WABJ successfully hosted another sold-out Special Honors & Scholarship Gala on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. Many thanks to our sponsors and guests!

The gala is WABJ’s largest annual fundraiser. It supports thousands in scholarships each year for local student journalists and year-round, volunteer-led professional development programming, including the Urban Journalism Workshop for local high school students, which will be in its 40th year in 2026.

We presented awards to 10 distinguished professionals for excellence in journalism, communications, newsroom leadership and community service:

• WABJ Lifetime Achievement Award: Michel Martin — Host, Morning Edition, NPR
• WABJ Legacy Award: Eugene Daniels and Jonathan Capehart — Co-Hosts, “The Weekend”, MSNBC
• WABJ Journalist of the Year: Geoff Bennett — Co-Anchor, PBS News Hour
• WABJ Young Journalist of Excellence Award: Jasper Smith — Reporter, The Chronicle of Higher Education
• WABJ Excellence in Communications Award: Natalie Wilson — Co-Founder and Director of Public Relations, Black and Missing Foundation
• Dorothy Butler Gilliam Trailblazer Award: John Yearwood — Editorial Director, Diversity & Culture, POLITICO
• Dr. Sheila Brooks Community Impact Award: Jonelle Henry — Director, University of Florida CJCxDC Student Immersion Program
• President’s Award: Doxie McCoy — Public Information Officer, Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia
• President’s Award in honor of the Freedom of Expression: Ron Moten — CEO and Founder, Go-Go Museum