Periodically, OnQ produces specials on a single topic. These specials take an in-depth look at the history, people and places that pertain to southwestern Pennsylvania and also have statewide or national interest.

100 Years at the Cathedral
An OnQ Special Edition
Often called "the mother church" of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese, St. Paul was consecrated in 1906. OnQ reveals historic photos including construction of the Cathedral, and a visit by Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Alicia's Message: I'm Here To Save Your Life
An OnQ Documentary
Once the victim of an online predator, Alicia Kozakiewicz now takes her harrowing experience into Pittsburgh classrooms to protect other children.

Astorino: Pittsburgh's Architect at the Vatican
An OnQ Special Edition
This documentary profiles Pittsburgh native Lou Astorino, the only American in history to design a building at the Vatican. Astorino's "Chapel of the Holy Spiri.t" OnQ was granted unprecedented access to the chapel, which is closed to the public.

Avian Flu: Planning for a Pandemic
An OnQ Special Edition
OnQ examines the threat of H5N1 or Avian Flu and looks at what's being done to curb a potential pandemic.

Barbershops: PA Stylin'
A loving look at the cultural importance of barbershops in the African American community.

Big Savage Tunnel
An OnQ Special Report
OnQ's Mid-Atlantic Emmy®-winning production team chronicles the history, renovation and recent opening of the Big Savage Tunnel.

Braddock's New Battle
An OnQ Neighborhood Special
The site of Andrew Carnegie's first steel mill has fallen on tough times since the decline of the steel industry but new things are happening that may bring about real change.

Bullying: Beyond Sticks & Stones
An OnQ Special Report
This OnQ's series focuses on the victims, tormentors and successful anti-bullying programs with reports and live in-studio expert discussion.

Carnegie
An OnQ Viewer's Request
Carnegie Carnegie: Its official name is the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall. But because of its location in the community of Carnegie, its nickname has become "The Carnegie Carnegie."

Celebrating Rodef Shalom
An OnQ Special Report
This historic Reform Jewish Temple in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh is celebrating two major milestones - the 100th anniversary of its building on Fifth Avenue and the 150th birthday of the Congregation.

City of Asylum
An OnQ Special Edition
Pittsburgh welcomes Huang Xiang as the first writer-in-residence of the grassroots-driven City of Asylum/Pittsburgh project. In partnership with the Mattress Factory, City of Asylum/Pittsburgh is providing a safe haven for Huang Xiang to create poetry and art.

Closing the Gap
An OnQ Special Report
OnQ and WQED are proud to be partners with Highmark in a series of reports and studio interviews exploring health disparities in the Pittsburgh region.

Cures for a Crisis
An OnQ Special Report
OnQ presents a week of special programming on the rising costs of healthcare.

The Darr Mine Disaster
An OnQ Special Edition
The century-old tragedy remains the worst mining accident in Pennsylvania history.

Diabetes: Epidemic of Our Time
An OnQ Special Edition
With the Pittsburgh medical community at the forefront of diabetes prevention and treatment, OnQ not only examines the problems associated with Type Two Diabetes in both adults and children, but also offers advice, solutions and prevention success stories.

Dixmont
An OnQ Special
This award-winning feature, rich with archival images and compelling interviews, chronicles the rise and fall of the landmark "insane asylum" near Pittsburgh. OnQ had unprecedented access to the Dixmont property and its underground tunnels just prior to demolition.

The Donora Smog
An OnQ Special Report
In October of 1948, this western Pennsylvania tragedy put the word "pollution" in America's vocabulary. This mini-documentary features rare archival images and compelling interviews with Donora natives who experienced the infamous smog.

Dr. Randy Pausch & The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch captivated the world by delivering a talk known simply as "The Last Lecture." With only months to live, this husband, father of three youngsters, and innovator imparted the lessons of his remarkable life and career. OnQ contributor Mike Lee has the story of his enduring legacy, and the courage, wisdom, and inspiration of Dr. Pausch, from the words of "The Last Lecture" and those of colleagues and friends.

East Liberty
An OnQ Neighborhood Special
This half-hour episode explores the past, present and future of one of Pittsburgh's historic and vital neighborhoods.

Fallen Hero: The Ross McGinnis Story
An OnQ Special Report
On December 4, 2006, Ross McGinnis was the gunner in the last of six Humvees patrolling a Baghdad neighborhood, when an insurgent threw a grenade into his vehicle. Instead of jumping to safety, McGinnis apparently realized his four comrades in the Humvee had no chance of escape. He rolled onto the grenade, absorbed the blast and died instantly. The four other men in the Humvee survived. McGinnis, age 19 at the time of his death, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

From Pittsburgh to Haiti: Mission of Mercy
OnQ travels to the back country of Haiti for a rare look at the Hospital Albert Schweitzer, founded and supported by people from western Pennsylvania.

From Pittsburgh to Poland: Lessons of the Holocaust
This one-hour documentary chronicles a journey by Holocaust survivors and educators from Pittsburgh to Poland where they took part in the annual March of the Living.

Gardens of Pennsylvania
An OnQ Documentary
Discover eight of the most impressive public gardens in the Commonwealth with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist, Doug Oster. From Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh to Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia, Oster journeys across the state showcasing not only the beautiful gardens but also the gardeners themselves.

Gettysburg's New Battle: Saving the Stone Soldiers
An OnQ Documentary
Don't miss this expanded version of the Mid-Atlantic Emmy®-winning Stone Soldiers documentary. With compelling new interviews, fresh historic perspectives and breathtaking HD video, this one-hour program showcases the unforgettable stories behind the monuments at Gettysburg.

Gettysburg: Stories From the Battlefield
An OnQ Documentary
Millions of people visit the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania - to admire the monuments and to walk the battlefield. But beyond the battle and impressive "stone soldiers" are sights most visitors will never see. This 30-minute OnQ documentary takes viewers where tour groups don't go, tells stories that don't show up in the history books and shows good deeds that are quietly done by battlefield volunteers.

Grow Up Great
An OnQ Special Report
PNC Grow Up Great is a ten-year, $100 million commitment to prepare young children, from birth to age five, for school and life. So that an entire generation won't just grow up . . . but grow up great.

Guyasuta Fellowship Citizen's Summit on Transportation
A town hall-style meeting to develop recommendations for the future of transportation in Pittsburgh and in Pennsylvania.

Health Insurance 101
An OnQ Special Series
OnQ partners with Highmark to report on an important issue that affects everyone. Whether you are covered at work, pay premiums from your own pocket, or have no health insurance at all, this four-day series is designed to not only give you answers and options, but will hopefully help you choose wisely and find information more easily.

Healthy Kids: Back To Basics
An OnQ Special Report
OnQ and WQED partner with Highmark in a series of reports and interviews exploring the importance of educating families on nutrition and exercise. The focus for this four-day series is on children ages six to 16.

Highmark Healthy High 5
An OnQ Special Report
This initiative of the Highmark Foundation is an investment in promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors in children and adolescents.

India in Pittsburgh
An OnQ Special Series
Western Pennsylvania has a growing Indian population. OnQ examines some of the reasons in this five part series, by exploring issues of Indian culture, business and faith in this region.

Leo Beachy: A Legacy Nearly Lost
An OnQ Special Feature
Leo Beachy's unforgettable photographs of western Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania in the early 1900's, once believed destroyed forever, have been recently resurrected.

The Little People
An OnQ Special Report
They like to be called "the little people" or dwarfs. Yet, through all the condescending stares and cruel jokes, the little people triumph by living normal lives.

Long Road to Recovery
An OnQ Special Report
OnQ reports the amazing story of a burn survivor.

Making the Grade: A Forum on Public Education
An OnQ Special Report
Tips for a healthy region. This forum examines education from city to suburb.

Manfred Honeck: Pittsburgh's New Maestro
An OnQ Special Feature
The Austrian-born Manfred Honeck takes OnQ's Michael Bartley on a tour of Honeck's beloved Vienna, the city of classical music. Honeck's family members share their excitement about his being hired as the PSO conductor and music director.

Masters of Glass
An OnQ Special Edition
OnQ visits the Pittsburgh Glass Center on Penn Avenue in Friendship. Several internationally renowned glass artists are featured in the half-hour special.

Mayoral Debate 2007
An important community forum featuring candidates for mayor of Pittsburgh.

Mount Saint Macrina
An OnQ Special Edition
This former coal baron's estate in Uniontown, Fayette County is now home to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great, members of the Byzantine Catholic Rite.

Mr. Right Now: PNH and Big Ben Make a Video
Ben Roethlisberger makes a music video with country breakout band Poverty Neck Hillbillies.

Nursing: Rewards & Challenges
An OnQ Special Series
This series examines a variety of nursing topics including the nursing shortage, the changing face of nursing and compelling nursing specialties.

Obesity: It's Gaining On Us
An OnQ Special Report
This one-hour special addresses the problems and solutions associated with obesity.

One Year in Brownsville
An OnQ Special Report
Once a hub of activity in the Mon Valley, Brownsville's business district has fallen into decline and near abandonment.

Our Environment, Our Health
An OnQ Special Report
This series of OnQ special reports focuses on connections between our habitat and our health. OnQ's staff explores everything from air and water quality to mold in our homes. Another featured segment looks at cancer caused by environmental factors.

Our Region's Next Renaissance
An OnQ Special Edition
This series of OnQ special reports and town hall meetings explores the importance of the nonprofit community in Pittsburgh's economic revival.

PA Healthy Kids: Back to Basics
An OnQ Special Report
This one hour special airing across Pennsylvania focuses on helping kids deal with key issues that impact their health: bullying, self esteem, preventing childhood obesity with physical activity and better nutrition, and grieving the loss of a family member or friend.

Pennsylvania Primary: A WQED Town Hall Meeting with Jim Lehrer
The Newshour's Jim Lehrer hosts a town hall meeting along with a guest panel of politicians, education leaders, philanthropists, foundation heads, high-profile members of the media, and community leaders in advance of Pennsylvania’s presidential primary in 2008.

Pennsylvania Quilts
Viewers across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania will see all kinds of quilts - and the wide variety of people who make them - in Pennsylvania Quilts.

Return to the Roots of Civil Rights
An OnQ Special Edition
For eight days in June, a group of western Pennsylvanians journeyed to the sites of America's Civil Rights struggle. The "Return to the Roots of Civil Rights Bus Tour" covered nearly 2,600 miles, traveling from Beaver Falls to the Deep South.

Road to the White House
An OnQ Political Special
Political advisors and concerned citizens weigh in with the OnQ team in advance of the Pennsylvania primary to talk about the candidates, the issues, and the national impact of the election.

Roddey v. Mistick
OnQ Political Discussion
Republican Jim Roddey and Democrat Joe Mistick bring smart political discussion and debate to OnQ viewers in this popular, ongoing segment.

Rx For Healthier Living
An OnQ Special Edition
OnQ focuses on medical issues in Pittsburgh's African-American community.

Self-Esteem: An Essential Element
An OnQ Special Report
This OnQ series explores the importance of fostering self-esteem in children.

Stained Glass Treasures
An OnQ Special Edition
This half-hour showcases several of the Pittsburgh region's most-recognized stained glass works and the artists behind them, including Terry Bengel. Oakland's Saint Paul Cathedral and The North Side's Calvary United Methodist Church are also featured.

Stone Soldiers: Saving The Gettysburg Monuments
An OnQ Documentary
Tourists from around the world admire the 1300-plus monuments on the Gettysburg battlefield in Pennsylvania. But time, nature and occasional vandals are taking a toll. This OnQ documentary profiles the people working to protect, repair, and raise funds for these "stone soldiers."

What's Causing Cancer?
An OnQ Special Edition
What's fact? What's fiction? What's cause for concern - when it comes to the connection between cancer and the environment?

World War II: Pittsburgh Stories
An OnQ Special
They're our aging parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts - veterans of World War II - and each year there are fewer to tell their stories.

OnQ Awards

2008

MID-ATLANTIC EMMY® AWARDS

ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM- FEATURE OR SEGMENT

OnQ: Calendar Girls - David Solomon, Writer/Producer; Frank Caloiero, Photographer/Editor; Paul Ruggieri, Photographer.

OnQ: Almost Human - Pierina Morelli, Producer/Photographer/Editor.

EDUCATION/SCHOOLS PROGRAM FEATURE OR SEGMENT

OnQ: Alicia's Lesson Plan - David Solomon, Writer/Producer; Paul Ruggieri, Photographer/Editor.

HISTORIC/CULTURAL- PROGRAM FEATURE OR SEGMENT

OnQ: Uncle Leo's Legacy - David Solomon, Writer/Producer; Paul Ruggieri, Photographer/Editor.

INTERVIEW/DISCUSSION- PROGRAM OR SPECIAL

On Q: Tutu Visits Pittsburgh - Michael Bartley, Producer/Reporter; Frank Caloiero, Photographer/Editor; Pierina Morelli, Producer/Photographer.

PUBLIC/CURRENT/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS- PROGRAM OR SPECIAL

Alicia's Message: I'm Here To Save Your Life - David Solomon, Writer/Producer; Paul Ruggieri, Photographer/Editor.

CINE GOLDEN EAGLE AWARD
OnQ Alicia’s Message: I’m Here to Save Your Life

David Solomon, Writer/Producer

Paul Ruggieri, Camera/Editing

PAB AWARDS (Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters)

Outstanding Public Affairs Program/Series

Alicia's Message: I'm Here To Save Your Life

David Solomon, Writer/Producer

Paul Ruggieri, Photographer/Editor

GOLDEN QUILL AWARDS

Feature/Series, Videography

Winner: "Stone Soldiers," Paul Ruggieri - WQED

Feature, Television

Winner: "Stone Soldiers," David Solomon, Paul Ruggieri, and Andy Masich, WQED

Finalist: "The Darr Mine Disaster," David Solomon and Paul Ruggieri,

Public Affairs/Documentary, Television

Winner: "Celebrating Rodef Shalom," Michael Bartley, Nathalie Berry, Bob Lubomski and Paul Ruggieri, WQED

Finalist - "Alicia's Message," David Solomon, Paul Ruggieri, Tonia Caruso, WQED

PALEYCENTER FOR MEDIA STUDIES

OnQ: One Year in Brownsville was selected to be part of the Paley Center archives

2007

MID-ATLANTIC EMMY® AWARDS

CHILDREN/YOUTH/TEEN PROGRAM OR SPECIAL

Teens OnQ: Episode 121

Karen Farmer White, Executive Producer

Gina Catanzarite, Producer

Laura Seliy, Associate Producer

Marlene Gary Hogan, Supervising Producer

Glenn Syska, Photographer/Editor

HISTORIC/CULTURAL- PROGRAM OR SPECIAL

Stone Soldiers: Saving the Gettysburg Monuments

David Solomon, Supervising Producer

Paul Ruggieri, Photographer/Editor

Andy Masich, Narrator

COMMUNITY SERVICE

On Q: Our Region’s Next Renaissance

Jocelyn Hough, Executive Producer

David Solomon, Supervising Producer

Alicia Schisler, Producer

Michael Bartley, Producer/Reporter

Tonia Caruso, Producer/Reporter

DR. A. WAYNE MOUNTAN MEMORIAL AWARD

Teens OnQ; Job Shadowing a Veterinarian

ROBERT L. VANN AWARDS – PITTSBURGH BLACK MEDIA FEDERATION

Broadcast Public Affairs Category

On Q: Another Chance

Harold Hayes and Paul Ruggieri

GOLDEN QUILL AWARDS

OnQ: One Year In Brownsville

David Solomon, Frank Caloiero, Paul Ruggieri

Sports Reporting category

OnQ: Struggle For Glory

Iris Samson, Bob Lubomski, Paul Ruggieri

PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS AWARD

Outstanding Public Affairs Program

On Q: The Little People

Michael Bartley

Frank Caloiero

Outstanding TV Program Designed for Children

Teens OnQ Episode #106

Marlene Gary Hogan

TELLY AWARDS

OnQ: Super Steelers – Michael Bartley and Frank Caloiero

OnQ: Return to the Roots of Civil Rights – Pierina Morelli and Iris Samson

OnQ: Long Road to Recovery

Teens OnQ – Karen Farmer White, Marlene Gary Hogan, Gina Catanzarite,

Laura Seliy, and Frank Caloiero

2006

MID-ATLANTIC EMMY® AWARDS

EDUCATION/SCHOOLS PROGRAM FEATURE OR SEGMENT

On Q: The Cantor's Classroom Visit

David Solomon, Producer/Writer

Paul Ruggieri, Photographer/Editor

HISTORIC/CULTURAL - PROGRAM FEATURE OR SEGMENT

On Q: My Father's Story

Carol Lee Espy, Producer/Writer

Paul Ruggieri, Editor/Photographer

PUBLIC/CURRENT/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS - PROGRAM OR SPECIAL

On Q: One Year in Brownsville

David Solomon, Producer/Writer

Frank Caloiero, Photographer/Editor

Paul Ruggieri, Photographer/Editor

Michael Bartley, Narrator

COMMUNITY SERVICE

On Q: Rx For Healthier Living

Chris Moore, Host/Reporter

Elizabeth Speed, Producer

Alicia Schisler, Producer

Tonia Caruso, Reporter/Producer

Darryl Ford-Williams, Vice-President Production

WRITER - PROGRAM

David Solomon

PUBLIC/CURRENT/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS - FEATURE OR SEGMENT

On Q: From the Ashes

Beth Dolinar, Reporter/Producer

(tied with) On Q: March of the Living

David Solomon, Producer/Writer

Michael Bartley, Reporter

Paul Ruggieri, Photographer/Editor

Pierina Morelli, Photographer/Editor

Iris Samson, Associate Producer

EDWARD R. MURROW AWARD

From Pittsburgh to Poland: Lessons of the Holocaust

GABRIEL AWARDS

News/Informational– Local Release category

From Pittsburgh to Poland: Lessons of the Holocaus

TELLY AWARDS

Silver category for film/video

City of Asylum: An On Q Special

2005

MID-ATLANTIC EMMY® AWARDS

Youth Programming
Teens On Q - WQED Multimedia
Karen Farmer White, Executive Producer
Marlene Gary Hogan, Supervising Producer
Gina Catanzarite, Producer
Laura Seliy, Associate Producer
Frank Caloiero, Editor

GOLDEN QUILL AWARDS

Television Feature Story

OnQ

Will Cross/Mt. Everest

Nathalie Berry

Tonia Caruso

Frank Caloiero

Paul Ruggieri

Feature - Television Public Affairs or Documentary

OnQ

From Pittsburgh to the Vatican

David Solomon

2004

MID-ATLANTIC EMMY® AWARDS

Outstanding Magazine Format Broadcast

On Q Magazine
Jocelyn Hough, Executive Producer
David Solomon, Supervising Producer
Alicia Schisler, Producer
Michael Bartley, Managing Editor

Outstanding Program Feature/Entertainment

On Q: Row On For Brendan
Michael Bartley, Reporter
David Solomon, Producer
Paul Ruggieri, Photographer/Editor
Dave Forstate, Photographer

2003

MID-ATLANTIC EMMY® AWARDS

Outstanding Program Feature/Informational

On Q/The Donora Smog

David Solomon, Producer

Andy Masich, Producer/Reporter

Paul Ruggieri, Photographer/Editor

Outstanding Program Feature/Entertainment

On Q/Landmines Concert

Carol Lee Espy, Producer/Reporter

David Solomon, Producer

Paul Ruggieri, Photographer/Editor

Outstanding Sports Feature/Programming

On Q/Clemente Collector

Alicia Maloney, Producer

Paul Ruggieri, Photographer

Outstanding Individual Achievement – Writer/Programming

David Solomon

MATRIX AWARDS

First Place - Best Television Feature

OnQ Special Edition: Masters of Glass

Rebecca Jean Born – Producer

Frank Calioero - photographer/editor

COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS AWARD

Michael Bartley was awarded the Community Champion Award from the Advisory Board on Autism and Research for his reports on Autism

2002

MATRIX AWARDS

First Place Television Feature Award

OnQ’s Masters of Glass

Rebecca Wissner

Frank Calioero

Second Place Television Feature Award

OnQ: The Donora Smog

David Solomon

Paul Ruggieri

GOLDEN QUILL AWARDS

Television Photography Feature or Series

OnQ From Pittsburgh to Haiti: Mission of Mercy

2001

MID-ATLANTIC EMMY® AWARDS

Outstanding Feature/Informational

On-Q Abandoned Babies

Michael Bartley

Outstanding Series

OnQ Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering

Michael Bartley

Individual Achievement in Camera/Programming

Paul Ruggieri

Individual Achievement in Editor/Programming

Pierina Morelli

2000

MID-ATLANTIC EMMY® AWARDS

Outstanding Feature

On-Q Safe Start

Michael Bartley

Individual Achievement in Camera/Programming

Pierina Morelli

| WQED-TV | website