Shannon Brys Earns Associated Press Award

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Shannon Brys

ALLIANCE, OH (06/10/2011)(readMedia)-- Shannon Brys, a senior communication major of Concord Township, OH, received first place in the Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters annual contest for best feature reporting in small market radio in Ohio. Shannon was the news director last year for WRMU 91.1 FM, Mount Union's student-run radio station, and is currently the program director. The award was presented to Brys on Sunday, June 5 in Columbus.

Her feature story entitled Take Back the Night focused on Tom Santoro's speech during the Take Back the Night event on campus, a program developed to raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault. Santoro, a father whose 18-year-old daughter was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, has turned his pain into a mission to end dating violence and has shared his daughter's story by encouraging others to speak out against domestic violence and sexual assault.

By earning this award, Brys made history. She is the first student at Mount Union to earn a first place Associated Press (AP) award and the first student at Mount Union to win two AP professional awards. Last year, she received second place honors for best documentary for her story entitled Global Education. Mount Union students working at WRMU have now received six professional broadcast journalism awards. Broadcasters from Illinois judged this year's Ohio AP contest entries.

Jessica Eggan, a 2008 graduate of Mount Union and former program director for WRMU, was also recognized by AP. Eggan, who works for WJER-AM in Dover, OH, was named best reporter.

About the University of Mount Union

The University of Mount Union, founded in 1846, is a four-year, private institution grounded in the liberal arts tradition. Mount Union offers an array of broad-based and career-specific undergraduate and graduate programs to its 2,200 students who experience outstanding opportunities for success after graduation. Ranked as one of America's Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report, the University is committed to providing a student-centered approach and an exceptional educational experience, as evidenced by its mission to prepare students for fulfilling lives, meaningful work and responsible citizenship. The University's 115-acre campus is located in Alliance, Ohio, 80 miles of both Cleveland and Pittsburgh, and more than $100 million has been invested in the construction and renovation of modern facilities throughout the course of the past decade. For more information, visit www.mountunion.edu.