last fall at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.

Editor Carrie Rodriguez won first place for Best Personality Profile, Long for her coverage of a Billy McHale’s benefit dinner to help longtime server Ginger Kelpszas, who was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.

In addition, Rodriguez took home a second place win in Investigative Reporting for her coverage of the South King Fire and Rescue fire chief’s complaint that prompted the board to reprimand a commissioner.

Former editor Andy Hobbs and former reporter Greg Allmain won third place for Best Comprehensive Coverage of the pet pygmy goat issue in Federal Way.

Mirror columnist Mr. Federal Way won third place for Best Humorous Column.

The newspaper’s advertising team was also recognized during the ceremony with five awards.

Advertising sales consultant Cindy Ducich and creative artist Marcie Shannon won first place for Lifestyle/Culture Special Sections and second place for Best Single Ad. Ducich and Shannon also won third place for Most Original Idea.

Shannon took second place for Best Special Section Cover.

In addition, Ducich, Shannon and advertising sales consultant Kay Miller won third place for Multiple-Advertiser Ad.

The contest was judged by members of the Arizona Newspaper Association, the Pamplin Media Group in Oregon and assorted volunteers from Colorado, Montana and Washington. There were a total of 2,302 entries this year.

The Mirror was judged in Group IV — the largest circulation category.