Newsmaker of the Year Winners

This award was created to honor a Dayton-area person who is not a professional communicator but has frequently been in the news for their role in advancing our community in a positive way. 

Past Newsmaker of the Year Winners

2026 Kelly Blankenship, DO, Dayton Children's Hospital

2025 Debbie Lieberman, Montgomery County, OH

2024 Crystal Allen, Boys & Girls Club of Dayton

2023 Helen Jones-Kelley, Montgomery County ADAMHS

2022 Sheriff Rob Streck, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

2021 Dr. Roberto Colon, Premier Health

2020 Mayor Nan Whaley, City of Dayton

2019 Lisa Wagner, Levitt Pavilion

2018 Debbie Feldman, Dayton Children's Hospital

2017 Grace Norman, Cedarville University student