With changes to the New Jersey Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest in play for 2025, the staff of The SandPaper netted three dozen awards for print/online content and photography. The contest was judged by members of the Oregon Press Association.

Veteran reporter Rick Mellerup won top honors in the critical writing category for his coverage of Surflight Theatre’s performances of “Top Hat,” “42nd Street,” “West Side Story” and “On Golden Pond.”