Fourteen of the 92 seniors at Murray State University selected to the 2015-16 edition of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities had majors in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications.
They were Allison Marie Borthwick, Mary Catherine Bradley, Emily Francesca Conrad, Matthew Thomas Crane, Brennan Kathleen Handley, Kristin Brooke Henson, Paige Alexis Hoffmeister, Victoria Elizabeth Marables, Jenna Dawn Ross, Ashley Ann Samuelson, Madeline E. Schmitt, Brandon M. Story, Mallory Nicole Tucker and Alyssa Renee Wells.
Borthwick, a public relations major with a nonprofit leadership studies minor, had three internships. She worked in public relations/communications with VoiceBox Media, Susan G. Komen Central Indiana and Families First.
She served as copy editor, advertising sales manager and opinion editor for The Murray State News and content manager for IndyBride2B.com.
She was publicity director for the MSU Ads Club and the Campus Magazine Club and treasurer for Public Relations Student Society of America.
A journalism major with a political science minor, Bradley served as staff writer, assistant news editor and editor in chief of The Murray State News.
She was an editorial intern with the Indianapolis Monthly and the Missoula Independent. She was a writer for The Odyssey and The Pink and Black Magazine.
Bradley was president of Ed on Campus (magazine club), secretary of the Ads Club and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa. She won second place and third place for her writing in the 2014 Kentucky Press Association competition.
Conrad had a public relations major with an advertising minor. She worked in the summer as the event planning assistant for Harper Pierce and Company in St. Louis.
On campus she was a resident advisor and an officer of Springer/Franklin Residential College Council. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, the Order of Omega, the National Residence Hall Honorary and Sigma Eta honorary society.
A television production major with a philosophy minor, Crane was treasurer of the MSU TV Club and a TV production lab assistant.
He was president of Hart Residential College Council and vice president of the Hart Honor Society. He also was a Student Government Association senator, a member of the Philosophy Circle of Murray State and a member of the Speech and Debate Union.
Handley was a public relations major with a marketing minor. She had internships in marketing/management with Maritz, LLC in Missouri and with the Center for Telecommunications Systems Management at MSU.
In addition, she worked in sales for Aerie and the Springfield (Ill.) Southwest Baseball Association. She was vice president of Alpha Sigma Alpha and publicity chairman for the MSU chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America.
Henson, a public relations major with a marketing minor, worked with the MSU College of Science, Engineering and Technology and at Busch Gardens in Tampla, Fla.
She was a public relations intern with Paschal Solutions in Tennessee.
She held several offices in Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority including president this year. Her volunteer work included Campus Outreach, Robbie Page Play Atrium, the Murray Food Pantry, Purchase Area Chrysalis and a mission in Elblag, Poland.
She was a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society and was this year’s Homecoming Queen.
Hoffmeister had a major in television production with a minor in journalism. Her many experiences off campus included a multimedia journalist intern with WPTV 5 in West Palm Beach, Fla., a production assistant for CMT in Nashville, a radio intern with Viacom in Nashville and working several CMT special events and concerts.
On campus she was a development assistant for WKMS-FM, co-host/features producer for “Roundabout U” and contributing editor for The Odyssey.
In addition, she was a Student Ambassador, treasurer of the MSU TV Club and vice president of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.
A public relations major with a sociology minor, Marables worked with the American Red Cross Louisville Area Chapter and Justice Clothing Store in Louisville.
On campus she was active with Student Disability Services, Realities on Campus, Voices of Praise Ministries (treasurer), Delta Sigma Theta sorority (secretary), Springer-Franklin Residential College Council (vice president), College of Business Student Ambassadors, the MSU Women’s Center and Relay for Life.
Ross had a public relations major with an organizational communication minor. She worked with the Racer Social Media Team and was a Student Ambassador.
She was a sales associate for Ribbon Chix Boutique in Murray. On campus, she was vice president of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and a member of Public Relations Student Society of America, Order of Omega and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
Samuelson, an advertising major with an organizational communication minor, was an advertising management agent for Gateway Magazine. She interned with Energy BBDO in Chicago.
She was a member of the MSU Ads Club and Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.
A public relations major with a marketing minor, Schmitt interned with Estes Public Relations in Louisville. She also sold ads for Gateway Magazine.
She was vice president of Kappa Delta sorority and a member of Public Relations Student Society of America and the Order of Omega Greek honorary society.
Story was a television production major with a journalism minor. He interned with WPSD-TV in Paducah. He was a student worker for MSU Racer Vision & OVC Digital Network and Murray State’s Digital Media Services.
He also was a teaching assistant for Murray Independent Schools’ WMHS TV and a member of the MSU TV Club.
Story was a member of the MSU Racer Band, Alpha Chi, Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Kappa Phi.
Tucker, a public relations major with an agriculture minor, was a transfer from the University of Missouri. She was editor in chief of The Odyssey, sports editor for The Murray State News, sales assistant for Sportable Scoreboards and a marketing/promotions intern for the MSU Athletic Department.
She was a Summer Orientation Counselor and a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society, Order of Omega and the Campus Activities Board.
Wells was a public relations major with a minor in occupational safety and health. She was a safety intern for Frito Lay in Fayetteville, Tenn.
She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi social sorority, Public Relations Student Society of America, ASSE and the Murray State rowing team.
Marables and Tucker were December graduates; the rest are scheduled to graduate in May, 2016.
Journalism and Mass Communications has had just under 20 percent of the Who’s Who selections since 1980.
