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Journalists, photographers win command awards

  • Published
  • By Public Affairs staff
  • Air Force Reserve Command
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Journalists and photographers from six Air Force Reserve Command units won multiple awards in the 2009 AFRC Media Contest.

Megan Just from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., wrote the best feature article and the best commentary. Master Sgt. Jason Schaap from the 931st Air Refueling Group, McConnell AFB, Kan., won the news article and picture story categories. Staff Sgt. Hueming Mui from the 439th Airlift Wing, Westover ARB, Mass., captured the best sports photograph and best portrait/personality photo categories.

Five reservists from the 403rd Wing at Keesler AFB, Miss., took an individual award. They are Senior Airman Tabitha Dupas in sports article, Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens in graphic art, Tech. Sgt. Tanya King in combat documentation photo, Master Sgt. Michael Duhe in news photo and Lt. Col. Chad Gibson in pictorial photo.

Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Williams was chosen journalist of the year, and Tech. Sgt. Bob Sommer was selected photographer of the year. They are with the 934th AW at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, Minn.

The 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick AFB, Fla., also picked up two awards. Staff Sgt. Leslie Krauchaar won the feature photo category, and "Angel's Wings," the wing magazine, was named the best publication in the command.

Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., AFRC commander, announced the command's top contest entries in a memorandum to unit commanders Feb. 23.

Reservists and civilian employees from 19 AFRC units submitted 163 entries to the command contest, which ended here Jan. 20.

Other contest winners are:

Series - Tech. Sgt. Shawn McCowan, 301st Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas

Photojournalism - Staff Sgt. Stephen Collier, 302nd AW, Peterson AFB, Colo.

Illustrative photo - Staff Sgt. Kyle Brasier, 419th FW, Hill AFB, Utah

Web publication - www.dobbins.afrc.af.mil 94th AW, Dobbins ARB, Ga.

Also qualifying to advance to the Air Force Media Contest are Senior Airman Danielle Wolf, 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB, Mo., in the outstanding new writer category, and Senior Airman Mikhail Berlin, 445th AW, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, in the outstanding new photographer category.

Results of the Air Force contest in Washington, D.C., are expected to be announced in March.

Air Force Reserve Command also recognizes people outside of the public affairs community for their help in telling the command's story through articles and photographs. Lt. Col. Joel Kinnunen from the 920th RQW, Patrick AFB, was picked the best stringer writer, and Jason Minto, representing the 512th AW from Dover AFB, Del., was selected the best stringer photographer.

Placing in the AFRC competition by category are:

News article: second place - Maj. David Kurle, 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB, and third place - Capt. Marnee Losurdo, 512th AW, Dover AFB

Feature article: second place tie - Senior Master Sgt. Sandi Michon, 439th AW, Westover ARB, and Sergeant Schaap, 931st ARG, McConnell AFB

Sports article: second place - Major Kurle, 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB, and third place - Master Sgt. Darrell Habisch, 934th AW, Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP ARS

Commentary: second place - Senior Airman Shaun Shenk, 94th AW, Dobbins ARB, and third place - Capt. Bryan Lewis, 315th AW, Charleston AFB, S.C.

Journalist of the year: second place - Senior Airman Andria J. Allmond, 512th AW, Dover AFB, and third place - Airman Wolf, 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB

Graphic art: second place - Tech. Sgt. Paul Flipse, AFRC Recruiting Service, Robins AFB, and third place - Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr., 910th AW, Youngstown ARS, Ohio

Photojournalism: second place - Ms. Just, 452nd AMW, March ARB, and third place - Sergeant Schaap, 931st ARG, McConnell AFB

Combat documentation photo: second place - Lt. Col. Les Pratt, Headquarters AFRC, Robins AFB, and third place - Sergeant Barko, 910th AW, Youngstown ARS

News photo: second place - Capt. Jody Ritchie, 302nd AW, Peterson AFB, and third place - Staff Sgt. Steve Lewis, 512th AW, Dover AFB

Feature photo: second place - Sergeant Brasier, 419th FW, Hill AFB, and third place tie - Sergeant Huffman, 439th AW, Westover ARB, and Sergeant Sommer, 934th AW, Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP ARS

Sports photo: second place - Capt. Nick Strocchia, 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., and third place - Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Caskey, 445th AW, Wright-Patterson AFB

Portrait/personality photo: second place - Airman Dupas, 403rd Wing, Keesler AFB, and third place - Sergeant Schaap, 931st ARG, McConnell AFB

Illustrative photo: second place - Staff Sgt. Timm Huffman, 439th AW, Westover ARB

Pictorial photo: second place - Sergeant Huffman, 439th AW, Westover ARB, and third place tie - Sergeant Barko, 910th AW, Youngstown ARB, and Sergeant Brasier, 419th FW, Hill AFB

Picture story: second place - Sergeant Cardenas, 445th AW, Wright-Patterson AFB, and third place - Captain Strocchia, 459th ARW, Andrews AFB

Command publication: second place - "Liberty Press," 512th AW, Dover AFB, and third place - "Front Range Flyer," 302nd AW, Peterson AFB

Stringer writer: second place - Maj. Steve Nelson, 301st FW, NAS JRB Fort Worth, and third place - Col. Karl A. Schmitkons, 512th AW, Dover AFB

Stringer photographer: second place - Master Sgt. Robert N. Grande, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB, and third place - Lt. Col. Tsuyoshi Tung, 931st ARG, McConnell AFB (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)