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.
PR Alum Robert Rochell Wins Super Bowl
Robert Rochell with winning Super Bowl trophy.
Robert “Scoota” Rochell and his team, the Los Angeles Rams, won the 2022 Super Bowl!
Robert Rochell, a fall 2020 UCA Public Relations graduate, joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 after graduating a year early to prepare for the draft process.
Rochell was an All-American cornerback at UCA, and one of three Bears to ever be selected for the Senior Bowl.
- Watch Rochell get the call.
- Rochell’s story is both tragic and inspiring. Check out this KATV package.
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 majors create podcast
Madison Treat and Yaya Ciswondo
Madison Treat and Yaya Ciswondo, senior public relations majors, created the Raggedy Table Talks podcast in summer 2021.
Treat, who has a minor in marketing, is a member of the Student Orientation Staff and IDEAL Freshman Leadership.
Ciswondo, who has minors in Spanish and marketing, is a member of UCA Ambassadors, Student Orientation Staff and LEAD Team. She works in the Student Life office and as a communications intern for Joshua Ang Price, a candidate for Arkansas Secretary of State.
The School of Communication caught up with Treat and Ciswondo to discuss their new endeavor — just in time for International Podcast Day.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify: bit.ly/raggedytabletalks
Why was the podcast started?
We started this podcast because we wanted to have a platform where we were able to connect with others during our young adulthood. It’s tough to navigate this season of life, and we want others to know that they aren’t alone in the uncertainty.
How did you come up with the name?
We honestly came up with the name in less than 30 minutes. We aren’t a polished, super professional podcast. It encompasses where we are in life–two college seniors just having recorded conversations on a raggedy table with cheap mics.
What success have you seen with the podcast?
We’ve gotten a lot of great feedback with the podcast! People have DM’d us saying that the podcast has been able to articulate their own thoughts and feelings. Others have said that we brought a lot of newfound thoughts and ideas into their lives as well.
What are the plans for the podcast moving forward?
Right now, (Yaya) is not able to be 100% committed to it this semester so I won’t be as present in the upcoming episodes, but any time that I have to dedicate to it, I’ll hop back on. Madison will be doing a new segment called “TreatTalks” and she will travel to others to record. We want people to know that Yaya is still a part of this project, so this new segment will help with that transition!
How did your PR major help you with the podcast?
Our major has helped a lot. Not only have we been well-versed with making graphics, but also being timely with our announcements! It also has helped with communicating our thoughts and ideas when we record. Being in PR helped our skills in communicating our ideas clearly. We’ve also gotten some criticism with some episodes which honestly was refreshing because it pushed us to analyze what we said and why others disagree. We always want to speak our truth while also bettering ourselves and content.
How does the podcast fit into Dr. Stephens’ SoC theme for ’21-’22: “Connection, Collaboration, Community”?
That’s the whole premise of why we started this project. We want others to feel connected whether it is with us or any of the guests that we bring on. We want to create a safe online community for people to turn to when they need advice or affirmation.
What advice would you give SoC students who want to start their own podcasts?
Pair up with your best friend. The backbone of this podcast is the friendship that Madison and I have. We have been friends for the last three years and it’s been nothing short of wholesome and filled with growth and joy. Having a healthy relationship with your co-host is essential for the success of the content! Also, invest in some quality mics!
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.