Communication Honors Celebration

Kate Guenther, Katie Anderson

 The Communication Department's faculty, staff, students, parents and friends gathered in Bulger Hall on Friday evening May 17th to recognize graduating seniors and distribute honors.  Department Chair Joe Marren gave a short congratulatory talk to graduates and those who have supported them over the course of their college careers. Keynote speaker Joe Buscaglia (Journalism '08), WGR550's Buffalo Bills Reporter, gave some words of wisdom and career advice to the graduates.


Outstanding Graduates

Brian Alexander

Joe Marren, Agnieszka Pankiewicz

The Dean's Award for the Outstanding Communication Student went to Molly Lundquist, a Public Communication Major with a 3.92 GPA who is graduating summa cum laude, and earned a spot on the Dean's List each semester she studied at Buffalo State.   Awards for overall "Outstanding Student(s)" in each discipline were given to: Brian Alexander (Journalism), Katie Anderson (Journalism), Calvin Gwinner (Media Production), Kaitlyn Wardour (Media Production), Agnieszka Pankiewicz (Public Communication), and Kate Guenther (Communication Studies). 

Special Awards

Lakisha Forde

In addition, the Dr. Julia Piquette award, for a junior or senior with a GPA of at least 3.7, was awarded to Journalism junior Leif Reigstaad.   The $500 Charles Y. Adair Award for Excellence in Communication was given to Lakisha Forde.  The Silberstein Scholarship was conferred upon Journalism junior Oliver Colbert.  The Buffalo News Scholarships were given to freshmen Brittney Nowak and Jon Southwell.  





Commendation of Academic Achievement
Communication majors among the top 15% of the graduating class received a Commendation of Academic Achievement for a GPA of 3.5 and above in the major.   These included: Brian Alexander, Katie Anderson, Brenda Bridges, Max Borsuk, Victoria Cardinali, Brianne Collins, Brittany Collins, Olivia Gmerek, Kate Guenther, Calvin Gwinner, Lauren Kirchmeyer, Molly Lundquist, Tara MacAuley, Meaghan Maess, Edward Mazzuto, Agnieszka Pankiewicz, Jasmine Peterson, Madelayne Ross, Sara Sanchez, Margaret Shaver, Jennine Taberski, Kelsey Tender, Janiel Thomas, Steven Wagner, Kaitlyn Wardour, and Jasmine Willis.  

Kari Byers, Sam Mines, Gabe See, Jasmine Willis

Commendations for Professional Service and Leadership
Nicholas Stutzman was awarded a Commendation for Professional Service for the WBNY Iraqi Radio Project, and Gabrielle Chiddy and Kari Beyers with Commendations for Leadership for their work as officers with the college's chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

Sports Communication Certificate
Three students were also recognized for receiving a Certificate in Sports Communication.  They are Max Borsuk, Joel Jachimowicz, and Kaylee Lekki.

 Honor cords were distributed to students who met the criteria of  Lambda Pi Eta, the national communication honor society, and are members of Buffalo State College's Rho Psi chapter.  To be eligible for membership, students must have an overall GPA of 3.0, and a major GPA of 3.25.   Dr. Ann Liao presented the red-and-white honor cords to be worn at commencement.

Congratulations to all the outstanding Communication graduates and honorees!

Outstanding Communication Student Molly Lundquist, left

Congratulations Graduates!

The Record Staff wishes the best of luck to its many 2013 graduates!

Journalism Student Wins Scholarship; will Intern at CBS Sports

Oliver Colbert (Journalism '14) will intern at CBS Sports' New Media Department in New York City this summer.   Nina M. Silberstein, ’85, who studied journalism at Buffalo State, is helping Colbert in his journey with a $1,000 scholarship she designated for a journalism student in need.

See the article on the Buffalo State website!

Summer Workshop for High School Journalists

Aug 12-16, 2013

Open to all high school students going into their junior or senior year.
The Communication Department at Bufalo State offers this intensive, five-day summer workshop for Buffalo-area high school students heading into their junior or senior year who have a serious interest in journalism.
The workshop will introduce students to basic skills in news reporting, writing, editing, interviewing and the use of video. Students will get hands-on experience using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
Buffalo State faculty and professional journalists from Western New York will teach the sessions. Guest speakers and special guests have been invited. Students will produce original work across several multi-media platforms that will be posted online at the end of the week.
• Work with Buffalo State journalism faculty and local journalists
• Get hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment
• Learn techniques and skills to apply to your own campus media
• Have your multi-media report published online
• Workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day
• $150 tuition includes all supplies and lunches for five days
• Apply by May 31. Space is limited

Application

Alumna Heads Men's Basketball Team

The new owner and coach of the Buffalo 716ers men's basketball team is Tawan Slaughter (Broadcasting '05). While a student in the Communication Department at Buffalo State, Tawan was a point guard for the Lady Bengals, averaging 16 points a game. After graduation, she had tryouts with two WNBA teams.

The Independent Basketball League/Premier Basketball League says it is pleased to have a woman heading one of its teams. A league exec said Tawan brings a new level of diversity, predicting that she will be a good mentor for the young men on the team and a role model for women in sports.

Tawan, 29, currently is organizing a team to compete in the Los Angeles Summer Pro League in July. Tryouts will be in September for the 716ers first season, which will begin next March.

More information can be found at www.buffalosevenonesixers.com 

TFA Excellence Awards

 Dana Greene, Jack Petrillo, Jacob McAuliffe, Anthony Francis, Jake Plumeri, Simon O’Keefe, and James Wright

Seven TFA student filmmakers from Lou Rera’s TFA 420 class premiered their HD short films Friday night in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall in front of an audience of approximately 150. The juried show featured films from genres that included drama, comedy and satire. TFA Program Director Jeff Hirschberg, presented the annual TFA Excellence Award to a film produced over the last year. This year there was a tie for first place. Show the Prophet, written and directed by Simon O’Keefe, and The Accidental Felon, written and directed by Jacob McAuliffe, each were given the film award. The show was followed by a Q & A with the filmmakers.

President's Leadership Award Goes to Marren

Professor Joe Marren was recently given the President's Leadership Award in recognition of his extraordinary leadership in the University Faculty Senate of the State University of New York.  In addition to serving on the SUNY Faculty Senate, Joe has been the Chair of the Communication Department for the last two years.

TFA Film Forum Tonight!

Television Film Arts students will present seven films Friday, May 10th at the 6th Annual TFA Film Forum. The films were selected from amongst the year's projects, and will be screened in the following order: Thieves and Scoundrels by Jake Plumeri, Acceptance by James Wright, Candy Land by Anthony Francis,  Accidental Felon by Jacob McAuliffe, Breaking Color by Dana Greene, Haymaker by Jack Petrillo,  and  Skew the Prophet by Simon O'Keefe.  The Film Forum will be held in the Social Hall in the Campbell Student Union. The show starts at 7:30 and runs through 10:00. Doors open at 7:00.

Silverman Duo To Be Honored

The Silverman Family

The Buffalo Niagara chapter of the Public Relations Society of America has announced they will confer their Distinguished Service Award on Professor Deborah Silverman next month.   Deb's daughter, Beth Silverman, will simultaneously be  honored with the chapter's Rising Star Award. The Silvermans will receive their awards at the chapter's Excalibur Awards program on June 27th.

Comm Faculty and Staff win Appreciation Awards

Professor McCray

Professor  Franczyk

Campus Life recently announced the recipients of this year’s Faculty and Staff Appreciation Awards. Communication Professors Annemarie Franczyk, Tom McCray and Michael Niman received certificates of appreciation at a reception on April 30th.  Communication Advisor and Adjunct Professor Nanette Tramont was also recognized.

Each year the students involved as leaders in Campus Life (Orientation, Residence Life, Student Life, and Dining Services) have an opportunity to recognize the Buffalo State faculty and staff members who have made a difference in their lives. Students were asked to consider those whose efforts have had a lasting impression on them, who have provided dynamic classroom instruction, and who have made a difference in the lives of students.  A record 50 awards (up from 36 last year) were given this year.

Grant Street Global Voices Project

Watch the Global Voices Project Documentary

Media Production students Cornelius Newman '13, Wale Olaiya '13 and Justin Lynch '13 produced this documentary for Young Audiences of Western New York (YAWNY) as a Service Learning project in Advanced Documentary Production this spring. 

The 8-minute documentary highlights YAWNY's Grant Street mural project, created by artist Augustina Droze in collaboration with Buffalo State's Community Academic Center on Grant Street, Lafayette High School, School 45 and the community.   The mural celebrates the diversity of Buffalo's West Side.

Comm Majors win Humanitarian Awards

Adza Beda '14

Communication majors Adza Beda (Com Studies/Anthropology '14) and Oliver Colbert (Journalism '14) were recognized this week with Student Leadership and Humanitarian Awards. 

Oliver Colbert '14

The Vice President of Student Affairs Office announced that Adza Beda received the Minnie and Joe Engel Student Humanitarian Award, and Oliver Colbert received the Philip Santa Maria Memorial Award at a ceremony held on Thursday, April 25.  Beda and Colbert were selected for their outstanding leadership and their dedication and selfless service to Buffalo State and the greater community. Students were nominated by peers, faculty, and staff for their academic and extracurricular involvement both on and off campus.

The Minnie and Joe Engel Student Humanitarian Award recognizes a Buffalo State undergraduate student who has demonstrated personal character through altruism, volunteer service, and the giving of oneself to the campus and the larger community. The Engel Humanitarian Award recognizes the full measure of a person’s worth, not just as a scholar but also as someone whose efforts on behalf of others define a quality of character that embodies core values that merit recognition.

The Phillip Santa Maria Memorial Award recognizes a Buffalo State undergraduate student who has demonstrated a well-rounded character, exhibiting not only scholastic achievement but also active participation in campus life at Buffalo State and in the Western New York community and a desire to improve the world.

Accolades for Buffalo State Journalism Major

Congratulations are due to Communication major Sade McKenzie (Journalism '14), who will be named one of 2 recipients of the competitive USG (United Student Government) Future Leadership Scholarship, carrying an award of $1,000. 

Already a McNair Scholar at Buffalo State (mentored by Communication faculty member, Professor Meg Knowles),  Sade has also been recently accepted into the Graduate Summer Undergraduate Mentoring program (GSUM)  at the University of Cincinnati, where she will spend 10 weeks assisting a graduate student with research on the ways marketing and advertising affect our decisions.  The GSUM research will compliment McKenzie's McNair project, which focuses on college students' use of social media as they prepare for the job market.

Lynn Bennett wins Chancellor's Award!

It was announced today that Communication and Philosophy Secretary, Lynn Bennett, will be a 2012-2013 recipient of the prestigious SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Classified Service. 

In her letter to Lynn, Chancellor Zimpher stated,  "The selection criteria are rigorous and exacting, ensuring that only those Classified Service employees who have consistently demonstrated superlative performance within and beyond their position receive this award...Your nomination reflects the respect and esteem of your colleagues, students and campus leadership for your professional accomplishments." 

Lynn was nominated for the Chancellor's award by the Chair of the Philosophy Department, Kimberly Blessing.   She will receive her award at a ceremony in Fall 2013.  Congratulations, Lynn!

Happy Birthday to The Record!

Staff from The Record, WBNY, and PRSSA club members gathered in the quad to celebrate The Record's 100th Birthday on Thursday.    Benji, Buffalo State's mascot, was in attendance.

Benji joins The Record's staff

Media Production Students Produce Docs for Squeaky Wheel; YAWNY

Tajh Lewis '13, Nadra Dennis '13 and John Szablewski (TFA '13) prepare to shoot at Squeaky Wheel

Students in Advanced TV Documentary class participated in Service Learning projects this spring, producing six short documentaries for community partners Young Audiences of Western New York (YAWNY) and Squeaky Wheel.   Topics included:  the creation of a community mural on Buffalo's West Side; promoting the education of girls in computer arts; and secrets of film and media production, ranging from zoetropes to stop motion animation.  The students worked in documentary production teams of three to produce these projects and the final documentaries will be used by each organization to further their mission in the community.

Will Scannapieco '14 conducting an interview