The annual student awards reception for the COJO Department was held April 19  at the AmericInn in Laramie.

Scholarships, awards and other recognition for student achievement were presented at the reception. Denver public relations professional Jane Dvorak gave the keynote address.

The outstanding graduate teaching assistant award went to Mitzi Hettgar, who also has won the Ellbogen Award for outstanding graduate assistant this year.  Crystal Stratton received the William Donaghy Award for best thesis.

Hanna Bush and Christine De George received the Student Service Award. Josh King won the Robert S. Warner Top Drawer Award for photojournalism.

Scholarship winners were:

Patrick Faden - Wallace R. Biggs Scholarship

Joshua Fry - James M. Swan Memorial Journalism Scholarship

Shannon Tippit, Jennifer Syvertson - Arthur L. Buck Scholarship

Bridget Wilson, Sarah Laping, Tyson Finnicum - McCraken Family Scholarship

Cierra Garso - Frank Norris Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Julienne Friesen, Lindsay Hoyt - Roy Peck Memorial Scholarship

Sheryl Ann State, Samantha Getz - Bonner Family Scholarship

Abby Roich - A&S Rott Family Scholarship

Winners of summer semester scholarships through the Amy and Eric Burger Fund were: Richard Harris, Josie Lorimer, Caitlin White, Jamie Cheek, Katelynn Sowa, Terra Dailey, Michael McNamee III, Crystal Willoughby, Dane Schulze, Janet Rose, Samantha Getz, Sarah Laping, Nolan Goubeaux.

More than 200 employees, including an administrative assistant and a custodian for the COJO Department, were honored recently for their years of service and contributions to the University of Wyoming.

The annual Staff Recognition Day, sponsored by UW Staff Senate with support from the UW Office of the President, is intended to encourage and acknowledge the work of all UW staff members.

An Unsung Hero part-time award went to Makayla Stewart, Department of Communication and Journalism senior office associate. An Unsung Hero full-time awards were presented to Rick Zappa, Custodial Services facilities grounds attendant who works on the fourth floor of Ross Hall.

The COJO Department will host the Visual Communication Association conference June 17-21 at Grand Targhee.

The department hosted the VisComm conference in 1993 and 1997 in Jackson Hole, and co-hosted it in 2007 in Estes Park, Colo. The conference typically attracts about 75 people.

Smith said that hosting the conference will bring recognition to both the department and university. Plus, the COJO graduate program will get extra exposure since grad students will be presenting papers at the conference.

“The stature of the university will rise in the eyes of the academic world as a result of the department hosting this event,” he said.

A new blog by Eric Wiltse, senior lecturer in the COJO Department, will discuss his experiences in teaching and journalism. Wiltse, who teaches blogging as part of the Online Journalism class, has been involved with blogs since 2001. His blog, entitled On My Mind, is located at http://edubwyo.blogspot.com/ and will be updated regularly.

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