presenting The 2025 VAPB Finalists!

COMBINED DIVISION (TV/RADIO):

Best Podcast-Audio: Brandi Blake and Julia White, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, "Crime in the Coalfields - Rosa White"; Trey Kay and Samantha Gattsek, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Us & Them: Housing Options Are Few and Far Between in Appalachia."

TV I/LARGE MARKET:

Best Spot News: Frank Jones, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, "Aviation Disaster"; Frank Jones, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, "Richmond Water Crisis."

Best Continuing News: Tyler Layne and Melissa Hipolit, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "The Richmond Water Crisis"; WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA, "Waverly Two Finally Free."

Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias: Lane Casadonte and Sean Robertson, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA; Mark Martin and Zach Brown, WCHS-TV, Charleston, WV.

Best Documentary or In-Depth: Brandy Brown, David Stotts and Jon Burkett, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "Reopen the Case: The Obvious Suspect"; Alex Littlehales, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA, "Rural Healthcare Uncertainties."

Best Light Feature: Kate Capodanno and Ben Riquelmy, WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA, "Sailor for a Day: Life on an Aircraft Carrier"; Aesia Toliver and Kevin Romm, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA, "Building a Legocy."

Best Serious Feature: Mike Bergazzi, Curtis Akers and Jon Burkett, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "Lindsey's Sign"; Kate Capodanno, WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA, "25 Years Later: Backstreet Cafe Shooting."

Best Sports Feature: Curtis Akers and Lane Casadonte, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "The Season: Clover Hill Cavaliers"; Eric Johnson and Greg Moore, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA, "Beyond the Scoreboard: The Inspirational Story Powering Craig County's Rockets."

Best Daily Stream: Jeff Edmondson and Brian Michigan, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA, "Beyond the Forecast: Tracking Hurricane Erin"; MaryCatherine Neal, WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA, "The Rundown."

Best Special Stream: Bob Bennett, Chris Wynn and Jeff Edmondson, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA, "Tracking the Tropics"; WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA, "Riverfront Rhythms."

Best MMJ/One-Person Band Reporter: Desiree Montilla, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA; Anthony Sabella, WTKR/WGNT-TV, Norfolk, VA.

Best Reporter: Madison McNamee, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA; Hayden Robertson, WSET-TV, Lynchburg, VA.

Best Daily News Report (Single Shift): Joi Fultz and Joe Valdez, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "Jammin George"; Erin Holly and James Gary Jr., WTKR/WGNT-TV, Norfolk, VA, "Angels for My Angel."

Best Specialty Reporting: Rob Cardwell, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "Building Better Minds"; Adrienne Hoar McGibbon, Shawn Freude and Shaban Athuman, VPM News (TV), Richmond, VA, "Virginians on Medicaid."

Best Spot News Photography: Alex Littlehales and Michael Woodward, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA, "North Carolina Homes Collapse."

Best Feature Photography: Curtis Akers and Greg McQuade, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "Hubert's Homecoming: We Never Knew Where He Was"; Enza Marcy and Greg McQuade, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "Paolo Garbanzo: The American Jester Juggling Across Europe."

Best Multi-Platform Story: Leslie Rubin, Brad Rice and Shannon Stowers, WCHS-TV, Charleston, WV, "Letters to Death: West Virginia's Bluebeard"; WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA, "Homeowner Horrors."

Best Investigative Reporting: Melissa Hipolit, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "A Nightmare in the NICU"; Margaret Kavanagh and Wayne Pellenberg, WTKR/WGNT-TV, Norfolk, VA, "Woman Gets New Trial After WTKR Uncovers 'Missing' 911 Calls."

Best Website: Chloe Lightner, Jazmine Otey and Travis Beauchamp, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA; WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA.

Best News Promo: David Stotts and Brandy Brown, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "Reopen the Case: The Obvious Suspect"; WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA, "Richmond Tax Delinquency."

Best Station Promo: David Stotts, Patrick Tonkinson and Matt Sloan, WTKR/WGNT-TV, Norfolk, VA, "Love Being in Your Neighborhood"; David Stotts and Matt Sloan, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "Giving You a Voice: Listening."

Best Newscast: Bob Bennett, Aesia Toliver and Tom Schaad, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA; Frank Jones, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA.

Best Weathercast: George Flickinger and Thomas Battle, WSET-TV, Lynchburg, VA; StormTracker 13, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV, "Tornado Coverage."

Best Weathercaster: Spencer Adkins, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV; George Flickinger, WSET-TV, Lynchburg, VA.

Best TV News Anchor: Mitch Carr, WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA; Tom Schaad, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA.

Best TV Sports Anchor: James Kattato, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA; Nolan Knight, WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA.

Best Producer: Julia Locklear, WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA, "Government Shutdown"; Alexander Powell, WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA.

Best Team News Coverage: WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "Water Crisis"; WTKR/WGNT-TV, Norfolk, VA, "Winter Storm 2025."

Best Old Dominion Heritage: Kevin Romm, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA, "Bring the Boys Back Home"; Joe Valdez and Greg McQuade, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "Bacon's Castle."

Best Mountain State Heritage: Brad Rice, WCHS-TV, Charleston, WV, "Traveling West Virginia."

Excellence in Diversity- Equity & Inclusion: Keyris Manzanares and Adrienne Hoar McGibbon, VPM News (TV), Richmond, VA, "Richmond's Dual-Language Immersion Program Is Growing on Southside"; WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA, "What Is Black?"

Excellence in Public Service Through Journalism: Lindsey Kennett, Sarah Tabor and Chloe Lightner, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA, "30 Days of Hope"; Jordan Rastberger, GeNienne Samuels and Curtis Akers, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, "100k Meals."

Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias: Sheryl Barnhouse and Stephen Hayes, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA; WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA.

TV II/SMALL MARKET:

Best Spot News: Avery Davis, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, "Lightning Strike May Have Caused Deadly Glenmore House Explosion"; Rivers Upchurch, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, "February Flooding in Southern West Virginia."

Best Continuing News: Kate Nuechterlein and Avery Davis, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, "UVA Presidential Search"; WTOV-TV, Wheeling, WV, "The Wheeling Flood."

Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias: Jarvis Haren and Connor Burgan, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA; WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV.

Best Documentary or In-Depth: Keri Brown, Dan Mayeres and Alex Taylor, WTRF-TV, Wheeling, WV, "It Happened in a Flash: Ohio County WV Deadly Flood"; WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA, "Rekindling."

Best Light Feature: Jeffery Boggess, Drew Solt and Ashton Marra, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, "A Wrap on Gauley Season"; Shyla Florence, WTAP-TV, Parkersburg, WV, "One Tank Trip."

Best Serious Feature: Kristen Quon and Ryan Renfro, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA, "The Disappearance of Rodney Kiser"; Kristen Quon and Ryan Renfro, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA, "The Lives We Lost: Boone McCrary."

Best Sports Feature: Izzie Begley, WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA, "Bayram's Corner"; Connor Burgan, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA, "A Year of Firsts."

Best Daily Stream: A.P. Harreld and Madalyn Stubblefield, WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV, "Pigskin Prophet."

Best Special Stream: John Lowe, WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV, "Rich Rodriguez: Season by Season."

Best MMJ/One-Person Band Reporter: Avery Davis, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA; Mark Gad, WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA.

Best Reporter: Kate Nuechterlein, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA; Caleb Perhne, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA.

Best Daily News Report (Single Shift): Phelicity Robinson, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, "Katherine Johnson"; Newswatch Team, WOAY-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Oak Hill, WV, "Severe Flooding Slams Southern West Virginia."

Best Specialty Reporting: Grant Coleman, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA, "Agriculture"; Heather Williams, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA, "Motorsports."

Best Spot News Photography: Danny Delanty and Micah Leith, WOAY-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Oak Hill, WV, "February Flooding."

Best Feature Photography: Matt Cassada, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, "Bridge Day 2025"; Jason Hutchinson, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA, "Santa Train."

Best Multi-Platform Story: Danny Delanty, WOAY-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Oak Hill, WV, "Water Crisis in Wyoming County"; WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA, "Virginia's First Buc-ee's."

Best Investigative Reporting: Danny Delanty, WOAY-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Oak Hill, WV, "Water Crisis in Wyoming County"; Julia White, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, "Fatal Ride: The Case of Robin Massey."

Best Website: Brandon Eanes and WVNS Web Team, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV; Jim Elliott and Rick Thorp, WTOV-TV, Wheeling, WV.

Best News Promo: Aaron Sudderth, WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV, "Reanna Welcome/Snow Patrol"; Caleb Swortzel and Alfio Vasta, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA, "Winter Weather."

Best Station Promo: Pat King, Keri Brown and Mary Flavin, WTRF-TV, Wheeling, WV, "Living Local: No One Walks Alone"; WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, "Sports Zone 2025."

Best Newscast: Hailey Wilt and Austin Lam, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, "UVA Marks Three-Year Anniversary of Football Shooting Tragedy"; WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA.

Best Weathercast: Jeff Oechslein and Nathan Shutt, WTOV-TV, Wheeling, WV, "Ohio Valley Derecho"; Aubrey Urbanowicz, Cody Barnhart and Grant Coleman, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA.

Best Weathercaster: Christian Boteler, WOAY-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Oak Hill, WV; Katherine Thompson, WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV.

Best TV News Anchor: Atticus Pead, WDTV-TV, Bridgeport, WV; Steve Rappaport, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA.

Best TV Sports Anchor: Sydney Cariel, WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV; Jarvis Haren, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA.

Best Producer: Ethan Estrem, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA; Valerie Sullivan, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, "Veterans Voices."

Best Team News Coverage: WTAP-TV, Parkersburg, WV, "November Fourth Elections"; Newswatch Team, WOAY-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Oak Hill, WV, "Severe Flooding Slams Southern West Virginia."

Best Old Dominion Heritage: Mair Famet and Kayla Brown, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA, "Valley of Valor"; Larry Marrs, WOAY-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Oak Hill, WV, "Tazewell Old-Time and Bluegrass Fiddlers Convention."

Best Mountain State Heritage: Megan Bailey, WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV, "Greenbrier Bunker"; Harley Cochran, Ashton Marra and Jesse Wright, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, "West Virginia Culture and Tourism."

Excellence in Public Service Through Journalism: Joshua Bolden, WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV, "Two Virginias, One Mission Flood Relief Telethon"; WVNS, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, "Southern West Virginia Flood Relief."

Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias: WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA; WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA.

RADIO:

Best Spot News: Sandy Hausman, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, "Ryan Resigns"; Jack Walker, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Middleway Bottling Plant Rejected Unanimously by Planning Commission."

Best Continuing News: Jay Hart and Dori Zook, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, "UVA President Oddysey"; Sandy Hausman, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, "UVA vs. the Trump Administration."

Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias: Greg Roberts, Randy Leftwich and Leonard Wheeler, WFIR-AM/FM, Roanoke, VA; Ryan Stone and Brandon Burnett, WBTM-AM, Danville, VA.

Best Documentary or In-Depth:  Roxy Todd, Nick Gilmore, David Seidel, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, "Mountain Hurricane"; Curtis Tate, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "These Coal Plants Lose Money."

Best Light Feature: Patrick Larsen, VPM News, Richmond, VA, "Undoing Ruin's Jessy Woodke Is on a Mission to Spread Native Plants"; Jack Walker, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Berkeley County Resident's Gadget Geocaches Put Local Tourism on the Map."

Best Serious Feature: Sandy Hausman, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, "Saving Sinkhole Ponds"; Maria Young, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Multimillion Dollar Aid Program Brings Hope to Mercer County."

Best Sports Feature: Shane Darling, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, "Marshall Volleyball Needs One More Win"; Dean Mirshahi, VPM News, Richmond, VA, "Entering the Ring and Building Bonds at Richmond Pro Wrestling."

Best Use of Sound: Eric Douglas, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Biplane Provides Different Perspective on New River Gorge"; Sarah Smith, WQLU-FM, Lynchburg, VA, "Why I Pause."

Best Sports Play-by-Play: Jason Prill and Connor Young, WQLU-FM, Lynchburg, VA, "2025 Carolina League Championship between Lynchburg Hillcats and Columbia Fireflies"; Ryan Stone, WBTM-AM, Danville, VA, "GW vs Sherando Regional Semifinal."

Best Reporter: Mason Adams, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA; Sandy Hausman, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA.

Best Talk Show: Mari White, Brian Weigand and Anthony "Biscuit" McAvoy, WLNI-FM, Lynchburg, VA, "The Morningline."

Best QA (One-on-One) Interview: Eric Douglas, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Terry Gross Talks Public Radio With WVPB"; Bill Lynch, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "The Modern Mountain Cookbook."

Best Specialty Reporting: Nick Gilmore, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, "Climate and Weather Reporting"; Katherine Hafner, WHRO-FM, Norfolk, VA, "Environment and Climate Change Reporting."

Best Multi-Platform Story: Keyris Manzanares, Adrienne Hoar McGibbon and Shawn Freude, VPM News, Richmond, VA, "Idleness and Boredom' - Bon Air Series"; Jack Walker, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Expiring Spay, Neuter Fund Troubles Shelters, but Lawmakers Move to Make State Aid Permanent."

Best Website: Mike Barber, Jackson Hephner and Jay Hart, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, "Cville Right Now "; Liz McCormick, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "West Virginia Public Broadcasting."

Best Newscast: Joey Self, Ian Price and Leonard Wheeler, WFIR-AM/FM, Roanoke, VA, "Election Coverage + On the Record: The Roanoke Valley's Morning News"; Dori Zook, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, "Crime and Education."

Best Radio News Anchor: Craig Wright, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA; Dori Zook, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA.

Best Radio Sports Anchor: Shane Darling, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV; Owen James, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV.

Best Old Dominion Heritage: Sandy Hausman, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, "Batteau Cruise"; Mari White, Brian Weigand and Anthony "Biscuit" McAvoy, WLNI-FM, Lynchburg, VA, "James River Batteau Festival."

Best Mountain State Heritage: Trey Kay and Amy Eddings, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Us & Them: Daniel Johnston — The Troubled Life and Artistic Genius of West Virginia Music Hall of Fame Inductee"; Bill Lynch, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "The Homewrecker Returns to Hillbilly Hotdogs."

Excellence in Diversity- Equity & Inclusion: Alyson Messinger, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, "DEI Protest"; Megan Pauly, VPM News, Richmond, VA, "VCU Changed Scholarship for Descendants of the Enslaved to Align With Anti-DEI Policies."

Excellence in Public Service Through Journalism: John Boggess, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, "Healing Appalachia 2025"; Emma Johnson, Abby Ayes and Alyson Messinger, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, "55th Annual Fountain Ceremony Coverage."

Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias: Jay Hart and Dori Zook, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, "Charlottesville Punching Above Its Weight Class"; Emma Johnson and Alyson Messinger, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV.