ADs honor Pioneer’s Austin

by Staff Pioneer Times
15 years ago

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Veteran Houlton Pioneer Times Sports Editor, Gloria Austin, recently accepted an award from the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) for her outstanding achievements in print media.
    Bruce Nason, Houlton High School athletic director, presented the award to Austin on behalf of the MIAAA. He had written a nomination letter citing her editorial experience with the Pioneer Times and her coverage of local sports and athletics in addition to her other duties covering general news assignments and  feature writing. Nason also addressed her achievements in photography, editing, layout and design of her weekly sports pages each week in his recommendation.
ImageHoulton Pioneer Times Photo/Wanda MacIlroy
CONGRATULATIONS — Houlton Pioneer Times Sports Editor, Gloria Austin, accepts the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association award from Bruce Nason, Houlton High School athletic director, for her outstanding achievements in print media.
    Nason referred to Austin as a “dedicated newspaper professional and community member” who challenges herself and her peers to make each edition better than the one before. This attention to excellence was recognized by her peers in the industry in 2008 when the Houlton Pioneer Times was named ‘Best Newspaper in Maine’ in the small weekly category.”
    Martin Ryan, CMAA, is the executive director of the MIAAA. He said Austin was recommended by a group of athletic directors in the state and Austin “was in competition with every print writer in the state.”     
    Due to her dedication to her editorial responsibilities for the Pioneer Times,  Austin was unable to attend the awards ceremony. Ryan said: “It’s a very nice distinction, it really is. She is recognized for her coverage and contributions to interscholastic athletics.”
    Austin, who has reported fo the Houlton paper since 1987, said the award was quite a surprise, and, a pleasant one. “I’m grateful to the athletic directors for their recognition of our work with the schools. It’s a priviledge to write each athlete’s story, supporting the very youngest to the oldest athletes in our community. I also appreciate my husband’s and son’s support of my time away from home.”