ACC announces 2007 Media Contest winners

Published Feb. 12, 2008
By Staff Reports

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Air Combat Command announced on Thursday the winners of the 2007 ACC Public Affairs Achievement Awards and Media Contest.

Following the merger of multimedia communication and public affairs career fields in 2007, this year's awards program included the full communications capability of public affairs advice and counsel; strategic communications planning and execution; print photography and broadcast journalism; and multimedia visual communications.

Contest judges scored more than 150 entries, including communication plans and writing, photography and broadcast products in more than 30 categories for technical quality and value to Air Force public affairs and internal information.

"This year's awards demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning and design," said Col. Chris Geisel, director of ACC Public Affairs. "We congratulate not only the winners but everyone who were nominated. All entries displayed sound public affairs research and planning."

The colonel said ACC Public Affairs worked several communication endeavors in 2007, including the transformation of base Web sites for expanded public information content, with additional broadcast news video and special print features. PA professionals, at all levels within ACC, Colonel Geisel said, focused their efforts on finding greater ways to highlight ACC Airmen and programs to the American public.

"Our key goal this past year was to reinforce that ACC Airmen are actively engaged in fighting the war on terror while preparing for tomorrow's threats," said Colonel Geisel. "From our bands to local, regional and international news coverage to more stories distributed by our ACC News Service, we used every possible opportunity to show how ACC Airmen are making a difference in our nation's security."

But the most significant PA accomplishment in 2007 was the successful integration of multimedia professionals in all facets of ACC PA operations, he said. "Multimedia - photographers, visual communicators, and videographers -- are an incredible force multiplier for Air Force strategic communications," said the colonel.

Individual Awards for Public Affairs Excellence - Wing Level

Outstanding PA CGO: Capt. Dustin M. Hart, 23 Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.

Outstanding Intermediate Grade Civilian: Ms Jenna K. McMullin, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.

Outstanding PA SNCO: Master Sgt. Arthur Webb, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.

Outstanding PA NCO: Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Jones, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.

Outstanding PA Airman: (Tie) Senior Airman Sarah E. Kusek, 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La., and Senior Airman Eric H. Schloeffel, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.

Individual Awards for Public Affairs Excellence - NAF or Above

Outstanding PA FGO: Maj. Thomas Crosson, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.

Outstanding Intermediate Grade Civilian: Ms. Michelle Clougher, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.

The Lt Sarah K. Small Outstanding PA CGO: Capt. Sheila N. Johnston, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.

Outstanding PA SNCO: Senior Master Sgt. Andrew E. Lynch, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.

Outstanding PA NCO: Tech. Sgt. Russell A. Wicke, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.

Outstanding PA Airman: Senior Airman Matthew Clouse, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.

Outstanding Band SNCO: Master Sgt. Daniel R. Weber, Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, Neb.

Outstanding Band NCO: Tech. Sgt. Sherry W. Burt, Heritage of America Band, Langley AFB, Va.

Outstanding Band Airman: Senior Airman Amy E. McCann, Heritage of America Band, Langley AFB, Va.

The following ACC PA awards recognize those units that conducted programs with exemplary professional skill, creativity, and resourcefulness:

Best Overall Communication Program: 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.

Communication Effectiveness Award: 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.

Best Issues Management: 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.

Best Integrated Communication: 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.

Best Innovative Communication: 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.

Best Crisis Communication: 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.

For the 2008 SAF/PA awards program, each major command can nominate one individual per category to compete for Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs level communications excellence awards. In addition to the above winners, the following individuals were selected to represent Air Combat Command at the SAF/PA level competition:

Outstanding FGO: Maj Thomas Crosson, HQ ACC/PA

Outstanding Intermediate Grade Civilian: Ms. Michelle Clougher, HQ ACC/PA

Outstanding CGO: Capt. Dustin Hart, 23WG/PA

Outstanding SNCO: Seniot Master Sgt. Andrew Lynch, HQ ACC/PA

Outstanding NCO: Tech. Sgt. Sherry Burt, HQ ACC/PA Heritage of America Band

Outstanding Airman: Senior Airman Sarah Kusek, 2nd BW/PA

Annual Media Awards

The ACC Media Contest is an annual event to recognize the best writing, photography, graphic illustration and broadcasting. Contest judges scored 141 writing, photography and broadcast entries in 25 categories for technical quality and value to Air Force internal communications programs. ACC's first-place winners will compete in the Air Force Media Contest.

"This year's competition was exceptional in the number of quality submissions and in the level of quality writing and video presentation," said Col. Christian Geisel, ACC PA director.

The following are the 2007 ACC Media Contest winners:

News Article

1st Place: Raptors wield 'unfair' advantage at Red Flag, by Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke, Langley AFB, Va.

2nd Place: Gunfighter helps save Mountain Home man's life after accident, by Senior Airman Brian Stives, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho

3rd place: 2 Warbirds receive AF Combat Action Medal, by Airman 1st Class Wesley Wright, Minot AFB, N.D.

Feature Article

1st Place: Moody flight engineer defeats cancer, returns with 'Survivor Flight', by Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres, Moody AFB, Ga.

2nd Place: Not a good day for the bad guys, by Airman 1st Class Stephen Linch, Whiteman AFB, Mo.

3rd place: ECAT: Creating warriors out of today's Airmen, by Airman 1st Class George Cloutier, Beale AFB, Calif.

Honorable Mention: Angel Thunder: Exercise or action movie?, by Senior Airman Tim Beckham, D-M AFB, Ariz.

Sports Article

1st Place: D-M edges Luke 10-9 in baseball rivalry game, by Airman 1st Class Melissa Copeland, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

2nd Place: Holloman Services Squadron hosts basketball tourney, by 1st Lt. Phil Ventura, Holloman AFB, N.M.

3rd place: 23rd SVS takes Moody's intramural football title, by Airman 1st Class Spencer Gallien, Moody AFB, Ga.

Commentary

1st place: Fort Dix grinds combat mindset into Airmen, by Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke, Langley AFB, Va.

2nd place: Training for the 'real thing' - Lessons learned from combat training, by Staff Sgt. Samuel King Jr., Eglin AFB, Fla.

3rd place: ILO: Airmen have it tough; Army has it tougher, by Master Sgt. Brian Orban, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho

Series

1st Place: Airman 1st Class Wesley Wright, Minot AFB, N.D. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

2nd Place: Airman 1st Class Kimberly Limrick, Ellsworth AFB, S.D. Part 1,
Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

3rd Place: No award given

Art/Graphic

No awards given

Photojournalism

1st Place: Airmen train with USMC, by Senior Airman Carolyn Viss, Dyess AFB, Texas

2nd Place: D-M Airmen make local girl 'Pilot for a Day', by Senior Airman Christina D. Ponte, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

3rd Place: Cable techs bring copper, fiber to table, by Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke, Langley AFB, Va.

Combat Documentation Photograph

1st Place image: by Senior Airman Christina D. Ponte, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

2nd Place image: by Airman 1st Class Kimberly Limrick, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.

3rd place image: by Staff Sgt. Samuel E. Rogers, Langley AFB, Va.

News Photograph

1st Place image: Staff Sgt. Samuel E. Rogers, Langley AFB, Va.

2nd Place image: Senior Airman Angelita Lawrence, Moody AFB, Ga.

Tie for 3rd place: Airman 1st Class Kathrine McDowell (image), Shaw AFB, S.C. and Airman 1st Class Kimberly Limrick (image), Ellsworth AFB, S.D.

Feature Photograph

1st Place image: Airman 1st Class Ryan Crane, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho

2nd Place image: Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke, Langley AFB, Va.

3rd place image: Senior Airman Angelita Lawrence, Moody AFB, Ga.

Sports Photograph

1st place image: Staff Sgt. Henry L. Hoegen Jr., Shaw AFB, S.C.

2nd place image: Airman 1st Class Ryan Crane, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho

3rd place image: Airman 1st Class Sharida Bishop, Minot AFB, N.D.

Portrait/Personality Photograph

1st Place image: Airman 1st Class Brittany Barker, Moody AFB, Ga.

2nd Place image: Staff Sgt. Samuel E. Rogers, Langley AFB, Va.

3rd Place image: Airman 1st Class Alesia Goosic, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

Illustrative Photography

1st Place image: Airman 1st Class Brittany Barker, Moody AFB, Ga.

2nd Place image: Airman 1st Class Matthew Davis, Shaw AFB, S.C.

3rd Place image: Staff Sgt. Michael B. Keller, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.

Pictorial Photograph

1st Place image: Airman 1st Class Brittany Barker, Moody AFB, Ga.

2nd Place image: Senior Airman Christina D. Ponte, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

3rd Place image: Airman 1st Class Matthew Davis, Shaw AFB, S.C.

Picture Story

No awards given

Television News Report

1st Place broadcast: Senior Airman Matthew Clouse, Langley AFB, Va.

2nd Place broadcast: Airman Michael Cowley, Shaw AFB, S.C.

3rd Place broadcast: Staff Sgt. Peter Blanding, Langley AFB, Va.

Television Feature Report

1st Place broadcast: Senior Airman Matthew Clouse, Langley AFB, Va.

2nd Place broadcast: Senior Airman Michael Wykes, Minot AFB, N.D.

3rd place: No award given

Outstanding New Print Journalist

1st Place: A1C Wesley Wright, Minot AFB, N.D.

2nd Place: Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres, Moody AFB, Ga.

Tie for 3rd Place: Senior Airman Holly Brown, Shaw AFB, S.C., and Airman Samantha Crane, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho

Outstanding New Photographer

1st Place: Airman 1st Class Brittany Barker, Moody AFB, Ga.

2nd Place: Airman 1st Class Sharida Bishop, Minot AFB, N.D.

3rd Place: Airman 1st Class Kathrine McDowe, Shaw AFB, S.C.

Print Journalist of the Year

1st Place: Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke, Langley AFB, Va.

2nd Place: Senior Airman Paul Ross, Robins AFB, Ga.

3rd Place: Staff Sgt. Samuel King Jr., Eglin AFB, Ga.

Photographer of the Year
1st Place: Airman 1st Class Christopher Boitz, Minot AFB, N.D.

2nd Place: Staff Sgt. Michael Keller, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.

3rd Place: No award given