03 Aug 2025 501 feature on KARK’s Todd Yakoubian named winner at APW 2025 Communications Contest

Arkansas Press Women announced the winners of its annual Professional Communications Contest at an awards luncheon June 21 at Central Baptist College in Conway. Work produced in a variety of communications fields during 2024 was eligible to compete.

Two 501 LIFE contributors entered articles and placed in the contest — Tammy Keith and Dwain Hebda.

Keith won awards for three articles published in 501 LIFE Magazine, including first place for a personality profile titled “Todd Yakoubian: Taking Central Arkansas by Storm,” which appeared in the June 2024 issue. Keith also won third place for “From Conviction to Creation,” which also was published in the June 2024 issue, and an honorable mention for “Lisa and the League of Kindness,” which was published in May 2024. 

First-place entrants in the Arkansas contest who are members of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) advance to NFPW’s national competition. The winners will be recognized during the federation’s annual conference Sept. 11-13 in Golden, Colo. Keith’s first-place entry on Todd Yakoubian advanced to national judging and won an award. Specific results of the national contest have not been released.

Another 501 LIFE contributor won the Sweepstakes Award in the state contest for the fourth consecutive year. The award is based on a point system that factors in entry ranking and the degree of competition in a category. Hebda of Little Rock, president of Ya!Mule Wordsmiths, Inc., won awards for two entries published in 501 LIFE Magazine, including honorable mention for “Pickin’ and Grinnin’” about Aaron Farris. It appeared in the January 2025 issue. He also won an honorable mention for “The Music Man” about Rojay Moore, which appeared in the June 2024 issue.