Members of The Fourth Estate newspaper staff erupted in cheers as they discovered via live web cam from Columbia University that they won the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s Silver Crown Award for the first time.

Crown Awards are the highest recognition given by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association to a student print or online medium for overall excellence.

A total of 1,351 newspapers, magazines and yearbooks and 182 digital news and magazines published during the 2010-2011 academic year were eligible for judging.

The Awards Convocation for Scholastic Crown recipients took place March 16 at Columbia University.

A panel of Crown Judges assembles each year at Columbia University to view all entrants for content, design or presentation, coverage, photography as well as writing and editing.

Judges are experienced former advisers to student media, professional journalists who understand student media or professionals such as photographers.