The Department of Communications is recognizing outstanding student awardees, scholarship winners and honors students virtually as the 2019-2020 academic year comes to an end.
“We wish we could recognize these outstanding students in person but unfortunately that’s not possible this year,” says Department Chair Dr. Jason Shepard. “But regardless of the stay-at-home orders, our students’ accomplishments and achievements are inspiring and we are honored and excited to celebrate them.”
In addition to the student awards, scholarships and honors, the Department of Communications recognizes two faculty members with distinguished faculty awards, as well as awards the Campus Partnership Award.
James Jordan Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement
Chau Le
The James Jordan Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement is named for a history professor who was influential in establishing the Department of Communications. The award recognizes the student with highest cumulative GPA.
William Maxwell Outstanding Communications Student
Justina Sharp
The J. William Maxwell Outstanding Communications Student Award honors the founding chair and leading visionary of the Department of Communications. The award exemplifies what our ideal communications student should be: high levels of scholarship, leadership, career focus, and service to the department. This award is selected by the full faculty in a vote of outstanding student winners in each concentration.
Gerhard Friedrich Award for Exceptional Professional Promise
Ebehimalen Aboiralor
Alexis Flores
The Gerhard Friedrich Award for Exceptional Professional Promise is named for a former Dean of Humanities who was instrumental in establishing the Department of Communications. The honor is given to a graduating senior who demonstrates great potential to achieve professional excellence in a communications-related field. Award recipients demonstrate career promise in a variety of ways, including classroom performance, leadership, participation in relevant student and professional organizations, and overall interest in the field. This award is selected by the full faculty in a vote of professional promise student winners in each concentration.
Outstanding Students
Chau Le - Advertising
Bailey Coleman - Entertainment/Tourism
Kason Clark - Journalism
Justina Sharp - Public Relations
The faculty recognize a graduating senior in each concentration with the highest grade point average with the Outstanding Student Award in the concentration.
Professional Promise Students
Noor Aldaimalani - Advertising
Lillie Bosfield- Entertainment/Tourism
Ebehimalen Aboiralor - Journalism
Alexis Flores – Public Relations
The faculty recognize a graduating senior who demonstrates the greatest potential to achieve a high level of excellence in their chosen communications specialty. Qualifying students demonstrate career promise in a variety of ways, including classroom performance, leadership and/or participation in activities of relevant student and professional organizations, and overall interest in the field. Students are nominated by faculty, and faculty select the winner by a full faculty vote.
Outstanding Graduate Students
Andrea Rangno - Professional Communications
Sabrina Sanchez - Research/Theory
Veronica Aichroth - Tourism and Entertainment
Faith Squier - Teaching/Research Assistant
Graduate students are nominated by faculty for four awards, one in each concentration and one for teaching/research assistant.
Distinguished Faculty Member (Full-Time)
Dr. Dean Kazoleas
Distinguished Faculty Member (Part-Time)
Jackie Moe
Campus Partnership Award
The Faculty Development Center and Faculty Support Services
Each year, the Department selects someone or some University unit to receive the Campus Partnership Award, signifying significant contribution to the success of the Department of Communications.
Scholarship Winners
James Alexander Scholarship
Briana Munoz, Communications
Myles Atlas Memorial Scholarship
Chau Lee, Communications
Jay Berman Daily Titan Scholarship
Jordan Mendoza, Communications
Kim Pham, Communications
Comm Titan Shops/Titan Bookstore Scholarship
Alora Walker, Communications
Jordan Murphy, Communications
Prafullit Medi, Communications
Rhett Rivera, Communications
Gary Granville Memorial Scholarship
Jordan Mendoza, Communications
Ingrid and Jordan Smart Scholarship
Karen Banuelos, Communications
Alfred & Louise Hewitt Journalism Fund
Giselle Martinez, Communications
Terry Hynes Scholarship
Anthony Robledo, Communications
David Little Scholarship
Anatasia Auguston, Communications
Miven Venture Partners
Angelynne Vivar, Communications
Tom Pasqua Memorial Scholarship
Blake Mara, Communications
The Society of Professional Journalist Scholarship
Nylene Garcia, Communications
Barbara K Rickard-Riegle Broadcast Journalism Fund
Samantha Aguilar, Communications
John Stewart Memorial Scholarship
Baylee Maust, Communications
Kimberly Cruz, Communications
Stephanie Mejia, Communications
Edgar P. Trotter Scholarship
Ji Young An, Communications
Vikki Vargas/NBC4 Journalism Scholarship
Samantha Aguilar, Communications
Laura Min Brooks Comm Week
Kadi Ali, Communications
Tawni Nguyen, Human Communications
Guadalupe Austin Scholarship
Uy Do, Cinema and Television Arts
Denise Harrison Integrity Award
Derek Opina, Communications
Bergstrom Family Scholarship
Alexandra Chadwick, Communications
David Johansen, Human Communications
Tien Family Scholarship
Zulma Mazariegos Amaya, Communications
VJ Lovero Photojournalism Scholarship
Michael Quintero, Communications
John and Jessie Maxwell Communications Scholarship
Kaylyn Alcaraz (CTVA)
Zulma Amaya
Ji Young An
Anatasia Auguston
Karen Banuelos
Novia Baulisch
Natalia Becerra (CTVA)
Abby Buotte (CTVA)
Alexandra Chadwick
Kimberly Cruz
Nikolaus Diehr
Uy Do (CTVA)
Melanie Ferrari
Samuel Fife (CTVA)
Jose Flores
Brian Garcia
Nylene Garcia
Ruta Ghibat (CTVA)
Gianna Gonzalez
Amber Greene
Sean Hamada
MariaAngelica Hernandez
Edward Hornick (MFA, Screen Writing)
Taylor Jackson (CTVA)
Christina Kim (CTVA)
Crystal Landis
Chau Le
Alexandra LoCascio (CTVA)
Elisabeth Lundgren
Blake Mara
Sarah Marin
Alexis Martinez
Giselle Martinez
Baylee Maust
Camilla Mcfall
Prafullit Medi
Stephanie Mejia
Julia Mitchel
Alexander Muir
Briana Munoz
Jordan Murphy
Duong Nguyen
Kevin Nguyen (CTVA)
Cazmir Nishi
Derek Opina
Maricela Ortiz
Michael Palmer
Kim Pham
Somer Piper
Mackenzie Quinn
Angel Ramirez
Rhett Rivera
Alan Robles
Heather Solis
Jeffrey Sweeney
Alyssa Tornel (CTVA)
Jessica Torres
Jasmine Trefz
Stephanie Turcios (CTVA)
Angelynne Vivar
Alora Walker
Caitlin Williamson
Zen Zielke
HONORS
SUMMA
Elizabeth Brent
Rachel Chavous
Kason Clark
Bailey Coleman
William Glasband
Nicole Kayra
Chau Le
Denice Person
Justina Sharp
MAGNA
Kadi Ali
Andrea Davis
Cassandra Flores
Brianna Foley
Paulina James
Kalinda Kazemi
Kalila Lam
Robert Lee
Yi Hsin Lee
Baylee Maust
Monaliza Mekhmer
Amir Motearefi
Janelli Pedroza
Jamie Perez
Karla Perez
Brennah Pohlmann Moellendorf
Catherine Robinson
Amber Solorio
Christopher Toland
Zen Zielke
CUM LAUDE
Elliot Adelson
Madison Amirehteshami
Bradley Biggs
Kateley Boardman
Brian Bosserman
Grace Botte
Marissa Cordova
Daniel Cristofaro
Kristen Anne Cuaresma
Keana Davey
Stephanie Delateur
Aja Duran
Hosam Elattar
Kayla Fernandez
Gabrielle Flores
Rebecca Geistwhite
Carolyn Gill
Annie Grupp
Cordell Hagmann
Alena Huynh
Billy Huynh
Amber Irwin
Woong Joo Kwon
Stephanie La Vau
Joanna Lariz
Brandon Le
Conchita Lozano
Taylor Magill
Dylan Marquez
Jacquelyn Munet
Ashley Murguia
Sam Muth
Victoria Nicks
Evan Nicolini
Julian Orozco
Victor Padilla
Keana Phan
Sasha Pruss
Dima Rafoul
Jeremy Rembulat
Ellia Rosado
Tara Rush
Taylor Smith
Nicole Terry
Kalani Tillema
Carly Tirabasso
Garrett Vile
Bharvi Yadav
Jason Yo
Jorge Zarate
