2024 Media & Communications Contest winners named
The American Legion is proud to announced the winners of the 2024 Media & Communications Contest. The contest recognizes the work Legion Family members – Legionnaires, Sons of The American Legion, Auxiliary and Legion Riders – do to promote the good of the organization across media channels.
There were a record 109 contest entries submitted for the seven categories. The winners were selected by a panel of judges and approved by the National Media & Communications Commission on May 6 during Spring Meetings.
Chairman’s Award: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota
Innovation Award: American Legion Friends Facebook page, Dayna Beyer, Auxiliary, Department of Ohio and Mary J. Whitler Fisher, Department of California
WEBSITES
Department/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota
· Honorable mention: Julie Muhle and Angela Chappell, Department of Wisconsin
Posts up to 249: Keith Kay, Post 1187 in Castle Rock, Colo.
Posts 250-749: Laurel Ross, Post 243 in Oviedo, Fla.
Posts over 750: Roger Henning, Post 76 in Las Vegas
EDITORIAL/NEWS
Department/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota, “Capitol One: Meet Bill Strusinski, lobbyist and Army medic veteran”
Posts up to 249: No award (entries did not meet criteria)
Posts 250-749: John Gessner, Post 100 in Sparta, Wis., WWII soldier gives dress to teenage girl from concentration camp
Posts over 750: Jay Bowen, Post 209 in Colorado Springs, Colo. (The 411)
EDITORIAL/INFO
Dept/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota, “Shakeup in Hastings”
Posts up to 249: Russell Myers, Belleville, N.J., Squadron 105 donation to the Fisher House
Posts 250-749: no award (entries did not meet criteria)
Post over 750: no award (entries did not meet criteria)
PUBLICATIONS
Dept/District: Julie Muhle and Sheri Hicks, Department of Wisconsin
· Honorable mention to Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota
Posts up to 249: Jesse Cole Rivera, Post 12 in Bandera, Mexico
Posts 250-749: Patricia Douglas, Post 911 in Hoover, Ala.
· Honorable mention to Larry Wilhelm, Terry Meyering and David Grandfield, Post 178 in McKinney, Texas
Posts over 750: Richard Cole, Post 284 in Colonial Heights, Va.
VISUAL MEDIA
Dept/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota, Legion Baseball photo
Posts up to 249: Russell Myers, Belleville, N.J., Squadron 105
· Honorable mention to Keith Kay and Aron Sager, Post 1187 in Castle Rock, Colo, Wreaths Across America photos
Posts 250-749: Patricia Douglas, Post 911 in Hoover, Ala., Legionnaire saluting child in military uniform and posts namesake gravesite photo
Posts over 750: No entries
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Department/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota, with Kristy Janigo of Osseo-Maple Grove Post 172 and Christopher Anderson of Hastings Post 47 (Legionnaires speak out against House legislation on e-pull tabs)
Posts up to 249: John Capriotti Jr., Post 310 in Racine, Wis. (Spirit of ’76 and Boys of ’76 float restored)
Posts 250-749: Haley Ford, Post 120 in Palmyra, N.Y. (A community tree lighting event to honor community veterans and military members)
Posts over 750: no award (entries did not meet criteria)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Department/District: Sarah Tobin, District 7 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Posts up to 249: Vince Winter, Post 13 in Sitka, Alaska
Posts 250-749: Richard Sambuchino and Frank Hall, Post 571 in Erie, Pa.
· Honorable mention to Chelsea Hunter, Post 208 in Arlington, Heights, Ill.
Posts over 750: Roger Henning, Post 76 in Las Vegas