Each school year, the Minnesota State High School League recognizes a media member with the League’s Outstanding Media Service Award. The award recognizes the media contributions and service to the participants, the member schools and their communities.
The award has been presented since 2015. The recipients are traditionally honored on Championship Day during the Boys Basketball State Tournament in an on-court ceremony. Recipients are known for their passion, endless enthusiasm and knack for heartfelt storytelling of the journeys of the participants, member schools and their communities.
Recipients are selected through a multi-layered process that begins with nominations from activities directors of the League’s member schools. This process begins each December and recipients are determined by early February.
Past recipients:
2023 --- Print Division: Ryan Bergeron, Greenbush Tribune; Electronic Division: Barry Wortel, KTOE-Mankato
2022 --- Print Division: Pat Ruff, Rochester Post Bulletin; Electronic Division: Chris Fee, KROX-Crookston.
2021 --- No Award Presented because of global pandemic
2020 --- Print Division: Mitchell Palmer McDonald, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder; Electronic Division: Dave Lee, WCCO-AM, 45TV
2019 --- Print Division: Tom Elliott, St. Cloud Times; Electronic Division: Jim Bartels, KNUJ Radio, New Ulm
2018 --- Print Division: John Sherman, Sun Newspapers; Electronic Division: Bill Bentson, KFIL Radio, Preston, www.wheelinwithweb.com
2017 --- Print Division: Mike Bialka, Brainerd Daily Dispatch; Electronic Division: Craig Olson, Fergus Falls, www.cosports.com
2016 --- Wally Wakefield, Lillie News, Maplewood
2015 --- Dave Harris, Alexandria
