Media Award - 2016

Keith Uhlig - Reporter

The Boards Association presents one award each year on a statewide basis to recognize a print, audio, or visual media effort about Wisconsin Technical Colleges that best meets the following four criteria:

  • The nomination portrays today’s technical college learning environment positively, with originality and creativity;
  • It portrays the benefits of technical college education on individuals and their communities;
  • It reports positively about the technical college's service and contributes to a better public understanding of the college’s mission; and, finally,
  • It thoroughly covers the subject matter in a stimulating and clear fashion.

We were honored to review the nominations for several really extraordinary submissions this year, and the committee would be proud to have selected any of the nominations. We received eleven nominations for this year’s Media Award. They are:

2016 Media Award Nominees
  • Katie McKy, Chippewa Valley Business Report, nominated by Chippewa Valley Technical College
  • Jill Tatge-Rozell, Kenosha News, nominated by Gateway Technical College
  • Mike Buda, WIFR, nominated by Blackhawk Technical College
  • Emily Deem, WLUK FOX 11, nominated by Moraine Park Technical College
  • Emily Deem, WLUK Fox 11, nominated by Lakeshore Technical College
  • Tool, Die & Machining Association of Wisconsin Staff, nominated by Waukesha County Technical College
  • Ken Krall, WXPR Public Radio, nominated by Nicolet Area Technical College
  • Karen Herzog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, nominated by Milwaukee Area Technical College
  • Keith Uhlig, Wausau Daily Herald, nominated by Northcentral Area Technical College
  • Lisa Malak, WFRV - Local 5 Live, nominated by Fox Valley Technical College
  • Jordan Willi, New Richmond News, nominated by Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

This Year's Winner: Keith Uhlig - Reporter, Wausau Daily Herald

Keith Uhlig's story, With one cast, victory published in the May 21st, 2015 Wausau Daily Herald told the story of how an adaptive fishing pole, designed and built by middle school and college students, helps Jim DeBroux fish again. Jim DeBroux is a former Mosinee High School principal who was paralyzed from the neck down after a fall. Northcentral Technical College electromechanical technology students Thor Gunderson, and Justin Schaferan volunteered to refine and manufacture an adaptive fishing pole design idea created by Mosinee eigth graders.

Keith currently resides in Wausau. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and he has worked for the Daily Herald for the past 15 years.

This nomination clearly meets all of the criteria for our media award. We thank Keith Uhlig for his wonderful article.

Former Award Winners

Media Award
Year Winner City
1999 PamTuescher, WMTV-TV15 Madison
2000 John Lee, The Post-Crescent Appleton
2001 Rick Barrett, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Waukesha
2002 Scott Wittchow, Action Advertiser Fond du Lac
2003 Phil Rhein, Daily Register Portage
2004 Kathryn Bracho,WBAY-TV2 Appleton
2005 Prema Chandrathil, WISC-TV Madison
2006 Judy Waggoner, Independent Journalist Menasha
2007 Sharon Roznik, The Reporter Fond du Lac
2008 Heather LaRoi, Wisconsin State Journal Madison
2009 Haley Jorgensen, Public Image Ripon
2010 Kevin Tibbles, NBC Nightly News Chicago
2011 Insight Publications Appleton
2012 Lindsay Fiori, The Journal Times Racine
2013 The LaCrosse Tribune LaCrosse
2014 Zac Schultz, Wisconsin Public Television Madison
2015 Michelle Carolla, WMSN Fox 47 Madison