Newsmakers announced, Southeast Texas media honored at 33rd Excellence in the Media Awards

The Press Club of Southeast Texas celebrated the 2023 work of its member's on Friday night, June 7, 2024, at the MCM Elegante Hotel in Beaumont.

The club also announced the 2023 Newsmaker of the Year on Friday night.

The Excellence in the Media Awards celebrates the hard work of hundreds of communication professionals from Southeast Texas.

MORE | Complete list of winners

Hundreds of winners were collectively honored with 252 awards announced throughout the evening.

A total of 524 entries were received for this year's contest which featured 82 individual categories.

There were 77 first place, 67 second place, 63 third place and 45 honorable mention awards handed out.

The 2023 Newsmaker of the Year is a brother & sister team consisting of Mary Stankus and Vu Nguyen.

During a child’s birthday party in Bridge City in May of 2023, two young girls were pulled from the bottom of a backyard pool. The two girls, ages 9 and 14, were unresponsive and not breathing.

While waiting for emergency assistance to arrive, off-duty nurse Stankus and her brother Nguyen performed lifesaving CPR and revived both girls prior to emergency personnel arriving.

Three other Newsmaker of the Year finalists honored throughout the evening included...

• Vidor Police officer Brittany Haley
• Port Neches-Groves High School football coach Jeff Joseph
• Beaumont Community Players Executive Director John Manfredi

WATCH | Meet all our 2023 Newsmaker finalists

Thank you to our underwriters

Diamond $5000

Entergy Texas

Emerald $2500

Lamar Institute of Technology

Lamar University College of Fine Arts & Communication

Regina Rogers - In Loving Memory of Julie & Ben Rogers

Ruby $1250

Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau

Beaumont Enterprise

CommonCents Credit Union

ExxonMobil Beaumont

Honorable Mitch Templeton

Houseman Development

12News (Double Sponsor)

KFDM/FOX4 Beaumont

Lamar University Office of Marketing Communications

The Examiner

Sapphire $500

Rennick Law Firm

Special Donation

Universal Coin & Bullion