MILWAUKEE, WIS. (February 8, 2018) – WISN 12 is once again hosting and sponsoring the Black Excellence Awards to recognize ground-breaking African Americans from across the area who are serving communities, inspiring peers and transforming lives. The 33rd Annual Event, themed ‘Mastering the Tools of Excellence,’ is being held on Friday February 23, 2018 at the Italian Conference Center. The gala is presented by The Milwaukee Times, WISN 12 and additional sponsors, with WISN 12 News anchors Sheldon Dutes and Andy Choi serving as emcees for the ceremony.
“Each year the Black Excellence Awards honor many of Milwaukee’s most respected leaders who enact positive change in our city,” says Jan Wade, president and general manager of WISN 12. “This collection of honorees and award recipients inspire all of us who attend.”
This year’s special honoree category is ‘Women in Media,’ highlighting the contributions of broadcasters and journalists both on-air and online. Among the recipients of this acknowledgement are WISN 12 News anchors Toya Washington and Melinda Davenport. In addition to this special honoree distinction there are more than a dozen other categories being featured, including areas like community service, sports, music, volunteerism, religion, education and more. The event will also welcome local high school students who are receiving the prestigious Louvenia Johnson Scholarship, recognizing accomplishments involving education, extracurricular activities, and community-building.
The keynote address will be delivered by Rosalind L. Hudnell, President of the Intel Foundation and Vice President of Human Resources for the Intel Corporation. Along with the keynote speaker, recipients and honorees, the gala will feature appearances by local leaders and performers such as Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, local singer and pianist Byron Jones, and local jazz ensemble ‘Christopher’s Project.’
About WISN 12 and Hearst Television
WISN 12, the ABC station in Milwaukee, is owned by Hearst Television. Hearst Television owns and operates television and radio stations serving 26 media markets across 39 states reaching over 21 million U.S. television households. Through its partnership with nearly all of the major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over nearly 70 video channels including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, MeTV, This TV, Estrella and more. The radio stations are leaders in Baltimore news/talk and rock music listenership. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry’s premier companies, and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst. The Company’s Web address is www.hearsttelevision.com.
