The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communication (MMSC) held its annual scholarships and awards program April 1 in the Russell Duncan Ballroom in the Boling University Center.
“The MMSC Awards Ceremony is the highlight of our year as we honor our students, thank our donors and celebrate alumni who have achieved great things, inspired us and made us all proud,” said Dr. Robert Nanney, chair of the Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communication. “They all are a cherished part of our story.”
Sixteen scholarships valued at more than $13,700 were presented in the awards ceremony.
Broadcasting scholarship winners for this year were:
• Duke Drumm/WCMT Scholarship for an outstanding broadcasting student, $250: Tessa Schneider, a senior geoscience major from Kenosha, Wisconsin.
• West Tennessee PBS Scholarship for an outstanding broadcasting student, $1,000: Jacob Sullivan, a senior MMSC major from Huntingdon.
• Country Radio Broadcasters Scholarship for an outstanding radio broadcasting student, $1,000+: LeeAnne Morefield, a senior MMSC major from Dresden.
Journalism scholarship winners for this year were:
• Wayne Tansil Scholarship for an outstanding journalism student, $700: Nate Szarzynski, a junior MMSC major from New Lenox, Illinois, and Ethan Tanner, a sophomore MMSC major from Dover (award divided evenly).
Public relations scholarship winners for this year were:
• Jeanna Swafford Public Relations Scholarships to two outstanding public relations students, $300 each: Jayda Disney, a junior MMSC major from Troy, and Michaela Gallian, a junior MMSC major from Waynesboro.
• Charles Baird Nonprofit Public Relations Scholarship for students with interest in nonprofit organizations, $500: James Crowell, a junior MMSC major from Union City.
• Dr. Jerald Ogg MMSC Scholarship, for an outstanding MMSC student to help fund an internship or travel study, $1,000: Darby Self, a sophomore MMSC major from Somerville.
• Kent Landers Public Relations Internship Scholarship, to assist with an outstanding public relations student’s expenses to complete an internship at a major U.S. or international city, $1,500: Kate Mills, a sophomore MMSC major from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Public speaking scholarship winners for this year were:
• Dorotha Norton Scholarship, to an outstanding public speaking student, $600: Darby Self.
• Dorotha and Robert Norton Scholarship for an outstanding public speaking student who shows persistence to graduate, $500: Catey Henderson, a senior MMSC major from Martin.
Departmental scholarship winners for this year were;
• Senior Scholarship, $1,500: Chyler Lee, a junior MMSC major from Jackson.
• Junior Scholarship, $1,500: Maddy Kennedy, a junior MMSC major from Seymour.
• Sophomore Scholarship, $1,500: Ryleigh Ulen, a sophomore MMSC major from Union City.
• Freshman Scholarship, $1,500: Caleb Morris, a Haywood County High School student from Brownsville.
Other mass media and strategic communication scholarship winners were:
• Nanney-Segebarth Scholarship to an outstanding local or nontraditional student, $1,500: Catey Henderson.
• Gary Steinke Scholarship for an outstanding MMSC major, $1,250: Jacob Sullivan.
Twenty awards for excellence totaling $3,700 were also presented in the awards ceremony.
Broadcasting award winners for this year were:
• Stewart Byars Excellence in Radio Production Award, $1,000: Daniel Mancusi, a sophomore MMSC major from Martin.
• Terry and Mitzi Hailey Award for an outstanding broadcasting major, $300: JJ Somerville, a senior MMSC major from Bartlett.
• Dr. Gary Steinke WUTM Broadcasting Excellence Award for most outstanding WUTM staff member, $300: Katelyn Cohee, a senior MMSC major from Thompson Station.
• Tennessee Association of Broadcasters Award for outstanding broadcasting student, $500: Katelyn Cohee.
Media design award winners for this year were:
• Media Design Award for an outstanding media design student, $300: Aubrey Abbott, a sophomore MMSC major from Huntingdon.
• IDEA Award competition for the “How do the United States, Canada and Mexico Compare in Diversity?” infographic design, $200: Clarissa Spitzley, a senior MMSC major from Clarksville.
• Outstanding Designer Award competition for the 2024 WUTM-FM Homecoming T-shirt design, $200: Carson Alexander, a junior MMSC major from Martin.
• Design Scholar Award for demonstrating excellent design skills and outstanding academic performance, $200: Darby Self.
• Narrative Horizons Award, a new award for a student who has crafted a story that transcends the boundaries of how stories are told and experienced, $200: Chloe Kent, a junior MMSC major from Lewisburg.
Journalism award winners for this year were:
• Nanney News Writing Competition Award, $100: Chyler Lee.
• Gail McCutchen Smith Editing Award for a student showing excellence in copy editing, $100: Keenan Wilson, a sophomore MMSC major from Memphis.
• Ambassador Award for majors who represent the best of the department and help share its story, plaque: Carlin Cochran, a junior MMSC major from Nunnelly; Belle Fowler, a senior MMSC major from Gleason; Brandon Jones, a senior MMSC major from Gates; and JJ Somerville.
• Outstanding Nontraditional Student Award, $300 and plaque: Chloe Kent.
• Outstanding Senior Awards: Carlin Cochran, broadcasting; Connor Butts, a junior MMSC major from Vanleer, journalism; Clarissa Spitzley, media design; and Aubrey Malone, a senior MMSC major from Fayetteville, public relations.
PHOTO: Shown receiving microphone trophies of congratulations for being a part of WUTM’s success in college broadcast competitions this year, including the Southeastern Journalism Conference last February, are (front row, l-r) Maddy Kennedy, LeeAnne Morefield, Carlin Cochran, Carson Alexander, Katelyn Cohee, (back row, l-r) Marquez Hampton, Christian Bryson and Daniel Mancusi. The awards were given at the annual MMSC awards ceremony April 1. Hampton is a senior MMSC major from Memphis, and Bryson is a sophomore meteorology major and MMSC minor from Jackson.
