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SJMC to honor distinguished alumni

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications will honor five graduates at the Annual Alumni Awards Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 8.

The awards identify exceptional graduates of the school whose careers represent significant professional achievement.

The Distinguished Alumni Award honors graduates who have demonstrated a history of exemplary work in their professional careers and who have been out of school for at least 10 years. The 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients are:

• Richard D. Elliott, President of Maverick Kitchens ('67, journalism)
• Catherine B. Love, Vice President for Marketing and Communications for SCANA ('85, public relations)
• Michael “Jeff” Charney, Chief Marketing Officer for Progressive ('81, public relations)

The Outstanding Young Alumni Award honors graduates who have been out of school for 10 years or less but have already demonstrated great professional accomplishments early in their careers. The 2012 Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipients are:

• Jonathan T. Bennett, Assistant Managing Editor for Digital for the Florida Times-Union ('06, journalism)
• Tracey E. Robinson, Senior Media Buyer and Research Director for National Media Research, Planning, and Placement ('01, advertising)

Dr. Carol J. Pardun, director of the J-school, believes that recognition of alumni accomplishments is important for the school as well as the alumni.

“It is wonderful to celebrate our outstanding alumni, of course.  It is a privilege for us to honor them for their accomplishments.  The awards also are important to our faculty because they serve as a concrete example of their own accomplishments in the classroom.  When our outstanding alums come 'home' to accept the awards, they always thank the faculty.  They understand the commitment the faculty make to assure that our students succeed.  So the evening is as much about celebrating our faculty as it is in celebrating our honorees.”