Competition Top Honors | Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Communications Awards Competition

TOP HONORS

Select a category below to see full details and previous winners.

Military Print Journalist of the Year Award
Civilian Print Journalist of the Year Award
Award for Outstanding New Writer
Military Broadcast Journalist of the Year Award
Civilian Broadcast Journalist of the Year
Outstanding New Videographer
Kathy Canham-Ross Award of Distinction
Dawn Kilpatrick Memorial AUSA Scholarship
Public Affairs Officer - Rising Star
Army Communicator of the Year
Military Graphic Artist of the Year
Civilian Graphic Artist of the Year
Military Photographer of the Year
Civilian Photographer of the Year

Military Print Journalist of the Year Award

Staff Sgt. Paul D. Savanuck Biography

Paul D. Savanuck, a senior at the University of Maryland, dropped out of school to enlist in the Army on July 10, 1967.

"I had drifted from major to major at the university," Savanuck, a Baltimore native, said. "I was not particularly enchanted with our involvement in Vietnam, and then a thought hit me: This was a point in my life where I could meet something head-on, instead of avoiding it."

After basic combat training, Savanuck received advance individual training as an information specialist at the Defense Information School, graduated, and then volunteered for Vietnam in January 1968. He was instead sent to Europe and assigned to a missile unit.

Savanuck began badgering the Army to send him to Vietnam. He received orders and reported for duty as an information specialist with the 23rd Artillery Group in late June.

A few months later, Savanuck decided he wanted to be a reporter for the "Pacific Stars and Stripes." He wrote more than a half-dozen letters to "Pacific Stars and Stripes" pleading for an assignment. He got the job on April 5, 1969.

Shortly thereafter, Savanuck was assigned to cover a story near the Demilitarized Zone. Before he left for "up country," Savanuck drafted a letter to Harvard seeking admission after he finished his enlistment. He left the letter with colleagues in Saigon to edit while he was gone.

The letter confesses Savanuck's failures to find himself in university studies. He describes his new-found pride in Army journalism and concludes "… I have found what I want to do."

On the night of April 18, 1969, Savanuck camped for the night with an element of the 5th Cavalry near Cam Lo. The unit was attacked by a North Vietnamese Army force. For a while, Savanuck took pictures by the light of the exploding shells. He was wounded in the knee. When the defensive perimeter was breached, Savanuck put down his camera and went to aid soldiers more seriously wounded. He was killed by automatic weapons fire.

Savanuck was promoted posthumously to staff sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Vietnamese Service Medal and the Campaign Medal.

Overview

The award was initiated in 1975, to provide a positive incentive for increased excellence in the Army command information program, by providing recognition of outstanding military journalists. Only Soldiers in the rank of sergeant first class and below on Jan. 1 of the judging year are eligible for this award.

Previous Winners

2024 - Sgt. 1st Class Tim Beery, Utah National Guard
2023 - Maj. Joe Legros, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa
2022 - Spc. Darbi Colson, 28th Public Affairs Detachment, U.S. Army Pacific
2021 - Spc. Keon Horton, U.S. Army Central
2020 - Staff Sgt. Alan Brutus, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, FORSCOM
2019 - Staff Sgt. Mary Junell, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment, NGB
2018 - No Entries
2017 - No Entries
2016 - Sgt. Audrey Hayes, 200th Military Police Command, USARC
2015 - Staff Sgt. Leah Kilpatrick, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, FORSCOM
2014 - Sgt. Marcus Fichtl, 24th Press Camp Headquarters, FORSCOM
2013 - Sgt. Ken Scar, 7th MPAD, FORSCOM
2012 - Sgt. Michael MacLeod, 1st BCT, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, FORSCOM
2011 - Staff Sgt. Lindsey Kibler, I Corps PAO, FORSCOM
2010 - Sgt. 1st Class Mark Burrell, 210th MPAD, USARC
2009 - Staff Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th MPAD, FORSCOM
2008 - Staff Sgt. Michael A. Sauret, 354th MPAD, USARC
2007 - Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs, FORSCOM
2006 - Spc. Alexandra Hemmerly-Brown, 210th MPAD, USARC
2005 - Sgt. Andrew Miller, 100th MPAD, Texas National Guard
2004 - Sgt. Lorie Jewell, 107th MPAD, Fla. National Guard
2003 - Cpl. Bill Putnam, Army News Service, OCPA, HQDA
2002 - Staff Sgt. Kanessa Mynett, 17th PAD, Schofield Barracks
2001 - Spc. Casondra Brewster, Fort Belvoir, MDW
2000 - Spc. Peter A. Fitzgerald, Fort Leonard Wood, TRADOC
1999 - Sgt. Jodi R. Rave, 111th Press Camp HQ, Neb. National Guard
1998 - Spc. Mary A. Bodine, Fort Campbell Courier, Fort Campbell, FORSCOM
1997 - Spc. Frederick T. Findtner, Northwest Guardian, Fort Lewis, FORSCOM
1996 - Spc. Jon D. Tiller, Fort Campbell Courier, Fort Campbell, FORSCOM
1995 - Sgt. Kevin Hynes, Prairie Soldier, 111th PAD, Neb. National Guard
1994 - Sgt. Greta Dawson, Inside the Turrett, Fort Knox, TRADOC
1993 - Sgt. David Abrams, Arctic Star, 20th PAD
1992 - Spc. Kim Rich, Inside the Turret, Fort Knox, TRADOC
1991 - Spc. Ken Blackburn, Northwest Guardian, Fort Lewis, FORSCOM
1990 - Sgt. 1st Class Frank Cox, Soldiers, OCPA, HQDA
1989 - Sgt. Cynthia D. Killion, Mountaineer, 4th ID, FORSCOM
1988 - Sgt. William H. McMichael, Ironsides, 1st AD, USAREUR
1987 - Spc. 4 Vincent Crawley, The Paraglide, Fort Bragg, FORSCOM
1986 - Sgt. Mary K. Hudson, Castle, Fort Belvoir, TRADOC
1985 - Spc. 4 Kevin Nance, Castle, Fort Belvoir, TRADOC
1984 - Spc. 5 Mike Howard, the Cannoneer, Fort Sill, TRADOC
1983 - Spc. 5 Roy Wood, the Cannoneer, Fort Sill, TRADOC
1982 - Staff Sgt. Joye L. Rattan, 3rd Support Command Log, USAREUR
1981 - Spc. 5 Diana Valdez, the Cannoneer, Fort Sill, TRADOC
1980 - Spc. 5 John L. Kominicki, Frontline, 3rd ID, USAREUR
1979 - Spc. 5 Michael N. Lindsey, Ironsides, 1st AD, USAREUR
1978 - Spc. 5 E. Easley, the Cannoneer, Fort Sill, TRADOC
1977 - Spc. 5 Gary Bloomfield, Indianhead, 2nd ID, EUSA
1976 - Spc. 5 Nonda J. Duerschmidt, Walter Reed Stripe, HSC
1975 - Spc. 5 John Wells, Medical Examiner, USAREUR

Civilian Print Journalist of the Year Award

John Moss and Peggy Holland Biography

John Moss and Peggy Holland were members of the Army public affairs family killed in the 1995 attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Employees of the United States Army Recruiting Battalion there, Mr. Moss was Chief, Advertising and Public Affairs, and Mrs. Holland was a computer specialist worked in public affairs for more than 18 years.

Mr. Moss was intense in all he did and looked at a job or a story from every angle before tackling it. He was thorough in his research; when he finished a story, it was complete in every detail. Those who worked with him remember him as a dedicated professional who set high, meticulous standards and approached the craft of writing like it was teaching: there was information to pass on to others and he did it with an eye for detail.

Mrs. Holland was a gifted writer whose enjoyment of her craft showed in every story she produced. Through her articles and features, stories were brought to life in the minds of her readers. In 1990 she was awarded the United States Army Recruiting Command's (USAREC) Maj. Gen. Jacob Jennings Brown Award for her feature writing - 2013 "Best in USAREC" is what it said on the citation, but you only had to read her work to know that. After her death, Army recruiters in the Oklahoma City battalion talked of her intensity when working on a story about them and their mission.

Mr. Moss and Mrs. Holland were doing their jobs when the terrorist attack took them from us.

Overview

The award was initiated in 1985, to provide a positive incentive for increased excellence in the Army command information program, by providing recognition of outstanding civilian print journalists. Only Army civilians in the GS-12/YA-02 and below on Jan. 1 of the judging year are eligible for this award.

Previous Winners

2024 - Sean Kimmons, U.S. Army Garrison Japan
2023 - Walter Ham, 20th CBRNE Command
2022 - Kelly Morris, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
2021 - Cristina Piosa, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa
2020 - Kari Hawkins, Army Materiel Command
2019 - Brandon O’Connor, USMA
2018 - David E. Poe, Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office, IMCOM
2017 - Winifred Brown, Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office, IMCOM
2016 - Megan C. Gully, Headquarters, AMC
2015 - Martha "Marti" Yoshida, Fort Leonard Wood, IMCOM
2014 - Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood, IMCOM
2013 - Allen Shaw, Fort Wainwright, IMCOM
2012 - T. Anthony Bell, Fort Lee, IMCOM
2011 - Bob Reinhert, USAG Natick, IMCOM
2010 - Paul Giblin, Corps of Engineers
2009 - Kevin Stabinsky, Fort McPherson, IMCOM
2008 - Melanie Casey, Fort Meade, IMCOM
2007 - Mike A. Glasch, Fort Jackson Leader, IMCOM
2006 - Brandon Beach, The Citizen, USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs, IMCOM
2005 - Kamryn Jaroszewski, IMA–SERO, The Paraglide, Fort Bragg, FORSCOM
2004 - Ali Leone, The Paraglide, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, FORSCOM
2003 - Richard Arndt, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2002 - Wayne Hall, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2001 - Brian Lepley, Fort Richardson, Alaska
2000 - Tonya Riley, Fort Sill, Okla.
1999 - Roger Teel, 235th Base Support Battalion, Ansbach and Illeshiem, Germany
1998 - Beth Reece, 221st Base Support Battalion, Germany
1997 - Chuck Prichard, Tough Ombre, 90th RSC, Little Rock, Ark.
1996 - No winner
1995 - Jacqueline Thomas, The Paraglide, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, FORSCOM
1994 - Karl Weisel, The Hessen Herald, 233rd Base Support Batt, Darmstadt, Germany
1993 - Barry Reichenbaugh, The Stripe, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, MEDCOM
1992 - Sally S. Richardson, Corps of Engineers, Southwestern Division, Texas
1991 - Patrick Swan, The Stripe, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, MEDCOM
1990 - Douglas Soleida, Corps Line, Corps of Engineers, Frankfurt, Germany
1989 - Shaun F. Gearon, Herald-Post, Heidelberg Military Community, West Germany
1988 - Bernard W. Tate, Western Arrow, Military Traffic Management Command, Calif.
1987 - Michael Mowrer, Herald-Post, Heidelberg Military Community, West Germany
1986 - Leon J. Pantenburg, Main Stem, Corps of Engineers, Miss.
1985 - Mark James, Madigan Mountaineer, Madigan Army Medical Center, MEDCOM

Award for Outstanding New Writer

Staff Sgt. James P. Hunter Biography

Staff Sgt. James P. Hunter, of South Amherst, Ohio, was an Army journalist stationed in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, where he was killed at the age of 25. On June 18, 2010, he was on patrol with Soldiers from his brigade when an improvised explosive device exploded within their ranks.

Hunter was killed along with Pfc. Benjamin Park, an infantryman from Company B, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment.

Hunter was the first Army journalist to die in combat since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan.

Hunter was born in Lexington, Ky., to Patricia M. Phillips and William T. Hunter. He moved to South Amherst sometime in his younger years. At the time of his death, he had been engaged to Candice Clark, whom he proposed to at the top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

Hunter joined the Army in August 2003, and was a veteran of two tours in Iraq, when he deployed to Afghanistan with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team “Strike,” 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), out of Fort Campbell, Ky., since May 2007. Hunter was killed 25 days into his deployment to Afghanistan.

When not deployed, Hunter wrote for The Courier, which is a military base publication for Fort Campbell. His fellow journalists, who had worked with him, reported about his dedication in reporting from the front lines during his deployments.

He was laid to rest at Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, with services being held in Winchester, Ky. He is survived by his father and stepmother, Tom and Mary Ellen Hunter of Winchester; his mother and stepfather, Patricia and Rick Phillips of Birmingham, Ohio; a fiancée, Candice Clark; four brothers, Thomas Hunter, Cpl. Billy Hunter, Daniel Hunter and Timothy Hunter; a sister, Kathy Hunter; a half-sister, Navy Chief Petty Officer Charity Morgan; and two stepbrothers, Matthew and Michael Dobbs.

Overview

The award was initiated in 2010, to recognize excellence in Army journalism among enlisted Soldiers with 24 months or fewer in Career Management Field 46. Only Soldiers in the rank of staff sergeant and below are eligible for this one-time award.

Previous Winners

2024 - Spc. Andrew Clark, 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
2023 - Spc. Charles Leitner, 19th Public Affairs Detachment
2022 - Spc. Duke Edwards, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army Forces Command
2021 - Spc. Michael Baumberger, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
2020 - No entries
2019 - Spc. Justin Stafford, 49th Public Affairs Detachment, FORSCOM
2018 - Sgt. Michelle Blesam, 49th Public Affairs Detachment, FORSCOM
2017 - Staff Sgt. Kathleen Polanco, 7th Army Training Command, USAREUR
2016 - Spc. Adeline Witherspoon, 20th Public Affairs Detachment, FORSCOM
2015 - Staff Sgt. Sierra Fown, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, FORSCOM
2014 - Sgt. Brandon Banzhaf, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, FORSCOM
2013 - Staff. Sgt. Jerry Griffis, 43rd PAD, FORSCOM
2012 - Sgt. Ryan Hallock, 20th PAD, JBLM, FORSCOM
2011 - Spc. Ken Scar, 7th MPAD, FORSCOM
2010 - Sgt. Darron Salzer, NGB
2009 - Cpl. Jessica Kuhn, 49th PAD, FORSCOM
2008 - Spc. Lalita Laksbergs, 139th MPAD, Ill. National Guard
2007 - Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs, FORSCOM
2006 - Spc. Mike Alberts, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, USARPAC
2005 - Spc. Mary Ferguson, 3rd Corps Support Command, USAREUR
2004 - Spc. Sarah Wilkins, Headquarters & Headquarters Company, I Corps, USARPAC
2003 - Spc. Christina Carde, 11th PAD, FORSCOM
2002 - Spc. Chuck Wagner, Fort Myer, MDW
2001 - Pfc. Benjamin Z. Etzioni, 1st Armored Division, USAREUR
2000 - Spc. Edward Passino, Fort Belvoir, MDW

Military Broadcast Journalist of the Year Award

Master Sgt. John T. Anderson Biography

Retired Master Sgt. John T. Anderson served in the Army from 1947 to 1973. He served in line infantry units through 1955 with a short assignment with the Far East Network prior to joining the 1st Cavalry Division in Korea in 1950.

In 1955, Anderson joined the American Forces Korea Network for his first assignment with the American Forces Radio and Television Service; followed by assignments to AFRTS outlets in Korea, Puerto Rico and Vietnam.

He was captured by the North Vietnamese while serving as NCOIC of the American Forces Vietnam Detachment 5 in Hue. After five years as a POW, he was released in March 1973 during “Operation Homecoming.”

Anderson retired from the Army in 1973 and became a Department of the Army civilian with the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, where he was an information specialist who developed recruiting advertising for radio and television.

He rejoined AFRTS as a station manager at American Forces Network Stuttgart in 1977 and returned to the United States in 1982. He then became the Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Anderson left government service in 1983 to become the operations manager of WHLD AM/FM radio in Niagara Falls, New York. He finally worked in community relations for the Environmental Protection Agency in Niagara Falls until he passed away in April 1988.

His military awards include the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star with Valor Device and two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart with three Oak Leaf Clusters.

Overview

The award was initiated to provide a positive incentive for increased excellence in the Army command information program, by providing recognition of outstanding military broadcast journalists. This one-time award recognizes the Career Management Field 46 Soldier who best exemplifies excellence in Army broadcasting.

Previous Winners

2024 - Sgt. Landon Carter, 75th Ranger Regiment
2023 - Sgt. Cameron Hershberger, 63rd Readiness Division
2022 - Sgt. James Garvin, 79th Theater Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve Command
2021 - Sgt. Christopher Roberts, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
2020 - Staff Sgt. William Frye, Alabama National Guard
2019 - Staff Sgt. Jacob Sawyer, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), USAREUR
2018 - Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Runser, Indiana National Guard HQ, NGB
2017 - No Winner
2016 - Staff Sgt. Dillon Heyliger, USASOC
2015 - Staff Sgt. Vanessa Atchley, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, FORSCOM
2014 - Sgt. Henry Gundacker, AFN Wiesbaden, DMA
2013 - Staff Sgt. Jose Ibarra, RHHT 2nd Cavalry Regiment, USAREUR
2012 - Sgt. Rebecca Schwab, AFN Bavaria, DMA
2011 - Staff Sgt. Walter Talens, 319th MPAD, USARC
2010 - Sgt. Joe Labutka, AFN Heidelberg
2009 - Sgt. Ashleigh Torres, Soldiers Radio and Television, OCPA
2008 - Staff Sgt. Joshua Johnson, AFN Korea
2007 - Staff Sgt. Jose Colon, AFN Bavaria
2006 - Staff Sgt. Raymond Flores, Soldiers Radio and Television, OCPA
2005 - Staff Sgt. Luke Burns, ABS, AFN Bavaria
2004 - Sgt. 1st Class Mike Lavigne, Soldiers Radio and Television, OCPA
2003 - Staff Sgt. Erick Ritterby, Soldiers Radio and Television, OCPA
2002 - Sgt. Eric Shadowens, AFN-South, Italy
2001 - Sgt. Aaron Talley, AFN-South, Italy
2000 - Sgt. Douglas Boyles, AFN-Shape, Belgium
1999 - Spc. Michael Ferrara, AFN-South, CIB, Europe
1998 - Staff Sgt. Jennifer L. Braden, Soldiers Radio and Television, OCPA
1997 - Staff Sgt. Terry Anderson, Soldiers Radio and Television, OCPA
1996 - Staff Sgt. Angele Ringo, Soldiers Radio and Television, OCPA
1995 - Sgt. Jay Harrel, Soldiers Radio and Television, OCPA
1994 - Staff Sgt. Timothy Donahue, AFN Frankfurt
1993 - Staff Sgt. Hank Heusinkveld, Soldiers Radio and Television, OCPA
1992 - Spc. Jeff Selby, AFN Korea
1991 - Sgt. Eddie Jose, Soldiers Radio and Television, OCPA
1990 - Sgt. Melody Day, Soldiers Radio and Television, OCPA
1989 - Sgt. Tony McKinney, Southern European Broadcasting
1989 - Staff Sgt. Jay Field, AFN Europe
1987 - Sgt. George McNamara, AFN Korea
1986 - Sgt. Charlie Gill, AFN Europe
1985 - Sgt. William Homann, AFN Korea
1984 - Sgt. Richard Real, AFN Europe

Civilian Broadcast Journalist of the Year

Clark Taylor Biography

Mr. Clark Taylor was a combat infantryman during the Vietnam War. His outstanding leadership and abilities as a broadcaster helped him to be accepted into the fold by the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters that the new AFN Wurzburg affiliate supported. Because of the credibility he brought to the job, he was allowed to serve as the first enlisted station manager in the American Forces Network Europe. His success in the position led to the modern model of AFN affiliates being led by NCOs.

Taylor revolutionized the Army’s command information dissemination model. From establishing the Army’s flagship television newscast Army Newswatch to being the first DoD organization to offer podcasts and other programming through iTunes, Taylor was on the cutting edge of technology to bring the Army’s message to new audiences. He relied on old-fashioned good storytelling to bring them back for more.

Some of Taylor's contributions to the Army broadcasting profession include developing the Master Sgt. John T. Anderson Broadcast Journalist of the Year Award, initiating and developing a television news bureau for the Department of the Army from the Pentagon (which later became known as “Soldiers Radio and Television”), creating the Soldiers Radio Satellite Network, and establishing the first government 24/7 internet radio station, SoldiersRadio.com.

Taylor persuaded then-Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera to order the distribution of Army Newswatch to any television station interested in the product. Taylor began with a phone book and an idea -- and ended with a nationwide distribution network of nearly 900 stations and a marketing apparatus that reached hundreds more. Survey data in 2004 indicated a dedicated audience of four million Americans, with a potential audience in the tens of millions.

Overview

The award was initiated in 1988, to provide a positive incentive for increased excellence in the Army command information program, by providing recognition of outstanding civilian broadcast journalists. Only Army civilians in the pay grade GS-12/YA-02 and below, as of Jan. 1 of the judging year, are eligible for this one-time award.

Previous Winners

2024 - Kevin Payne, Training Support Activity Europe
2023 - Kevin Payne, Training Support Activity Europe
2022 - Sarah Patterson, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, Army Materiel Command
2021 - Daniel Malta, Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Public Affairs
2020 - Tim Hanson, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, AMC
2019 - Daniel Malta, Fort Sill Public Affairs Office, AMC
2018 - No entries
2017 - No winner
2016 - Matthew Oldham, USAREUR
2015 - Richard Bumgardner, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, AMC
2014 - Joe Givens, AMC
2013 - Mike A. Glasch, Fort Jackson, IMCOM
2012 - No winner
2011 - Christian Marquardt, 7th JMTC, USAREUR
2010 - Jesse Granger, USAREUR
2009 - Honey Shewbert, AFN Bavaria
2008 - Michele Michael, AFN Europe
2007 - Tony McKinney, AFN Bavaria
2006 - Sean Patrick, Soldiers Media Center
2005 - Florence Newman, Community and Family Support Center, SRTV
2004 - No winner
2003 - Michelle Michaels, AFN Europe, Frankfurt, Germany
2002 - Kane Richard Farabaugh, AFN Europe, Frankfurt, Germany
2001 - Jennifer Braden, Community and Family Support Center, Va.
2000 - Pam Proper, AFN SHAPE, Belgium
1999 - No winner
1998 - Gail McCabe, Soldiers Radio and Television, OCPA
1997 - George McNamara, Community and Family Support Center, Va.
1996 - Lori Miller, AFN Bavaria
1995 - No winner
1994 - Jan Leedy, AFN Heidelberg, Germany
1993 - Gary Bautell, Headquarters AFN
1992 - Linda Frost, AFN Kaiserlautern, Germany
1991 - No winner
1990 - Alice Soscia, Southern European Broadcasting Network
1989 - Johnny L. Walkup, Southern European Broadcasting Network
1988 - George A. Smith, AFN Nuernberg, West Germany

Outstanding New Videographer

Category Overview

This one-time award recognizes excellence in Army broadcasting among enlisted Soldiers with 24 months or fewer in CMF 46. Only Soldiers in the rank of staff sergeant and below on Jan. 1 of the judging year are eligible for this award.

Overview

This award recognized excellence in Army broadcasting among enlisted Soldiers with 24 months or fewer in Career Management Field 46. Only Soldiers in the rank of staff sergeant and below, as of Jan. 1 of the judging year, were eligible for this one-time award.

Previous Winners

This category is no longer awarded.
2021 - Spc. Michael Baumberger, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
2020 - Spc. Jacob Ward, 49th Public Affairs Detachment, FORSCOM
2019 - Sgt. Sydney Mariette, Minnesota National Guard, NGB
2018 - Staff Sgt. Alexander C. Henninger, Defense Media Activity, DMA
2017 - Sgt. Austin Pearce, South Dakota National Guard, NGB
2016 - No winner
2015 - No winner
2014 - Staff Sgt. George Davis, Ohio National Guard
2013 - Sgt. William Reinier, 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, FORSCOM
2012 - Sgt. Elliot Valdez, AFN Bavaria, DMA
2011 - Spc. Adam Winters, 70th MPAD, USARC
2010 - Spc. Amy Gregory, Ohio National Guard
2009 - Pfc. Lamisha Davis, AFN Bavaria, DMA
2008 - Staff Sgt. Craig Rader, AFN Korea, DMA
2007 - Spc. Nathan Jones, AFN Bavaria, ABS
2006 - Pfc. Ashleigh Torres, 7th MPAD, FORSCOM
2005 - Spc. Charlene Burey, AFN Korea, ABS
2004 - Spc. Chris Higginbotham, 21st TSC, USAREUR
2003 - Spc. Lee McMahon, AFN Heidelberg, ABS
2002 - Spc. Krestin Harrington, AFN Korea, ABS
2001 - Spc. Kimberly Kaminsky, Fort Bliss, TRADOC

Kathy Canham-Ross Award of Distinction

Kathy Canham-Ross Biography

Kathy Canham-Ross was a highly respected Public Affairs professional whose career spanned almost 30 years. She served in the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs Los Angeles Office for over 20 years and for the last 10 years was Director. She was the senior Army Public Affairs Officer and Director. She was the senior Army Public Affairs Officer and principal liaison to the entertainment industry, coordinating support for the Army and the Department of Defense throughout the world. The contributions she made in telling the Army story accurately were immeasurable. Kathy's peerless professionalism will be emulated for decades to come.

Overview

The formerly separate award, which was pulled under the Keith L. Ware program in 2009, recognizes extraordinary community relations contributions. Judges choose one of the deadlocked entries by name in the event of a tie. *The Kathy Canham-Ross Award of Distinction was originally not part of the Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware contest and was given out based on the fiscal year. In 2009, when the award was pulled under the KLW program, it became a calendar year award. This led to two 2009 awards.

Previous Winners

2024 - Christopher Mendez, Fort Novosel Public Affairs
2023 - Rebecca Kidd, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command
2022 - Rebecca Nappi, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command
2021 - Rebecca Nappi, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command
2020 - Mike Chrisman, Illinois National Guard, NGB
2019 - Mike Chrisman, Illinois National Guard, NGB
2018 - "Gold Star Father/Daughter Dance," Mike Chrisman, Illinois National Guard, NGB
2017 - Office of the Chief of Public Affairs – Northeast, MDW
2016 - Brooke Magary, St. Louis District, USACE
2015 - "Pulling for Unity," USACE Charleston District, USACE
2014 - PEO ACWA "Honoring Our Commitment," Katherine DeWeese, Miguel Monteverde, Thomas Schultz, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Public Affairs Office, USAASC
2013 - Teri Viedt, Wiesbaden, IMCOM
2012 - "America's Response Memorial Event," USASOC
2011 - "2011 Boy Scout Fall Camporee", Blue Grass Army Depot, AMC
2010 - Mo. National Guard Public Affairs Office
2009 - S.C. National Guard Public Affairs Office*
2009 - U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office*
2008 - Fort Eustis Public Affairs Office

Dawn Kilpatrick Memorial AUSA Scholarship

Sgt. Maj. Dawn Kilpatrick Biography

Sgt. Maj. Dawn Kilpatrick began her career in 1979, and served on active duty for 20 years, serving in a variety of challenging assignments and always leading the way.

Kilpatrick's variety of assignments included newspaper editor of three of the Army's most prestigious newspapers: The Hawaii Army Weekly at Fort Shafter, Hawaii; The Bayonet at Fort Benning, Ga.; and The Paraglide at Fort Bragg, N.C.

She served as first sergeant of the Army's then-only active duty mobile public affairs detachment, the 22nd MPAD, and later as the Public Affairs sergeant major for XVIII Airborne Corps, both at Fort Bragg. Kilpatrick was the first non-commissioned officer to serve as media spokesperson at the Department of the Army level.

Some of her other assignments in the Pentagon included assistant chief of Army newspapers and special assignments as Public Affairs NCO for the Sergeant Major of the Army, and operations NCO. She was spokesperson for the UNOSOM II United Nations Operations in Somalia, where she represented the United Nations Command, U.S. Forces, Somalia, and Task Force Ranger, to the international press corps during the critical battle of Oct. 3, 1993, memorialized in the book and movie Black Hawk Down.

As a special assistant to the secretary of the Army, Kilpatrick was the personal public affairs officer of Togo D. West Jr. She was the first enlisted service member ever to serve in that role. Kilpatrick was a master parachutist with more than 650 jumps to her credit. For two years, she was a member of the prestigious Golden Knights, the U.S. Army's parachute demonstration team.

She died at her home in Herndon, Va., May 23, 1999, after a two-year battle with cervical cancer, and eight days after she retired. Kilpatrick was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, in Section 59, Grave 384, May 27, 1999.

Overview

This award was initiated in 1999 as a partnership between the Army and the Association of the United States Army, to allow Career Management Field 46 mid-level and senior non-commissioned officers the opportunity to compete for an educational scholarship grant. This grant is intended to be used to further the education of the NCO and give the Army a better-rounded "Total Soldier." The scholarship recipient traditionally receives the award at the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C.

Previous Winners

2023 – Sgt. 1st Class Michael Sword, 11th Airborne Division
2022 – Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Connor-Foertsch, 101st Airborne Division Public Affairs NCOIC
2021 – No entries
2020 – Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Carter, 28th Public Affairs Detachment, FORSCOM
2019 – No entries
2018 – Master Sgt. Alejandro Licea, 1st Armored Division
2017 – Sgt. 1st Class David Wheeler, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs
2016 – Master Sgt. Jeremy Bunkley, 1st Armored Division Public Affairs, FORSCOM
2015 – Master Sgt. Andrew Kosterman, 8th Army, USARPAC
2014 – Master Sgt. Terrance Hayes, Office of the SEAC, JSC
2013 – Master Sgt. Adam Shaw, AFN Afghanistan, DMA
2012 – Master Sgt. Lawrence Lang
2011 – Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Davio
2010 – Sgt. 1st Class Bryant Maude
2009 – Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Bailey
2008 – Sgt. 1st Class Duane Brown
2007 – Staff Sgt. Stephanie Carl
2006 – Sgt. 1st Class James Guzior
2000 – Staff Sgt. Steven Morgan

Public Affairs Officer - Rising Star

Category Overview

This one-time award recognizes the top commissioned Army officer with less than 24 months of service in functional area 46.

Previous Winners

2024 - 1st Lt. Amy Petrocelli, XVIII Airborne Corps
2023 - Capt. Ronald Stafford, 24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element
2022 - Capt. Angelo Mejia, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, U.S. Army Forces Command
2021 - Capt. Matthew Visser, Headquarters and Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps
2020 - Capt. Paul O'Daniel, U.S. Army Central
2019 - No entries
2018 - Capt. Nadine Wiley De Moura, 100th MPAD, Texas National Guard, NGB
2017 - 1st Lt. Allegra Taylor, Texas National Guard, NGB
2016 - Capt. Jarrod J. Morris, 3rd Infantry Division, FORSCOM
2015 - Capt. William Leasure, 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, USARPAC

Army Communicator of the Year

Category Overview

This one-time award recognizes the top Army senior commissioned officer, noncommissioned or government civilian serving in functional area/CMF 46/CP 22

Previous Winners

2024 - Michel Sauret, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District
2023 - Sgt. Darbi Colson, 25th Infantry Division
2022 - Sgt. Dean Johnson, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, U.S. Army Forces Command
2021 - Staff Sgt. Tyvel Clement, 28th Public Affairs Detachment
2020 - Staff Sgt. Jacob Sawyer, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), USAREUR-AF
2019 - Maria Cavins, U.S. Army Garrison Italy, AMC
2018 - Master Sgt. Michel Sauret, 200th Military Police Command, USARC
2017 - Sgt. 1st Class Alexandra Hays, 79th Theater Sustainment Command, USARC
2016 - Master Sgt. Mary E. Ferguson, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK U.S. Combined Division, USARPAC
2015 - Col. William Bigelow, Public and Congressional Affairs, AMC

Military Graphic Artist of the Year

Category Overview

Candidates must submit a portfolio containing no less than six and no more than eight entries with at least one entry from the Digital Art category and one from the Layout and Design category. Candidates also must submit a one-page biography and a digital photograph with their portfolio; they will not be judged. The biography, submitted as an OCR scanned PDF, and the photo, submitted as a separate JPEG file, must be cleared by the local public affairs office.

Previous Winners

2024 - Spc. Ashley Xie, 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
2023 - Staff Sgt. Daniel Lee, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
2022 - No winner
2021 - No winner
2021 - No entries
2020 - Spc. Taylor Zacherl, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), USASOC
2019 - No entries
2018 - No entries
2017 - Staff Sgt. Miguel Resendiz, AFN Europe, DMA
2016 - Sgt. Steven Collins, AFN Europe, DMA HQ

Civilian Graphic Artist of the Year

Category Overview

Candidates for the Civilian Graphic Artist of the Year must submit a portfolio containing no less than six and no more than eight entries with at least one entry from the Digital Art category and one from the Layout and Design category. Candidates also must submit a one-page biography and a digital photograph with their portfolio; they will not be judged. The biography, submitted as an OCR scanned PDF, and the photo, submitted as a separate JPEG file, must be cleared by the local public affairs office.

Previous Winners

2024 - Porsha Auzenne, Fort Johnson Public Affairs Office
2023 - Molly Cooke, Fort Stewart Public Affairs Office
2022 - No winner
2021 - Christopher Fincham, Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2020 - Jared Eastman, Engineer Research and Development Center, USACE
2019 - John Prettyman, Sacremento District, USACE
2018 - Gwen Bausmith, Europe District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USACE
2017 - No entries
2016 - Amber K. Whittington, DLI/FLC, TRADOC

Military Photographer of the Year

Category Overview

Candidates must submit a portfolio consisting of at least eight but no more than 10 entries with at least one from one of the two documentation categories, one picture story, one news photo, one feature photo and one portrait. Portfolio may NOT include pictorial, photojournalism or multimedia story entries, and will include only one picture story. Candidates also must submit a one-page biography and a digital photograph with their portfolio; they will not be judged. The biography, submitted as an OCR scanned PDF, and the photo, submitted as a separate JPEG file, must be cleared by the local public affairs office. Submit photos as JPEG files.

Previous Winners

2024 - Sgt. Aaron Troutman, Army Multimedia and Visual Information Division
2023 - Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon, 122nd Theater Public Affairs Support Element
2022 - Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements, Virginia National Guard Public Affairs Office, National Guard
2021 - Spc. Matthew Mackintosh, 28th Public Affairs Detachment
2020 - Sgt. Sarah Sangster, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, FORSCOM
2019 - Staff Sgt. Alex Manne, 982nd Signal Company (COMCAM), USARC
2018 - Spc. Adeline Witherspoon, 2nd Sustainment Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, USARPAC
2017 - Sgt. Audrey Hayes, 200th Military Police Command, USARC
2016 - Sgt. Harley Jelis, 138th PAD, NGB

Civilian Photographer of the Year

Category Overview

Previous Winners

2024 - Henry Villarama, Army Multimedia and Video Division
2023 - Henry Villarama, Army Multimedia and Video Division
2022 - Daniel Malta, USAG Fort Stewart Public Affairs Office, Army Materiel Command
2021 - Michel Sauret, Pittsburgh District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2020 - Brigida Sanchez, Jacksonville District, USACE
2019 - Marcus Fichtl, U.S. Army Garrison Presidio of Monterey, AMC
2018 - David E. Poe, Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office, IMCOM
2017 - Terrance Anthony Bell, Fort Lee Public Affairs Office, IMCOM
2016 - Jason Johnston, 7th Army Training Command (TSAE), USAREUR