91¶ÌÊÓƵ

84 students graduating with bachelor’s, associate’s degrees in Communication Congratulations to the 71 students graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and the 13 students graduating with an associate’s degree in Communication.

• Civic Advocacy: Lindsey Parkinson, Amy Torman, Taylour Wingert
• Digital Media: Ethan Bosshardt, Joseph Grammer, Cameron Jackson, Brooklyn Kilgore, Jeremiah LaFazia, Fernando Nevarez, Tyler Petersen, Chelsey Shuman, Spencer Teramoto
• Interpersonal and Family Communication: Allyse Anderson, Emma Coker, Tyler Dingman, Chelsea Folkerts, Deanna Giokas, Emma Harris, Shane Jolin, Malka Khan, Lincoln Merrill, McKena Montgomery, Whitney Olson, Mary Peterson, Brent Redford, Maren Sommer, Whitney Stoddard, Daniel Wright Jr.
• Multimedia Journalism: Dalton Gallegos, William Griffith, Tyler Haslam, Kierstynn King, Raymond Lucas, Kainoa Nunez, Briana Whatcott
• Organizational Communication: Amy Arnold, Casey Black, Rebecca Brown, Denise Call, Alexanderia Gerritsen, Weston Lee, Grayson Moyes,
• Carlee Wallentine, JaCoy Winborg
• Public Relations & Advertising: Jessica Avalos, Olivia Bailey, Shawn Bennion, Gerrison Burgener, Mckaylee Burton, Caylee Calandra, Ellie Coombs,
• Caitlyn Coy, Kiersten Cragun, Brittney Dawson, Kayla Dreher, Sydney Fairclough, Benjamin Ferney, Ellie Fochtman, Jeni Goff, Elle Gord, Emily Grubb, Christopher Himmer, Kiara Horowitz, Aidan James, Mitchell Keahey, Taylor Navidomskis, Callie Oyama, Michael Reyes-Martinez, Madison Robbins, Kymberlee Smith, Shaylee Stevens
• Associate of Science: Jessica Anderson, Ali Awadh, Alec Cipollini, Lizbeth Correa, Kennedy Dykster, Logan Gossett, Audrey Gowans, Kierstynn King, Johannah Raty, Miles Shaw, Ashlyn Thompson
• Associate of Digital Media Production: Brooklyn Kilgore
• Associate of Workplace Communication & Writing: Steven Clift

15 students graduating with Master of Professional Communication degree

Congratulations to the 15 students graduating with the graduate degree of Master of Professional Communication. The graduates are Anna Auger, Kamille Bone, Daniel Crandall, Natalie Hales, Casey Hardey, Emily Hulse, Shauna Lund, Jennifer Neal, Bethany Rasmussen, Heather Robison, Niki Tonks, Taylor Washburn, Mitchell Whitfield, Tosha Wixom, and Oleksandra Zubar.

Outstanding Communication graduates selected for 2020-2021

The outstanding graduates selected by the Department of Communication for the 2020-2021 include:

• Master of Professional Communication: Niki Tonks, Mitchell Whitfield
• Outstanding Academic Achievement: Callie Oyama
• Civic Advocacy: Lindsey Parkinson
• Digital Media: Brooklyn Kilgore
• Interpersonal & Family Communication: Maren Sommer
• Multimedia Journalism: Tyler Haslam
• Organizational Communication: Denise Call
• Public Relations & Advertising: Kiersten Cragun
• Associate of Science in Communication: Audrey Gowans

Six students graduating with Honors in Communication

Six students are graduating with Honors in Communication. To graduate with Honors, students must earn a 3.75 GPA in the Communication major and have a 3.5 GPA overall. They must also present original research at a conference.

• Rachel Bench: “Campus Resources and Student Experiences”
• Kiersten Cragun: “What We Want to Hear: An Analysis of Podcasts”
• Kayla Dreher: “Dating Apps and Their Effect on Relationship Building”
• Deanna Giokas: “Discourse Dominance: White Culture and Native American Awareness”
• Callie Oyama: “The Art of Plagiarism: Sampling in the 21st Century”
• Shaylee Stevens: “An Analysis of Harry Potter Through the Lens of Cultural Studies”

11 students inducted into national honor society for Communication

Eleven Communication majors were inducted into Lambda Pi Eta, the national honor society for Communication. To be eligible for Lambda Pi Eta, students must (1) complete 60 semester credit hours, (2) have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 for all courses taken, (3) complete the equivalent of 12 semester credit hours in Communication, (4) have a minimum GPA of 3.25 for all Communication courses, (5) currently be enrolled as a student in good standing, as determined by the institution's policies, and (6) rank within the highest 35% of one’s class in general scholarship. The inductees include Rachel Bolt, Cecilia Collins, Kiersten Cragun, Ben Ferney, Danielle Hatch, Shelby M. Moyes, Jennifer Orozco, Mary Peterson, Brent Redford, Shaylee Stevens and Amy Torman.

Two Communication students honored by multicultural center

A Communication major and a Communication minor were recognized with Kente Cloths for their contributions and dedication to multiculturalism and the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Center for Multicultural Excellence. These recipients distinguished themselves through their leadership, strove for excellence through helping others and participated in making 91¶ÌÊÓƵ a better university for all students and their community. The recognized students were

Callie Oyama who is graduating with a bachelor of arts in Communication/Public Relations and Advertising and a minor in sound production and recording, and Ingrid E. Oseguera who minored in Communication with a bachelor of Arts in Spanish.

The Signpost honored in All Around Newspaper category by SPJ

The Signpost, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ's student newspaper, won finalist in All Around Newspaper in the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards for Region 9. The awards, covering universities in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming, were announced at the Region 9 conference on April 10. The All Around Newspaper award honors the overall news reporting, writing, photography and look of student newspapers.

Overall, The Signpost brought home three first-place finishes. Those students will compete for national honors against students from all 11 regions. Ten finalist awards went to Signpost work as well.

Winners:

• BriElle Harker: breaking news photography, wind closes 91¶ÌÊÓƵ campus
• Nicole Dorber: feature photography, wild horses
• Israel Campa: sports photography, Wildcats rain on Thunderbirds

Finalists:

• Jennifer Greenlee: breaking news, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ suspends campus for COVID
• Francisco Ruiz: feature writing, Digital dating: love, lust and leisure at your fingertips
• Bethany West: in-depth writing, Former convicts find themselves punished through Utah housing program
• Jennifer Greenlee: editorial writing
• Kierstynn King and Daryn Steed: column writing
• Francia Henriquez Benson: breaking news photography, Black Lives Matter protest
• Nicole Dorber: general news photography, disability and snow
• Israel Campa: feature photography, hoodoos
• Aubree Eckhardt: data visualization, American who say they are Christian

Two 91¶ÌÊÓƵ debaters recognized as National Debate Scholars

Weber State debaters Zoe Thomae and Bailey Brunyer were recognized as 2020-2021 National Debate Scholars. This award honors students with records of strong academic achievement and competitive success.

SPJ honors two 91¶ÌÊÓƵ students as Journalism Grads of the Year

Two Weber State multimedia journalism graduates were honored by the Utah Headliners chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists as Journalism Grads of the Year for Weber State. Sarah Earnshaw, video editor for The Signpost, and Kierstynn King, culture writer, received the awards at The Signpost's end-of-the-year party on April 23. The award consists of graduation cords, a certificate and a three-year membership to SPJ, the preeminent journalism organization in the nation.

Studio 76 leaders announced for 2021-2022

Studio 76 has announced its student leaders for 2021-2022. Rachel Loveland will be manager of operations and Logan Gossett will be content manager.

KWCR Wildcat Radio names new general manager, thanks outgoing manager

Jessica Krok has been named general manager at KWCR Wildcat Radio for the upcoming year. KWCR would also like to recognize Ammon Holt for serving in that role for the past two years, as he is set to graduate and get married in the coming weeks.

The Signpost announces new and familiar leadership for 2021-2022

The Signpost has both new and familiar leadership for the 2021-2022 school year. Jennifer Greenlee will return as editor-in-chief for her senior year. Marisa Nelson, who has served as news editor this year, will move to managing editor next year, and Joshua Kamp will serve as news editor, with Adam Rubin as assistant news editor. Caitlyn Larsen will serve as culture editor for a second year, with Lissete Landaverde as assistant culture editor. Miles Shaw will move up to sports editor with Emily Miller as assistant sports editor. Breanna Hart will be copy desk chief. Bella Torres will be photo editor, and Blythe Evans will be graphics editor. The Signpost is still recruiting for staff for summer and next year. Staffers during the school year are eligible for scholarships. For more information, contact adviser Jean Norman, jeannorman@weber.edu.

Communication faculty member named director of Teaching and Learning Forum

Dr. Nicola Corbin has accepted the position of Teaching and Learning Forum director. Dr. Corbin is an accomplished teacher who was named 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s Crystal Crest Master Teacher in 2019 and the 2018 Educator of the Year from the Iota Iota Iota chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. She teaches public relations and mass media courses, and advises Ogden Peak Communications, Weber State’s student-run public relations firm. Her vision includes transitioning the Teaching and Forum to a Center for Teaching Innovation, a place where faculty can build community and confidence to become the best teachers they can be. Dr. Corbin will begin her new role January 1, 2022, after completing a prestigious leadership program through the Association of American Colleges and Universities during her sabbatical scheduled for Fall 2021. Until then, current TLF director, Dr. Colleen Packer, will continue in the role. Dr. Packer has provided outstanding service and leadership in TLF since 2014.

Howerton named new advisor for Ogden Peak Communications

Professor Leslie Howerton will become the new advisor for Ogden Peak Communications. She will follow Dr. Nicola Corbin who has been named the director of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s Teaching and Learning Forum.

Josephson stepping down as chair while Bialowas named as successor

Dr. Sheree Josephson is stepping down as chair of the Department of Communication on June 30. She has been in that role since 2012. In that time, nine additional faculty members have been added, the number of graduates has more than doubled, and Ogden Peak Communications, the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Speech Team and new associate’s degrees have been established. During her three terms as chair, Dr. Josephson was named a Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor in 2018 and published the “Handbook of Visual Communication: Theory, Methods, and Media” with Routledge in 2020. Dr. Josephson is a noted eye-tracking researcher who applies that methodology to study new and emerging media. Her most recent published eye-tracking study was about Augmented Reality. While she says it is “bittersweet” to step down as department chair, she couldn’t be prouder of the department. She will be on sabbatical leave for a year and then step back into a full-time faculty role. She is leaving the department in good hands. Dr. Anne Bialowas will take the helm as department chair on July 1.