Tag Archives: Toledo Touchstone

Press Club of Toledo Announces 2026 Touchstone Community Award Honorees; Tickets Now on Sale

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Annual celebration honoring Northwest Ohio journalism, communications and community leadership takes place Sept. 10 at WGTE Public Media

The Press Club of Toledo has announced the community award honorees for the 2026 Touchstone Awards and opened ticket sales for the annual celebration recognizing excellence in journalism, communications and service to the Northwest Ohio community. The event is also one of the Press Club’s major fundraisers for its scholarship program, helping provide financial support to area students pursuing careers in journalism and communications.

The 2026 Touchstone Awards will take place Thursday, Sept. 10, from 5–9 p.m. at WGTE Public Media, located at 1270 S. Detroit Ave. in Toledo. The evening will bring together journalists, communications professionals, students and community leaders for an evening of networking, recognition and celebration.

“The Touchstone Awards are about more than recognizing excellence in journalism and communications. They’re about bringing our community together to celebrate the people and organizations making a difference,” said Marcus Harrison, board president of the Press Club of Toledo. “We hope people will join us for an evening of connection and recognition while helping support the next generation of journalists and communicators through the Press Club’s scholarship program.”

The 2026 Touchstone Awards will recognize excellence in 20 categories spanning print and online journalism, television, audio production and communications, with divisions for professionals and students. The ceremony also will recognize the 2026 Emerging News Media Professional, an award honoring an early-career news media professional who demonstrates integrity and a commitment to public service.

2026 Community Award Honorees

Each year, the Press Club of Toledo honors individuals and organizations for their service and contributions to the greater Toledo community. This year’s community award honorees are:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Tom Troy, The Blade

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the community through business, public service, philanthropy and other areas of community leadership.

Contributor Awards: Christina Rodriguez and Grand Lodge Food Pantry

The Contributor Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the community, particularly those that make a significant impact on the quality of life in Northwest Ohio.

Golden Touchstone: Dan Cummins, WTOL 11

The Golden Touchstone recognizes lifetime achievement in the field of journalism in Northwest Ohio.

Norm Cartwright Award: Shaun Hegarty, 13abc

Named for Press Club of Toledo founding member Norm Cartwright, the award honors outstanding efforts to promote the Press Club’s principles.

“Each of this year’s community award honorees represents an important part of the work that makes our region stronger, from a lifetime dedicated to journalism to innovative storytelling, community service and a commitment to keeping our community informed,” Harrison said. “The Press Club looks forward to recognizing Tom Troy, Christina Rodriguez, the Grand Lodge Food Pantry, Dan Cummins and Shaun Hegarty for the impact they have made in our community and in their respective fields at this year’s ceremony.”

Supporting the Next Generation

The Touchstone Awards are one of the Press Club of Toledo’s major fundraisers for its scholarship program, which provides financial assistance to area students pursuing careers in journalism, communications and related fields.

The Press Club awards the Kurt G. Franck and Bernard F. Judy Scholarships annually to students from the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University who demonstrate service and dedication to the journalism profession.

“The Touchstone Awards give us the opportunity to celebrate the people doing important work in journalism and communications while investing in those who will carry the profession forward,” Harrison said. “When people attend the Touchstones, they’re helping make it possible for the Press Club to provide scholarships and create opportunities for the next generation.”

Tickets and Event Information

Tickets for the 2026 Touchstone Awards are available now at press-club-of-toledo.square.site. Tickets are $45 for nominees and students, $75 for Press Club members and $100 for nonmembers. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

For more information about the 2026 Touchstone Awards, visit toledopressclub.com.

The 2026 Touchstone Awards are supported in part by SSOE Group.

Local Journalists, Emerging Talent, Community Leaders Honored at 2025 Touchstone Awards

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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

Touchstone Awards ceremony returns to the Valentine Theatre Thursday, Sept. 25

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The Press Club of Toledo will celebrate the best in local journalism this fall when it hosts the 2025 Touchstone Awards at the Valentine Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 25. The ceremony marks 27 years of honoring area journalists and communications professionals.

Touchstone Nominations

To be eligible for a 2025 Touchstone Award, work must have been produced or published between May 15, 2024, and May 14, 2025. There are 20 categories across print and online, television, audio production and communications. Nominations will be judged by a panel of journalism professionals from outside the Toledo region.

Touchstone nomination fees are $10 for students, $25 for Press Club members and $75 for nonmembers. Nonmembers can also submit a nomination and become a first-time individual member for $50.

The 2025 ceremony will debut an Emerging News Media Professional Award. The award recognizes new voices in journalism who exemplify integrity and public service. Nominees must have fewer than five years of professional news media experience. Submissions for this award will be judged by a panel of past Press Club presidents and former board members.

Nominations for Touchstone and Emerging News Media Professional awards will be accepted between May 15 and July 15. Visit toledopressclub.com for the online nomination forms.

Community Award Winners

In addition to recognizing excellence in journalism and communications, the Press Club of Toledo honors individuals and organizations for their service and contributions to the greater Toledo community. The 2025 honorees are:

  • Robert Smith, founder of the African American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the community in business, public service and philanthropy.
  • Diane Larson, retired 13abc news anchor and journalist, and Paul Kwapich, retired WTOL photojournalist, will each receive the Golden Touchstone Award, recognizing lifetime achievement in journalism in Northwest Ohio.
  • The John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation will receive the Contributor Award, honoring outstanding contributions to the community, specifically significant impacts on quality of life in Northwest Ohio over the past year.

Press Club Scholarships

The Touchstone Awards is a fundraiser for the Press Club of Toledo’s scholarship fund. Two scholarships are awarded annually 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 scholarships are named in honor of two longtime Blade employees:

  • Kurt G. Franck, a former executive editor, general manager and vice president at The Blade and Block Communications Inc., who passed away in 2024. Franck was also a former Press Club board member and strong supporter of the club.
  • Bernard F. Judy, a career journalist who served The Blade for more than 40 years, including as editor-in-chief before retiring in 1989. Judy was also a Press Club founder and board member.

Tickets for the 2025 Touchstone Awards are on sale now at toledopressclub.com, with discounts available for Press Club members, nominees and students.

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.

2017 Touchstone Awards

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The best in journalism and contributions to our community will be honored at the 19th annual Press Club of Toledo Touchstone Awards.

Please join us on Thursday, October 19 at The Toledo Club (235 14th St.). Cocktails and grazing will begin at 5:30pm, before the 7:15pm program.

Our featured speaker for the 2017 Touchstones will be Rob Powers, WEWS-TV News Anchor in Cleveland.

Categories for 2017 mark the best in print, broadcast and electronic communication.

Plus, it’s a great chance to recognize some of the shining stars in this community.

The Excellence in Journalism categories:
Print (Daily)
Print (Non-Daily)
Print (Student)
Broadcast (Television)
Broadcast (Radio)
Broadcast (Student TV/Radio)
Digital Media (Blogs, websites, podcasts, etc.)
Golden Touchstone (Lifetime Achievement in Journalism)

The Excellence in Service Categories:
Touchstone Contributor Award
Touchstone Lifetime Award

Ticket Prices:
$75 Non-member
$65 Press Club member
$45 Student
$450 Table of 6

To charge tickets online, visit squareup.com/store/press-club-of-toledo

For more details, please email info@toledopressclub.com or call Shaun Hegarty at 419-265-9138.

2017 Touchstone Awards: Call for Nominations

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The Press Club of Toledo is putting out the call to find the best in Journalism and Community service in the area.  Below you’ll find the nomination categories for the 2017 Touchstone Awards. 

To submit a nomination, please download our PDF form:

2017 Touchstone Awards Call for Nominations

Nominations are due Monday, September 18. 

The Excellence in Service Categories:  

Touchstone Contributor Award

Touchstone Lifetime Award

Excellence in Journalism Categories

For Excellence in Journalism entries please provide a brief description of the entry and what went into its production.  Feel free to add any pertinent information you’d like the judges to know about your work.   

****All entries may be submitted in a digital format (youtube, soundcloud, etc.)

The Excellence in Journalism Categories:  

Print (Daily)

Print (Non-Daily)

Print (Student)

Broadcast (Television)

Broadcast (Radio)

Broadcast (Student TV/Radio)

Digital Media (Blogs, websites, podcasts, etc.)

Golden Touchstone (Lifetime achievement in Journalism)

Excellence in Service Categories

The Contributor Award is presented to a person or organization that’s a significant impact on the community over the past year.  The award can be presented to leaders in the corporate, labor, education, human services or the general public at large.  

****Please provide a written entry of the work the nominee performs, examples of how the nominee has many of the quality of life better in our region, honors or recognition the nominees has received and why you believe this nominee’s work is of the highest quality.  

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a person demonstrating a long term commitment to people, areas of study or industry in our region.  People who have brought positive impact, recognition and/or spotlight to the region.

****Please provide a written entry of qualities that deem this nominee worthy of a lifetime award. List achievements, awards, breadth of work and contributions to the community and/or field of journalism.