Tag Archives: Touchstone Awards

Local Journalists, Communicators and Community Leaders Honored at 2026 Touchstone Awards

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The Press Club of Toledo celebrated the people who tell Northwest Ohio’s stories, connect communities and strengthen the region Thursday, Sept. 10, at the 2026 Touchstone Awards at WGTE Public Media.

From investigative reporting and compelling personal stories to podcasts, photography, public relations and student journalism, this year’s winning work reflects the depth and vitality of local media. Twenty Touchstone Awards were presented to journalists, communicators and emerging talent whose work informed, challenged, entertained and connected audiences across the region.

The evening also honored community leaders whose work has made a lasting difference in Northwest Ohio. The Press Club presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to The Blade’s Tom Troy; Contributor Awards to Christina Rodriguez, executive director of Mom’s House of Toledo, and the Grand Lodge Food Pantry; the Golden Touchstone to longtime WTOL 11 journalist Dan Cummins; and the Norm Cartwright Award to 13abc investigative reporter Shaun Hegarty.

The Press Club also named Steven Iwanek of WTOL 11 the 2026 Emerging News Media Professional and awarded scholarships to four students pursuing careers in journalism. The evening included a remembrance of Mary Alice Powell, The Blade’s first food editor and a 2020 Golden Touchstone recipient who died in July at age 98.

The 2026 Touchstone Awards were supported in part by SSOE Group, with additional support from AAUW Toledo Branch, Northwest Ohio PRSA and the Toledo Free Press.

2026 Touchstone Award Winners

Audio Production

  • Podcast – Arts and Entertainment: Telling it Our Way – Chris Peiffer, Becca Monteleone and Ally Day, WGTE Public Media
  • Podcast – News and Opinion: The Four Hundred and Nineteen – Shane Potgieter, Gretchen DeBacker, Matt Killam and Kevin Mullan, WGTE Public Media
  • Podcast – Sports: Women Got Game – Chris Peiffer and Sophia Fisher, WGTE Public Media
  • Radio: The Local Thread – Chris Peiffer, WGTE Public Media

Blog/Website

Digital/TV

Digital/Print

Photojournalism

Public Relations Campaign

  • Building for the Future – Stephanie Elton, Toledo Lucas County Public Library

Social Media Campaign

  • Satori Communication – Carey Cifranic

Student

  • Digital Video/TV: The Swoop – Nick Windholtz and Raymond Cotis, BG Falcon Media
  • Print/Online: Best of BG – Ali Khoramshad, BG Falcon Media
  • Radio/Podcast: Toledo Sports Hour – Anthony Kruska, WXUT Toledo

Emerging News Media Professional: Steven Iwanek, WTOL 11

The Emerging News Media Professional Award recognizes an early-career news media professional who demonstrates integrity, commitment to public service and meaningful contributions to the community. Iwanek was recognized for his reporting related to the death of Kei’Mani Latigue.

2026 Scholarship Recipients

  • Kurt G. Franck Scholarship: Mark Mackowiak and Megan Matthews, University of Toledo
  • Bernard F. Judy Scholarship: Breana McGrier and Allison McVicker, Bowling Green State University

2026 Community Award Honorees

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.

Troy has spent more than four decades in journalism, including more than 35 years at The Blade. He has covered courts, education, Toledo government and politics and served in several editorial roles. Since 2022, he has served as The Blade’s opinion editor, writing and editing staff editorials and overseeing the newspaper’s editorial page.

Contributor Award: Christina Rodriguez, Mom’s House of Toledo

Rodriguez has served as executive director of Mom’s House of Toledo for 19 years, helping the organization raise nearly $10 million, expand its programs and develop a Gold Star Rated Early Learning Center. Most recently, she led a $12.1 million collaborative effort to establish a second Mom’s House location and shared community resource center.

With more than 30 years of community service, Rodriguez has also served in numerous leadership roles throughout Northwest Ohio, including the State of Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission, Lucas County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board and Lucas County Fatherhood Coalition.

Contributor Award: Grand Lodge Food Pantry

Since 2001, the Grand Lodge Food Pantry has provided food to Toledo-area families, serving thousands of people each year and as many as 28,000 meals annually. Its work is powered by dedicated volunteers, many of them City of Toledo employees, who help ensure families have access to food when they need it.

The Press Club recognized the pantry for its longstanding commitment to improving the quality of life in Northwest Ohio.

Golden Touchstone: Dan Cummins, WTOL 11

Cummins’ career has been intertwined with the Toledo community for more than four decades. He joined WTOL in 1980 as a young weekend sports anchor and reporter, later becoming sports director before moving to the news desk and anchor role.

During his 46-year career at the station, Cummins covered the World Series, Super Bowl, Heisman Trophy and Ohio State’s 2002 national championship. His community contributions included Big Board Friday and support for organizations including Make-A-Wish, Acoustics for Autism, Bittersweet Farms and Flag City Honor Flight. He accompanied veterans on 24 Honor Flights to Washington, D.C., and mentored generations of journalists at WTOL.

Cummins retired from WTOL in August.

Norm Cartwright Award: Shaun Hegarty, 13abc

Hegarty, an investigative reporter and anchor with 13abc, has built a reputation for tough questions, government accountability and reporting that examines how public institutions serve the community. Before joining 13abc’s investigative team, he worked as an anchor and executive producer at Fox Toledo.

A longtime Press Club of Toledo supporter and former president, Hegarty has helped bring journalists and community members together, served as master of ceremonies for the Touchstone Awards and consistently championed the work of local journalists. The Norm Cartwright Award recognizes efforts to promote the Press Club’s principles and honors the legacy of its founding member, Norm Cartwright.

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.

More Time to Submit:Touchstone Awards Entry Deadline Extended

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Good news! We’ve extended the deadline to submit entries for the Touchstone Awards to Wednesday, July 22.

Whether your best work appeared in print, digital, broadcast, audio, photojournalism or public relations, there’s still time to have it recognized among the region’s best in journalism and communications.

Complete your entry here:
2026 Touchstone Awards Entry Form

Join us as we celebrate the best in local journalism and communications at the 2026 Touchstone Awards on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 5–9 p.m. at WGTE Public Media.

Spotlight: Emerging News Media Professional Award

Help us recognize the next generation of outstanding journalists and communications professionals. The Emerging News Media Professional Award honors an early-career professional who has demonstrated exceptional talent, professionalism and promise.

Know someone who deserves the recognition? We encourage you to submit a nomination before the deadline.

Learn more and nominate:
2026 Emerging News Media Professional

Emerging News Media Professional nominations are free to submit.

Before You Submit

Please remember:

  • Complete an entry form for each submission.
  • Include a brief description of the entry and any information you’d like the judges to consider.
  • Entries will be judged by a panel of journalism professionals from outside the Toledo region.
  • Eligible work must have been produced or published between May 15, 2025 and May 14, 2026.
  • Entries may not have been submitted for previous Touchstone Award consideration.
  • Review the full list of categories, including journalism, public relations and student divisions.

How to Submit

  1. Complete this entry form for each nomination.
  2. Pay your entry fees online or by mail (Press Club of Toledo, P.O. Box 2469, Toledo, Ohio 43606).

Entry Fees

$10 — Students
$25 — Press Club of Toledo members
$50 — One submission plus a new Press Club membership
$75 — Nonmembers

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

Ready for the 2025 Touchstone Awards? Here’s What to Know

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The Press Club of Toledo can’t wait to celebrate with you at the 2025 Touchstone Awards on Thursday, Sept. 25! Here’s everything you need to know for a fun night out.

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

Parking
North Superior Street lot – $5 cash per car, directly across from the theatre entrance.
Street parking – Free after 6 p.m. on surrounding streets.

Tickets
Still need tickets? There’s time! Discounts are available for students, nominees and Press Club members. Your evening awaits.

Check-In
Advance tickets: Stop at the welcome table in the theatre lobby and give the name on your ticket confirmation email. No paper ticket needed.
Day-of tickets: Scan the QR code signs at the entrance to purchase digitally and show your confirmation email for entry.

Evening Line-Up
5:30 p.m. – Doors open for gourmet grazing, a cash bar with a variety of beverages for purchase and plenty of mingling.
6:30 p.m. – Awards ceremony begins in The Grand Lobby.

Raffle Fun
Support the Press Club’s scholarship fund and take a chance on great prizes. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 and can be purchased with cash at the raffle table or digitally by scanning the QR code signs. Winners are drawn during the program. Must be present to win.

Honoring Our 2025 Community Award Winners
Robert Smith – Lifetime Achievement Award for exceptional contributions to business, public service and philanthropy.
Diane Larson and Paul Kwapich – Golden Touchstone Awards for lifetime excellence in Northwest Ohio journalism.
John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation – Contributor Award for significant impact on quality of life in Northwest Ohio.

Thanks to Our Sponsors
A heartfelt thank you to WTOL, the Toledo Free Press and Strategy by Fisher for making the 2025 Touchstone Awards possible.

Nominations for Press Club of Toledo 2025 Touchstone Awards now open

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Nominations for the Press Club of Toledo’s annual Touchstone Awards are being accepted now through July 15. There are 20 categories spanning print and online, television, audio production and communications, with divisions for both professionals and students.

To be eligible for a 2025 Touchstone Award, the work must have been produced or published between May 15, 2024 and May 14, 2025. Nominations are judged by a panel of journalism professionals from outside the Toledo region.

Entry fees for Touchstone Award nominations 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 Press Club member for $50.

New in 2025, the Emerging News Media Professional Award honors an early-career news media professional who demonstrates integrity and a commitment to public service. Nominees must have fewer than five years of professional experience. Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of former Press Club presidents and board members. There is no entry fee for Emerging News Media Professional Award nominations.

Nomination forms for both the Touchstone Awards and the Emerging News Media Professional Award are available at toledopressclub.com.

The 2025 Touchstone Awards ceremony returns to the Valentine Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 25. The ceremony honors the best in local journalism, celebrates community leaders in Northwest Ohio and recognizes the achievements of area journalists and communications professionals from the past year.

This year’s Community Award honorees are the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation; Paul Kwapich, retired WTOL photojournalist; Diane Larson, retired 13abc news anchor and journalist; and Robert Smith, founder of the African American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio.

The Touchstone Awards ceremony is also a fundraiser for the Press Club of Toledo’s scholarship fund. Two scholarships are awarded at the ceremony to students from Bowling Green State University and The University of Toledo who epitomize service and dedication to the profession of journalism. The scholarships are named in honor of two longtime Toledo Blade employees: Kurt G. Franck and Bernard F. Judy.

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