The Daily Iowan picked up several awards this past weekend in the Iowa Newspaper Foundation’s 2013 Better Newspaper Contests.

Two DI staffers won first and second place in the Best Personality Feature Story category. Managing Editor Sam Lane received first place for his story "Striving for Redemption," and sports reporter Sam Louwagie received second place for his story "Brands of Brothers."

Former DI staffer Ricky Bahner won second place in the Best Sports Photo category for his coverage of the U.S. Olympic wrestling trials in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The DI’s advertising department took home the most awards, earning Best of Class in Advertising for its Go Hawks promotional poster during football season. The same poster won first place in the Best Ad Idea for a Community Promotion or Event category.  Also, a Hy-Vee ad took third place in the Best Ad featuring Grocery, Food, or Entertainment category.