The Wisconsin Black Media Association honored local journalists of color Sunday.
Our own Carole Meekins was awarded for her contributions to the industry, and to the Milwaukee community. She took it as an opportunity to pay it forward, announcing the Carole Meekins scholarship fund for local African-American students.
"I'm just very happy because what we stand for is trying to let kids know there can be futures in journalism," Meekins said.
Meekins is helping create that future, by donating $2,500 towards the scholarship in her name, for Milwaukee Public School students to study print and broadcast journalism.
"That's really what it's all about, and that makes this a huge honor," she said.
Meekins has been following her passion at TODAY’S TMJ4 for 25 years now.
"One of the highlights of my job is meeting some of the unsung heroes in our community," she said. "The regular people who are doing great things every day, simply because they feel it's the right thing to do."
She's touched a lot of lives so far in her career.
"Carole is a gem, and sometimes we take people like that for granted because she's so professional and does such such a great job," says Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist James Causey. "But she's also a mentor to a lot of people just like me."
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett declared February 19, 2017 "Carole Meekins Day", sharing his own tribute to Meekins.
"She brings grace, intelligence, and consistency to television news," Barrett said. "In a media that has has its ups and downs, she has been a constant. A pleasant constant. Pleasant isn't a strong enough word. I would say a magnificent constant in this community. Because of her involvement. And she is the journalist, with all due respect, that my wife likes the most."
Also honored Sunday: longtime Journal Sentinel columnist Eugene Kane, and Faithe Colas, the wife of late Milwaukee radio icon, Eric Von.
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