Reeves County, Texas — The Office of the Reeves County Judge Leo Hung is proud to announce that Daniel Alvarado, Director of Digital Media, has received two national honors at the 31st Annual Communicator Awards, a program widely recognized for honoring excellence in the fields of communication and media.
Alvarado’s awards mark the 25th and 26th recognitions of his career that begun by helping launch Marfa Public Radio in 2006 along with employment at KSEL, KSRU, AM580, KTLE, KWES, KOSA, KCBD, KUPB, KLBK, KPBT and represent his first as an honoree of the Communicator Awards. The awards are presented by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA) and are considered among the most prestigious honors in the communications industry. This year’s Award of Excellence recipients include Netflix, Oliver Wyman, Getty Museum, Apple, PepsiCo, McKesson, Savannah College of Art and Design, George P. Johnson Experience Marketing, The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, Zeta Global, Bank of America, and many others. “Your work stood out among thousands of entries from around the world,” wrote Lauren Angeloni, Managing Director of the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts. “This massive achievement connects you to a vibrant community of award-winning creators, marketers, and storytellers… Your two Communicator Award wins are a significant accomplishment.”
One award was in the General-Social Media Video category, earned for his feature on Meals on Wheels of Reeves County titled Team Awesome Serve, which spotlighted the volunteers and staff who serve thousands of meals each year to Reeves County residents in need. The second award was in the Social Video-News & Politics category, earned for his in-depth b-roll of the December 18, 2024, train derailment, a tragedy that claimed the lives of Mr. Clay Burt and Mr. Phillip Arrujo, and garnered international attention. “And there’s one moment I’ve carried with me since that day—something I believe every family member should know: When Clay was removed from the engine that carried him, silence fell. No words. No movement. Just stillness. Respect. Brotherhood. You could hear a pin drop. Every single person—law enforcement, medics, railroad crew, community— stood at attention. No one asked them to. It was instinct. Reverence. That short walk to the ambulance became a ceremony. And in that silence, I saw the deepest kind of honor. It told me everything about the kind of men Clay and Phillip were—and everything about this community’s heart. That moment wasn’t filmed. But it will stay with me for life. And I needed you—especially their families— to know that the utmost care, dignity, and respect was shown to your loved ones, from the very first moment to the last.”
“We owe a deep debt of gratitude to Micheal Wits- Aku Rodriguez, whose vision and uncompromising standards laid the foundation for our digital media department. Without the gem he created in 2019, we would not be celebrating two major national recognitions from the prestigious Communicator Awards—an honor that stands among the highest any filmmaker or content creator can achieve. These recognitions are not about personal accolades,” said Alvarado. “They are tributes to the strength, courage, and humanity of those who serve our county—whether feeding our seniors or responding to an unimaginable crisis. I accept these awards on behalf of Hilda Mendoza and the Meals on Wheels volunteers, the first responders, law enforcement, Union Pacific personnel, and the families of Mr. Burt and Mr. Arrujo. This is Reeves County’s story.”
A self-taught professional and longtime storyteller, Alvarado has built a career based on service, resilience, and faith. Though he did not complete a formal degree, he credits educators from his hometown of Olton, TX, mentors, and West Texas newsrooms, to the national stage for shaping his skills and vision. Since joining Reeves County in 2022, Alvarado has led the Digital Media Department with a mission of transparency, preparedness, and collaboration across all seven county taxing entities.
“The role of digital media in public service has never been more vital,” Alvarado said. “This department was built to inform, engage, and uplift. Whether it’s emergency communication or community celebration, we will continue to deliver with excellence, integrity, and heart. I’ve learned that the true reward is in service, not applause. To my late high school friends — Sydnee Venable, Bobby Joe Givens, Lauren Caraway, Shane Barnett, and Malachi Fonseca — thank you for teaching me to live large and lead boldly. It’s for those who can no longer speak for themselves that I do this work. It’s for the victims, the voiceless, and the forgotten that I dedicate my life to telling their stories. I am nothing more than a blessed servant of God, continually praying, “Lord, send me.” And as long as He does, I’ll keep walking this path, lifting up those who need it most, and serving in the ways He calls me to.”
The Communicator Awards are judged by top-tier professionals from brands like Netflix, Sony, American Express, and Discovery Communications. The Award of Distinction is presented to projects that exceed industry standards in quality and achievement.
“This is a win for all of Reeves County,” said the Honorable County Judge Hung. “Daniel has given voice to the people and stories that define our community. We are proud to stand with him as he is recognized nationally for the work we see and value every day.”