JMC faculty, staff and students gathered April 24 to recognize the accomplishments of the department’s students in the 2018-19 academic year.
The top senior in each major was recognized. Among those receiving recognition were Michelle Blanchett, Abigail Branham, Sydney Chambers, Lauren Edwards, Emily Hancock, Joel Polarek, and Tori Wood.
Blanchett shared the position of top senior in graphic communications media. She was a computer science minor from Murray. She did graphic design work for the men’s basketball program and chaired the department’s 2018 Gravure Day. She developed WordPress websites and served as a graphic designer at Matt Blanchette Productions.
Branham, a professional writing minor from Lexington, Ky., was named the outstanding senior in journalism. She worked in media production for Racer Athletics. Her off-campus work experience included Lexington Legends minor league baseball, WLEX 18 and Resolution Media. She was a cheerleader and a member of Alpha Delta Pi.
Chambers, a graduate assistant from Murray, was recognized as the top graduate student in mass communications. She received her bachelor of science degree from Murray State with a major in psychology and a minor in English. She was the social media manager for Chambers Roofing Company in Paducah; a social media intern at WPSD-TV in Paducah; and an intern in the Disney College Program.
She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Lambda, and Alpha Sigma Alpha.
Edwards was named the Robert J Norsworthy outstanding senior in advertising. She was a business administration minor from Benton, Ky. She had an account management internship with Merkley and Partners. She was a member of Ads Club, Her Campus, National Society of Leadership and Success, Active Minds, Racer Band and Lee Clark College’s residential college council.
Her other awards included the National Engaged Leadership Award and the Lee Clark College outstanding service award.
Hancock, a journalism and agriculture communications minor from Bumpus Mills, Tenn., was the outstanding senior in television production. Her on-campus media experience included Racer Athletics, TV-11, the OVC Digital Network, ESPN+ and Racer Vision.
She was a freelance photographer/videographer. She was a JMC ambassador and participant in the Bumpus Mills church of Christ youth group.
Polarek, an advertising minor from Dover, Tenn., was the outstanding senior in public relations. He wrote for The Murray State News, Blue & Gold Magazine, and Murray State’s Branding, Marketing and Communications Office. He had an internship 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 was a member of PRSSA, Honors Student Council, HC Franklin Residential College Court, and Murray State Rowing Club. Polarek served on the Presidential Fellowship Scholarship Selection Committee.
Wood shared the position of top senior in graphic communications media. She had a second major in public relations and a minor in business administration. Wood is from Symsonia, Ky.
She worked in advertising for The Murray State News, the MSU social media team, Racer Relations and was an intern in the Office of Branding, Marketing and Communications. She had off-campus internships with VUE Magazine and Social Sharkz.
She was president of Student Government Association and the student regent. Wood was a member of Panhellenic Council, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Student Ambassadors. She was a Summer O counselor.
The department inducted seven graduating seniors into the Kappa Tau Alpha honor society. Inductees were Clare Froehlich, Colleen LaRochelle, Joel Polarek, Rose Rechtien, Jordyn Rowland, Ashley Traylor, and Patrick Wadlington.
The Kappa Tau Alpha top scholar was Joel Polarek.
