Welcome to 2026! Though last year had its challenges, with the cut in federal funding for public media, we still had a great year in so many ways. Our talented staff won numerous awards, including four Public Media Awards, five Bronze Telly Awards, six Emmy Awards, the Darden Award and many more. We also had a year full of notable events—including the screening of a phenomenal film on the historic battlefield in Yorktown. Thank you to each of you who supported us throughout the last year.
2026 is shaping up to be just as full and exciting. We are entering the second year of our partnership with Virginia Humanities, and applications are open for grants supporting Hampton Roads’ museums, libraries, historic sites, and other cultural nonprofits. The deadline to apply is April 30. Learn more at whro.org/humanities
I’m also excited to announce the promotion of Kate Pringle, CFRE, to Vice President of Development, effective January 17, 2026. Kate assumes the role following the announcement of Chief Development Officer Tom Burton’s upcoming retirement. I’ve known Tom for many years and I thank him for his years of excellent service to WHRO and the community. Enjoy your retirement, Tom!
We also kick off a new season of student competitions at the start of the new year. The TowneBank Spelling Bee will be held in the next few months. You can watch it on WHRO TV on April 4. Our annual PBS KIDS Writers Contest is accepting entries now through March 20. You can learn more about the contest at whro.org/writerscontest. And, the Great Computer Challenge includes two events held at Old Dominion University in the spring. It is always a highlight for schools throughout our region.
We also continue to feature new local content on WHRO+, our free streaming app. A few recent additions include WHRO Public Lens, The Story Exchange, and Time Machine Video. If you haven’t downloaded it, you’re missing out! Visit whro.org/plus to learn more—we even have several community sessions scheduled to walk you through how to use the app.
Thank you to each of you who generously contributed to the station last year, attended our events, shared your opinions about our programming, and recommended us to your friends and family. Without your support we could not do the work we do. Thank you for being a member of WHRO. We look forward to another great year of serving our amazing community!
Bert Schmidt President & Chief Executive Officer |