The Press Club of Toledo’s annual Touchstone Awards returned to the Valentine Theatre Thursday, Sept. 25, celebrating outstanding work in journalism and communications.
Nineteen trophies were presented in audio production, print/online, television, photojournalism and strategic communications categories, with divisions for both professionals and students.
The Press Club inducted four new community honorees into its distinguished ranks. The 2025 class includes Golden Touchstone winners Diane Larson and Paul Kwapich, Contributor Award recipient John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation and Lifetime Achievement Award winner Robert Smith.
New this year was the Emerging News Media Professional Award, recognizing a rising star who is making an impact in the community. Nominated by peers and selected by a panel of former Press Club board presidents, the inaugural award went to Emily Rippe-Desmond of Swell Magazine.
The evening concluded with the presentation of the club’s annual scholarships. The Kurt G. Franck Scholarship and Bernard F. Judy Scholarship honor students at the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University who demonstrate exceptional service and dedication to journalism. This year’s recipients are Asa Kridelbaugh (UToledo) and Allyson Ritchey (BGSU).
The 2025 Touchstone Awards were supported in part by WTOL, the Toledo Free Press and Strategy by Fisher.
2025 Touchstone Award Winners
Audio Production
Podcast – Arts and Entertainment: Lake Effect – Chris Peiffer, WGTE Public Media
Podcast – News/Opinion: Rethinking Jails + Justice: Podcast Series – Brad Creswell, WGTE Public Media
Radio: Opera Out of the Box – Brad Creswell, WGTE Public Media
Blog/Website
Toledo Jeep Fest – Kevin Cesarz and Whitney Rofkar, Thread Connected Marketing
Digital Video/TV
Arts and Entertainment: Magic of the Old West End – Shane Potgieter and Ray Miller, WGTE Public Media
Feature: Honor Flight June 2024 – Dan Cummins, WTOL
Hard News: Kei’Mani Latigue’s former teacher recalls concerns before 13-year old’s death – Michael Sandlin, WTOL
Sports: Lacrosse Twintuition – Yaw Bonsu, BCSN
Digital/Print
Arts and Entertainment: A love letter to Shawshank – Erin Holden, Toledo Free Press
Feature: Navigating a refugee settlement in Toledo – Stephen Zenner, Toledo Free Press
Hard News: Blade testing finds high levels of radioactivity in groundwater in Cold War town – Alexa York, Toledo Blade
Sports: Why Ginny Boggess’ success was always inevitable – Kyle Rowland, Toledo Blade
Photojournalism
Digital/Print: A mother reacts – Jeremy Wadsworth, Toledo Blade
Video: Fellowship Matters: Providing help to the streets – Joe Cromer, WTOL
Public Relations Campaign
#PRethics: Elevating Ethical Standards in PR – Jared Meade, Rayne Strategy Group
Social Media Campaign
Falcon Four – Lucas Kleimeyer, BG Falcon Media
Student
Digital/TV: Live & Loud: Leghorn – Carson DiSalvo, BG Falcon Media
Print/Online: Best of BG – Syed Ayaz Fatmi and Brandee Miller, BG Falcon Media
Radio or Podcast: STAFF MEETING: Off the Air – Outsider Music – Trip Floyd, WXUT
2025 Emerging News Media Professional
Emily Rippe-Desmond, Swell Magazine
2025 Scholarship Recipients
Kurt G. Franck Scholarship: Asa Kridelbaugh, University of Toledo
Bernard F. Judy Scholarship: Allyson Ritchey, Bowling Green State University
2025 Community Award Honorees
Contributor Award: John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation
Golden Touchstone: Paul Kwapich, WTOL
Golden Touchstone: Diane Larson, WTVG
Lifetime Achievement: Robert Smith, African American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio