Communication Newsletter
November 2022
Announcements
New Class: Health Communication COMM 3230, M/W 12:30-1:45
COMM 3230 is a Communication elective.
No prerequisite required.
Our MPC program has extended the application deadline to December 1st for spring admission.
.JPG)
Study Abroad Summer 2023
May 6 – May 18, 2023 The Communication Department is leading a Study Abroad trip to Finland for all Communication students and others as space allows. The program application opens November 16. Space is limited, so don’t wait to apply! Students can apply for a $500 grant through Study Abroad to cover the down payment for the trip. Follow this link for more details or reach out to trip leaders Dr. Atkins and Dr. Defenbaugh for more information.
May 22- June 3, 2023 Study Abroad to Washington, DC where you can earn credit for two classes, including Communication Law and a Special Topics course. More information coming soon.
Upcoming Events
Grad Finale, Tuesday December 6th 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What is Grad Finale? This event is where you pick up your free cap and gown courtesy of the university. You can order announcements, rings, and grad gifts. You can meet with representatives of Weber States University about continuing your education in one of the many Graduate Programs offered at the university. You'll find everything you need to make your graduation celebration memorable.
Speech Showcase, Thursday December 8th 7 p.m
Every fall and spring semester the best speaker from each of the 25 sections of Principles of Public Speaking (COMM 1020) battle it out to become one of the five finalists who present their speeches in front of a crowd of hundreds and receive prizes.
Digital Media and Film Showcase, Thursday April 13th
The Digital Media and Film Showcase is an opportunity for students to share the projects they have created in the past year. Multiple awards are given for the best shorts, including an audience choice award.
Student Accomplishments
Studio 76 (co-curricular with majors and non-majors) had their film Withered accepted to be screened on October 24th at Demonchaser Film Festival. While at the festival, the film won the audience award and best scream hero.
Alexandrea Bonilla, the managing editor of The Signpost, went to Mediafest22, a joint conference of the Society of Professional Journalists, College Media Association and the Association of Collegiate Press Oct. 26-30. It was her first time in Washington, D.C. She helped Jean Norman, Communication faculty, present "The Feedback Loop," a session on The Signpost's rubrics and end-of-semester performance evaluation.
McKenna Pace, current MPC student, got a competitive research paper accepted at the National Communication Association: Change My Mind: Selective Exposure and User Engagement with Belief-Challenging Online Content
Jenna Gordon, is a finalist for the Utah PRSA Public Relations Student of the Year Award. Winners will be announced at the Golden Spike Awards Gala on Nov. 17.
KWCR (radio station) student leaders Chelsea Ann Baxa, Ivonne Camas, Stella Ferro, Jessica Krok, and Emily Delgado Salceda attended the National Student
Electronic Media Convention held by College Broadcasters, Inc., in Baltimore. They participated in roundtable discussions with students from dozens of universities across the nation, and learned more about the industry from professionals who work for outlets ranging from ABC and The Washington Post to TuneIn and NPR.
Ogden Peak Communications (student public relations firm) is a finalist for a Utah PRSA Golden Spike Award for its work with UTA. The Golden Spike Awards recognize outstanding public relations campaigns, programs and tactics, and the dedication and contributions of public relations and communications professionals.
Weber State Debate: Max Johnston was awarded 7th speaker at the 2022 Weber Round Robin. At the Gonzaga Jesuit debate tournament, Weber was 8 students strong in Spokane Washington, where Loane Rwirangira took home 1st place in the community award category in PNW debate, and Lency Umwiza and Lauria Rubona placed 1st and 2nd in overall speaker categories. October was a good month to be a Weber Debate Wildcat!
Weber State Speech Team were the tournament champions at the Whitworth Invitation (October 22-23, 2022). Individual awards:
- Keely Brinn: 1st place in the Pentathlon; 1st place in Novice Prose, 1st place Novice IPDA Speaker, 2nd place in Novice IPDA Debate, 2nd place in Poetry, 3rd place in Novice Info Speaking, and 3rd place in Duo Interpretation.
- Akir Rowe: 3rd place overall; 1st place in Duo Interpretation, 2nd place in Broadcast Journalism, 2nd place in Open IPDA Debate, 5th place in Open Extemp Speaking, 5th place in Open Prose.
- Jazmyne Olson: 5th place overall; 1st place in Comm Analysis, 3rd place in Duo Interp, 5th place in Info Speaking, 5th place in Dramatic Interpretation, & 6th place in Prose
- Sophie Beck: 1st place in Open Poetry, Semi-finalist in Open IPDA Debate, 5th Speaker in Open IPDA Debate, and 5th place in Open Persuasive Speaking.
- Kyle Housley: 1st place in Duo Interpretation, and 1st place in Broadcast Journalism
- Morgan Allen: 1st in Novice Extemp Speaking, 3rd in Novice Impromptu Speaking, 4th in Open Dramatic Interpretation, 3rd place Novice IPDA Speaker, Semi-Finalist in Novice IPDA Debate.
- Saxony Ruckman: 2nd place in Duo Interpretation, 4th place in After Dinner Speaking, Quarter-Finalist in Novice IPDA Debate, and 6th place in Open Informative Speaking
- Savannah Mason: 2nd place in Duo Interpretation, and Quarter-Finalist in Novice IPDA Debate
- Krystianna Davis: 3rd place in Open Prose, 4th place in Open Program of Oral Interpretation, 4th place Novice IPDA Debate Speaker, and a Quarter-Finalist in Novice IPDA Debate.
Alumni News
Niki Tonks, MPC alumni, accepted a new position as the Associate Director of Marketing at the University of Utah, Department of Surgery
Faculty Accomplishments
Many faculty will be presenting at the National Communication Association November. Below are the presentations:
Michael Ault — Anticipatory Socialization of Full-Life Volunteers
Sarah Steimel, Hailey Gillen-Hoke, and Anne Bialowas — Course Design and Accessibility: COVID-19 Lessons and Possibilities for Inclusive Classroom Policies
Nicole Defenbaugh — Using Creative and Arts-Based Research Approaches to Expand Equity, Advocacy, and Impact of Health and Disability Communication Research
Leslie Howerton and Hailey Gillen-Hoke — We Don’t Talk About War: Parent-Child Discussions of the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine;
Hailey Gillen-Hoke–Honoring PLACE and Creating Space for Mentorship and Community-Building in the International and Intercultural Communication Division
Get Involved – Join a Communication Club!
The Signpost
Contact:
Dr. Jean Norman
jeannorman@weber.edu
Studio 76
Contact:
Dr. Aaron Atkins
datkins@weber.edu
KWCR Wildcat Radio
Contact:
Dr. Jean Norman
jeannorman@weber.edu
WSU Debate
Contact:
Coach Lauren Johnson
laurenjohnson10@weber.edu
WSU Speech
Contact:
Coach Mark Galaviz
markgalaviz@weber.edu
Ogden Peak Communications
Contact:
Dr. Leslie Howerton
lesliehowerton@weber.edu
PRSSA
Contact:
Dr. Leslie Howerton
lesliehowerton@weber.edu
Society of Professional Journalists
Contact:
Dr. Jean Norman
jeannorman@weber.edu
Departmental Honors
Contact:
Dr. Hailey Gillen Hoke
haileygillenhoke@weber.edu
Lambda Pi Eta
Contact:
Dr. Robin Haislett
robinhaislett@weber.edu