The Lone Star Emmy Chapter is part of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and calls itself “the standard-bearers for excellence in the television broadcasting industry and the gatekeepers of the prestigious regional Emmy Awards in Texas.”

Shannon Runyon

This is where Michigan native Shannon Runyon — although, after being in Texas for 10 years, owns six pairs of cowboy boots, collects big ol’ belt buckles and frequently says things like y’all — submitted and gratefully earned two Emmys in the 2011 awards show in Houston Nov. 5.
Both Emmys branched off of one five-day trip to Costa Rica, where Shannon, daughter of Norman and Rose Runyon of Dowagiac, and KIAH anchor Mia Gradney shot in whirlwind fashion and covered 12 stories to return to Houston and have them all air on the regular news broadcast and in a half-hour special, “Costa Rica, the Ultimate Summer Escape.”
The half-hour special earned an Emmy, but the award for “Environment — News Single Story/Series/Feature” was near and dear to Shannon’s and Mia’s hearts because while shooting this series they met a man named Eduardo Acosta, who started a Jatropha farm in Costa Rica, all by accident in desperate pursuit to educate his autistic son.
The Jatropha is native to Costa Rica and can be quickly and cleanly converted into diesel fuel.
Ed told his story and won both their hearts simply out of his pure passion for loving his child, education and bettering this world.
These are Shannon’s third and fourth Emmys, as she was fortunate enough to win one in 2008 and another in 2010.
She simply says she does what she loves and loves what she does and thanks God for the gifts with which He’s blessed her.