Awards & Acknowledgements
If I'm being honest, I don't love referring to myself as an "award-winning writer." Feels a little pompous. A little hubristic. But I've already committed to building an entire website about myself, so I guess humility's out the window. It's true that I've won some awards, and it's true that I've come pretty close to winning other awards. The following are some of the honors I've received—and almost received—over the years.
Personality Profile
Keystone Press Awards 2016 & 18
Two of my longform newspaper profiles each received top honors at the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association's annual Keystone Press Awards (2016 & 18). One detailed the life of Ellen Stern, who fled Nazi Germany as a child, while the other pieced together the story of Richard V. Mattison, an early 20th century business magnate who built a global empire manufacturing asbestos products in Pennsylvania.
My interviews and feature stories, most of which focused on musicians and performance artists, were twice honored with a top prize at the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association's annual Keystone Press Awards (2016 & 17). Awarded under the Feature Beat Reporting category, the pieces included profiles of such artists as Brian Wilson and Wilco.
Keystone Press Awards 2016 & 17
Feature Beat Reporting
Keystone Press Awards 2015
The Ambler Gazette Sweeps
Pictured here is a group selfie taken at the 2015 Keystones banquet, where the newspaper I managed (The Ambler Gazette) swept its categories, earning top prizes for news reporting, feature reporting, news photography, and best story. From left: Linda Finaerelli, Bob Raines, me, and Jarreau Freeman.
Philly DoGooder Film Festival
Best Film
In 2014, a short documentary I worked on was awarded the highest honor at the annual Philly DoGooder Film Festival, which highlights philanthropic films. Our film "Meet Jay" (directed and edited by Alex Levin) followed a young man overcoming adversity in Philadelphia. My work on the film included interviewing our subject and organizing the details of his story.
Austin Film Festival 2023 & 24
Second Rounder, Feature Screenplay
In 2023 and 2024, two of my feature-length screenplays—titled Threadbare and Asbestos King, respectively—advanced to the quarterfinals of the Austin Film Festival.
In 2024, two of my feature-length screenplays—titled Paper Cuts and Asbestos King—advanced to the semi-finals of the LA International Screenplay Awards.
Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards 2024
Semi-Finalist, Drama Feature
Coverfly Grant
Fee Waiver Recipient
Based on the quality of writing in my screenplays, the details of my career, and an outline of my creative goals, Coverfly selected me to receive a waiver for all competition and reading fees, which amounted to a value of thousands of dollars. That, plus the notoriety and encouragement made this a great honor.
