Honors Day 2025 Shows Heart
The department held its annual Honors Day on April 30th with a theme of "I ♥ CMS." Following a photo montage put together by Jenn Porras, Department Chair Craig Scott recapped highlights from the year including Maddie Holland officially becoming an Associate Professor of Instruction, the CMS 125th Anniversary events, the visit from Outstanding Grad Program Alum John Caughlin, Keri Stephens being named a Fellow of the International Communication Association, Shiv Ganesh becoming a Distinguished Scholar of the National Communication Association, the arrivals of the new graduate cohort and hires such as Laura Vaught and Jasmine Wu, CMS Week, and our spring colloquium series.
We then began honoring several groups and individuals. Roselia Mendez Murrillo, faculty advisor for Lambda Pi Eta, recognized that group for its accomplishments during the year. She also presented a list of over 140 CMS undergraduate majors graduating this spring (see separate article).
Robert Carroll, faculty advisor for our student chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators, recognized that group for becoming a sponsored student organization thanks in part to the work of Chapter President Firdous Khezrian (who was also our undergraduate recipient of the Hart Impact Award). Robert also recognized the Texas Undergraduate Sales Organization, its officers, and the national sales team that took third place in the recent national competition (including three of our corporate communication track majors: Taylor Anderson, Paige Braden and Macy Ellis).
Mike Butterworth, Director of the Center for Sports Communication and Media presented the winners of the March Madness Bracket Challenge that the department and his center co-sponsor. For the men’s bracket, the winner was Abigail Jane Texas Hazlett (2nd place: Ellen “Alley-Oop” Alley). For the women’s bracket, the winner was Craig “Dr. Hoops” Scott (2nd place: Larry “LLSchoolJ” Schooler).
Brendon Bankey, Director of Texas Debate, shared highlights of the team’s many successes this year. It was also noted that Bankey recently won the American Forensic Association’s Dr. Lucy M. Keele Award for Excellence in Service, which is the most prestigious service award in all of intercollegiate debate. Eva Margarita, Director of Texas Speech, then recapped another successful year for the team—including a fourth consecutive win at the American Forensic Association’s national tournament. Eva, who is stepping down from her faculty position, was thanked for her service over the past year.
In keeping with the theme, the department gave out several Purple Heart awards to those who have provided service of exceptional valor and value to our community. Those recognized included the following:
- Ari Davidson, Natalie Wellman, and Eleni Mercer for going above and beyond as forensics assistants this year!
- Randy Cox and Stacey Sowards for stepping in to assist with classes and the forensics program while a faculty member went on leave.
- Our two wonderful work studies for all they do: Priscilla Diaz for social media and website work and Joanna Torres for doing whatever we need done in the main office!
- René Dailey and Jenn Porras for all they do to keep our graduate program running so smoothly.
- John Daly, who just finished overseeing the basic 306M course and who taught his final Interpersonal class after 48 years of teaching at UT!
- Shiv Ganesh, who served as co-chair of our search committee this past year and who is an area head and course coordinator
- Maddie Holland, who stepped into take over the challenging graduate pedagogy course.
- Mike Butterworth, who chaired the awards committee who worked especially hard here around Honors Day.
Rene Dailey and Jenn Porras then presented the graduate program awards, beginning with gifts for each student graduating this year (see separate news article on our graduates). They also recognized all those who moved into comprehensive exams and advanced to candidacy this year, as well as a large list of other awards/honors won by graduate students over the course of the year. Then it was time for the big awards based on faculty nominations and selection by an awards committee. Here are the graduate student winners:
- Outstanding First-Year Masters Student: Emaly Aguilar
- Outstanding First-Year Doctoral Student: Tianyang Fu
- Outstanding Masters Student: Ari Davidson
- Outstanding Doctoral Student: Jiayu Sun
- Outstanding Graduate Citizen: Ellen Alley
- Outstanding Teaching Assistant: Emily Rapier
- Outstanding Assistant Instructor: Jamie Jelinek
- Outstanding Graduate Research Award: Nicole Butterbaugh and Nathaniel Repay
CommSGC then announced their new leadership (Karissa Hernandez, Chair; Emaly Aguilar, Vice Chair; Leonard Memon, Treasurer; Emily Felt, Secretary). They presented two awards that the graduate students selected:
- Graduate Faculty of the Year: Erin Donovan
- Instructional Mentorship Award: Dawna Ballard
René Dailey announced the Outstanding Graduate Program Alum Award winner, as selected by vote of the graduate faculty. This year’s winner is Vidula Bal. Vidula will come to campus in the fall to accept her award and share thoughts on her time in the program.
Jennifer Betancourt presented the Friend of the Department Award, chosen by departmental leadership, to Peggy Hart for all the years she opened her home to department events and for her generous donation that made the Barry Brummett Endowed Lecture a reality.
There was a three-way tie for the Faculty/Staff Service Award, as voted on by department faculty/staff. Stacey Sowards presented the first award to Lisa Moseley. Shiv Ganesh presented a second honor to Keri Stephens, who listened in live on her phone from a research-related trip to the Gulf Coast. Craig Scott presented the final service award to Rod Hart, who is retiring. Rod regaled the audience with a humorous poem that incorporated the names of every member of the department faculty/staff in his letter to the President.
A reception to honor winners was held immediately afterward. Congratulations to all our awardees. We do indeed ♥ CMS!
