Faculty honor outstanding SJMC students

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Faculty honor outstanding SJMC students

Posted on: April 26, 2023; Updated on: April 26, 2023

Top photo: Outstanding seniors (front, l to r) Maria Balthazar-Henao, Arianna Pierre, Lauren House, Ryan Finley. (back, l to r) Madison Squeri, Rogelio Favila, Caleb Bozard, Kailey Cota, Anne Heiler, Olivia Farrar and Alex Marinelli.

Students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications were recognized for their academic achievements, leadership and service at the annual Honors and Awards Reception on April 20.

"This event gives one a small taste of the best work of our students as storytellers, content creators, sense makers and pattern finders," said Van Kornegay, interim director of the school. "The work on display represents the culmination of four years of creative energy, strategy, skill development and hard work."

Advertising

Outstanding advertising seniors were recognized by Sabrina Habib on behalf of the sequence. Read her comments and see some samples of the student work by Trenton King, Sophie Olsen, Jackson Kirkland and Anne Heiler in the gallery below.

OUTSTANDING ADVERTISING SENIOR AWARD - TRENTON KING - Trenton has creativity, strategic thinking and exceptional overall advertising skills. His ability to develop compelling advertising campaigns and effectively communicate brand messages has truly impressed his teachers. Trenton has demonstrated that he has the skills and talent to excel in the advertising industry. And we can't wait to see the incredible work that he'll continue to produce.
BEST OF ADVERTISING STRATEGY - SOPHIE OLSEN - Sophie Olson is a rare student who justifies the semi cliché Swiss Army knife. She is a strategist, a copywriter and an effective team leader. She even has production chops. Fortunately, she also has the drive and ambition to put all of these talents to good use and the results to match in the form of a Silver ADDY for the best in show.
BEST OF ADVERTISING CREATIVE - JACKSON KIRKLAND - Jackson's leadership, creativity and determination are impressive. He has a proactive attitude towards achieving goals in the creative advertising industry. He thrives in all areas of college life as a campus leader and has been a member of Ad Team. Jackson won a Silver ADDY from AFF Midlands.
BEST OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH - ANNE HEILER - Anne jumps in with both feet and a smile. Her positivity is matched by her talent and a drive for insights. And she is consistently helping her team's efforts to reach the next level. She already got her first ADDY award and it won't be her last. So, look for her name on awards lists for many years to come.

Journalism

Nina Brook, journalism sequence head, presented awards to outstanding seniors in broadcast and multimedia journalism Finn Carlin, Cade Crenshaw, Caleb Bozard and Kailey Cota. Meet the students in the gallery below and read some of Brook's remarks .

OUTSTANDING BROADCAST JOURNALISM SENIOR AWARD FOR REPORTING - DAVID "FINN" CARLIN - Finn’s folksy style makes him a great candidate to be on the CBS Morning News. His outstanding work for SGTV received recognition from the College Media Association, College Broadcasters, Inc., and the Associated College Press. Finn’s work at SJMC received national recognition. He shot, wrote and edited two packages which were awarded ninth place in the Hearst Foundation’s TV Features competition.
OUTSTANDING BROADCAST JOURNALISM SENIOR AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP - CADE CRENSHAW - The sports information director at Heathwood Hall School said Cade's work in sports communication exceeded the school's expectations for professionalism, conscientiousness and discipline. Broadcast instructor Andy Byrnes says Caleb has the TV news style, voice and gestures down pat. Cade has been awarded a top National Sportscasting Award named for another natural, the great Jim Nance.
GEORGE ANDREW BUCHANAN AWARD - CALEB BOZARD - As assistant news editor and news editor at The Daily Gamecock and for our Carolina News and Reporter, Caleb won first place in feature writing in the student division of the South Carolina Press Association. Just this month, he placed sixth nationwide in Hearst Communications' personality high profile contest. Days later, he was named a runner up in two student categories of the Southeast Division of the Society of Professional Journalists. Instructor Eileen Waddell says that Caleb has an “understated, calming approach to interviews that puts his subjects at ease.”
J. RION MCKISSICK AWARD - KAILEY COTA - In addition to excelling in the classroom, Kailey worked at the student run The Daily Gamecock for seven semesters, rising to the role of assistant managing editor, then managing editor and then editor in chief. Kailey was named the 2021 South Carolina Collegiate Journalist of the Year. She interned at The State and The Post and Courier, and this summer she will intern with the Dow Jones News Fund.

Mass Communications

Ken Campbell, mass communications sequence head, presented Madison Squeri with the outstanding senior award and made the following remarks about her accomplishments.

OUTSTANDING MASS COMMUNICATIONS SENIOR AWARD - MADISON SQUERI - Madison Squeri is the definition of a hard-working, tenacious student. Her strong work ethic and dedication to all she does has paid off in and out of the classroom. Academically, she has achieved a 4.0 GPA throughout her four years here. In terms of extracurricular activities, she has been involved with Her Campus South Carolina, a college women’s magazine, for three years as their creative director. Outside of the classroom, she has been selected for competitive internships, most notably at Major League Soccer in their social media department in New York City.

Public Relations

Kelly Davis, public relations sequence head, recognized outstanding PR seniors Olivia Farrar, Gracie Gipson, Arianna Pierre and Maria Balthazar-Henao. See samples of the student work and some of Davis' comments in the gallery below.

OUTSTANDING PUBLIC RELATIONS SENIOR AWARD - OLIVIA “GRACE” FARRAR - Olivia's campus involvement includes leadership roles with PRSSA, Garnet Media Group, The Daily Gamecock and Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity. During her time in college, she has had seven internships including positions with USC's College of Engineering and Computing, Duke’s Pad Thai, SC Housing, the United States Senate, the Cason Group Retirement Room and USC's Office of Communications and Marketing. She strives for excellence in everything she does, and the public relations faculty has no doubt that she will make a meaningful impact regardless of the path that she chooses.
HUGH MUNN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE - GRACIE GIPSON - She led the accounts department of the Carolina Agency, supervising 11 different client accounts and overseeing 14 account team members. As a member of the agency’s competition team, she was among five students selected to present a campaign in Washington, D.C., to the Department of Homeland Security. She has also worked for USC Palmetto College as a marketing and communications student assistant.
OUTSTANDING PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERNSHIP AWARD - ARIANNA PIERRE - Arianna has demonstrated a commitment to building her career in public relations by holding four key internships throughout her college career including a fellowship with Weber Shandwick, one of the largest agencies in the world. She worked with some of the top consumer brands in the country, including Cheez-Its, Froot Loops and SmartWater. While working with McDermott Will and Emery, an international law firm, she gained experience building public relations efforts on a global scale.
INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE AWARD IN PUBLIC RELATIONS - MARIA BALTHAZAR-HENAO - Maria's experiences as a first-generation immigrant have shaped the way she thinks and the way she works, instilling in her a belief in the power of diversity of thought and equitable representation. She's embraced opportunities to learn from, work with and work for individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds. From being the first ever VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at a predominantly white sorority, to being an intern at a nonprofit that works to build welcoming communities for immigrants and refugees.

Visual Communications

Associate professor Sabrina Habib presented awards to the outstanding visual communications seniors Ryan Finley, Alex Marinelli, Rogelio Favila and Lauren House. See samples of the student work in the gallery below and read some of Habib's comments about each of the recipients.

OUTSTANDING VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS SENIOR AWARD - RYAN FINLEY - Ryan excels as a visual communicator, regardless of the medium that she chooses. She has demonstrated a keen understanding of the power of visual storytelling. Her work is a testament to her talent and dedication. Her future in the field of visual communications is extremely bright, and I speak on behalf of all the visual communications faculty when I say that we can't wait to see what the future holds for Ryan.
OUTSTANDING VIDEOGRAPHER - JOSEPH "ALEX" MARINELLI - Alex is a great storyteller. He has a sensibility towards composition, and his videos really touch people in a big way. And that's why he has so many followers on social media. But not just that. Recently, he was recognized by the American Advertising Federation. In the local competition, one of his photography works won a silver award. One of his videos won a best in show and a gold.
OUTSTANDING PHOTOGRAPHER - ROGELIO FAVILA - I had the privilege to watch his video work and his photography work. And I have to say, every time he showed photography in the classroom, everyone 'oohs' and 'ahs' because he would do portraits, and everyone's like, 'Wow, that's amazing!' And then he would do product photography, and it could very well be in a magazine or on a billboard.
OUTSTANDING DESIGNER - LAUREN HOUSE - Dr. Tara Mortensen says that Lauren House is 'the only student that ever talked me into using Comic Sans (the font).' Not just that, but it looked good. She pulled it it off. Her unique style really lends itself to a very successful career in design because her work is so expressive, detailed – it's memorable, and it's extremely impactful.

Graduates with Leadership Distinction

Maria Balthazar-Henao, Madison Brawley, Grace Bryant, Kylie Bukow, Kailey Cota, Allie Cyr, Audrey Elsberry, Aaron Falls, Kaitlin Gharib, Reagan Hall, Sabrina Hampton, Emily Hart, Elisabeth Hingher, Megan Hoitsma, Mardy Kramer, Ciara Laney, Ethena Lighty, Kendall May, Meghan McCabe, Courtney McClain, Julia Phillips, Arianna Pierre, Nancy Poag, Marjorie Sicilliano, Morgan Strickland, Grace Tippett, Henry Travis.

Kappa Tau Alpha

Nathan Baakko, Michelle Ballman, Maria Balthazar-Henao, Alexander Blumenthal, Nicole Boyle, Jillian Brown, Elizabeth Bryerton, Kailey Cota, Leah DeFreitas, Brett Galonczyk, Gracie Gipson, Kaitlyn Gough, Casey Hall, Sabrina Hampton, Amira Hulwe, Jada Kirkland, Brianna Kordes, Lindy Linebaugh, Kendall May, Catherine McLean, Olivia McLucas, Stephen Pastis, Wade Rainey, Hanna Schatteman, Grace Shields, Kathryn Sisson, Kendall Smith, Desiree Solenberger, Morgan Strickland, Amanda Watson.

Latin Honors

Rorie James Amos, Koby James Anderson, Madison Leigh Archer, Caitlin Malinn Ashbaugh, Chandler Kemp Atkinson, Nathan John Baakko, Connor Hall Bachelor, Michelle Marie Ballman, Maria Fernanda Balthazar-Henao, Chloe Sharon Barlow, Kelley Ann Barrett, Hanna Kristine Barton, Cecily Paige Batdorf, Sabrina Mara Beaudry, Grady Patrick Beauregard, Mayson Elizabeth Beckham, Eden Hope Berg, Elaine Meredith Bessinger, Sydney Sierra Bonaparte, Melissa Adriana Borgerding, Aliyah Alisa Boston, Madison Renee Brawley, Haley Grace Brown, Jillian Theresa Brown, Grace Ann Bryant, Elise Nicole Buchanan, Kylie Jane Bukow, Ashley Carol Bushman, Matthew Joseph Calamari, Caroline Taylor Callicutt, Mason Ashley Cannon, David Finnley Carlin, Lauren Elizabeth Carter, Claire Elaine Cetola, Rachel Elizabeth Cheeley, Meghan Elise Cluskey, Jacob Hogan Codo, Sydney Elise Conner, Anna Brooke Cooper, Mary Elizabeth Cooper, Katelyn Hannah Cornelison, Kailey Renee Cota, Cade Michael Crenshaw, Jade DeeAnn Crooks, Kendall Ashlyn Cuen, Allie Zita Claire Cyr, Reese Alexandra Damm, Leah Raquel DeFreitas, Joleigh Eliza Deguit, Alexandra Gabriela Deveraux, Elizabeth Bennett Dickison, Caiden Layne Dinkins, Ryan Theodore Donnelly, Carmen Cecilia Dore, Kaeleigh Brianna Dunn, Kayla Marie Eddy, Audrey Brooke Elsberry, Sarah Kensley Elvington, Amaya Noelle Emmons, Aaron Scott Falls, Olivia Grace Farrar, Kelsey Rose Fedorko, Madeline E Feltner, Claire Elizabeth Fingerlin, Kaylea Anne Fisher, Rachel Caroline Forney, Gregory Aaron Fox, Angel Rene Frank, Sarah Catherine Fulwider, Ashlee Morgan Gainey, Ryan Edwin Garry, Cecelia Ellen George, Kaitlin Samira Gharib, Gracie Nicole Gipson, Bryson Crichton Glenn, Grace Hampton Gomez, Gweneth Monet Gough, Margaret Carey Gries, Riley Mae Hackett, Alexis Nicole Hagan, Sabrina Erin Hampton, Emily Masters Hart, Hadley Elizabeth Hathaway, Caroline Grace Hiel, Riley E Higgs, Elisabeth Annalee Hingher, Camryn Leigh Hipp, Mackenzie Shea Hitchcock, Megan Mathiesen Hoitsma, Jillian Belle Holcomb, Eliana Foster Houff, Kayla Alessia Hubbard, Kelly Christine Hughes, Amira Amina Hulwe, Julie Ann Hynds, Hayden River Ifkovits, Julia Ann Jackson, Alexandra Morgan Johnson, Shakeem Sincere Jones, William Cullen Keating, Jr., Isabella Lee Keating, Molly Elizabeth Keesling, Autumn Elizabeth King, Nora May Klas, Mardy Lynn Kramer, Sydney Nicole Lako, Ciara Villar Laney, Michelle Joy LeClair, Olivia Grace Leon, Olivia Claire Leonard, Jaclyn Sophia LiBrizzi, Ethena Inez Lighty, Lindy Hardin Linebaugh, Madelynn Kay Livingston, Emery Grace Ljung, Leah Kay London, Jordyn Alyse LoPresti, Cameron St. Claire Lowe, Grace Caroline MacDonald, Michelle Barrera Maldonado, Joseph Alexander Marinelli, Joshua Paul Matthews, Kendall Nicole May, Patrick Thomas McAuliffe, Lindsay Catherine McCarthy, Hailey Noel McGregor, Catherine Paige McLean, Olivia May McLucas, Daniel Parker Metts, Anna Nicole Mlodzinski, Maggy Alexandra Mogollon, Mary Moore, Jesse Lynn Morgan, Charlotte Ashley Morrison, James Steven Motter, Taylor Caroline Mullaney, Chloe Elizabeth-Leigh Mungo, Austin Michael Nasser, Parker Grace Nevels, William Christopher Norris, Karsen Whitley-Jewel Ochs, Sophie Hannah Olsen, Stephen Nicholas Pastis, Aeriel Tenley Pearson, Julia Rae Phillips, Arianna Nicole Pierre, Charles Louis Plottner, Krista Jade Polson, Laura Frances Pryor, Jackson Keith Rains, Pricilla Marcella Ramirez, Makenna Louise Rand, Caroline Anne Reid, Ashley Michelle Reilly, Allison Paige Richardson, Taylor Mae Riley, Sarah Marie Robinson, Ariana Elise Romano, Josalyn Sanders, Emma Ryan Scheessele, Jackson Heath Schoen, Margaret Clara Schulte, Marjorie Elizabeth Siciliano, Elizabeth Anne Simo, Margaret Kernan Smith, Charlotte Veronica Smith, Kendall Monique Smith, Madison Lorraine Squeri, Morgan Ann Strickland, Sarah Juliette Sutton, Ryan Garcia Tariche, Paul Dupree Tate, Savannah Kathleen Terrell, Kristina Blair Thacker, Nicole Brooke Thomas, Grace McCoy Tippett, Henry James Travis, Mikenzie Faith Turner, Kerry Elizabeth Van Rees, Reagin Lynne von Lehe, Anna Catherine Wagers, Natalie Claire Waldron, Danielle Andrea Wallace, Aneska West Walrath, Justin Michael Walsh, Chelsea Ann Watson, Yuanying Wu, Shannon Rose Young, Julia Christine Zucosky.

College of Information and Communications

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