Recognition is in addition to winning ‘2025 Station of the Year’ at the Wisconsin Broadcasting Association Awards
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — Sun Prairie Rising is proud to be part of a vibrant community of creators at the Sun Prairie Media Center. Several producers earned regional recognition last week, taking home 12 awards at the 2026 Best of the Midwest Media Fest.
The annual event, hosted by Wisconsin Community Media in partnership with the Alliance for Community Media Midwest Region, honors outstanding video and radio programming produced by community media organizations across the Midwest. This year’s ceremony was held May 1 in Onalaska.
Three Programs Earn Top “Excellence” Honors
Among the Sun Prairie Media Center’s wins were three top-tier “Excellence” awards:
- “What Are We Building?” — hosted by Andy Schoenherr, recently renamed “Sun Prairie Rising”
- “Homeroom” — produced by the Sun Prairie Area School District and hosted by Todd Milewski and Superintendent Brad Saron
- “Everybody’s Got a Story” — a radio program hosted by Sharyn Alden featuring interviews with community members
Additional Awards Across Multiple Categories
The Media Center also received three “Achievement” awards, including two for Dannelle Gay’s “Traveling Cheesehead” program and one for the Sun Prairie Media Center Membership PSA.
Six additional programs earned “Merit” awards:
- “The Allen and DJ Show”
- “2025 Isthmus Bowl Radio Coverage”
- “Sun Prairie West High School Football vs Oregon”
- “Library Expansion Update”
- “Seldom Heard”
- “Take Immediate Cover”
103.5 FM also Recognized by WBA
In a separate ceremony, Sun Prairie’s Radio Station, 103.5 FM The Sun took home ‘Station of the Year’ honors at the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Awards. Competition for this year’s awards was as strong as ever with 1,322 award entries from a total of 108 stations. Entries were judged by professional broadcasters outside Wisconsin.
“Broadcasters show year after year their dedication to their local communities and it’s an honor to recognize their outstanding service,” said WBA President and CEO Michelle Vetterkind. “There’s so much for radio and TV broadcasters to be proud of and great reason to celebrate them and their work.”
103.5 FM was recognized in the ‘Large Market’ category, alongside Monona’s Community radio station WVMO-LP.
Recognizing Community Contributors
SPMC Production Manager Colin Lessig credited the success to the organization’s volunteer producers and staff.
“We’re fortunate to have so many talented member producers creating content for us and the Sun Prairie community,” said Lessig. “In addition to thanking our volunteer member producers, I also want to express my gratitude for all that my colleagues, John Schmidt and Erika Case, do behind the scenes to make these productions happen. I also want to thank our Friends of Sun Prairie Media Center group for picking up the cost for entry fees so producers could enter the judging process with no cost out of pocket. They also paid for those winning the Excellence awards. We appreciate all they do for us and our members.”
About the Awards
To be eligible for recognition, programs must be produced or distributed through a community media center and premiered on a cable access channel, community radio station, or digital platform.
More information about the award-winning programs can be found on the Sun Prairie Media Center website.
Opportunities for Local Creators
The Sun Prairie Media Center is currently seeking new producers interested in creating original content using its studio facilities and staff support. Those interested can learn more or submit program ideas through the organization’s website or by contacting the center directly.
Episodes of the award-winning programs are available online and through the Sun Prairie Media Center mobile app.
Additional details about the Media Fest and participating organizations can be found through Wisconsin Community Media.
by Andy Schoenherr
Editor, Sun Prairie Rising
Sun Prairie Media Center Honored with 12 Awards at Midwest Media Fest
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