Volume One celebrated its 2025 Contriby Awards with a lively gathering of over 70 people — including contributors, their loved ones, and friends.

This private event and awards gala — held on May 29 (which also landed on Wisconsin’s 177th birthday) — celebrates the many contributions of photographers, illustrators, artists, and writers who report on the Chippewa Valley community across our pages and online.

The event took place at a ~super secret~ downtown venue, marking the return of the event and honoring the past two years of contributor content in the magazine. All who gathered together enjoyed free grub and drinks, custom, contributor-determined awards, a red carpet photo-op, and lots of laughs.

Volume One's "Action Squad" kicked off the evening with a T-shirt cannon and hype sesh, setting a vibrant tone for the entire event.

18 awards were given out during Volume One's 2025 Contriby Awards; highlighting and honoring some of the folks whose contributions over 2023 and 2024 were essential to the magazine's bi-weekly print publication. Contributors chose a majority of the award recipients, recognizing creative approaches to storytelling through their work.

• Contributors' Choice, Best Article (2023)
  • "Heart & Sole: Harry's Shoe Repair Has Served Menomonie for More Than 70 Years" by Cynthia Romano
• Contributors' Choice, Best Article (2024): 
  • "Exploring What's Left Behind: 'A Life Undone' on Display at L.E. Phillips Library" by Barbara Arnold
• Contributors' Choice, Best Opening Letter (2023):
  • "A Pile of Memories at Your Feet" by Andrew Patrie
• Contributors' Choice, Best Opening Letter (2024):
  • "Feeling the Heat" by Andrew Patrie
• Contributors' Choice, Best Poetry (2023):
  • "Invasive" by Max Garland
• Contributors' Choice, Best Poetry (2024): 
  • "Graduation Day"; "Commitment"; "Jenga" by Yvette Flaten
• Contributors' Choice, Most Fun Read (2023):
  • "Why The Crow Should Be Eau Claire's Official City Bird" by Ron Davis
• Contributors' Choice, Most Fun Read (2024): 
  • "Opposites Attract: The Permanent Feline Residents of Mr. Kitty's Cat Cafe" by Alexis Thompson
• Contributors' Choice, Best Photo Set (2023):
  • "Chippewa Valley Multicultural Festival" by Grace Cremeens
• Contributors' Choice, Best Photo Set (2024):
  • "THE WATER CIRCUS: Cirque Italia Silver in E.C." by Mark Oliver
• Contributors' Choice, Best Individual Photo (2023):
  • "ZYMURDERFEST 2023" by Mark Oliver
• Contributors' Choice, Best Individual Photo (2024):
  • "AUGUST BLUES: Blues on the Chippewa 2024" by Mike O'Brien
• Contributors' Choice, Best Illustration (2023):
  • "My Famous Neighbors" by Kate Netwal
• Contributors' Choice, Best Illustration (2024):
  • "Like a Johnny Cash Song" by Caitlin Plaisance
• Contributors' Choice, Best Cover Art (2023):
  • "Duality" by Ashley Wittling
• Contributors' Choice, Best Cover Art (2024):
  • "Bloom" by Grace Pedersen
• Best 'Tough Stuff' Article: 
  • "SHIFTING SHADES: Three Takeaways from the 2024 Election in the Chippewa Valley and Beyond" by Luc Anthony
• Best Feature Story: 
  • "Three Rivers, Two Kayaks, & One Mission" by Ken Szymanski

This Chippewa Valley-driven awards show was co-hosted by Volume One’s McKenna Scherer and Matt Hasenmueller, along with more V1 staffers. Afterward, folks were invited to The Lakely for more post-event hangs and to pick up swag bags.

Interested in contributing to Volume One? Learn more at VolumeOne.org/contribute and connect with us!