Veteran Courant reporter (and UConn journalism teacher) Jon Lender has once again brought acclaim to his employer.

His beat coverage of Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz’s star-crossed political campaign won first place in the New England Associated Press News Executives Association’s writing and public service contest.

In the deadline news department, David Owens, Christine Dempsey and Mark Spencer won first place for their coverage of the Richard Shenkman hostage crisis; and Owens and Don Stacom a won second place.

Dave Altimari and Matthew Kauffman, the investigative guys, won a third place for their work on school bus safety; and Lender and Helen Ubinas won for their work as columnists.