This afternoon, Communications and Media Arts faculty will recognize and honor student achievement in their department. The awards ceremony will be held, weather permitting, in the garden of Hibernia.
Although we honor students across the many disciplines and areas of our College at the annual Honors Convocation, held last Thursday, departmental recognition is also important to reward and inspire students in specific practices and achievements of their major field. Regardless of grades, skills or other responsibilities, students win awards because of their commitment to their academic program, to making learning a priority in their lives and to using their skills to secure internships and jobs as well as to advance their profession.
Communications and Media Arts has a long and distinguished history of student achievement. In 1962 James Carty realized that he not only had a fledgling department of Communications on his hands, but had student superstars worthy of special recognition. Fifty-three years ago, he originated the Communications Awards. The areas have changed as the department has changed. The campus awards we had last week are named for not only Carty but also for E. E. Roberts, founder of the Public Relations and Journalism Department (with the first classes offered in 1929). In addition, this department has the Charlotte Manion Yurko Award, the James Keegan Prize (in international communication), the Sarah M. Cannon Award and the Eugene Miller Award (for Excellence in Business and Communications). This afternoon, the Department will recognize student success with a number of internal awards that pertain to specific skills and achievements within this diverse and growing program.
I know you join me in expressing appreciation for the campus technical services that the Department provides and in congratulating those students who will be honored.
