2007 40 Under 40 Honoree: Michelle Sherwood

Michelle Sherwood can’t imagine a day when she would quit reporting the news.

Not every day is easy and sometimes she has to ask the difficult questions, but Sherwood’s greatest reward is seeing her work pay off in the community.

“Winning professional awards is great, but most of the time, the only people who appreciate the awards are those who work in your industry,” said Sherwood, a reporter for KYTV.

“I like to think we make big accomplishments every day, and that inspires me to look forward to the (next) day,” she said.

Sherwood finds providing valuable information and giving a voice to those who need to be heard rewarding aspects of her job.

Off the clock, she focuses on raising awareness and support for adoption. Sherwood, who was adopted herself, is a representative for Tulsa, Okla.-based adoption agency Dillon International, speaking to people interested in adopting from foreign countries such as Guatemala, China and Korea.

She has traveled to Korea three times with Dillon International. She met her birth family on her first trip and on subsequent trips has helped other adoptees do the same. At the end of the trips, which included volunteering in orphanages, Sherwood and her traveling companions brought Korean babies home to their adoptive families.

“I consider myself a cheerleader for adoptive families in the area, because there is an explosion of people adopting internationally,” she said.

Sherwood also donates her time working with International Adoptive Families of Southwest Missouri.

“Journalists don’t make a lot of money, but I can commit a lot of my time to people,” she said. “Adoption is bittersweet and sometimes I’ve seen its effects damage the spirit of a young person. I want to give hope to young people, and I want to see them succeed.”

Stats

Position: TV Journalist, KYTV

Age: 27

Favorite professional sports team: St. Louis Cardinals

A quote to live by: “All you need is a little jingle in your pocket and some gas in your tank.” – Her dad.

Information accurate at the time of the honor.[[In-content Ad]]