MVI captures 9 awards in statewide media contest, 3 honors for advertising
The MVI staff was honored for its work in 2025 by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.
By the MVI
The Mon Valley Independent won nine awards in the 2026 Professional Keystone Media Awards, including for breaking news, photography, commentary and special sections, as well as three honors in the Pennsylvania News-Media Association Foundation Advertising Contest.
The association on Thursday announced the results of the 2026 Professional Keystone Media Awards for stories written in 2025.
“We have quite a team here at the Mon Valley Independent and I am so proud to work with our talented staff of journalists and photographers every day,” said Managing Editor Stacy Wolford. “Our entire staff here values community journalism and is dedicated in delivering the best for our readers. This is a great accomplishment for our small staff. We work hard each day and it’s always special to be recognized by those in our industry.”
Winners will be honored at the Keystone Media Awards Luncheon on Oct. 8, in conjunction with the PNA Annual National Newspaper Week Convention, scheduled for Oct. 7-9 in Harrisburg.
Honored for their work are editorial staff members:
• Senior staff writer Taylor Brown and staff photographer Jennifer Codeluppi won an honorable mention in the Breaking News category for their entry, “Man trapped after trench collapse in Charleroi.”
Serra Catholic pitcher Tyler Skaggs (6) leaps into the arms of catcher Jake Holmes in the rain after recording the final out of a no-hitter to win the WPIAL Class 1A baseball championship against Carmichaels at EQT Park in Washington on May 28, 2025. Serra Catholic won the title, 9-0. Photographer Jeff Helsel won second place in the Sports Action Photo category in the 2026 Professional Keystone Media Awards.
• Staff photographer Jeff Helsel captured four awards. He won first place in the News Event Photo category for his entry, “First day of school arrival;” second place in the Sports Action Photo category for “Skaggs, Eagles fly to title No. 5;” and he won first place in the Feature Photo category for his entry, “First game at ‘New Boston Field’” and second place in the Feature photo category for “Pet Day at Sunflower Festival: A golden day for pets at the Schwirian sunflower field.”
• Sports Editor Jeremy Sellew won second place in the Sports/ Outdoor Column category for his package of columns, “More to the recipe of destroying a program,” “‘Tybo’ is the right man for BVA boys,” and “One of the WPIAL’s ‘GOATS’ gets his one for the thumb.”
• Managing Editor Stacy Wolford won second place in the Column category for her package of
columns, “Celebrating extraordinary women this Mother’s Day,” “9/11 to today: Ways we have changed,” and “Thankful for life’s big – and small – blessings.”
• In the Special Section category, the MVI’s editorial staff won first place for “Journey: Rivers of Life.” Editorial staff who worked on the project are Managing Editor Stacy Wolford, staff writers Taylor Brown and Sarah Pellis, former staff writer Ladimir Garcia, contributing writer Matt Petras, and staff photographers Jeff Helsel and Jenn Codeluppi.
• Also in the Special Section category, the MVI’s Sports staff won second place for the annual high school football section. The MVI sports staff who worked on the project are
Photographer Jeff Helsel won first place in the Feature Photo category for this entry, “First game at ‘New Boston Field.’”
Lauren Alvarez of the Elizabeth Forward softball team blows a bubble while sitting in the dugout during a game against Uniontown in Boston, Pa., on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The lighthearted moment offered a glimpse of the players’ personalities during a break in the action.
Sports Editor Jeremy Sellew, News Editor Carl Hill, sports writer Liam Belan, MVI sports photographers Jeff Helsel, Jenn Codeluppi and Mike Darnay, as well as contributing writers Adam Brewer and Jeff Oliver.
“We pride ourselves in providing the best local coverage of our student-athletes here in the Mon Valley. I always say that we live in an area where our communities thrive on the success and stories of their local high school teams, and it holds true to this day,” said Sellew. “A huge thanks goes to the entire MVI Sports team, and without a doubt, the numerous athletes, coaches and athletic administrators for their continued cooperation needed to tell their stories. It feels great to be recognized for the hard work our staff of writers, freelancers and photographers do every single day, knowing that these honors are judged by our peers in journalism.”
MVI staff photographer Jeff Helsel won second place in the 2026 Professional Keystone Media Awards in the Feature Photo category for this photo of his golden retriever Jake as he explores the sunflower fields during Pet Day at the Schwirian Farm Sunflower Festival in Forward Township on July 24, 2025. The farm is hosting its annual sunflower festival this week. See Helsel’s other award-winning photos on pages A2 and B1. Jeff Helsel / Mon Valley Independent
MVI graphic artists win Pa. advertising contest honors
The Mon Valley Independent’s advertising graphic artist team, Kayla Allen-Russo and Deb Pace, captured three awards in the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Foundation’s annual advertising contest for work published last year.
Th 2026 PNA Foundation Advertising Contest honors advertising departments across Pennsylvania that continue to produce outstanding printed and digital classified and display ads, campaigns, and special publications and efforts worthy of recognition. Winners will be honored at the Advertising Contest Awards Luncheon on Sept. 17 in conjunction with the PNA Advertising Conference, Sept.1618 in State College. The event will be held at The Graduate by Hilton, State College.
The MVI competed in Division IV with newspapers
Mon Valley Independent staff photographer Jeff Helsel won first place in the 2026 Professional Keystone Media Awards in the News Event photo for this photo of first grader Wesley Cupari as he walked alongside his sister, kindergartner Harper Cupari, as they arrived for the first day of school at California Elementary School on Aug. 21, 2025.
across the state with a circulation of less than 10,000.
Allen-Russo and Pace captured the following awards:
• Second place in the Small Space Ad category for their MarBill Diamonds & Jewelry ad entry.
• Honorable Mention in the Small Space Ad category for the Valley First FCU ad.
• Second place in the Most Improved Ad category for the Ballroom Dance Lessons ad.
“The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association awards recognize the best of the best. What an honor to receive awards in multiple categories this past year!” said MVI Circulation and Advertising Director Lori Byron. “Our stories, pictures and designs are exceptional. Congratulations to all of you. We are very proud of your accomplishments.”
