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.

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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