The Central Virginian would like to congratulate our senior journalist John Hajduk III on earning not one, but two awards at the 2026 Virginia Press Association Conference & Awards Banquet held in Lynchburg on April 11.

Hajduk was recognized for excellence in his feature story writing and multimedia journalism.

All entries are evaluated by journalists from another state’s press association to ensure impartiality and provide a true peer review by professionals who understand the standards of the field. Judging criteria include quality of reporting and writing, accuracy and depth, public impact, and creativity in presentation.

These honors mark his third award in the past six months, in addition to his recent selection to the 2025 Louisa County Public Schools Media Honor Roll.

“I have always had experience writing, but I had never done so in a formal manner— so I really had to pivot and lean into it,” Hajduk said after receiving the awards. “There was a bit of a learning curve and some trial and error to this day, but I appreciate the responsibility and I’m thankful to those in the Louisa community that offered me grace and a second chance to get it right. We’re a small staff in a big county, so as far as I’m concerned these [awards] belong to the whole team.”

We are thankful for John and our entire team for their contributions towards this achievement.

We also extend our congratulations to all award recipients and nominees across the Commonwealth for their commitment to informing communities, upholding accountability, and continuing to elevate the standard of local journalism in Virginia.