2011: 2nd Annual Walter Cronkite Awards Ceremony, Martha's Vineyard

On Sunday July 17, the Stone Soup Leadership Institute held the 2nd Annual Walter Cronkite Awards at the Old Whaling Church. With Master of Ceremonies Ed Jerome, the Vineyard's legends first spoke of this great man and his love of the Island: Ray Ellis, Ted Morgan and Rose Stryon, "Walter would have been so proud of these Award winners who are addressing issues that mattered to him -- children's rights, and especially the Institute's mission of training young people to build a better world."


Kathy Cronkite presented the 2nd Annual Walter Cronkite Awards. "One thing Dad was passionate about was the need to educate young people to be global citizens. He was a passionate patriot and believer in our constitutional democracy. He knew that a democracy can not work without an educated people. He loved this Island and knew that the problems here were a microcosm of problems facing the world community."

Award winner Len Morris, Galen Films won for his "integrity, courage, commitment, leadership and vision, using the power of the media to awaken the world to the causes and best practice solutions to child labor, children on the streets and chronic poverty." In response, Len said, "Today, more than any time in my memory as a journalist, we need to revisit the spirit and values of Walter Cronkite's brand of journalism." He encouraged people to support Media Voices for Children, the global community for children's rights.

Youth Award winner Meagan McDonough, a Martha's Vineyard Charter School Senior, aspires to become an educational media director. "Walter Cronkite made people feel that they were part of something. He was part of a generation of journalists who strived for the truth. He believed in being part of a team. He believed in building a better world. Young people want to be someone and do something. We just need a little help. Being a member of the Martha's Vineyard Youth Leadership Initiative gave me an opportunity to capture young people's dreams and to have adults listen."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Walter Cronkite
• Awards
• Rose Styron
• Martha's Vineyard
• youth leadership
• children's rights