Spring 2022
Fall 2021
The 2022 Spring Presidential Scholars List
The 2022 Spring Dean’s List
UCA Debate and Forensics Placed at 2022 IPDA Competition
UCA Debate and Forensics competed at the 2022 International Public Debate Association National Championship and brought home some wins.
Jayce Burney won 1st place in the Professional Division, 6th place Professional Speaker Award, and 4th place speaker in the Team IPDA Division. @jayce_burney
Aurora King won 6th place Speaker in the Division and received recognition as a Tournament Octafinalist. @aurora.kings
Adam Cox won 2nd place Speaker in the Division and received Tournament Quarterfinalist. @coxadam200
C. J. Parrish won 3rd place IPDA Speaker Award as well as Varsity Division Octafinalist. @craigoryparrish
The International Public Debate Association is an interscholastic debate association with competitive programs ranging from California to Florida and from Texas to Michigan. Their mission is to provide an opportunity for individuals to develop their advocacy skills in a forum that promotes appropriate and effective communication.
The team is coached by Associate Professor of Business Law and Director of Forensics Anthony McMullen.
Arkansas College Media Association 2022 Awards
The Arkansas College Media Association (ACMA) named The Echo as College Newspaper of the Year and Addison Freeman won Reporter of the Year.
News6 also won Television Outlet of the Year by the ACMA.
Students from News6 won the following awards:
- Interpretative and Investigative Reporting Award
- 1st place: Trevor Cook
- 2nd place: Chase Mauk
- News Reporting Award
- 1st place: Ladell Tyler
- 3rd place: Berris Teague
- Sports Feature Award
- 2nd place: Thomas Gillette
- 3rd place: Brett Walker
- Honorable Mention: Brett Walker
- Weather Award
- 2nd place: Anthony Reiter, Trevor Cook, and Collin Gallimore
ACMA is composed of student media outlets at public and private two-year and four-year colleges and universities in Arkansas.
2021 School of Communication Student Award Winners
The School of Communication recognized several outstanding students during its annual awards ceremony held April 14, 2022.
Principles of Communication
Olive M. Hilliard Speech Award
- London Blackwell
First-Year Writing
WriteOn Essay Award
- 1st place: Kyla Anderson
- 1st runner up: Jesus Fernandez
- 2nd runner up: Heavenlee Mitchell
Ink Wire Essay Award
- 1st place: Shelley Wieburg
- 1st runner up: Andre Walker
- 2nd runner up: Aidan O. Lemley
Public Relations
Client’s Choice Award for Best Intro to PR Plan 2021
- Paitin Baker
- Eliza Ball
- Sarah Lunsford
PR Pro’s Choice Award for Outstanding Mock News Conference
- Dalton James
- Grace Lee
- C.J. Parrish
- Jayce Burney
Client’s Choice Award for Best Capstone PR Plan 2021
- Rylee Bolls
- Emily Dye
- Megan Franklin
- Aurora King
Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Member of the Year
- Hannah Phillips
Alma O. Corley Award for Outstanding Student in Public Relations
- Riley Neil
Communication
Glenn D. Smith Outstanding Student in Communication
- Gregory Warren
Journalism
Harry S. Ashmore Outstanding Journalism Award
- Addison Freeman
Outstanding Online Student
- ViviAnne Flora
Outstanding Broadcast Student
- Brett Walker
Outstanding Print Student
- Addison Freeman
Writing
Joanna Castner Post Outstanding Writing Major Award
- Miriam Phwandaphwanda
Up-and-Coming Writing Major
- Will McDonald
Best Scholarly Essay
- Cameron Steed
Best Multimodal Project
- Addison Richman
Best Community Engagement Project
- Lexi Bratton
- Aylssa Rieman
- Drew Weld
PR alum Robert Rochell drafted into NFL
Robert “Scoota” Rochell, a fall 2020 public relations graduate, became the highest drafted player in UCA football history, going in the fourth round of the NFL Draft to the Los Angeles Rams.
Robert Rochell plays the role of a public relations spokesperson during a class assignment in spring 2019.
Rochell was an All-American cornerback at UCA, and one of three Bears to ever be selected for the Senior Bowl. He completed his PR degree requirements a year early to prepare for the draft process.
- Watch Rochell get the call.
- Rochell’s story is both tragic and inspiring. Check out this KATV package.
McLemore, Niswonger selected for inaugural Teaching Excellence Institute
Dr. Dylan McLemore, assistant professor of public relations, and Laura Niswonger, lecturer II of writing, were selected for the inaugural Teaching Excellence Institute.
The institute is offered by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership and the Faculty Support Working Group that is part of the Council for Student Success. It will be held June 21-25, 2021.
Dr. Dylan McLemore and Laura Niswonger
According to CETAL, the institute will focus on four primary themes.
- a deep dive into the characteristics of the UCA student body
- the science of learning and memory
- inclusive pedagogies
- socioemotional skills.
Gardner, Brown selected for inaugural Global Learning Institute
Adriian Gardner
Adriian Gardner, senior lecturer of communication, and Dr. Riva Brown, associate professor of public relations, were among 10 UCA faculty members selected for the inaugural Global Learning Institute scheduled for June 17, 2021.
This year’s focus will be Collaborative Online International Learning, or COIL. The Office of International Engagement is working with the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership to add a COIL unit into an existing class in fall 2021 or spring 2022.
Brown wins inaugural faculty civic engagement award
Dr. Riva Brown
Dr. Riva Brown was recognized April 20, 2021, with the first Distinguished Faculty Advocate for Civic Engagement award from the Division of Outreach & Community Engagement.
Dr. Lesley Graybeal, director of service learning, said the new recognition was created by UCA’s Vote Everywhere team to recognize the increased importance of civic engagement as a type of community engagement on our campus.
From the award announcement: “The Distinguished Faculty Advocate for Civic Engagement recognizes a UCA faculty member who displays a commitment to the civic engagement of students by developing students as citizens through intentional design of curricular and co-curricular experiences. Our inaugural award recipient not only relentlessly pursues civic learning outcomes in her public relations courses but has also modeled active citizenship in her role as advisor for the campus chapter of the NAACP and a member of the Civic Action Coordination Committee.”
Graybeal said: “Dr. Brown has been an incredible asset to civic engagement work on our campus. The way that she ties together innovative teaching, advocacy, and collaborative research for the public good is inspiring, and our students benefit so much from her support and the way that she models active citizenship.”
31 student journalists earn 51 awards in ACMA Contest
University of Central Arkansas School of Communication student journalists received 51
awards in the 2021 Arkansas College Media Association Contest, with 31 students representing
four media outlets being honored.
In General Excellence categories, ucanews.live, the website of The Echo, the student
newspaper, placed second. The Echo’s online editor is Mia Waddell. J. Wade Dykes, editor of
the Scroll, received second place in the Yearbook Editor of the Year competition.
ACMA is composed of student media outlets at public and private two-year and four-year
colleges and universities in Arkansas. The awards were announced virtually because of COVID-
19.
Other awards:
First place
The Echo online
- Audio Podcast — Lauren McLemore, Morgan Jenkins, Sarah Coleman, Elvira Toddy,
Delaney Van Wilpe, Ronak Patel, Megan Holder and Hannah Bender — Integration at UCA. - Personality Profile — Ashley Savage — People of UCA, Kaleigh Fletcher.
- Blogs — Lauren McLemore — Volunteers are fundamental for recycling industry.
- Arts and Entertainment — Daniel Adams — Muralist gives lecture on intersection of
social justice, art. - Spot News Photo — Ian Lyle — Conway protest gallery.
- Niche/Specialty Site — Delaney Van Wilpe — Top 5 performances from the 2020 MTV
VMAs.
News 6 television
- Political Coverage — Morgan Jenkins — TikTok campaign.
- Pandemic Coverage — Ashley Luningham — Reynolds Performance Hall season and
COVID-19. - News Reporting — Macie Davis — Kacie Woody, never forgotten.
The Scroll yearbook
- Feature Layout — Ly-Lan Hunt — What we know about COVID-19.
- Special Features Writing — Samantha Bland — Bring back the ’90s.
- Art/Illustration — J. Wade Dykes — Opening page.
- Feature Photo — J. Wade Dykes — Mardi Gras madness.
- Sports Photo — Kaitlyn Gordon — Giving it your all.
- Academics Photo — J. Wade Dykes — Interruptive dance.
- Pandemic Coverage — Ly-Lan Hunt — What we know about COVID-19.
Second place
The Echo newspaper
- News Writing — Ronak Patel — Fraternity pledges found responsible for vandalism.
- News Photo — Ian Lyle — Conway march.
- Feature Photo — Elvira Toddy — People of UCA: Carter Rideout.
The Echo online
- Meeting/Speech Coverage — Ian Lyle — Statements on racial injustice by SGA and
UCA staff. - In-Depth Reporting — Ronak Patel — Sen. Gary Stubblefield directs ADHE to request curriculums from universities.
- Blogs — Daniel Adams — Make your wallet happy and take advantage of student discounts.
- Spot News Photo — Ian Lyle — Conway protest gallery.
News 6 television
- Feature — Connor Holmes — Baum Gallery’s new exhibit: Threads through Time.
- Political Coverage — Trevor Cook — Final day of early voting.
- Pandemic coverage — Ashley Luningham — COVID trick or treat.
The Scroll yearbook
- Academic Layout — Gabriela Vargas and Samuel Tucker — Art close to home.
- Layout-Organization/Greek — J. Wade Dykes — Showing off.
- Student Life Layout — J. Wade Dykes and Samuel Tucker — Part of the “Community.”
- Sports Layout — J. Wade Dykes, Jacob Smith, Kaitlyn Gordon and Travis Gupton —
Second SLC title in three years.
Third place
The Echo newspaper
- Review Writing — Sarah Coleman — “Ratched” uses perfect balance of horror and
mystery.
The Echo online
- Meeting/Speech Coverage — Rob Davis — UCA breaks ground on the Windgate Center.
- Election/Political Coverage — Kaitlin Benight — 2020 presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen visits Little Rock to campaign.
News 6 television
- News Reporting — Tristen Hall — 9 p.m. routine.
- Feature — Chase Mauk — Flute fusion.
- Pandemic Coverage — Austin Ashley — UCA testing and tracing protocols.
The Scroll yearbook
- Cover — J. Wade Dykes and Ly-Lan Hunt —One of Many/Many from One.
- Portrait Layout — J. Wade Dykes and Ly-Lan Hunt — Freshmen/Sophomores.
- Typographic Presentation — Gabriela Vargas — Pride! Pride! Pride!
- Sports Photo — Will Mulloy — Creating a rivalry.
- Academics Photo — Travis Gupton — Experience culture.
Honorable Mention
The Echo online
- Meeting/Speech Coverage — Ronak Patel — UCA Board of Trustees approve pedestrian
bridge. - Blogs — Sadie Clark — At a university far, far from home.
- News Photo — Rob Davis — UCA breaks ground on Windgate Center.
News 6 television
- Feature — Thomas Gillette — Microforms a library resource.
The Scroll yearbook
- Layout-Organization/Greek — J. Wade Dykes and Samuel Tucker — 40 lost in the last
decade. - Student Life Layout — J. Wade Dykes — Bridge to a safer life/Afraid of heights.
- Feature Photo — Travis Gupton — Swinging for the fences.
- Student Life Photo — J. Wade Dykes — Showing off.
The contest covered student media content produced in 2020, and members of the
College Media Association from across the country judged the competition.