Pulitzer Prize Finalist
2009: The Pulitzer Board named Regina one of three finalists for commentary "For her range of compelling columns that move the heart, challenge authority and often trigger action while giving readers deeper insight into life's challenges."
2008: The Pulitzer Board named Regina a finalist for commentary "For her passionate columns on alienated teenagers in a dangerous city neighborhood." http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Commentary
National Headliner Award
2009: Regina won for a four-part series called The Inheritance. It told the story of her daughter's decision to have a double-mastectomy after learning that she carried a genetic mutation that increased her risk for breast cancer.
1999: Regina won for columns about her journey facing breast cancer. While going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments, she wrote extensively and candidly about her experiences in The (Akron) Beacon Journal.
She also won a 2nd place Headliner Award for her series of stories about the "Hicks Babies," a black market baby-selling ring operating out of Hicks Clinic in Georgia in the late 1950's. Discovered and first written about by Regina, this story ran in newspapers across the country, prompting calls from 60 Minutes, Dateline NBC, the BBC and scores of other media outlets.
The Silver Gavel Award
2009: The American Bar Association gave this award to Regina for her fight to change the legal system in Ohio. Defense attorneys will now have open discovery, so they will have access to police reports and witness statements to provide an adequate defense.
The Batten Medal
1999: Knight-Ridder gave Regina this coveted award for Lifetime Achievement. It is given to those who embody understanding, fairness, courage and a deep concern for the underdog.
National Society of Newspaper Columnists
1996: Humor Writing
Cleveland Press Club Journalism Hall of Fame
2009: Regina was inducted into the journalists' Hall of Fame.
Regina has also received numerous writing awards from the Cleveland Press Club, Society for Professional Journalists and the Ohio Associated Press.
