Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Kevin Essebaggers, ’98 MA ’01, advanced from television reporter to anchor in just three years, making rapid progress in a highly competitive field.

He currently works as an anchor and reporter for WWTV-WWUP 9 & 10 News in Cadillac, where he has worked since 2001, returning to the station after spending a year there as a reporter after graduation. He also has worked for WZZM-TV 13 in Grand Rapids and CMU Public Radio.

Kevin has won a number of reporting and news awards, including "Best Inpidual Reporting" from the Michigan Associated Press in 2002, "Best Hard News" from the Michigan Associated Press in 2003, and "Best TV News Special" in 2003 from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

He is a member of the International Radio and TV Society and the National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences.

In addition to his busy career, Kevin also volunteers for CMU and his local community. He speaks at CMU’s annual freshman pre-orientation program, and he helps raise money for CMU Public Radio and Hospice of Michigan.