SJMC honors student achievement at Awards Night

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications held its annual Honors and Awards Night celebration April 16, 2009. Students, faculty, family, and friends gathered in the Law School Auditorium to recognize the academic achievements of the School’s best and brightest students.

Awards were presented to outstanding seniors in the advertising and public relations sequence, the print and electronic journalism sequence, the visual communications sequence, as well as the graduate program. The School also recognized its honors graduates and Kappa Tau Alpha Scholars.

A list of award recipients is listed below. Or you can download a copy of the awards program by clicking here. Download program (pdf)

Click on links for additional information about each student or organization.

	Megan K. Herring Outstanding Public Relations Senior Megan Herring was a high achiever in both academics and leadership. She served as president of the student chapter of PRSSA and represented the chapter at the national 2008 PRSSA Leadership Conference. Megan also won two Palmetto awards and an academic scholarship from the International Association of Business Communicators for outstanding achievement.
Megan K. Herring
	Courtney M. Robinson Outstanding Advertising Senior Courtney will graduate summa cum laude in May. In February, she was named one of the American Advertising Federation's Most Promising Minority Students. Courtney was awarded three highly competitive advertising/marketing internships with Erwin-Penland Advertising, Macy's Central in Atlanta and USC's marketing department. Courtney held numerous leadership positions on campus. Read more>
Courtney M. Robinson
	Samantha J. Rutkowski Outstanding Advertising Senior Sammy served as vice president of the Student Advertising Federation and is a member of the National Student Advertising Competition team. She won numerous accolades for her creative work, including Best of Show in the annual Student Ad Show in 2008. In 2009, Sammy won three gold ADDY awards and a Special Recognition Award in the 2009 AAF of the Midlands ADDY competition. Read more>
Samantha J. Rutkowski

Vance Stickell Internship
Erika Sturino
Read more>

AAF of the Midlands ADDY Awards
Rachel Cope (Silver),
Elizabeth Mathews (Silver),
Samantha Rutkowski (Special Judges Recognition, Gold and Silver),
Dana Smith (Gold and Silver)
Read more>

Alpha Delta Sigma Honor Society
Amber Bahnweg, Rachel Cope, Heather Marie Darazs,
Shane Johnson, Megan Hedi Moeller, Samantha Rutkowski,
Brittany M. Ryan, Kristin E. Walser, Sarah Rebecca Weeden

AAF National Advertising Competition Team
Philip Askins, Amber Bahnweg, Melissa Berry, Mary-Catherine Burton,
Amanda Croy, Heather Darazs, Alexandra Gardner, Jordan Goldenberg,
Jennifer Hampe, Megan Moeller, Stephanie Owens, Chrissy Robertson, Lauren Robirds,
Brittany Ryan, Samantha Rutkowski, Kristin Walser, Stephanie Warren,
and faculty advisers Prof. Karen Mallia and Dr. Tom Weir
Read more>

The Bateman Team
Carly Reed, Neal Robinson, Mary Catalanotto, Kaitlin Sanderson
Read more>

	Jacqueline D. Alexander J. Rion McKissick Award for Print Journalism Jackie Alexander was editor in chief of the Gamecock, the campus daily newspaper, from August 2007 to May 2008. A print journalism major, she guided sensitive coverage of a beach fire that killed six USC. She has been an intern with The Charlotte Observer and The St. Petersburg Times. Read more>
Jacqueline D. Alexander
	Thomas J. Benning George Buchanan Award for Print Journalism Tom Benning, a McNair scholar, has written for the campus newspaper, The Daily Gamecock,The Free Times and The State. The print journalism major has served as an intern for the Knoxville News Sentinel and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Upon graduation, he will participate in a coveted internship in the Wall Street Journal's Dallas bureau. Read more>>
Thomas J. Benning
	Matthew E. Moore Outstanding Electronic Journalism Senior for Reporting Matt Moore, an Honors College student and broadcast journalism major, has worked for The Daily Gamecock, WUSC and SGTV, and was the host of a campus sports talk radio show. His stories for Carolina News during the Spring 2009 include one about NCAA banned substances.
Matthew E. Moore
	Ashleigh J. Orthen Outstanding Electronic Journalism Senior for Leadership Ashleigh Jourdan Orthen, a broadcast journalism major, was the leading producer during the fall semester for Carolina News and oversaw election night coverage.
Ashleigh J. Orthen

	Elizabeth L. Wilson Outstanding Visual Communications Senior Elizabeth graduated magna cum laude in December and now works for Anchor Commercial in Charleston, where she produces marketing material. At USC she was the design director for the Gamecock where she won awards from the S.C. Press Association for layout and design. She also won a Silver Addy award for a series of ad designs.
Elizabeth L. Wilson

Jacqueline D. Alexander, Amber J. Bahweg, Gregory W. Bajan, Thomas J. Benning,
Jessica L. Berger, Kristin Bevacqua, Sydney L. Botelho, Molly C. Bracknell, Melanie L. Byer,
Lauren M. Cafferty, Morgan M. Castano, Mary C. Catalanotto, Courtney L. Cockfield,
Casey E. Colomb, Kelly E. Connor, Rachel E. Cope, Andrew J. Daniels, Heather M. Darazs,
Kyle S. Dicke, Jordan E. Dudley, C. Ann Elebash, Amy Beth Franks, Zachary M. Garfinkel,
Virginia G. Gibson, Jordan V. Goldenberg, Daniel J. Gordon, Kathleen M. Gram, Megan M. Hair,
Sara Ann Haulik, Stephanie R. Helling, Megan E. Heltzel, Megan K. Herring, Kristen M. Highley,
Daniel R. Jones, Jennifer L. Kresslein, Cortney A. Lassetter, Jenna M. Lindberg, Kate D. Macary,
Anna M. Mader, Melissa L. Martin, Elizabeth C. McClintic, Caitlin McLaren, James T. Mobley,
Matthew E. Moore, Alyson J. Murphy, Emily B. Murphy, Karolyn C. Nordfors, Mary C. Palles,
Caroline E. Pollard, Elizabeth R. Propp, Gwyndolyn A. Raisner, Candace O. Rapp,
Megan L. Richardson, Courtney M. Robinson, Rosemarie N. Robson, Mallory E. Rotz,
Samantha J. Rutkowski, Brittany M. Ryan, Kathleen A. Shank, Ryan A. Shelton-Benson,
Allyson M. Smith, Whitney A. Sousa, Matthew S. Sulem, Daniel F. Sweeney, Rachael L. Taft,
Kimberly H. Timmers, Cara Ellen Todd, Shannon M. Townes, Jordan A. Truesdale,
Martha M. Trundle, Gina M. Vasselli, Sarah E. Waller, Kristin E. Walser, Kristen I. Walsh,
Krystal R. Webber, Sarah R. Weeden, Todd F. Weyandt, William B. White,
Christina I. Wilder, Noelle S. Williams

Kappa Tau Alpha Honor Awards
Tasneem Anjarwalla, Charlotte Elizabeth Bishop, Jamie Lynn Black,
Jessica N. Carlson, Rachel Elizabeth Cope, Elaine Kathryn Evans,
Stephanie Anne Ewell, Chantelle Lauren Lytle, Megan Brooke Matthews,
Ellen R. McDaniel, Hollis Elayne Murphy, Elizabeth Rebeccah Propp
Kara Michelle Roache, Christa Elizabeth Robertson,
Whitney Alison Sousa, Amanda M. Smith, Allyson Marie Smith,
Kimberly Hope Timmers, Matthew Charles Tryon, Sarah R. Weeden,
Kelsie Lauryn Weekes, Joy Ballard Wilkerson