Shawn Cunningham, Mrs. Presque Isle Corporate America 2012 Wins Two 2012 Maine Association of Broadcasting Awards
(October 2012--Bangor, Maine)--WAGM-TV News Personality & Mrs. Presque Isle Corporate America Shawn Cunningham is the recipient of two 2012 MAB (Maine Association of Broadcasting Awards. The awards were presented at the organization's fall convention and banquet in Bangor, Maine. Shawn was especially excited because one of the awards is for her continuing health segment "Medical Mondays" which airs Monday nights on Newsource 8 at Six and Newsource 8 at Eleven..and again on the station's morning show. The segment won in second place in the Public Affairs category.
"I'm SOOOO excited about Medical Mondays getting its day in the sun. I've done this segment for ten years and its truly been my baby the entire time. I'm so passionate about health/medical reporting and bringing resources to people about ways they can improve upon their health and make the most of their lives. This recognition is a nod from my industry peers that this kind of specialty coverage counts...and I'm so appreciative for this Thank you to my station management, my news director and colleagues for their unfailing support! "
The other category Shawn one in was a shared award with one of her best friends and former colleagues Gina Dipietro. They won a third place award in the category of Continuing Coverage for a series they did on Hadley McClean, an outstanding and resilient youngster who battled childhood cancer and paid it forward by raising funds for the Children's Pediatric Cancer Foundation to help other kids going through the same experience! The award is great, but the BEST news is having learned that today, little Hadley is doing remarkably well! I just saw her at school the other day when I was there doing a story on Maine's First Lady visiting. GOD is great and HIS angels truly are in heaven and on earth!
I was so excited to be able to go down and accept my award. SO surprised to get two. The other great part was in meeting the outstanding other journalists from throughout the state in a news seminar. How lucky we all are to get to work in an industry we love! My colleague Jenna Callari attended with me, as did our WAGM-TV station manager Kelly Landeen. WAGM was in FULL FORCE baby!!! And of course, supportive hubbie AJ was there cheering me on! He's such an AMAZING husband. I luv u honey!
Did I mention that the reason why Jenna was there was because my awards weren't the only ones we got. My other colleagues: Jenna Callari, Kelly O'Mara, Randi Nissenbaum and Gina Dipietro also received a continuing coverage award for their outstanding reporting on the flooding in Perth Andover. It truly was ladies night. Great job gals.
WAGM-TV News Personality & Mrs. Presque Isle Corporate America/Mrs. Aroostook County 2012 Shawn Cunningham Featured in PSA Campaign Series "In The Pink" Promoting Breast Health Awareness and Breast Cancer Observance
(October 2012--Northern Maine)--October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month but awareness had already begun throughout the year, as Shawn Cunningham joins Daigle Oil Company's Rolland Vaillencourt and Sonya Deschene in a yearlong public service campaign called "In The Pink". The PSA's began running in January on WAGM-TV and online with much acclaim and positive feedback from the community.
"I'm thrilled to be part of a multimedia effort that's helping to save people's lives through early detection and promoting local health resources. As a health reporter, its my job and mission to utilize media to inform, educate and help people take a proactive approach to staying healthy," says Cunningham.
The PSA series is just one component of Cunningham's commitment to the cause. Throughout the month of October in ongoing her Medical Monday series on WAGM-TV, Shawn also reported and produced a five part series examining breast health resources at local hospitals throughout Aroostook County...talking to many breast cancer survivors, healthcare practitioners and spotlighting technology and innovations that are helping diagnose breast cancer, provide treatment and qualitative services that are truly making a difference in people's lives. Thank you to the participating hospitals in this series: The Aroostook Medical Center, Cary Medical Center, Houlton Regional Hospital and Northern Maine Medical Center...and above all thank you to the healthcare workers and survivors for your time, and candor in bringing this issue to the forefront. I know we've made a difference!
Check out my facebook page for some of the stories. I'll add them here at a later date!
And it didn't stop there! Shawn and Team WAGM were out and about on the first Saturday in October, walking in the 20th annual Cary Medical Walk For Care. The event is a way to celebrate survivors, pay homage to those who lost their battle to breast cancer and raise funds for the hospital's new women's imaging center set to open next year.
October was busy, but a lot of fun. Making a difference can be exhausting, but WELL
worth it in the long run!
Shawn Cunningham, Mrs. Presque Isle Corporate America/Mrs. Aroostook County 2012 and the Kiwanis Clubs of District One Launch School Supply Collection Drive
(September 2012, Presque Isle, Maine)--As a member of an organizing committee...Shawn Cunningham, Mrs. PI Corporate America/Mrs. Aroostook County and the three kiwanis clubs that make up District One in New England (the communities of Presque Isle, Caribou and Easton) helped kids start the new school year off on a sound start...with new school supplies and a commitment to academic excellence. Cunningham went to all three clubs advocating for their help in bringing the project to fruition seeing the need in the immediate community and after talking to area teachers, parents and families.
Originally the idea was to collect actual supplies by turning asking the communities to give. But after much thought and support from club members & leadership, more than five hundred dollars in funding was approved by the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club to go out and buy actual supplies from area businesses including Walmart and Marden's. And this initiative is a "three club-three community" effort with the clubs of Caribou and Easton agreeing to work with school departments and PTO's in their communities to get supplies and help meet the academic needs of kids.
Kiwanis President LaNiece Winslow and committee member Penny McHatten went out to buy supplies that in turn were delivered to Pine Tree Elementary in Presque Isle. The club hopes this is just the beginning. The mission of kiwanis is to help the children of world in need and what better way to help them succeed in school than with new supplies at the beginning of the school year! It helps their self esteem, it lets them know its not just their parents, but an entire community support them. It gives them every opportunity to excel!
The story even made the front page of the local newspaper...The Star Herald and WAGM-TV did a full story on the drive as well.
