Patrick O'Connor recently came across a couple cartoons from his days as the Daily Kent Stater's editorial cartoonist.

"I thought, 'Who drew that?' " said O'Connor, now working for the Los Angeles Daily News.

He said he's improved "leaps and bounds" during the three years since he's graduated from Kent State. Even his signature is better.

O'Connor's work for the Stater still can be found at the university. Cartoons he drew of Kent State President Carol Cartwright with price tags sprouting from the top of her head are framed and hung in Cartwright's own office.

"She was great material while I was here," the 2000 graduate said.

O'Connor, 26, who just got married, also just won his first professional award. In June, he took home first place from the Greater Los Angeles Press Club's award for editorial cartoons.

During his five years at the Stater, he won a handful of local awards and one national award from the Society of Professional Journalists. In 1998, he won the John Locher Award from The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. And while interning at The Record-Courier, he earned an Associated Press award for his work.

Editorial cartoonist Patrick O'Connor (left) receives his first professional award from the Greater Los Angeles Press Club this summer. Well-known actor Hector Elizondo made the presenatation. Photo used with permission from the L.A. Press Club.

O'Connor said he doesn't have trouble coming up with enough ideas to create five cartoons a week, but he runs into some snares when he and his editors don't agree.

O'Connor said he's learned to accept being censored by his editors.

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