Messenger Staff Writer Elijah Decious earned two prestigious awards for young journalists as part of the Iowa Newspaper Association annual contest.

Decious won the Jay P. Wagner Prize for Young Journalists. In 2010 the prize was created to honor the life of the late Jay P. Wagner, a devoted community newsman.

Decious also earned one of the Genevieve Mauck Stoufer Outstanding Young Iowa Journalists Awards.

This award is a tribute to the late to the late Genevieve Mauck Stoufer, of Council Bluffs. Stoufer had a deep conviction about helping young journalists.

In-depth feature stories relating to the struggles of COVID-19 and continuing coverage of a rural Iowa city saving its grocery store are just some examples that demonstrate the passion and love Decious has for the industry.

“Elijah has a gift for connecting with people and telling their stories in compelling ways,” said Editor Bill Shea. “But he also has the ability to dig into the nitty gritty details of court records and other documents to keep readers informed of what’s going on in a town that has its fair share of breaking news.”

Decious will receive $500 and a plaque for the Jay P. Wagner honor.

“Receiving the Jay P. Wagner Prize and the Genevieve Mauck Stoufer Outstanding Young Journalist Award at such an early point in my career is a true validation of the sweat I’ve put into a multitude of stories and the tears I have shed with some in the community as I listened to their story,” Decious said. “But to me, it’s about more than elevating my name. I hope these awards show the folks who have shared both the darkest moments of their lives and the triumph of the human spirit that their stories matter. I was simply the messenger.”

The judges said, “Mr. Decious ably handled a number of difficult stories, from COVID outbreaks and deaths to homicides and the messy divorce of the sheriff. His stories are clear and compelling, and his photography is excellent — always a plus in these times where newsrooms lack resources.”

Publisher Terry Christensen is proud of Decious for his accomplishments.

“The fact that Elijah was recognized for two prestigious statewide awards speaks volumes of his commitment to quality journalism,” Christensen said. “You see his passion for reporting in his daily work.”

Wagner’s career began with a sports story in the Sheldon N’West Iowa Review. He wrote a weekly column in the Review for more than 30 years.

In 1988, Wagner received the INA award for outstanding young journalist and a distinguished service award in 2002.

Wagner loved the newspaper industry. To honor that, the Jay P Wagner Prize for Young Journalists was created by the Wagner family.