Meet the 2019 CommCelebs
UC Communication Department recognizes outstanding communication faculty, students and alumni
By Monica Huzinec
Every year, faculty, staff, students, and alumni gather to recognize the outstanding members of the University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences Communication Department. This year, the annual awards celebration “CommCeleb” turned 21, and put a spotlight on distinguished research, leadership, service and scholarship shown through the department during the academic year. The department also celebrated its 55th departmental anniversary.
The department honored 2008 Communication graduate Julie R. Idoine-Fries, Chief Executive Officer of Select Specialty Hospitals Cleveland Fairhill and Gateway, located in Cleveland, OH. Idoine-Fries was recognized as the department’s outstanding alumna for “living her health communication dream” as a leader in both not-for-profit and for-profit healthcare systems.
Also at the event, Lisa Newman, professor educator in the Department of Communication, was celebrated for her 32-year career at the university. Retiring this year, she has been recognized with the Lisa H. Newman Scholarship, an endowed fund organized by alumni Tom and Chris Carleton, who wanted to honor a professor who touched their lives.
Department Chair Steve Depoe with the Golden family as the Haleigh Golden Memorial Scholarship is unveiled. Photo credit: Autumn Miller
The Haleigh Golden Memorial Scholarship was unveiled to honor fourth-year student Haleigh Golden. The communication and journalism double major, who had served as president of communication honors society Lambda Pi Eta, passed away unexpectedly in 2018. Golden’s family accepted the Lambda Pi Eta Distinguished Leadership Award on her behalf.
In addition, professor and Public Relations program director Suzanne Boys was recognized for developing the department’s first ever Public Relations major, which will be enrolling undergraduates beginning next fall semester.
Here is a round-up of the 2019 UC Communications Department’s CommCeleb awardees:
Judith S. Trent Graduate Student Research Award
Recognition of Achievement - Rockia Harris
Recognition of Outstanding Performance
Philippe Chauveau; Parameswari Mukherjee; Andrea Schaaf; M. Hadassah Ward
Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching Award
Philippe Chauveau; M. Hadassah Ward
Graduate Student Association Professional Development Award
Philippe Chauveau
Teresa S. Sabourin Award for Graduate Student Leadership & Service
Andrea Schaaf
Intern Site of the Year
The Center for Addiction Treatment
Intern of the Year
Alli Noble
Co-op Student of the Year
Kassie Frasher
The Haleigh Golden Distinguished Leadership Award
Doug, Rishanne, and Taylor Golden
The Haleigh Golden Memorial Scholarship
Maddie Bell
The Communication Alumni Scholarship
Santiago Martinez
The Lucille Pederson Scholarship
Tiffany Stalla
The Frank J. Jones Scholarship
Audrey Springman
The Warren and Elaine Lashley Scholarship / The Rudolph and Kathleen Verderber Challenge Scholarship
Adam Hesselbrock
The Lisa H. Newman Scholarship
Vanessa McCoy
Outstanding Undergraduate Award
Nominees: Terri Abbatiello; Luc Brazeau; Asha Brogan; Megan Dorning; Alexia Gaines; Arin Gentry; Jane Heimkreiter; Jasmine Logan; Kelsey Paul; Robert Reichwein; Maggie Thiemann; Benjamin Winkelmann
Winner: Maggie Thiemann
Distinguished Friend of Communication Award
Kevin Must
Outstanding Communication Alumni Award
Julie Idoine-Fries
Lambda Pi Eta Communication Professor of the Year Award
Nominees: Steve Fuller; Evan Griffin; LisaMarie Luccioni
Winner: Evan Griffin
Featured image: UC Communication students M. Haddasah Ward, Andrea Schaaf, Philipe Chaveau and Rockia Harris. Photo credit: Autumn Miller
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