The St. Louis Jewish Light and its staff received two Simon Rockower Awards for 2013 at the American Jewish Press Association (AJPA) annual conference in Washington, D.C., which ended Tuesday. 

“We are thrilled to receive recognition from AJPA for the Jewish Light’s great work,” said Publisher/CEO Larry Levin. “These honors result from the tremendous collaborative efforts of the Light’s staff, Board of Trustees and other supporters.”

Editor Ellen Futterman received the second place Louis Rappaport Award for Excellence in Commentary for her News & Schmooze columns; specifically for “Life as a Salesman: A Tribute to Dad” and “Of Weiss and Mane,” about public relations icon, the late Helen Weiss.

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus Robert Cohn won the second place Award for Excellence in Single Column for his commentary “Hagel, the Unready?”

The awards were both in the category of newspapers with 14,999-and-under circulation. 

The Light won three Rockower Awards for work done in 2011, five in 2012 and three in 2013, bringing the total to 13 in the past four years. 

In addition, Levin, who had served as AJPA’s Membership Committee chair, was elected to become the organization’s Treasurer. Futterman, Cohn and Levin all serve on AJPA’s executive committee.

For more information about the conference and awards, visit ajpa.org.