5280 picked up five awards at the annual City and Regional Magazine Association (CRMA) conference in New Orleans on Monday night, including the coveted General Excellence award for big-city magazines. It was the first time in the magazine’s 25-year history that we have achieved this honor.

In selecting 5280, the judges cited the magazine’s “delightful blend of sharp writing, first-rate design, and actionable service presented in fun, bold, and always creative ways.”

5280 also took home four additional awards. Senior staff writer Robert Sanchez won for Feature Story, for his November 2017 article, “Lost and Found,” which follows several long-serving members of NecroSearch, a volunteer organization that locates and identifies missing bodies.The magazine’s front of book sections, which include “Compass, Adventure, Culture, and Eat & Drink,” took home the prize for Magazine Section. 5280 was also celebrated in the categories of Illustration & Graphics and E-Newsletter.

5280 received at total of 15 nominations for this year’s awards, in categories ranging from Feature Design to Writer of the Year and Online Excellence to Ancillary Publications.

The CRMA Awards have been in operation for 33 years, and are coordinated by the University of Missouri School of Journalism.