Category Archives: Touchstones

Local journalists and community leaders honored at the annual Touchstone Awards ceremony

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Press Club of Toledo also announced a new scholarship named in memory of former Blade president and general manager Kurt G. Franck

Members of the media and public relations professionals gathered at The Valentine Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 for the Press Club of Toledo’s annual Touchstone Awards ceremony. Throughout the evening, guests paid their respects to media groundbreakers who had passed in 2024, celebrated the best in local journalism from the past year, honored leaders in the community and awarded scholarships to area journalism students.

Shaun Hegarty, investigative reporter with 13abc, served as master of ceremonies for the event.

The program began with a remembrance of several individuals who made an indelible mark on Toledo’s media landscape: Kurt G. Franck, former president and general manager of The Blade; Rico Neller, founder and editor of La Prensa, Ohio’s longest-running bilingual newspaper; Jim Weber, Toledo Mud Hens longtime play-by-play announcer; and W. Charles “Charlie Chuck” Welch, creator of The Juice FM 107.3 (WJUC), Ohio’s first radio station to be founded by an African American.

“While the Press Club takes this moment to recognize the considerable contributions Kurt, Rico, Jim and Chuck each made to the Toledo community,” said Press Club of Toledo Board President Stephanie Elton, “we can find comfort knowing that their legacies continue in newsrooms and recording studios across the Toledo region.”

Twenty-two Touchstone Awards were given throughout the evening across print, digital, television, radio, photojournalism, social media and public relations categories. This year’s award categories were judged by a panel of journalists and media professionals from the Denver and South Texas areas.

The Press Club also presented its Community Awards to four individuals who exemplify public service, dedication to the field of journalism and the principles of the Press Club. The 2024 Community Award honorees were Barbara Hendel, Ambrea Mikolajczyk, Debbie Monagan and Mark Zaborney.

The evening concluded with the Press Club announcing that one of its two scholarships had been renamed in honor of Kurt G. Franck.

“Kurt was a staunch advocate for journalism and an avid supporter of the Press Club of Toledo,” said Elton. “Naming a college scholarship in his honor is one way the Press Club can show its appreciation of Kurt and his contributions to journalism and to Toledo.”

The Kurt G. Franck and Bernard F. Judy Scholarships are awarded annually to students from The University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University who epitomize service and dedication to the profession of journalism. This year’s scholarship recipients are Autumn Vasquez, a media communications student at the University of Toledo and Allison McVicker, a journalism and photography student from Bowling Green State University.

The 2024 Touchstone Awards were supported in part by The Blade, Adams Street Publishing, Communica, Nuestra Gente Community Projects, Owens Corning, SSOE Group, the Toledo Free Press and media sponsor BCAN/BCSN.

2024 Touchstone Award Winners

  • Digital/Print (Daily) Hard News: Melissa Burden and Luke Ramseth, The Blade
  • Digital/Print (Daily) Feature: Maddie Coppel, The Blade
  • Digital/Print (Daily) Sports: Andy Wolf, The Blade
  • Digital/Print (Daily) Arts and Entertainment: Jason Webber, The Blade 
  • Digital/Print (Non Daily) Hard News: Leslie Anne Shore, MLiving News
  • Digital/Print (Non Daily) Feature: Riley Runnels, MLiving News
  • Digital/Print (Non Daily) Sports: Jason Buchanan, MLiving News
  • Digital/Print (Non Daily) Arts and Entertainment: Tanner Wertz, MLiving News 
  • Photojournalism Videography: Philip Kaplan, The Blade
  • Photojournalism Digital/Print: Jeremy Wadsworth, The Blade
  • Radio Daily: Brad Cresswell, WGTE
  • Radio Long Form: Mary Claire Murphy, WGTE
  • Digital Video/Television Hard News: WTOL
  • Digital Video/Television Feature: BCAN
  • Digital Video/Television Sports: Joel Sebastianelli, BCSN
  • Digital Video/Television Arts and Entertainment: Shane Potgieter, WGTE
  • Use of Social Media: Thread Connected Marketing
  • Blog/Website: Kendahl Plank, Destination Toledo
  • Podcast: Chris Peiffer, WGTE
  • Public Relations Campaign: Kelsey Rader, Toledo Lucas County Public Library
  • Student Digital Video/Television: Autumn Vasquez, University of Toledo
  • Student Digital/Print: Autumn Vasquez, University of Toledo

2024 Community Award Winners

  • Barbara Hendel, society editor at The Blade, is the recipient of the Norm Cartwright Award, which is named after a founding member of the Press Club of Toledo and honors outstanding efforts to promote the Press Club’s principles.
  • Ambrea Mikolajczyk, real estate developer and owner of ARK Restoration and Construction, is the recipient of the Contributor Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the community, specifically someone who has made a significant impact on the quality of life in Northwest Ohio over the past year.
  • Debbie Monagan, president ex officio of Communica, is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the community in all aspects, including business, public service and philanthropy.
  • Mark Zaborney, retired reporter from The Blade, is the recipient of the Golden Touchstone Award, which recognizes lifetime achievement in the field of journalism in Northwest Ohio.

2024 Scholarship Recipients

  • Kurt G. Franck Scholarship: Autumn Vasquez, University of Toledo
  • Bernard F. Judy Scholarship: Allison McVicker, Bowling Green State University

2024 Touchstone Awards: Know before you go!

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The Press Club of Toledo looks forward to welcoming you to The Valentine Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 26 for the 2024 Touchstone Awards. We hope you are as excited as we are to attend. Here are some important details to help you prepare for the event.

Venue details
The Valentine Theatre
410 Adams Street
Toledo, OH 43604
Map

Where to park
Parking in the North Superior Street lot is included with your ticket purchase. It is located across the street from the Valentine Theatre entrance. When you arrive, notify the lot attendant that you are here for the Press Club.

Touchstone tickets
Tickets are still available for purchase, with discounts for students, nominees and Press Club members. Need to confirm your Press Club membership status? Not sure if you qualify for the nominee discount? Email the Press Club!

Touchstone tickets

Event schedule
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with gourmet grazing, cocktails and networking. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. in the historic theater.

Raffle and drawing
Raffle tickets will be available for purchase, cash-only, during the cocktail hour. They are $5 a piece or $20 for five tickets, and the proceeds will go towards the Press Club of Toledo’s scholarship fund. Winners will be drawn at random during the awards program. You could win a Glass City Metropark cabana rental, a TolHouse membership and more! Must be present to win.

Meet our community award winners

Barb Hendel

Barbara Hendel, society editor at The Blade, is the recipient of the Norm Cartwright Award, which is named after a founding member of the Press Club of Toledo and honors outstanding efforts to promote the Press Club’s principles.

Ambrea Mikolajczyk

Ambrea Mikolajczyk, real estate developer and owner of ARK Restoration and Construction, is the recipient of the Contributor Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the community, specifically someone who has made a significant impact on the quality of life in Northwest Ohio over the past year.

Deb Monagan

Debra Monagan, president ex officio of Communica, is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the community in all aspects, including business, public service and philanthropy.

Mark Zaborney

Mark Zaborney, retired reporter from The Blade, is the recipient of the Golden Touchstone Award, which recognizes lifetime achievement in the field of journalism in Northwest Ohio.

Extra awards
Additional trophies will be available for purchase through Sylvan Studio. Please contact them at scott@sylvanstudio.com or 419-882-3443 after the ceremony to place your order.

Thank you to our sponsors
The 2024 Touchstone Awards is supported in part by The Blade, Adams Street Publishing, Communica, Nuestra Gente Community Projects, Owens Corning, SSOE Group, the Toledo Free Press and media sponsor BCAN/BCSN.

Tickets for 2024 Touchstone Awards on sale

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The Sept. 26 ceremony lauds the best in local journalism from the past year and community award honorees

Tickets for the 2024 Touchstone Awards are available for purchase at toledopressclub.com, with discounts available for Press Club members, nominees and students.

Touchstone Awards tickets

Hosted annually by the Press Club of Toledo, the Touchstone Awards celebrate the best in local journalism and communications across print, television, radio, social media and public relations. The ceremony will take place Thursday, Sept. 26 at the Valentine Theatre and is observing 26 years of commemorating the work of area journalists and communications professionals.

Tickets are $100 for nonmembers, $75 for Press Club members and $45 for Touchstone nominees and students. Parking in the North Superior Street lot, located across the street from the Valentine Theatre entrance, is included with ticket purchase.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with gourmet grazing, cocktails and a raffle featuring donations from Metroparks Toledo, TolHouse and other local organizations. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. in the historic theater.

In addition to giving journalism and communications awards, the Press Club of Toledo recognizes individuals for their service and contributions to the greater Toledo community at the ceremony. The 2024 community award honorees are:

Barbara Hendel, society editor at The Blade, is the recipient of the Norm Cartwright Award, which is named after a founding member of the Press Club of Toledo and honors outstanding efforts to promote the Press Club’s principles;

Ambrea Mikolajczyk, real estate developer and owner of ARK Restoration and Construction, is the recipient of the Contributor Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the community, specifically someone who has made a significant impact on the quality of life in Northwest Ohio over the past year;

Debra Monagan, president ex officio of Communica, is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the community in all aspects, including business, public service and philanthropy; and

Mark Zaborney, retired reporter from The Blade, is the recipient of the Golden Touchstone Award, which recognizes lifetime achievement in the field of journalism in Northwest Ohio. 

The Touchstone Awards is the sole fundraiser for the Press Club of Toledo’s scholarship fund. Two scholarships will be awarded at the ceremony to students from The University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University who epitomize service and dedication to the profession of journalism.

The 2024 Touchstone Awards is supported in part by The Blade, Adams Street Publishing, Communica, Nuestra Gente Community Projects, Owens Corning, SSOE Group and media sponsor BCAN/BCSN.

Touchstone Awards ceremony returns to the Valentine Theatre Thursday, Sept. 26

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Community award winners will be honored along with the best in local journalism at annual awards ceremony this fall

The best in local journalism will be celebrated this fall when the Press Club of Toledo hosts the 2024 Touchstone Awards at the Valentine Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 26. The ceremony is observing 26 years of commemorating the work of area journalists and communications professionals. Nominations are being accepted now through Monday, July 15.

In addition to giving journalism and communications awards, the Press Club of Toledo recognizes individuals for their service and contributions to the greater Toledo community at the ceremony. The 2024 community award honorees are:

Barbara Hendel, society editor at The Blade, is the recipient of the Norm Cartwright Award, which is named after a founding member of the Press Club of Toledo and honors outstanding efforts to promote the Press Club’s principles;

Ambrea Mikolajczyk, real estate developer and owner of ARK Restoration and Construction, is the recipient of the Contributor Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the community, specifically someone who has made a significant impact on the quality of life in Northwest Ohio over the past year;

Debra Monagan, president ex officio of Communica, is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the community in all aspects, including business, public service and philanthropy; and

Mark Zaborney, retired reporter from The Blade, is the recipient of the Golden Touchstone Award, which recognizes lifetime achievement in the field of journalism in Northwest Ohio. 

Tickets for the 2024 Touchstone Awards are on sale now toledopressclub.com, with discounts available for Press Club members, nominees and students.

To be eligible for a 2024 Touchstone award, the work must have been produced or published between May 1, 2023 – May 14, 2024 and not submitted for previous Touchstone award consideration. There are over 20 categories across print, television, radio, social media and public relations to choose from. The fee per nomination is $10 for students, $25 for Press Club members and $75 for nonmembers. Nonmembers can also submit a nomination and become a first-time Press Club member for $50. Additional information about the nomination process is available at toledopressclub.com.

The Touchstone Awards is the sole fundraiser for the Press Club of Toledo’s scholarship fund. Two scholarships are awarded annually to students from The University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University who epitomize service and dedication to the profession of journalism.

The 2024 Touchstone Awards is supported in part by The Blade, Adams Street Publishing, Communica, Nuestra Gente Community Projects, Owens Corning, SSOE Group and media sponsor BCAN/BCSN.

2023 Touchstone Awards Tickets on Sale Now

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Tickets for the 2023 Touchstone Awards are on sale now.

Purchase Tickets

Join the Press Club of Toledo on Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Valentine Theatre as we celebrate the best in local journalism and recognize the indelible contributions made by Toledo journalists and community members.

Cocktails and gourmet grazing are available starting at 5:30 p.m. The program will begin at 7 p.m.