The faculty and administrators of Elon's School of Communications hosted the institution's annual student awards ceremony in McEwen Studio B April 9.
Fourteen outstanding students were selected from among more than 800 communications majors to be honored for their outstanding contributions in and out of the classroom. Those honored meet the highest academic standards, have been active in on-campus media and student organizations and have achieved great success in challenging internships.
Outstanding Senior Awards
These four awards recognize outstanding personal and professional achievements by graduating seniors who have demonstrated through consistent performance extraordinary knowledge and ability in their areas of specialization, and have made significant contributions to the School of Communications and the major.
LAURA WARD, Broadcast Communications Award. Presented by Ray Johnson.
MOLLY CALPIN, Strategic Communications Award.
MAX CANTOR, Cinema Award. Presented by J. McMerty.
ASHLEY BARNAS, Journalism Award. Presented by Janna Anderson.
Dean’s Outstanding Senior Award
This award recognizes a senior who has performed at the highest level in the classroom, in student organizations and in internships. The winner is chosen by the dean of the School of Communications The first recipient of the Dean’s Outstanding Senior Award is RANDY GYLLENHAAL. Presented by Dean Paul Parsons.
The Mary Ellen Priestley Scholarship
This scholarship assists a female student who is a rising sophomore, junior or senior majoring in print journalism and is preparing for a career as a writer for public circulation newspapers and magazines. The scholarship was established by the late Dr. Mary Ellen Priestley, a former professor of English and Journalism at Elon and adviser to The Pendulum, and her husband, Gerard. This year’s winner is ANNA JOHNSON, managing editor for The Pendulum. Presented by Colin Donohue.
The A.J. Fletcher Award
This award recognizes the achievements of an outstanding undergraduate corporate, broadcast or film major who reflects a wide-ranging interest within the field, has a GPA above 2.75, has demonstrated leadership in campus or personal life, and has been involved in some area of community service. This year’s recipient is KYLE JOHNSON. Presented by Barbara Miller.
James F. Hurley Legacy Scholarship
This endowed scholarship is named in memory of James F. Hurley Sr. and James F. Hurley Jr. and in honor of James F. Hurley III. All three were influential as publishers of The Salisbury (N.C.) Post. The scholarship is awarded to a junior, with preference given to communications students with priority to journalism majors, and it carries through to the student’s senior year if the student remains at Elon for four years. This year’s recipient is BRYAN ROGALA. Presented by Tom Nelson.
Times-News Scholarship
This scholarship will provide financial aid for a participant in journalism at Elon University who has demonstrated leadership, scholarship, service to the community and exemplary character traits. This scholarship is awarded to SARAH CARIDEO. Presented by Glenn Scott.
Anthony & Olga Duke Communications Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a student majoring in communications who has verified financial need and strong academic record. The recipients of the Anthony & Olga Duke Communications Scholarship are ALEXA JOHNSON and KELLYE COLEMAN. Presented by Mandy Gallagher.
Foreman Scholarship
This scholarship, awarded to a promising student in television production, is named in memory of James Michael Elzar Foreman, a student in the School of Communications who died in 2007. The recipient of the Foreman Scholarship is BRANDON MARSHALL. Presented by J. McMerty.
D’Angelo Family Scholarship in Honor of Bill Leonard
Established by Drs. Lawrence and Dolores D’Angelo (P ’02), the D’Angelo Family Scholarship in honor of Bill Leonard recognizes the achievements of an outstanding rising senior in the field of broadcast communication. The late Bill Leonard, former president of CBS News, was influential in the creation of “60 Minutes,” “CBS Sunday Morning” and a host of other landmark news programs. The recipient of this year’s D’Angelo Scholarship is DREW SMITH, the news director of Phoenix14News. Presented by Rich Landesberg.
Dubois Legacy Scholarship
This endowed scholarship recognizes a junior or senior who demonstrates a consistent commitment to their course of study, and shows great promise through their participation in foreign study, internships, and holds great promise. The scholarship honors Courtney Dubois Needham ’95, and her family, Charles and Keith Dubois, for the many contributions they have made to Elon, and to the field of communications. The recipient of this year’s Dubois Legacy Scholarship is SHEA NORTHCUT. Presented by George Padgett.