RSJ News
Reynolds Students Receive Over $103,000 in Scholarships
05-09-2012
Assistant Professor David Ryfe inducts students into Kappa Tau Alpha. Students: Jessica Fagundes, Andrew Church, Nicole Rose Dion, Gianna Cruet, Alessah Herup, Audrey Hill, Tiffany Moore and Catherine Stokes. Not pictured: Brita Voris and Laura Brigham.
Sixty students received scholarships totally more than $103,000 at the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism’s annual Savitt Awards Banquet this spring. Another 12 students were recognized for outstanding work in their specific areas of study with cash awards.
“The event was very inspiring,” Dean Al Stavitsky said. “The sense of community among the students, donors and faculty underlined what a very special place our school is. It was also an impressive demonstration of the diverse talents of our students.” It was Dean Stavitsky’s first Savitt Banquet since assuming his position on April 1.
Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director Todd Felts received the Nevada Semenza Christian Award recognizing teaching excellence also presented at the dinner.
Additionally, ten students were inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, an honor society recognizing academic excellence in Journalism and mass communications. They were: Jessica Fagundes, Andrew Church, Gianna Cruet, Nicole Rose Dion, Aleesah Herup, Audrey Hill, Tiffany Moore, Catherine Stokes, Brita Voris and Laura Brigham.
Church also received the Robert Laxalt Distinguished Writer Award, Dion took home the award for outstanding advertising student and Moore was recognized as the outstanding new media student.
Other students receiving outstanding undergraduate awards were: Madison Corney in broadcast, Stephen Ward in news, Richard De La Rosa in public relations, Michael Schembri in visual journalism and Nick Claus in strategic communications. Dana Sullivan Kilroy was recognized as the outstanding graduate student.
Casey O’Lear received the Lerude First Amendment Award. Amanda Horn received the Steve Martarano Best Published Article Award and Jade Sheldon was recognized for her service to the Journalism School with the Nita Spanger Service Award.
Each scholarship recipient was greeted by Dean Stavitsky while Academic Chair Rosemary McCarthy gave a brief summary of the history behind the individual scholarships.
“This tradition speaks so eloquently to the strong connection between our school, our alumni and the professions,” Dean Stavitsky said. “It was simply a wonderful event.”
An endowment established by Sol and Ella Savitt many years ago underwrites the banquet. Mrs. Savitt regularly attended until her death at the age of 101 in 2004. In recent years, the Rev. Jacqueline Leonard has also generously supported the event.
