Berks Community Television (BCTV) happily announces the 2025 Community Builder & Community Media award recipients. The honorees will be recognized and celebrated at a cocktail reception in the Rookery at The Nature Place, 575 St. Bernardine St., on Wednesday, Oct. 23, starting at 5:30 p.m. Ticket and sponsorship information is below.
“We are honored to recognize these remarkable individuals who embody dedication, passion, and hard work in our community. Each shares a meaningful relationship with BCTV, whether through partnership, support, or collaboration, making their contributions even more special to us. Their leadership sets a powerful example, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements while looking ahead to the lasting influence they will continue to have in Berks County,” said Heather Adams, Executive Director of BCTV.
The awards honor the legacy of Eugene L. Shirk, a two-term mayor of Reading. Mayor Shirk was chairman of the advisory committee that established Berks Community Television, and he served as BCTV’s first president, holding the post for 19 years until his death in 1994. He hosted to of BCTV’s core programs, “Bridging the Generation Gap” and “The National Issues Forum.”
2025 Eugene L. Shirk Community Builder Award Recipients:
Dave & Cathy Myers
This recognition honors the memory of former Reading Mayor Eugene L. Shirk and celebrates individuals who best embody his spirit and the qualities he demonstrated as an educator, coach, mayor, and citizen: civility, commitment to the well-being of others, honor, humor, involvement in our community, and leadership.
The professional and volunteer work of David and Cathy Curran Myers has significantly shaped the civic and environmental landscape of Berks County and beyond. David, a leader in higher education, state government, and community organizations, has coordinated forums, led collaborative initiatives like the Berks Alliance, and served on numerous local boards, including BCTV and the Reading Public Museum. Cathy, an environmental lawyer and educator, has held executive roles in state government, academia, and law, most notably as Deputy Secretary for Water Management at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and continues her work in sustainability and community engagement through teaching, advocacy, and service. Together, they exemplify a deep commitment to leadership, public service, and the well-being of their community.
The Eugene L. Shirk Community Builder Award has been presented to William Flippin, Jay Sidhu, Karen Rightmire, Paul Roedel, State Sen. Judy Schwank, Sam McCullough, S. Henry Lessig, Mary Ann Chelius-Smith, Chip Karasin, John Weidenhammer, Rick Burkey, Chris G. Kraras, Carl Herbein, Kevin Murphy, Barbara Kline, Gust Zogas, Chris Pruitt, Elsayed Elmarzouky, Karen A. Miller, John Ernesto, Hon. Arthur & Louise Grim, John Gallen, and Ramona Turner Turpin.
2025 Community Building Institution Award Recipient:
Reading School District
Presented to an organization, company, or educational institution that promotes and exemplifies the positive spirit of the community by supporting local projects and encouraging volunteerism.
Reading School District is the fourth largest school district in Pennsylvania and the sixth largest employer in Berks County. With partnerships across Berks County to address poverty and other challenges faced by students and families, they are committed to their mission and core purpose of educating ALL students. The Reading School District served for many years as the manager of the public access Education Channel and continues to work with BCTV in 2025 to reinvigorate media arts and content creation opportunities for their students and the benefit of our community.
The Community Building Organization Award has previously been presented to Tompkins VIST Bank, Albright College, Berks Encore, Alvernia University, Centro Hispano, Reading Area Community College, and the United Way of Berks County.
2025 Community Media Award Honoree:
League of Women Voters of Berks County
This honor is given to an individual or organization to recognize their dedication to community media in Berks County and their passion for informing and engaging the public.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy and presents unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues. The League operates with the utmost professional standards, and chapters are lauded across the country as stalwart partners in community media. The League of Women Voters of Berks County has been a partner to BCTV for decades hosting candidate interviews, developing voter education content, and creating engaging and dynamic content on their own feature program.
The Community Media Award has been presented to Dr. Joseph Amprey, Thomas Fox, Sandy Graffius, and collectively to the former Directors of BCTV, Jerry Richter, Ann Sheehan, and Kate Stutzman.
Tickets for the award reception are $75 and include wine, beer, soft drinks, and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets can be purchased by cash or check made payable to BCTV, or online by the Oct. 15 deadline.
For ticketing and sponsorship inquiries, contact Heather Adams at 610-374-3065 x.101 or via email hadams@bctv.org.
BCTV is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community media organization committed to empowering people and engaging community through media.
The post BCTV Announces 2025 Shirk Community Builder & Community Media Award Honorees appeared first on BCTV.
Source: bctv
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