2007 Department of Communication Scholarship Awards Ceremony

Past Ceremonies: 2006 | 2005 | 2004

Posted: 04.16.07

On April 11, 2007, the Department of Communication held its annual Scholarship Awards ceremony in the Walker-Ames room. Along with the presenters, many of the scholarship recipients' family and friends attended. Ryan Blethen was also there to present the Seattle Times/Blethen family Memorial Scholarship. Ryan is an assistant editorial page editor for The Times. All four siblings of Marty Wilson attended, along with their families, and Steve Camp gave out the Marty Wilson Scholarship. Don Kraft, an advertising executive, consultant and community activist, as well as a lifelong friend of Fred Baker, presented the Fred Baker Endowment. Bill McCallum, president of Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA), presented the NWAPA scholarship.

Presented by Don Kraft

Anna Norman — Anna is a Communication major and interested in working in advertising or public relations (PR) for the arts, possibly for the theater industry in New York. She has written for The Daily, including a story on Kyle Charvat, a popular Communication student who passed away recently. She interned with Columns magazine during her freshman year, and spent last summer working at San Jose Magazine in the Bay Area. She plans to intern with a Broadway PR agency in New York for a quarter next year. Anna is a member of University Singers and volunteers for Student Disability Resources. She has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Seattle Times/Blethen Family Memorial Scholarship

Presented by Ryan Blethen

Manuel Valdes — Manuel is a Journalism major, double majoring in International Studies. He is interested in becoming a foreign correspondent in Latin America, preferably in Guatemala, where he was born. Next fall he will intern with a weekly English newspaper in Costa Rica. He has interned at The Seattle Times’ Eastside Bureau and with the Skagit Valley Herald in Mount Vernon. This year Manuel placed 14th in the Hearst Foundation In-Depth Reporting competition and received first place in two of SPJ’s Region 10 Mark of Excellence Awards: In-Depth Reporting and Feature Writing. Manuel is president of SPJ this quarter, and will intern at The Seattle Times this summer. He has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Ashley Russell — Ashley is a Journalism major, double majoring in Political Science and is interested in Broadcast journalism, public relations and print journalism. She is a news staff writer for The Daily. Ashley was a work-study student for KUOW as part of the production staff and she interned with KUBE 93, doing promotions. She has also interned with the Children’s Alliance, assisting in their advocacy efforts for children in Washington state. Ashley is a member of the Office of Vice President for Minority Affairs board and board member for the search committee for the new Office of Minority Affairs Vice Provost for Diversity. She is the Vice President of Community Affairs for Sisterhood on campus and she also coordinates the Retro Revolutionary Poets “Open Mic Nights.”

Excellence in Journalism

Presented by Jerry Baldasty

Sarah Anderson — Sarah is a Journalism major, double majoring in English, and interested in magazine writing (with an emphasis on community). She wants to address social issues through journalism and is leaning towards feature and opinion writing. She enjoys studying the subtleties in language and cultural and societal differences.. Sarah is also interested in foreign correspondence. She has studied in Paris and is applying for a scholarship to study in Finland. Sarah has been active in radio and so is also interested in possibly being a news correspondent or working in talk radio. Her other interest is in sports journalism, covering football in particular. She accompanied a Reuter’s International reporter to the NFC championship game in January 2006. She has written both news and features for The Daily, musical performance reviews for an online music zine, has interned in the traffic department for three radio stations, and has interned with Columns magazine. Sarah was awarded a certificate of high scholarship by the Honors Committee in 2005-2006 and has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Journalism Foreign Intrigue Scholarship

Presented by Jerry Baldasty

Michael Carter — Michael is a Journalism major, double majoring in Japanese. His goals are to incorporate his two majors by writing on ethnic and cultural issues. He has been a freelance writer for the Northwest Asian Weekly and after graduation he plans on moving to Japan for a couple years in order to teach and be more proficient at the language. He would like to continue writing during that time. This summer Michael will be interning with the newspaper Awoko in Freetown, in Sierra Leone. He has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Maureen Trantham — Maureen is a Journalism major who is double-majoring in the Comparative History of Ideas. Her academic interests include Holocaust and Memory studies, the art and narratives of children and ways in which more individuals are affecting journalism. Maureen is the recipient of multiple awards from the UW including The Daily 's High School Journalist of the Year, the Bob Doble Scholarship and is a two-time recipient of the Mary Gates Research Scholarship. She has interned at Starbucks Coffee Company and Owen Media in Seattle, and has worked at The Daily as an editor, reporter and designer. In 2002 she interned at The Nation newspaper in Bangkok, Thailand, and this summer will be interning in Shanghai for The Shanghai Star. An avid traveler, Maureen looks forward to graduation as just the beginning of her exploration and hopes to enter a career in corporate communications and media relations. She has consistently been on the Dean's List.

Tiffany Wan — Tiffany is a Journalism student double majoring in journalism and cinema studies. Since choosing a career in journalism, Tiffany has tried to gain as much hands-on experience as possible. Her main interests are writing features, arts, contemporary culture pieces and long, researched-based news stories. She is interested in magazine writing as well. She has worked at The Daily and has interned at the Northwest Asian Weekly, The Lewiston Tribune, the Seattle Weekly, and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. This quarter Tiffany is interning at The Seattle Times Eastside bureau. In the summer she will travel to Jakarta, Indonesia, to intern for The Jakarta Post. Tiffany received the Northwest Journalists of Color Scholarship and an Asian American Journalists Association scholarship funded by the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University. She has consistently been on the Dean's List.

NWAPA (Northwest Automotive Press Association) Scholarship

Presented by Bill McCallum

Sarah Jeglum — Sarah is a Journalism major and works as an initial-attack firefighter for the Entiat Ranger District. She is currently news editor for The Daily. She would like to combine her interest in journalism with her interest in the Forest Service by doing public relations for that organization this summer. She would like to work outdoors or in environment-related work. Sarah is also interested in Disability Studies and is planning to either double major or minor in that area. She has volunteered for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and various other charitable organizations. She has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Ruddick C. and Cherry Lawrence Endowed Scholarship

Presented by Lisa Coutu

Milo Anderson — Milo is a Journalism major. He cannot be here today because he is participating in a CHID study-abroad program in Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia, studying the war and the efforts at reconstruction and reconciliation. While there he will be writing freelance for magazines and newspapers in the United States. He would like to be a foreign correspondent for a major English language newspaper. He enjoys traveling and is also interested in radio journalism, having worked at the public radio station in Alaska. He is also a professional musician and plays guitar in two bands, American Night, and White Helicopter. Milo has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Kristine Mroczek ("muro-czech") - Kristine is a Communication Honors student and is planning to attend graduate school, pursuing a master's degree with the long-term goal of doctoral studies. She is interested in doing research and also in teaching. From living on Maui and through her studies here, she has come to see how language and communication can bond or separate people, through customs, beliefs and practices. She had an essay selected for presentation at the Western States Communication Associates Conference in February and the abstract for her honors research has been accepted for an oral presentation at the 21st National Conference on Undergraduate Research this month. She has also submitted an application for presentation at the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium in May. In Hawaii, Kristine worked in management in the golf industry, in which she did some public relations - writing marketing materials, planning events, and managing a quarterly newsletter and web site. Kristine is part of the first generation in her family to study for a Bachelor's degree, and the first woman. She has volunteered with many organizations, among them the Gluten Intolerance Group and the Disability Resources for Students. She is widely traveled and has consistently been on the Dean's list.

Robert F. Philip Scholarship

Presented by Lisa Coutu

Luzminda Eng — Luzminda is a Communication major, double majoring in Business Administration/Finance. She is interested in public relations, international communications, and event planning. She is considering working for a non-profit organization that provides services to help people or to benefit the community. She also plans to go to graduate school for an MBA. This fall she will study in Shanghai, China, hoping to learn about different people and the way they communicate within and across social groups and the cultural barriers they must overcome to do so. Luzminda is first generation Chinese-American and the first in her family to attend college. She was named a Washington State Scholar in 2005, is a member of the Undergraduate Women in Business, has tutored for Team Read, was a co-captain for Relay for Life, is a Sunday school teacher with her church. She is also on the staff of the Church College Group. She has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Stacey Engle — Stacey is a Communication major, double majoring in Marketing. She is interested in public relations, marketing, advertising, media, and interpersonal communications, and how those subjects affect the individual and society. She is planning on earning a graduate degree in Communication and Business and is considering doing a PhD, possibly going into teaching. She wants to work in a field that has a focus on people, creativity, and using communications responsibly. She is a Department of Communication Laura Crowell intern, member of PRSSA, Beta Gamma Sigma, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the UW Sales Club, and was the Philanthropy Director of Phi Alpha Delta in 2005-2206. She has been a teaching assistant for marketing in the Business school, was a student delegate to the Beta Gamma Sigma Leadership Conference in St. Louis in February, and has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Sarah Greenleaf — Sarah is a Journalism major and interested in all aspects of the print medium as well as web publishing and public relations. She plans to study in Europe and in the Middle East, as well as in Washington D.C. She would like to be a foreign correspondent or a political beat reporter and to possibly start her own publication that will focus on personal stories of people from around the world. She has interned with 911 Media and has mentored girls with Reel Grrls, a program in partnership with KCTS through 911 Media Arts to teach teenage girls how to be critical television watchers and produce of their own media. She participated in the Sundance Film Festival Invitational Youth program, was a volunteer with the Patsy Collins Adventures in Leadership, and has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Laura Kuchar — Laura is a Communication major who would like to work in corporate communications, ideally with a non-profit organization. She is interested in how companies and organizations communicate with each other and with the public. She has worked with children with special needs and would like to use her degree to work for an organization that benefits children with autism. She is also interested in communication technology and in public speaking and plans to tutor in the Speaking Center. She is a Department of Communication Laura Crowell intern, a classroom aid at the Experimental Education Unit, and has worked as a nanny for children with autism and as a camp counselor for the YMCA. Laura has volunteered with the Peninsula School District, working in early childhood special education. She has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Regina Ramirez — Regina is a Communication major, double majoring in Business, concentrating in technology and society. She is interested in learning about the relationship between business and communication. One of her goals is to be a market researcher. She is interested in the impact of the Internet and new media on society and on consumers. She and her brother are the first generation in her family to attend university. Regina is a member of FASA, the Filipino American Student Association, and has volunteered with SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), Big Brother Big Sister, and Future Business Leaders of America. Regina is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Marty Wilson Endowed Scholarship

Presented by Steve Camp

Whitney Tyner — Whitney is a Communication major with a Diversity minor who is also participating in the UW Business School Sales Certificate Program. Her career aspirations include broadcasting, public relations, advertising, marketing, and sales. She has interned with the UW Alumni Association, doing marketing, and for Mercer Human Resource Consulting at INROADS, developing customized communication solutions for businesses with human resource problems, and at KIRO television in the production, sales, traffic and ratings, and production departments. She is involved with the African American Partners for Prosperity and Vision Sixteen College Housing. Whitney has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Cassie Lawrence Bryant Endowed Scholarship

Presented by Mike Henderson

Sarah Jeglum — Sarah is a Journalism major and works as an initial-attack firefighter for the Entiat Ranger District. She is currently news editor for The Daily. She would like to combine her interest in journalism with her interest in the Forest Service by doing public relations for that organization this summer. She would like to work outdoors or in environment-related work. Sarah is also interested in Disability Studies and is planning to either double major or minor in that area. She has volunteered for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and various other charitable organizations. She has consistently been on the Dean’s list. Mike Henderson

John Impola Scholarship

Presented by Mike Henderson

Erin Hicks — Erin is a Journalism major who would like to work in either magazine journalism or public relations. She will be in New York this summer, interning with the ASME (American Society of Magazine Editors ) program. She has interned with the Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, People Magazine, and Columns, and has worked at The Daily as both writer and editor. She is interested in consumer behavior as it is affected by media and marketing, magazines, fashion, women and minority issues and their representation in the media. Erin was the vice-president of SPJ in 2005-2006 and is president for the 2006-2007 term. She was awarded the 2006 SPJ Mark of Excellence, 3rd place for feature writing. She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

John and Harriet Reid Memorial Scholarship

Presented by Mike Henderson

Meghan Peters —Meghan is a Journalism major with a minor in Spanish. She is current News Editor and former Development Editor for The Daily. She is interested in international communication, preferably in print journalism but possibly with podcasts, videocasts, and online blogs as well. She has interned with KZOK radio and with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. She would like to spend more time in Spanish speaking countries in order to improve her Spanish language skills and would also like to travel to developing countries to gain a better understanding of cross-cultural communication. In autumn of last year she studied in Granada, Spain. She has volunteered for Avalon AIDS Hospice, Real Change News (as editorial assistant and writer), Relay for Life, North Seattle Boys and Girls Club, Gilda's Club, and the Pipeline Project. Meghan is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the UW Women's Rugby Club and was a FIG leader. She has consistently been on the Dean's list and will be interning as a reporter for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer this summer.

Jane & Reid Roller Advertising Scholarship

Presented by Jerry Baldasty

Kailey Tollefson — Kailey can’t be with us today. Kailey is a Communication major with a minor in Political Science. She is interested in public relations and marketing and wants to work either for a non-profit organization or a public relations agency. She has interned at Children’s Hospital in Community and Government Affairs and Advocacy. She has volunteered for KidsQuest Children’s Museum in Bellevue and is now volunteering with First Place School in Seattle. Kailey has served on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic where she worked in schools with children and helped to complete various construction projects. She is also a vacation bible school teacher with her church. She is a member of PRSSA, the Kappa Delta Sorority, and the Phi Eta National Honor Society. She has been on the Dean’s list.

Kevin Ellis Endowed Scholarship

Presented by Nancy Rivenburgh

Elizabeth Evans — Elizabeth is a Communication major and is interested in international communication, marketing and advertising. She would like to work abroad, exploring international issues concerning media. She has served a marketing internship with Luna/Clif Bar. She is a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, and is involved in the City Year Young Heroes program in Seattle, working with middle school kids on Saturdays to encourage civic engagement and community involvement. She is also working with Lance Bennett’s “Youth Commons” project. She has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Elizabeth Mortenson — Elizabeth is a Journalism major with a minor in Comparative Religion. She is interested in international journalism and the effects of American behavior on other parts of the world. She has traveled widely, as an exchange student, to the Caribbean, the Czech Republic and Japan. She is also interested in music and art criticism and is presently serving a public relations internship with Light in the Attic records. She has written for THE SOURCE, an online newspaper in the Caribbean and while there helped establish the University of the Virgin Island’s first student newspaper. Elizabeth is applying to the Honors program in the department, is currently writing for The Daily. Every Saturday night she co-hosts a two hour radio show on Rainydawg.org. She has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Bob Doble Memorial Scholarship

Presented by Roger Simpson

Lorin Smith – Lorin is serving in the Army as a Public Affairs Officer and photojournalist for the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade stationed in Iraq. He is a Journalism major, double majoring in Political Science, with a minor in History. As a Public Affairs Officer, he has written more than 50 stories and taken over 7,000 photos. He was recently interviewed by Newsweek and the Chicago Tribune for a story on the helicopter crash of January 20, which was an aircraft from his unit. Lorin’s immediate goal is to get out of Iraq and then to return to the University of Washington in September to finish his studies. He has been the editor of various Army newspapers, and originally had wanted to be a combat correspondent, but after having been in a combat zone, he is now turning his sights more to public relations and advertising. In 2002 Lorin was awarded the Department of the Army Major General Keith L. Ware “Sportswriter of the Year” award. Before being deployed, he interned in Olympia with The News Tribune. He is a member of the 36th Infantry Division Association, Society of Professional Journalists, and Tau Sigma Transfer Honor Society. He has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Bob Willey and Dan Warner Memorial Scholarship

Presented by Jerry Baldasty

Karli Casto — Karli is a Communication major and interested in broadcast journalism, advertising, and event planning. She is considering going to law school after graduation. She is planning to do the study abroad program in Greece this summer with Taso Lagos. She is an internship with the department, planning the time capsule event, and has tutored in the Public Speaking Center. Karli is a FIG leader and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She has consistently been on the Dean’s list.

Kristine Cowen — KC is a Communication major and interested in public relations and broadcasting. She would like to work for a non-profit organization or for the University of Washington. She speaks French and studied abroad in last year in Nantes. She is a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority, was a FIG leader, and is involved with Young Life, a non-profit, non-denominational Christian outreach organization. KC has served as a UW undergraduate admissions tour guide and her voice was used as the lead tour guide in the University’s state-of-the-art new podcast virtual campus tour. She has interned with the UW's Media Relations program, focusing on organizing the Faculty Field Tour. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and has consistently been on the Dean’s list.