A new award category, Bright Horizons, was established in 2025 to recognize the talents and hard work of our newer colleagues in community access media. Lauren-Glenn Davitian of VAN nominated Jordan Mitchell with these remarks:

Jordan Mitchell is a rising star and example for all who work with her. Jordan has a deep commitment for the mission of community media and demonstrates this through her diligence, leadership, patience and care. Jordan is an experienced media maker with strong administrative abilities that enable her to be an effective Channel Director for Town Meeting TV, overseeing the production of 1,000 programs each year. At the same time, Jordan has embraced the role of Chief Archivist and caretaker of CCTV’s extensive historic video collection (dating to 1984 with 42,000 programs in the catalog). Jordan has expanded CCTV’s preservation work in meaningful ways by obtaining and managing National Endowment for the Humanities grant funding, mentoring a new staff archivist, presenting on best practices, and leading efforts to preserve not only CCTV’s archives but those of our 24 community media center colleagues across Vermont.

Jordan makes all of her work look easy. She is organized, reliable, trustworthy and patient. She leads with kindness, putting people first and the technological work second. Jordan understands that our main purpose is to build community and demonstrates these values through her work with community producers, local officials, staff and volunteers. Jordan stands at the center of a busy, productive organization and with utmost respect, we look to her for guidance and encouragement.

Brett Rodrigues wrote the following to nominate Dennis Dutra, his supervisor and mentor, for the Chuck Sherwood Leadership Award:

Dennis Dutra has built many PEG stations and studios throughout New England as Broadcast Engineer. He has taught almost all I know about PEG and Broadcast Engineering. Through his mentorship I have built several studios. People from all over New England are constantly calling him for help or advice. He is a tech Wizard. He demonstrates leadership by being super reliable, very calm and professional. He is very knowledgeable and can always an answer or resolution to any problem.

Thanks to Tommy Shenefield for all the photos commemorating our non-conference, One-Day Summit in Northampton, Massachusetts.

For the Brian Wilson Mentor Award, Robert Kelly of NewTV made the following nomination:

Jenn Adams and I have worked together for 17 1/2 years. She is a compassionate and driven news director and her mentorship has launched the career of over 100 interns seeking to break into the broadcast news field. All around the country you can watch local or nationals news shows and chances are one of the anchors, reporters, or writers associated with that program may have interned with her and Newton News. She deserves to be recognized for her efforts over the past 20+ years helping young journalists reach their potential and realize their dream.

Jenn never seeks the limelight. She deflects praise and points to the students’ willingness and drive as the reason her intern program is so successful. As the architect of the intern program she not only should be recognized as a producer but also as a teacher and mentor.

Herb Jackson, president of the WPAA-TV board of directors, nominated TeenTigerTV for the Rika Welch Community Impact Award.

Since 2015, TeenTigerTV has embodied the principle that “Youth-led means U decide how U can make a commUnity impact. Unity begins with ‘U’.” This award-winning program has supported a dozen economically or socially challenged youth annually with a free, flexible summer media production experience that transforms participants’ lives while creating content that resonates throughout the community. Approximately 100 youth have come through the program. Seeing the program recognized because they engaged, learned, and delivered with excellence and authenticity could encourage others to take part and uplift those who will remember their first job, first video, first collaborative experience, or first win.

TeenTigerTV exemplifies how PEG access resources can empower marginalized voices. Access to tools and stage, mentors, experienced filmmaker & story coaches. The dedication to youth-welcome, youth-led is evident in every aspect—from flexible scheduling that accommodates family vacations to the genuine “You are welcome here” philosophy that creates a supportive environment for youth who may feel marginalized elsewhere. The content champions youth voices. TeenTigerTV participants have created content that speaks powerfully to their lived experiences and community needs. TeenTigerTV has achieved what the Rika Welsh Award seeks to honor.

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