by Molly Roe
The first ever “Power of Words” gala was held for University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications honors students on Nov. 6. The event took place at the Willa Cather Dining Complex on campus and featured a talk by CoJMC and Honors program alumnus and noted author Carson Vaughan.
About 35 Honors students from the college and their parents attended the event to recognize the students’ outstanding achievements and contributions to the Honors program. Patti Harney, assistant professor of practice and Honors faculty fellow, and Shannon Mangram, Honors program coordinator of community engagement, organized the event.
Interim Dean Amy Struthers led with a special introduction before dinner. Vaughan, a 2010 journalism graduate, was the keynote speaker. Vaughan is an author and freelance writer based in Lincoln. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Paris Review, Travel + Leisure, The Chicago Tribune, Slate, National Geographic and more. His most recent work includes “Zoo Nebraska,” a book about one man’s quest to start a primatology center in Royal, a small Nebraska town, and the ensuing circumstances that led to the zoo’s downfall.
Various student and faculty awards were presented at the event. The Journalism Award was presented to John Bender, Ph.D., CoJMC journalism professor.
CoJMC advertising and public relations professor Nancy Mitchell, Ph.D., was also honored with the Advertising and Public Relations award for her work with the Honors program. Both Bender and Mitchell are longtime, respected professors of Honors students, Harney said.
The 2019 “Help McHelper” student award, also known as the “I GOT YOU” award, was presented to Kaitlynn Johnson, a junior psychology and journalism major. This award is for the Honors student most likely to be consistently willing to lend a hand when needed. According to Bender, Johnson has always stepped up to take that role.
The 2019 “Like a Boss” award went to Jared Long, a senior political science and journalism major. This award is presented to a student who is most likely to dive into every challenge. The recipient is considered the embodiment of involvement between the Journalism college and the Honors program, Harney said.
The 2019 “Pot-Stirrer” award is for the Honors student who is most likely to keep a lively discussion going with creativity, even when the energy of the conversation is low. This award went to Logan Skrabal, a senior advertising and public relations and sports media and communication major.
Finally, the 2019 “Yes - But” award was a tie and went to Maddie Leblanc and Kenzie Leblanc, both junior advertising and public relations majors. This award is for the Honors student most likely to take the conversation off toward a surprising new direction and spark new ideas.
“This year we actually have a tie,” Harney said, “because of this duo’s ability to pursue opposing arguments with refreshing results.”
The goal of the Honors Gala was not only to recognize the achievements of Honors students but to create a sense of community among the group.
"Our Honors program director, Dr. Patrice McMahon and CoJMC Dean Amy Struthers made this very special evening possible,” Harney said. “We just can't say 'thank you' enough to our Honors Students."
