2025 Mississippi Pinnacle Awards recognize businesses, organizations making a difference

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – The annual Mississippi Pinnacle Awards returned to Hattiesburg this year.

This year’s ceremony honored humanitarians in the community while also recognizing businesses, events and organizations.

“We a have so many people, particularly community event organizers and people who are in the trenches for community marketing and sales,” event chair Michael Marks said. “These people deserve recognition.”

From hundreds of nominations, 38 finalists were selected.

Five humanitarians were announced, with an additional five taking home Pinnacle awards.

Pinnacle winners represented Hattiesburg, Oxford, Pascagoula and Jefferson Davis County.

Southeast Mississippi YMCA director Matt Rumph received the Bud Kirkpatrick Professional Award.

“We’re looking to be servants in our community and hopefully, we can get more servant leaders to step forward to look out for everyone else and be there for the community when needed,” Rumph said.

Veteran Mississippi journalist Maggie Wade accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award.

After 43 years with Jackson’s WLBT-TV, she’s still amazed at the impact television news has.

“I think as journalists we are that bridge to bring the story to the people then let people do what they do, which is give back and make a difference in the lives of others,” said Wade.

But the ceremony isn’t just about highlighting achievements.

The end goal is to push the next generation of sales and marketing professionals.

“The whole reason for this is to raise dollars for the next generation who are in school,” Marks said. “So, part of this is to extend to monetary help to high schoolers and college kids who are preparing to take our places.”

Popular Hattiesburg fixture Festival South was recognized as this year’s Overall Mississippi Pinnacle Award recipient.

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