A heartfelt story about NYSUT member Christopher Pendergast's heroic efforts to raise awareness about ALS, a disease he suffers from, received top honors in several contests this year.
"Finding life's work — on borrowed time" earned Liza Frenette her third prestigious Mary Heaton Vorse Award from the Metro NY Labor Council. Heaton Vorse, an early 20th century writer and journalist, championed labor and social justice issues and women's rights. The story also won a first place and award of excellence from the AFT Communications Network.
The awards are among high honors, including Best Magazine and Best Website, NYSUT's Communications Department received over the last year. The honors:
Metro NY Labor Council
First Place: Best Social Media: facebook.com/NYSUTUnited
First Place: Best Blog: blogs.nysut.org
First Place: Best Unique Performance — Web: "It's What We Do"
First Place: Best Video: Workers' rights: From Wisconsin to New York by Bryan Thomas
Second Place: Best Reporting: "NYSUT sues Regents, state ed to block teacher evaluation regs" by Sylvia Saunders
Second Place: Best Feature: "The Great Divide" by Matt Smith
NEA State Education Editors
First Place: Best Magazine: NYSUT United
First Place: Best Photography: "Brian O'Shaughnessy: The Workers' Champion" by Andrew Watson
Awards Of Distinction: Best Use of Social Media: facebook.com/NYSUTUnited;
Best Targeted Social Media Campaign: It's What We Do;
Best Website: www.nysut.org;
Best News Story: "Turning a moment into a movement" by Liza Frenette
AFT Communications Network
Award of Excellence: "Finding life's work — on borrowed time" by Liza Frenette
First Place: Best Profile: "All the world is his classroom" by Leslie Duncan Fottrell
First Place: Best Feature: "Finding life's work – on borrowed time" by Liza Frenette
First Place: Best Website: www.nysut.org
Second Place: Best News Story: "Mud, sweat and tears" by Betsy Sandberg and Liza Frenette
Second Place: Best Layout: NYSUT United "Our voice matters" by Dana Fournier
Third Place: Best Periodical — Print: NYSUT United