Three College of Journalism and Mass Communications students were honored with scholarship awards at the Nebraska Medallion Dinner on March 24 hosted at the Wick Alumni Center. Each year, the Nebraska Alumni Association recognizes accomplished alumni, promising students and a retired faculty member at a variety of awards programs and events such as the Nebraska Medallion Dinner. The award winners are chosen by a selection committee of alumni from across the country.
Junior advertising and public relations and broadcasting major Jacob Vanderford of Lincoln was honored for his commitment to the university with the Howard and Judy Vann Student Leadership Award.
Vanderford is a campus host and tour guide, the primary programmer for the international welcome team, and the new student enrollment resolutions specialist. Vanderford is also a business developer at CoJMC student-led agency, Jacht, hosts the radio show “Broadway Beats,” is a member of the all male acapella group, Bathtub Dogs, and a student Clifton Strengths coach at the College of Business.
The Howard and Judy Vann Student Leadership Award was established in 1999. It recognizes an undergraduate student leader who has shown exceptional leadership capabilities through energetic participation in student activities, commendable classroom performance and the personal integrity, perseverance and sense of humor demonstrated by those who successfully lead their peers.
Marissa Kraus, a junior journalism major from Colombia, Missouri, was awarded the Jack and Sharon Miller Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to a member of the Student Alumni Association (SAA) who has demonstrated leadership and commitment to the organization.
“Being part of the Student Alumni Association board of directors the last three years has been an incredible experience and one of my favorite parts of my college career,” Kraus said. “I have been able to connect with so many students, faculty and alumni through the Alumni Association, and I encourage every student to get involved.”
Kraus is also a student photographer in Nebraska’s athletic department, an Omaha World-Herald Sports Fellow, a photographer and sports reporter at the Daily Nebraskan and the president of CoJMC’s Student Advisory Board.
Last summer she worked at The Denver Post as a sports reporting intern, and this summer she’ll work as a communications intern in Omaha for the Nebraska Golf Association. Kraus was also recently awarded an ESPN scholarship by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation.
Sophomore advertising and public relations, and journalism double major, Naomi Delkamiller of Omaha, was awarded the Roy and Catherine Yaley Student Leadership Award & Scholarship.
Established in 2004, the Roy and Catherine Yaley Student Leadership Award & Scholarship is named in memory of the former alumni association president and his wife. Given annually, the award recognizes a student who has made a significant contribution of his or her time, talent and leadership to the Nebraska Alumni Association through one of the association's student programs or volunteer work at the association.
Delkamiller is a Carnegie-Knight News21 student fellow, a student multimedia creative for Husker Athletics, a student Clifton Strengths coach at the College of Business, a freelance videographer, a volunteer gallery guide at History Nebraska and a referee for the U.S. Soccer Federation.
During Alumni Masters Week, Delkamiller connected with the CoJMC Alumni Master and international human rights activist, Jane Tenhulzen Olson. The following weekend,March 30-April 2, she attended a multi-day, civilian-led training exercise called Atlantic Hope FTX with Olson on Northwest Missouri State’s campus.
“I’ve been captivated by Jane’s life as a journalist and advocate for human rights, and I was honored to accept her invitation to capture the weekend,” Delkamiller said.
Congratulations to all three of our Nebraska Alumni Association student award winners.