Twenty majors in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications were named to the 2018-19 Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Murray State had 131 students who made this year’s list.
The JMC recipients were Michelle Blanchette, Abigail Branham, Cassandra Breiten, Lauren Campbell, Tori Wood Cherry, Mary Curtis, Lauren Edwards, Emily Hancock, Savanna Hatfield-Rininger, Emily Leonard, Collin Morris, Rebecca Mosella, Sydney Owen, Joel Polarek, Abigail Smith, Katelyn Suiter, Amanda Surmeier, Kayla Thompson, Ashley Traylor and Patrick Wadlington.
Blanchette was the chair of the JMC Department’s 2018 Gravure Day. During her spare time, Blanchette volunteered with the Humane Society and Racer Club. She graduated in December.
Branham majored in journalism and minored in professional writing. She worked in media productions for Racer Athletics. Her off campus experience included the Lexington Legends MiLB, WLEX 18 and Resolution Media.
She is a Murray State cheerleader and a member of Alpha Delta Pi. She plans to graduate in May.
Breiten was a public relations major and a non-profit leadership minor. She worked with Racer Relations and was a member of PRSSA.
She was a member of the brAvery Foundation, Alpha Sigma Alpha, The Journey, Sigma Alpha Lambda. She interned with CHADS Coalition. She was a tutor for University’s Student Disabilities Services. She graduated in December.
Campbell is a public relations major and a journalism minor. She was a reporter and social media manager for The Murray State News. She was the on-air talent for “The Murray State Minute.” She had an internship with WKRN NewsChannel 2 in Nashville, Tenn.
Campbell is a JMC student ambassador. Her campus activities include Alpha Omicron Pi, Panhellenic, MSU Student Ambassadors, a Summer O counselor, Student Government Association, Campus Activities Board, St. Jude Up ‘til Dawn. She was the second runner-up in the Miss Murray State University Scholarship Pageant.
She is a student worker for the Department of Organizational Communication and Office of Admissions. Campbell will graduate in May.
Cherry is a public relations major and a business administration minor. She received the 2018 Outstanding Senior in Public Relations award. She worked as a designer for The Murray State News. She was an intern for the Office of Branding, Marketing and Communications, served on the MSU Social Media Team and worked with the Racer Relations firm. Her off-campus internships included VUE Magazine and Social Sharkz.
Cherry was the president of Student Government Association, a counselor for Summer Orientation, and a student worker in the Office of Recruitment. She was a member of Panhellenic Council, Alpha Sigma Alpha and Student Ambassadors. She was crowned Miss Murray State University in 2017. Cherry will graduate in May.
Curtis is a public relations major and advertising minor. She worked with Gateway Magazine. She interned at Diversified Agency Services in New York City.
She was a member of Ads Club, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and Panhellenic’s executive council. She worked at Scoops and Sprinkles, Bath and Body Works, and Murray State University as a desk worker. She was a cashier at CFSB. Curtis will graduate in May.
Edwards is an advertising major and a business administration minor. She served as an account management intern at Merkley and Partners. She also worked at Shogun, Japanese Steak and Sushi as a server and hostess; McLean County High School as a percussion technician; Pockets gas station as a cashier and kitchen worker; and was a desk worker at Lee Clark College.
She was a member of Ads Club, Her Campus, Omicron Delta Kappa, National Society of Leadership and Success–Better World Project, Active Minds, Racer Band; and the Lee Clark College Residential College Council.
She received the National Engaged Leadership Award, Advanced Leadership Certification, Executive Leadership Certification and Lee Clark College’s Outstanding Service Award. She will graduate in May.
Hancock is a Television Production major. She is minoring in Journalism and Agriculture Communications. She worked with Racer Athletics and TV-11 as a sideline reporter, videographer and camera operator for the OVC Digital Network, ESPN+, and RacerVision. She is a freelance photographer/videographer. She is a JMC ambassador.
Hancock is a member of the Bumpus Mills church of Christ. She has worked for Merle Norman, Carey’s Boutique, and Hancock Farms. She was an intern for Tennessee Farm Bureau Insurance. She plans to graduate in May.
Hatfield-Rininger was an advertising major and a graphic design minor. She was production manager and a designer for The Murray State News.
She was a member of the Murray Chi Alpha Campus Ministry. She graduated in December.
Leonard is a public relations major and a marketing minor. She was a public relations/marketing intern for Murray State University Football. She was an account services intern for TBWA/Worldhealth.
She was a member of Public Relations Student Society of America, MSU Social Media Team, Order of Omega, vice president of standards for Alpha Omicron Pi, executive director of the campus’ St. Jude Up ‘til Dawn. She also worked with West Kentucky Mentoring. Leonard will graduate in May.
Morris is a public relations major. He has minors in political science and journalism. He has worked for The Murray State News, the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, and the Hancock Clarion.
He is a member of PRSSA, Student Government Association,; Omicron Delta Kappa, the Hancock County Library Board of Trustees, and the Sierra Club. He has worked for Kroger.
He won a first place Student Publications Best General News Story award from the Kentucky Press Association. Morris will graduate in May.
Mosella was a television production major and an Organizational Communication minor. She worked for The Murray State News, WPSD Local 6, and DDB New York.
She was the spokesperson for the TV Club. Mosella graduated in December.
Owen is a Public Relations major. She is minoring in marketing and advertising. She was an account intern at BBDO NY and a social media intern for YardDart Media.
She was the recruitment director for PRSSA. She served as the overall PR chair, social media chair, alumni relations chair, foundation chair for Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. She interned in the Daviess County PVA Office. She was a student caller for RacerThon and was recognized as the top caller. She will graduate in May.
Polarek is a public relations major and an advertising minor. He wrote for The Murray State News, Blue & Gold Magazine, and Murray State’s Branding, Marketing and Communications Office. He interned in the Fort Knox Public Affairs Office where he wrote for futurearmyofficers.army.mil and was a videographer for the Army ROTC YouTube channel.
He is a member of PRSSA, the Presidential Fellowship Scholarship Selection Committee, Honors Student Council, HC Franklin Residential College Court, and the Murray State Rowing Club. Polarek will graduate in May.
Smith was a Television Production major and a Journalism minor. She performed media relations for Murray State Athletics. She worked at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
She was a member of TV Club, Kappa Delta Sorority, Campus Outreach, Hester College, ELIC Engage Hong Kong, and Hardin Baptist Church’s college ministry. Smith graduated in December.
Suiter is an advertising major and a Business Administration minor. Her campus media experience included Gateway Magazine, Murray State Social Media Team, “MSU 2 Nite,” and a PR and advertising internship for Murray State’s Branding, Marketing and Communications.
She is a member of Ads Club, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Lee Clark College, and Baptist Campus Ministries. She has worked as an assistant manager for Cato and as a student worker in the Department of Biological Sciences. Suiter will graduate in May.
Surmeier was a public relations major. She minored in Chinese studies and criminal justice. She was an intern in the Branding, Marketing and Communication office. She had internships at the Purchase Area Sexual Assault and Child Advocacy Center, AWAKE Chocolate, Brodeur Partners, US Army Cadet Command, and the Humane Society of Calloway County.
She was a member of PRSSA, Kappa Delta, and Order of Omega. She was Panhellenic’s vice president of community service and philanthropy. Surmeier graduated in December.
Thompson was a public relations major and a nonprofit leadership studies minor. She was a public relations intern for the Murray State Alumni Office. She has also served as a waitress, nanny, tutor/mentor, and caregiver to an adult with Down Syndrome. She was the social media manager intern for Dare2Share Ministries.
She was a member of Campus Activities Board, Campus Outreach, and Hart College. She was vice president of new member education and standards board committee for Tri Sigma. She was a conversation partner in the English as a Second Language Program. She was a youth group leader at Hardin Baptist Church. Thompson graduated in December.
Traylor is a television production major and a Journalism minor. She is the editor-in-chief for The Murray State News, and editor for Gateway Magazine. She works with Murray State TV-11. She served as a news intern at WPSD-Local 6, a disruptive journalism educator’s fellowship intern at Tow Knight, a marketing/social media coordinator intern for The Vince Carter Team. She is a freelance photographer/wedding videographer.
She is a JMC ambassador. She is the vice president of membership recruitment for Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, executive director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Up ‘til Dawn, the first runner up in the Miss Murray State University Scholarship Pageant and the Disciple Now leader at First Baptist Church of Alabaster. She is a member of Order of Omega, Phi Kappa Phi, and Omicron Delta Kappa.
Her awards include the third place Most Creative Use of Multimedia from the Kentucky Press Association. She is a 2018 Barbara Cochran Breazeale Fellow. Traylor plans to graduate in May.
Wadlington is a public relations major and an advertising minor. He has worked for Murray State Sports Marketing and Quest Pharmaceuticals.
He is a member of Ads Club, Sigma Chi Fraternity, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and St. Jude’s Up Til Dawn Program. He is a volunteer for Murray Calloway County Need Line. He is the Sigma Chi Jon Huntsman Leadership Scholar. Wadlington plans to graduate in May.
