American Legion Family award winners recognized for promoting the organization in seven categories for print and online.
The American Legion is proud to announced the winners of the 2025 Media & Communications Contest. The annual contest recognizes the great work members of the Legion, Sons of The American Legion, Legion Riders and Auxiliary do at the post, district and department level to positively promote and educate about the organizations in print and online.
There were a record 139 contest entries submitted for the seven categories; all entries must have been published during the 2024 calendar year. The winners were selected by a panel of judges and approved by the National Media & Communications Commission on May 5 during Spring Meetings.
Chairman’s Award: Sandra Dunn, American Legion Post 54, Amarillo, Texas
Innovation Award: Jennifer Cole, American Legion Riders Chapter 560, Zimmerman, Minn.
WEBSITES
Department/District: Jennifer Cole, Department of Minnesota 10th District ( https://www.mnmighty10thdistrict.org/)
· Honorable Mention: Kevin Burns and Makenna Uriarte, Department of California Aerospace Commission website (https://calegion.org/aerospace)
Posts up to 249: Robert Dolan, American Legion Post 501, Woodbury, Minn. ( https://americanlegionpost501.org)
Posts 250-750: Peter Koerner and Clyde “Budd” Webster, Post 42, Evanston, Ill. ( https://www.evanstonpost42.com/)
Posts over 750: Bernard Baumann, American Legion Post 1776 in Apple Valley, Minn. (https://americanlegionpost1776.com/)
EDITORIAL/NEWS
Department/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota (“Legion-Hearted” story about Army veteran and Legionnaire Anthony Koop)
· Honorable Mention: Russell Myers III, Sons of The American Legion Detachment of New Jersey (Cookies for Vets program)
Posts up to 249: Russell Myers III, Squadron 105, Belleville, N.J. (Post 105 Legion Family celebrates the Legion’s 105th birthday)
Posts 250-749: Patricia Douglas and Ginger Branson, American Legion Post 911, Hoover, Ala. (passing of oldest Post 911 member)
Posts over 750: Richard Cole, American Legion Post 284, Colonial Heights, Va. (Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C.)
EDITORIAL/INFO
Dept/District: Timothy Engstrom, American Legion Department of Minnesota (“Ripley’s believe it” guide on turkey hunting with disabled veterans)
Posts up to 249: no award given; entries did not meet criteria
Posts 250-749: John Gessner, Post 100, Sparta, Wis. (column in Monroe County Herald)
Post over 750: no award given; entries did not meet criteria
PUBLICATIONS
Dept/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota (Minnesota Legionnaire)
Posts up to 249: Christine Hummel, American Legion Post 404, St Louis, Mo. (The Feminaires)
Posts 250-749: William Usry, Post 1, Tulsa, Okla.
Posts over 750: Jay Bowen, American Legion Post 209, Colorado Springs, Colo.
VISUAL MEDIA
Dept/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota (national commander photo)
· Honorable Mention: Edward Lewis, Department of Florida (flag retirement photo)
Posts up to 249: Jennifer Cole, American Legion Riders Chapter 560, Zimmerman, Minn. (annual veterans ride video)
Posts 250-749: no award
Posts over 750: ShaWanda Brown and Taylor Skye Hawkins, American Legion Post and Unit 259, Clinton, Md. (post community support video)
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Department/District: no entries
Posts up to 249: Sandra Dunn, American Legion Post 54, Amarillo, Texas (a monthly television segment with a local news channel’s morning show called 2 CUP where post members discuss programs, activities, etc.)
· Honorable mention: Philip Kiley, American Legion Post 21, Brooklyn, Conn. (appearance on a local podcast to share youth scholarships and Be the One)
Posts 250-749: John Miles and Joe Wiezorek, American Legion Post 163, North Platte, Neb. (second annual American Legion Heroes March to support PTSD and Be the One)
Posts over 750: no award given; entries do not meet criteria
SOCIAL MEDIA
Department/District: no award given; entries did not meet criteria
Posts up to 249: Nancy Rivera, American Legion Post 477, St. Nazianz, Wis. ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064770335805)
· Honorable Mention: Vince Winter, American Legion Post 13, Sitka, Alaska (https://www.facebook.com/AmericanLegionSitkaPost13)
Posts 250-749: Dean Erck, Richard Drake and Mary McNutt, American Legion Post 904, Alexandria Bay, N.Y. ( https://www.facebook.com/abay904ssp)
Posts over 750: no award given; entries do not meet criteria
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