newsletter 2016 final

Summer 2016 1

The Expression

Organizations & Clubs p. 2-3

Summer 2016

Events p. 13-21 Experiential Learning p. 4-12

Competitions & Awards p. 26-31 Community Service p. 22-23

Other News p. 32-36

West Texas A&M University Department of Communication

Research p. 24-25

West Texas A&M University’s National Student Advertising Competition team, Buffalo Advertising, won second in the nation in Anaheim, Calif. on June 6 at the American Advertising Federation’s ADMERICA national conference. The team was awarded $2500. In addition, Project Manager Amanda Koontz was selected as the top presenter in the competition.

Koontz said, “WTAMU has made history in this competition by placing second. We might be a little school, but we have big hearts and ambition. I believe one of the main distinctions of our success has been the ability to let our true personalities and ideas communicate with our

judges. WT has great talent growing in our communication department. We’re able to collaborate in smaller groups, blurring lines between academic and professional careers.”

As this year’s corporate sponsor, Snapple challenged student teams to come up with solutions to help the brand connect better with audiences and expand its base across the United States. Each team created a written campaign proposal and a 20-minute presentation. They competed within their respective districts, and the top schools went on to a semi-final round. The final eight selected to attend the national competition finals in Anaheim, in addition to West Texas A&M, were:

George Washington University, Purdue University-Calumet, Ringling College of Art + Design, St. John’s University, University of California Berkeley, University of Virginia and Webster University. The judges for the final round included executives from Dr Pepper Snapple Group and its agency Deutsch Los Angeles.

“I just wish they gave us about 50 extra trophies because so many people deserve to share in the victory: our WT community, the AAF-Amarillo chapter, AAF 10th District, alumni and donors,” said Lori Westermann, the team’s adviser. “This recognition speaks

Buffalo Advertising Wins 2nd in U.S.

continued on p. 27

2 Department of Communication

Organizations & Clubs

The Advertising/Public Relations Society is nationally affiliated with the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

Students have the opportunity to build their resume and portfolio

by being part of the organization.Industry professionals often visit group meetings to share insights.

Each fall, members compete in the Houston Advertising Federation Student Competition, and each spring members participate in the Bateman Competition, National

Student Advertising Competition, PRSSA National Assembly and the local American Advertising Awards.

Students who are part of this society have access to scholarships, invitations to national conventions, rallies and internship opportunities across the country.

Ad/PR Society

National Broadcasting Society

AD/PR Society inducts new members during the fall 2015 induction.

The National Broadcasting Society (NBS) offers students interested in audio and video production, film, radio and TV the chance to learn, connect and compete.

The society helps students make the transition to the professional world by allowing them to meet professionals at conferences, to submit their work for regional and national competitions, and to attend different conventions.

This year’s South Central Broadcasting Society’s fall conference was in Fort Worth, and the national NBS conference was in Burbank. The chapter was named the top NBS chapter in the nation at the national convention in March.

Summer 2016 3

Forensics Team

Lambda Pi Eta is the official national communication student honorary as established by The National Communication Association in 1988. Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society was chartered at West Texas A&M University in the fall of 1995.

The main purpose of LPH is to recognize, promote and reward outstanding academic achievement, to stimulate interest in the field of communication and to promote and encourage professional development among communication majors.

This year Lambda Pi Eta has been recognized for its community service projects. Members helped plan the annual Communication Week events, prepared boxes for Operation Christmas Child and hosted the UK debaters.

Students inducted into LPH. Back Row: Cailey Crist, Jonathan Mitchell, Roy L. Calvin, III, Matt Donaghy and Ben Wentz. Front Row: LeeAnna Taylor, Tina Ward, Hannah Ellis, Alex Gonzalez, Christy Bates, BethAnn Ervin and Abigail Hoover.

The WTAMU Forensics Team participates in the American Forensic Association, which includes 11 individual events in tournaments held at the state, regional and national level each year.

WTAMU’s team is composed of students who compete in individual events in persuasive speaking, after dinner speaking, programmed oral interpretation, communication analysis, prose and poetry.

Connie McKee serves as Director of Forensics and helps students prepare for the tournaments.

Lambda Pi Eta

Team members qualifying for the national tournament included Bethany Thompson, Bob Barker and Drew Dunn.

In the summer, the team helped with a regional co-op to assist area high school students prepare for next year’s competition.


Experiential Learning

Live Crew is the official West Texas A&M University live sports broadcast for WTAMU’s football games, local high school football games and basketball games on the video board. The games are streamed online on gobuffsgo.com

Live Crew is completely run by mass communication students who have a love for sports broadcasting and wish to be behind the camera.

Students who are part of Live Crew work in a mobile television control room while broadcasting the games on WTTV and KWTS.

Not only do these students shoot football and basketball games to gain the priceless experience, but there are several paid positions as well.

Student positions include operating a camera, switching as technical director, running instant replay, adding graphics, and managing the audio board.

“It’s been the most valuable hands-on experience of my college career,” Technical Director Allison Myers said. She first started as a production assistant for the sideline camera and made her way up to Crew Chief. “It’s something every media

WTTV is the WTAMU’s closed-circuit television channel.

Its programming is administered by the broadcasting program.

WTTV’s content is provided

by departments and organizations across campus, and it airs programs from News One, Live Crew sports broadcasts, KWTS and rebroadcasts home WT football games.

Live Crew

WTTV

student should take advantage of.”The experience gained at the

college level has given Live Crew

members the opportunity to get prestigious jobs and internships in sports broadcasting.

gobuffsgo.com

Summer 2016 5

News One

News One is a live, weekly newscast that broadcasts from the digital studio on West Texas A&M University’s campus.

News One is comprised of students in the TV news production course and the on-air couse where students learn everything from reporting and anchoring to studio and field camera operation.

Every week students fill all positions required to produce live broadcasts, from technical positions to on-air talent.

Students also toured local TV news stations and received critiques from industry professionals.



KWTS “The One”KWTS 91.1 FM is a non-commercial college station on the West Texas A&M University campus that promotes the freshest music and newest talent on campus. KWTS is fully operated by students and it runs at 6,000 watts, which reaches approximately nine counties in the Texas Panhandle.

KWTS began broadcasting in 1972 with only 10 watts of power --just enough to blanket the campus. Former University President Russell C. Long was the first voice heard on 91.1 in Amarillo and surrounding areas. The first 91 minutes were programmed with specific music to commemorate the history of the station and the evolution of college radio.

The spring staff directors were: Anthony Miller, general manager; Dane Glenn, program director; Tim Rivera, music director; Payton Northup, sports director; Caitlyn Pichla, marketing director; Keith “Jersey” Augustine, production director; Johnny Story, broadcast engineer; and Randy Ray, faculty adviser.

KWTS continues to provide the most diverse programming in the Texas Panhandle with special shows featuring sports, talk, jazz, country and Christian.

The One has successfully competed on a national level, raising awareness of the power of the Broadcasting/Electronic Media program.

Summer 2016 7

The Prairie is the official West Texas A&M University student-run newspaper. It started in 1919, and it has been informing and educating people about news and events happening in the university and Canyon communities ever since.

The Prairie has grown a lot since its beginnings and now it is considered the primary source of news and current events on the WTAMU campus. It has more than 20 student volunteers and staff reporters, photographers and designers.

Students have the opportunity to work in a professional newsroom, work against a deadline, have their work published and experience first

The Prairie

The Eternal Flame is the University’s official magazine. Communication students are in charge of entirely writing, producing, editing and organizing the 40+ page magazine biannually; therefore, students who want to get involved with the Eternal Flame can work as editors,

writers, photographers, artists, copy assistants, graphic art assistants, reporters and account sales representatives.

The Eternal Flame covers on-campus events, sports, Greek life functions and other activities that reflect student life.

Eternal Flame content can also be found on Facebook at Eternal Flame, Twitter at WTEternalFlame, Instagram at wtamueternalflame, Flickr at WTEternalFlame and online at www.wtamu.edu/eternalflame.

Eternal Flame

hand the power of the press at The Prairie.

The Prairie made a huge shift this year when it went to a monthly

printed edition of long-form content and weekly updates online. The online version of the newspaper can be found at theprairienews.com.

www.wtamu.edu/eternalflame

www.wtamu.edu/eternalflame

http://theprairienews.com


Buffalo Advertising Gives Real-World OpportunitiesBuffalo Advertising is West Texas A&M University’s award-winning National Student Advertising Competition team and student-operated advertising agency.

The national competition requires American Advertising Federation (AAF) college chapter teams to develop a written integrated marketing proposal and a 20-minute presentation in response to a real-world advertising challenge for the case study client. This year’s client was Snapple.


Panhandle Storytelling Guild Delights Little AudiencesThe Panhandle Storytelling Guild promotes storytelling events for community audiences at the Canyon Public Library, WTAMU’s Kids Kollege, the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum and the annual

spring storytelling festival. The organization began in 1991.

The organization is composed of students enrolled in storytelling classes whose main goal is to raise awareness of the art of storytelling.

Students in COMM 2341 worked in conjunction with High Plains Public Radio (HPPR) to create and produce the program People of the Plains. Eighteen students took part in this multi-step program to create narratives, perform the human-interest stories publicly, record the performances, and submit the performances, soundbites, and written information to HPPR for website publication and possible broadcast. Some students worked individually while others worked in pairs or groups of three.

A representative from HPPR visited the class periodically to

Students Produce Stories for Public Radio

guide students through the process and provided mini-lessons on interviewing, releases and website

submission. This experiential learning activity will continue in the Fall 2016 semester.

Summer 2016 9

Bateman Team Raises Awareness for Veterans

Camo Slamo

MRE contest

22-boot display

The Public Relations Student Soci-ety of America hosts the Bateman Case Study Competition each year.

The WT Bateman Team, composed of five students, organized an intensive month-long campaign for this year’s assigned client, Student Veterans of America. The team worked with the WTAMU Veterans Network to raise awareness about student veterans on campus

and around the world. The team’s campaign,

“Connecting with Heroes,” included a press conference; an MRE (aka “Meal, Ready to Eat”) contest to see who could prepare one the fastest; a military appreciation baseball game including a tailgating party, homerun derby and the first fly-over at a WT baseball game; a 22-boot display on Feb. 22 to raise awarness

about veteran suicide rates; and a clean-up of the Texas Panhandle War Memorial.

Memorial clean-up

Press conference



The Prairie Introduces New Multimedia Journalism Studio

The Prairie, West Texas A&M University’s student newspaper, introduced its new Multimedia Journalism Studio with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the beginning of the fall semester.

The studio is designed to meet the needs of modern journalism production and education by providing students with the opportunity to produce audio, video and photography projects.

“Today’s journalists must be able to produce reports that can be accessed on multiple digital platforms,” said Dr. Butler Cain, assistant professor of Mass Communication and adviser to

The Prairie. “Our Multimedia Journalism Studio will give WTAMU’s mass communication students the opportunity to develop and hone those skills by producing journalism for both professional and academic purposes.”

The studio is equipped with digital audio recording equipment used by The Prairie to produce podcasts. It includes a web camera that can be used to conduct interviews with newsmakers from anywhere on the globe, and it also features digital cameras that can record a live newscast from the studio set or can be taken to the scene of breaking news.

“I’m excited about the possibilities that the Multimedia Journalism Lab offers to our students, to create podcasts and video stories, and tie that into the digital version of The Prairie,” said Dr. Trudy Hanson, head of the Department of Communication.

The Multimedia Journalism Studio also functions as a space for digital photography projects. Students across the program will produce work with the latest editions of industry-standard editing software. The studio will allow students to put into practice what they are learning in the classroom.

Summer 2016 11

WT Leadership is an interdisciplinary course open to junior and senior students of any major. It involves training to facilitate leadership skills in teens. Students take the course for two consecutive semesters.

The course collaborates with Teen Leadership Amarillo & Canyon, a program of the local organization Leadership Amarillo

& Canyon, which is dedicated to strengthening sophomore and junior high school students’ skills to enable them to become future civic, corporate and political leaders.

WT students have the opportunity to learn about the needs and resources in the local community, hear from local leaders, and visit and volunteer at local non-profit and for-profit organizations.

WT Leadership Strengthens Skills

WT Leadership students practice solving problems by trying to put up a backpacking tent blindfolded.

Students Go From Athens to LondonDr. Amy Von Lintel and Dr. Kris Drumheller teamed up for a study abroad program. Students taking COMM/MCOM 4300, ARTS 3392, COMM 5300 and ARTS 6395 classes traveled to Athens and London from May 16 to 26.

Students studied issues of cultural heritage through a focus on the Parthenon Marbles. They explored the connections between contemporary Britain, contemporary Greece and Ancient Greece while learning the crucial issues of cultural heritage.

Students visited monuments and museums in both Greece and England, including the Parthenon, Acropolis Museum, the British Museum and Stonehenge. More information can be found at http://wtathenslondon.wix.com/mysite.

Photo by Abigail Summers

http://wtathenslondon.wix.com/mysite

http://wtathenslondon.wix.com/mysite


On April 7, One Sessions featured Blues Boy Willie along with the Texas Blues Rangers band. Blues Boy Willie, also known as the

One Sessions Rocks the Studio

On Nov. 19, electronic media students hosted One Sessions featuring Mount Ivy, a self-identified Space Rock band from Amarillo, whose members are Broderick Adams, vocal and guitar; Topher Petsch, bass; Sidney Busbee, drums; and Juan Duran, guitar.

Mount Ivy

Blues Boy Willie

One Sessions is a biannual live, acoustic concert produced by broadcasting/electronic media students under the supervision of the mass communication faculty and staff. The event is held in the Fine Arts Complex’s AT&T HD Studio.

Students choose an artist or band, design the set and run the show.

Each program is recorded in high definition and edited together to produce a live-performance DVD. One Sessions has won numerous national awards.

Blues Boy Willie performs live in the studio.

“King of the Juke Joints,” is a blues man and harmonica player from Memphis, Texas who is known for his unique urban sound.


Mount Ivy

Summer 2016 13

Events

WT’s National Broadcasting Society hosted the fourth annual Department of Communication Thanksgiving Potluck on Nov. 23 at the Jack B. Kelley Student Center, Legends Club.

All communication students were invited and each communication organization was in charge of one part of the meal.

In addition to enjoying a meal together, December graduates from the mass communication program were recognized.

Students Gather for Potluck Meal


Events

Students Celebrate Communication Week

The Department of Communication held its annual Communication Week from Feb. 15 to 18 with the theme Reel Talk: Through Your Lens. Students from different programs within the Department of Communication organized the events.

Events included the Reel Talk video competition, Alumni Table Talk, Reel Talk Project Runway, a lecture from filmmaker Will Bigham, as well as the screening of his feature film “The A-List.”

The Reel Talk video competition consisted of having students from different programs create a short video promoting their respective programs. The winning team was the graduate students.

“The overall experience was great. We were able to highlight the program and show all of its greatness,” said Caleb Hubbard, a

member of the winning team.For Alumni Table Talk, a

group of alumni were invited to return to campus to talk about their work, answer student questions and give advice and feedback based on their experience. This year, alumni included Tyler Sweeney, senior specialist/digital content strategy for RPA Advertising; Katie Gustainis, marketing coordinator for Real Ale Brewing Company; Paola Albarran, news anchor at Telemundo; Eric Cruz, video freelancer; Daniel Proffitt, youth minister at Trinity Fellowship; Maddisun Fowler, part-time instructor of mass communication at WT; Cassie Montgomery, communication consultant for Blue Cross/Blue Shield; and Matt Hamilton, sports director at KFDA, Channel 10.

“It is really cool to come back to WT and give some of the knowledge that I have now, especially giving it

back to students when I was exactly in their position,” Sweeney said.

Albarran, who is also a part-time instructor at WTAMU, said that the Alumni Table Talk experience is amazing because she gets to see her students and know what they want in their future as well as talk to them about opportunities.

The Reel Talk Project Runway consisted of a fashion show where faculty members were dressed up by teams of students as different movie characters. The characters included Prof. Lori Westermann as Mrs. Incredible, Prof. Kim Bruce as Sadness, Dr. Sarah Vartabedian as Jack Sparrow, Prof. Carolyn Baum as Mrs. Doubtfire, Dr. Noah Franken as Indiana Jones and Dr. Dustin Hahn as Darth Vader. Mike Knox, Christie Spring and Dr. Steve Severn served as judges and selected Westermann as the winner.

Summer 2016 15

To conclude Communication Week, filmmaker Will Bigham, spoke to students and faculty. His feature-length film “The A-List” was screened at the JBK Legacy Hall. “It is great to come back here and talk to you guys because I see myself in all of you guys. This is where I am from, I took classes here at WT, and I see hopes and dreams in everybody’s eyes,” Bigham, said. “Wherever I‘ve gone, there is a possibility for everybody.”


New Inductees Join the Communication Hall of Fame

The Communication Hall of Fame began as an effort to increase the visibility of the Department of Communication and raise funds to support student travel and fund student scholarships.

This year, four graduates of West Texas A&M University’s Department of Communication were inducted to the Communication Hall of Fame and were honored on Oct. 9 in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center, Legacy Hall. This year there were also three new awards presented: The Rising Star, Community Partner and Eternal Flame.

The 2015 inductees were Dr. Leigh Browning, professor of business and communication; Judy H. Carter, director of Amarillo College’s honors program; Virginia Myers, retired speech professor at Wayland Baptist University; and Charly Martin, former NFL player

and founder and director of the Charly Martin Football Academy.

The recipients of the Rising Star award were Kirk Scarbrough, former director of Constituent Communications for Teach For America, and Jackie Kingston, KAMR anchor. The Community Partner Award was given to the American Advertising Federation-Amarillo for its continued support and the Eternal Flame award was presented to Billy Smith, executive director of the American Paint Horse Association.

Dr. Leigh Browning joined WTAMU as a faculty member in 1991. She was the director of broadcasting, faculty adviser for KWTS 91.1 FM and the coordinator of Maroon Productions. She earned her bachelor’s degree from West Texas State University, her master’s degree from Kansas

State University and her doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi. She was assisting as the faculty sponsor of the Enactus team in the College of Business at the time of her death on April 20, 2015.

Judy H. Carter received her master’s degree from West Texas State University in 1985 and has worked at Amarillo College since 1992, creating several programs such as the Global Competency Certification program and trips to Great Britain, Germany, Nepal, Cambodia, Italy, China and India. Since she started directing the honors program at AC, it has grown to more than 300 students. Carter was one of the first professors to develop online classes and media-rich courses. She was also honored with the Southern States Communication Association’s

Events

Summer 2016 17

Outstanding Community College Educator Award.

Virginia Myers earned her B.S. from West Texas State University in 1949 and her master’s degree from WT in 1965. Myers has been the president of the Texas Speech Communication Association as well as the West Texas Speech Association. She is also the author and co-author of several public speaking textbooks.

Charly Martin received his B.S. in mass communication with an emphasis in broadcasting from WTAMU in 2007 and his M.S. in sports and exercise sciences in 2014. Martin set Lone Star Conference records from 2003 to 2008 as an undergraduate, he was named as the Lone Star Conference Academic Player of the Year in 2008 and was the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Player of the Year in 2008. Martin founded an annual free football camp, where he directs, teaches football and inspires young players. His NFL career began

in 2013 and includes stints with the Carolina Panthers, the Seattle Seahawks, the San Diego Chargers, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Francisco 49ers.

Rising Star Jackie Kingston graduated from WTAMU in 2009 with a degree in mass communication with an emphasis in broadcasting. Kingston has anchored several time slots on stations in Amarillo. She currently serves as evening anchor and web producer for KAMR. Kingston has served the community as a volunteer of several organizations around the Panhandle.

Kirk Scarbrough, another recipient of the new Rising Star Award, is a 2010 WTAMU graduate. He joined Teach For America’s teaching corps as an elementary teacher in San Antonio for 2 years. He then moved to New York City to join the organization’s national communications team, as director of constituent communication for Teach For America.

Billy Smith, recipient of the Eternal Flame Award, graduated from the University of North Texas in 1984, got his master’s degree in public relations and advertising from Texas Tech University in 1989 and received a doctoral degree in education in 1999. Smith worked 8 years as a practicing journalist and then started working at WTAMU. Currently he is the executive director of the American Paint Horse Association.

The American Advertising Federation-Amarillo (AAF) was the recipient of the Community Partner Award. This award recognizes community organizations that offer outstanding support to the Department of Communication. The AAF-Amarillo was distinguished for its longtime support of the department’s student advertising team.

The next Communication Hall of Fame is scheduled for Oct. 21, 2016.


British Debaters Visit CampusThe Department of Communication and Lambda Pi Eta sponsored two UK Debaters from Oct. 14 to 16 to participate in a parliamentary style debate against two members of the WT Forensics Team.

The debate was held at 6 p.m. on Oct. 15 in the Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall to a standing-room-only crowd. The WTAMU Forensics Team members were A. J. Stamps and Allisa Ray, and representing the UK were Chessy Whalen and Matthew Wilmore.

Whalen was raised in Yorkshire and just finished her B.A. in History at Balliol College Oxford. She has represented Oxford at various national and international tournaments and organized the Oxford Inter-Varsity and Oxford Women’s debating competitions.

Wilmore recently completed an LLM in Human Rights at the University of Edinburgh. He has worked as a debating coach and judge for the English Speaking Union by having run sessions across England, Scotland and Belgium. Matthew is an accomplished competitive speaker having won the European Championships in 2014 and reaching the out-rounds of several competitions.

The UK Debaters had the opportunity to get a taste of the area by visiting the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, ziplining at Ceta Canyon and visiting Cadillac Ranch. They also enjoyed a dinner hosted by Dean Mallard at her home with LPH members, WT Forensics Team members and the Department of Communication faculty.

Events

Summer 2016 19


Events

Buffs Host Storytelling Festival

This year’s Storytelling Festival theme was Buff Tales featuring four-time Grammy-winner David Holt.

The festival included two Kids’ Concerts at the Branding Iron Theatre, which brought more than 400 children to campus, a Storytelling Workshop and an evening concert at the Branding Iron Theatre for the public.

Graduate students enrolled in the Art of Storytelling Seminar produced the festival and performed in the evening concert.

One of the highlights for the graduate students was performing “This Little Light of Mine” with Holt in the opening performance for the evening concert.

This event was sponsored by the WTAMU Guest Artist Series and the Department of Communication.

Summer 2016 21

Students Featured in FAH Subscription Series

On April 28, the Department of Communication hosted a Fine Arts and Humanities Subscription Series Festival of Excellence where students from across the department demonstrated their work to members of the subscription series.

After entering the building via a red carpet, visitors attended sessions run by student groups spread around

the building, including the Bateman Team, Forensics Team, storytelling students, One Sessions with Noah Jenda, Buffalo Advertising, KWTS and News One. Students and professors also shared study-abroad experiences in one room. The Prairie and Eternal Flame members were in charge of taking photos as paparazzi at the entrance.

Members of the Communication Alumni Network also had a table to talk about their work supporting the department.

There was a silent auction with items donated by students, faculty and alumni to benefit a new scholarship for Public Relations/Advertising students named for Prof. Lori Westermann.


Community ServiceStudents in the undergraduate storytelling class performed story dramatizations at the Canyon Public Library.

Lambda Pi Eta (Communication Honor Society) participated in the Operation Christmas Child program and helped with Communication Week.

KWTS staff and NBS members regularly clean a section of highway for the state Adopt-a-Highway program.

Summer 2016 23

Ad/PR Society members encouraged students in the department to collect canned goods for the High Plains Food Bank during the annual Can Tree for the Pantry canned food drive.

KWTS staff and NBS members volunteered at the Amarillo Bulls game for Family Support Services.

KWTS staff and NBS members built a shack for Shack-a-Thon.

NBS students volunteered at Family Support Services’ annual Mardi Gras fundraiser in March.

NBS members volunteered at the 2016 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Amarillo.


Student Research

Students Attend SSCA ConferenceOn April 7-10, four undergraduate Communication Studies students attended the Southern States Communication Association’s undergraduate research conference in Austin. Miguel Soto, Madison Mangum, Tre Calvin and Ben Wentz presented their rhetorical essays at the Undergraduate Honors Conference. Ben Wentz was selected to present on the Top Papers Panel.

Students in Dr. Cain’s Media History class created posters to present in Cornette Library.

Students in Professor Albarran’s Mass Communication Theory class created posters to explain theories.

Classes Present Research

Summer 2016 25

Students Win Killgore Grants

Students Present Research and Win

Two mass communication students were awarded Killgore Undergraduate Research Grants: Alan Rose and Amanda Koontz.

They each wrote a grant proposal and made a verbal pitch to the Killgore Grant committee. Their research was realated to branded entertainment and audience perceptions.

In January, Koontz and Rose had the opportunity to attend the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada as part of their grant funding.

They attended media and entertainment conference sessions to understand the future of branded entertainment and current trends in the media industry.

Koontz said, “Attending CES is unlike anything I have ever experienced. A year’s worth of technology innovation and information is crammed into a week. One moment you’re brushing up against a YouTuber and the next, you’re overhearing an executive’s conversations about a media merger.”

Graduate and undergraduate students participated in the annual Student Research Conference on April 14 in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center.

Students presented their work via posters or speeches. Student entries were judged by an interdisciplinary group of faculty.

Communication master’s

student Laura Dangerfield won first place. Undergraduate mass communication student Marissa Rivera earned fourth place. Tre Calvin also presented his research.

Espinoza Named McNair Scholar Jonathan Espinoza was selected for the McNair Scholar program. He began research under the direction of Tanner Robertson in the summer. The focus of his research project is to evaluate levels of compassion in a diverse cross-section of college

students on topics relating to the LGBTQIA student population via one-one-one interviews and focus groups. Espinoza will continue his research project throughout the school year.


Competitions & Awards

Students Travel to Houston Advertising Student Competition

Buffalo Advertising Competes at 10th District National Student Advertising Competition

West Texas A&M University’s student advertising team, Buffalo Advertising, earned first place and a special judges award for best promotion in the 10th District National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) in Lubbock on April 15. The team’s first-place finish sent them on to the semi-final round of interviews.

The team was selected as one of the top eight teams in the country, which allowed them the chance to go to Anaheim to compete at the national competition in June.

Ad/PR Society students participated in the annual Houston Advertising Student Competition and Conference where they were placed into teams of 10-12 students from more than 20 universities across Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

The teams had 8 hours to create an incorporated marketing campaign and a video of their presentation.

Annissa Riojas was part of the second place team and Alan Rose, along with his team, won third place.

Summer 2016 27


Buffalo Advertising Wins 2nd in U.S. to the phenomenal collaborative environment we enjoy at West Texas A&M.”

This was Westermann’s 13th and final year as adviser to the team.

“Attending ADMERICA 2016 as a professional and seeing the West Texas A&M University Buffalo Advertising team compete and make history by winning second place in the nation was such an amazing opportunity,” said Zivorad Filipovic, an alumnus of

Amanda Koontz receives the AAF District 7 Bolton-MacVicar National Best Presenter Award from AAF CEO James Edmund Datri and Secretary/Treasurer of the AAF Council of Governors Dawn Reeves. “I was very surprised to be awarded as Best Presenter because there are so many ways to approach a presentation like this,” Koontz said.

the Buffalo Advertising team and current marketing director for the Amarillo Symphony. “I was on the team in 2013 and attended nationals as a student during that year. Lori Westermann has brought this team to a new level. I am the professional I am today because of the NSAC and the leadership and support of Lori throughout the years.”

Stephanie Price, marketing and communications manager at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum said, “I am very proud

to have been here, in Anaheim, to witness this historic win for WTAMU. Each student has so many things to be proud of and as the incoming president of AAF-Amarillo I know that our club is ecstatic. We love supporting our WTAMU students, and seeing them come home with this amazing second-place title makes it all the better.”

Dr. Trudy Hanson said, “As head of the Department of Communication, I have watched the Buffalo Advertising Team develop this year into a group of amazing professionals. These students spent their spring break writing the plans book for competition. They spent countless nights working on their presentation. While there were only four presenters for the formal presentation, the rest of the team provided support, making sure every detail was addressed. To earn a second place finish in national competition is a first for our department and attests to the quality education advertising and public relations majors receive at WTAMU, but most importantly, that by working together great things can be accomplished.”

The NSAC team rehearses before the national competition in Anaheim.

continued from front


Competitions & AwardsStudents Win Texas Intercollegiate

Press Association Awards

ON-SITE CONTESTPrint News Writing, Honorable Mention: Preston ThomasPR Release Writing – 1st place: Matthew DonaghyFeature Photo – 1st place: Kiersten Newton2-Person Photo Essay, Honorable Mention: Matthew Donaghy, Anh NguyenPR Crisis Management, 3rd place: Alan StampsSports Action Photo, Honorable Mention: Christian Lucero

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED CONTESTGeneral MagazineHonorable Mention: George LozanoOverall Excellence, Honorable Mention: Eternal Flame

Newspaper Division 3Feature Story, Honorable Mention: “South Korea” by Jasmin RuizNews Feature Story, Honorable Mention: “Refugees” by Jasmin RuizPage One Design, Honorable

Mention: “The Walking Dead” by David Dueñes and Megan Moore

Online Division 2Best Interactivity, 2nd place: The Prairie - Preston ThomasBest Recurring Podcast, 3rd place: Plus INT - Preston Thomas, Gabriel Silvas, Edgar Fonseca, Russell Sanderson, Shannon Thomas and Will Amos

RadioSportscast, 3rd Place: “Basketball” by Anthony Miller, Malcolm Montgomery and Payton Northrup

TelevisionAudition , 3rd place: Kase WilbanksDocumentary, 2nd place: “Steps to Promise” by Martha Alvarez, Buck Mayden, Allison Myers and Kase WilbanksProduction, Honorable Mention: “Two Passions” by Isaac Gallegos, Caitlin Dunsmore and Zach MartinSports Feature, 1st Place: “Lacey Taylor” by Isaac Gallegos

Broadcasting Education Association Festival of Media Arts

Society of Professional Journalists – 2015 Mark of Excellence

IBS College Radio National Awards

Audio – PSA, Promo or Commercial, Honorable Mention - KWTS – Handsome Man Morning Show Promo by Robert Dueñes and David Dueñes

Radio Sports Reporting - “KWTS Weekly Sports Update -Volleyball” by Anthony Miller & Payton Northrup

Best Campus News - “Enrollment” by Kase WilbanksBest Sports Play by Play – “West Texas A&M Volleyball” by Payton Northrup, Anthony Miller & Malcolm MontgomeryBest Sports Update – “Rec Sports” by Kase WilbanksBest Promo Series – KWTS “The One” 91.1 FM – Station Imaging by Bri LeeperBest Talk Radio Show – Handsome Man Morning Show - Robert Dueñes and David DueñesBest Station Blog – www.wtamu.edu/kwts by KWTS Staff

www.wtamu.edu/kwts

www.wtamu.edu/kwts

Summer 2016 29

National Broadcasting Society Members Win Big at Nationals

West Texas A&M University’s National Broadcasting Society chapter brought home 14 awards from the NBS National Convention in Burbank in March:• NBS Chapter of the Year• NBS Model Chapter• Member of the Year: Anthony Miller• NBS Rookie of the Year: Tran Nguyen• NBS Community Service, Honorable Mention• Audio News Package: “WTAMU Athletic Training” by Allison Myers

• Audio Sports Package: “WT Softball” by Anthony Miller• Audio Sports Play-By-Play Programming: “WT Lady Buff Basketball Game 2015” by Anthony Miller, Malcolm Montgomery & Payton Northrup• Audio Studio or Live Performance Segment: “WT Jazz Combo Live Recording: Tall & Lanky” by Timothy Rivera & Cody Wesley• Audio Promo: “Top 21 Promo” by Avery Taylor• Video Studio or Live Performance

Segment: “One Sessions with Tennessee Tuckness - Soul Searchin’” by Malcolm Montgomery, Avery Taylor, Brent Klein & Advanced Video Crew• Video Commercials: “Around Amarillo in 30 Seconds” by Hope Stokes• Professional Category in Web/Other: “Buckets of Rain” Multitrack Recording by Randy Ray• Induction into AERho Honor Society: Anh Nguyen

Student Work Honored with Telly Awards

The Telly Award is the premier award honoring the finest film and video productions.

At the 37th Annual Telly Awards, “One Sessions – Tennessee Tuckness” received a Silver Telly and three Bronze Telly awards.

“Steps to Promise – Downtown Women’s Center” received 10 Bronze Telly awards.

“Travis Mills – The Citadelle Art Foundation” received four Bronze Telly awards.


Students Bring Home ADDYs from American Advertising Awards


Juan Paiz won a Gold ADDY for poster design.

Buffalo Advertising won a Gold ADDY for the 2015 NSAC plans book.

Ad/PR Society members served as hosts/hostesses for the event and helped with decorations.

At the American Advertising Awards’ White Party on February 20, WTAMU students received three Gold ADDY Awards and six Silver ADDY Awards.

Silver ADDY AwardsPublication Design (cover): “Eternal Flame” by George Lozano & Matt DonaghyPublication Design (spread): “A Living Tradition” by Jacie Youngblood, George Lozano & Matt DonaghyRadio Advertising Campaign: KWTS “The One” 91.1 FM – Station Imaging by Bri Leeper Television Advertising Campaign: KWTS “The One” 91.1 FM – Web Video Series by Martha Alvarez, Allison Myers & KWTS StaffCinematography: “Steps to

Promise: Downtown Women’s Center” by Buck Mayden & Advanced Video CrewCinematography: “One Sessions – Tennessee Tuckness” by Aaron Alcozer, Avery Taylor, Jonathan Davis, Malcolm Montgomery & Advanced Video Crew

Gold ADDY AwardsBook Design (entire book) : “Click into the Flavor of Now” Campaign by Amanda Koontz, Cecy Borunda, Seth Gillitzer, Buck Mayden & Natalia MolinaMagazine Design (entire magazine): “Truth Behind Tradition” by Matt Donaghy & George LozanoOut of Home (poster): “The American Dream” by Juan Paiz

Summer 2016 31

Coming October 21, 2016

Students, Faculty Awarded at University Honors Banquet

At the University Honors Banquet on Friday, April 30, Department of Communication students won a number of awards, including Man of the Year (Miguel Soto) and Woman of the Year (Bri Leeper).

Other award winners included:• Jack B. Kelley Leadership Scholarships—Andrew Alexander, Reece McKillip• Greek Leadership Scholarship—Shaina Dulakis• Military Veterans Ball Scholarship—Jonathan Espinoza• Distinguished Presidential Ambassador—Miguel Soto• Peer Leader Award—Kelsey Knight• Student Senate Teaching Excellence Award—Dr. Butler Cain• Outstanding Student Organization Adviser, finalist—Prof. Randy Ray• Presidential Ambassadors (incoming)—Desiree Chambers, Shaina Dulakis, Britt Snipes, Aileen Taylor, Jonathan Espinoza, Marissa Martinez, Katie Rowan, Kinsey Weir


Faculty Research Summary

Faculty AwardedThe annual faculty excellence awards were given at the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts & Humanities meeting in the spring. Prof. Carolyn Baum was recognized

• 15 articles in peer reviewed journals• 2 books• 6 book chapters• 36 peer-reviewed paper presentations• 5 faculty workshops• 20 international service activities• 13 national service activities• 22 regional service activities• 9 state service activities• 13 local service activities• $7224.00 grants awarded

for professional service; Prof. Paula Schlegel was recognized for instructional responsibilities; and Dr. Emily Kinsky was recognized for intellectual contributions.

Faculty Present

Research at CornetteLibrary

Other News

Summer 2016 33

Dr. Li Chen received a B.A. in Journalism from Fudan University in Shanghai, China in 2009, an M.A. in Media Studies from Syracuse

University in 2011, and a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Iowa in 2016. Her research interests include social media, political communication and health communication. In particular, her dissertation explored the ways in which health care professionals in China used social media to disseminate medical knowledge and to facilitate civic participation during the health care reform. Li will teach Mass Communication Theory, Mass Media Law, and Mass Communication Ethics in the fall.

Department Welcomes New FacultyPatrick Osei-Hwere received his B.A. in English and Philosophy from the University of Ghana in 1991. He worked in various

positions in radio, television, and publishing before travelling to the U.S. for graduate studies. He received his M.S. in Journalism and M.A. in Communication and Development from Ohio University in 2003. He attended Indiana University for his doctoral studies. His areas of specialization are journalism, advertising, and health and development communication. Osei-Hwere has taught in different roles at the Department of Communication since 2008. Courses taught include Introduction to Mass Communication, Media Writing, News Reporting, Journalism and Advertising Research, and Media Ethics. He is passionate about teaching as well as the creativity and science behind creating effective, purposeful communication. He loves playing the bass guitar and keyboard and enjoys songwriting. He lives in Amarillo with his wife and son.

Dr. Mary Liz Brooks received a B.S. in Mass Communication, specializing in advertising and public relations, from West Texas A&M University

in 2000. She then studied at Angelo State University where she received her M.A. in Communications. After graduating from ASU, she then worked for 8 years in the non-profit industry as a marketing director for a faith-based, continuous-care retirement community in San Angelo, Texas. In 2012, she pursued her doctorate in Media and Communication at Texas Tech University where she graduated with her Ph.D. in August of 2015. She then began her academic career in the Department of Communications at Susquehanna University, a private, liberal arts school located in central Pennsylvania. While a graduate student at Texas Tech and during her time at Susquehanna University, she taught primarily advertising, marketing, and public relations courses. Her research interests include the representation of marginalized groups in the media, with a specific focus on the aging population. Brooks is married to Jason Brooks, a native of Amarillo. They are the parents of 7-year-old Lauren and 5-year-old Colin.

V a n e s s a D i r k s m e y e r is a WT Communication a l u m n a , graduating with her B.S. in 2009 and M.A.

in 2010. She has been a part-time instructor with the department for a few years. She currently resides in Clovis, N.M., where her husband is active duty in the United States Air Force. They have an 8-month-old son who keeps them very busy. She will teach Public Speaking and is extremely excited to rejoin her Communication family full time.

Lacy Cannon received a B.S. in Communication from WTAMU in 2002 and a Master of Arts in Communication in 2007. Cannon

taught at Randall High School for 14 years and enjoyed teaching speech and debate there. She has been a part-time

instructor at WT for the last 6 years and is looking forward to coming back to her alma matter full time in the fall. She enjoys traveling and laughing with her husband.


NEW Leadership Texas selected Britt Snipes, a junior public relations/advertising major from Borger, for the a residential institute focusing on college women and politics, which ran from June 2 to 7 at the University of Texas. The 6-day, non-partisan program is designed for undergraduate college women to give them the skills and knowledge for effective leadership in public policy, leadership and public service.

In addition to meeting with mentors, Snipes participated in a variety of workshops and hands-on activities that included public speaking, advocacy, networking and conflict resolution.

Snipes served as an intern in Washington, D.C., with Congressman Mac Thornberry in 2015, and that experience ignited her passion for politics even more.

“It’s important for my generation to be aware of what’s going on in our country,” Snipes said. “I’m excited about NEW Leadership Texas because it solely focuses on women’s leadership roles in politics and government. Sometimes, we, as women, assume we can’t tackle the role of a leader, but NEW Leadership Texas challenges that misinterpretation. Being a woman shouldn’t affect or hinder my ability to lead. I hope to gain the confidence to become an effective leader and utilize my strengths when I return home. I want to challenge the status quo.”

NEW Leadership TexasOther News

CAN supportsCOMM

The new Communication Alumni Network provides financial support and social resources for the Department of Communication, its students, faculty and administrators and serves as a liaison for the flow of information between the department, alumni and friends.

CAN allows alumni an opportunity to give back to the department, reach out to future graduates, and continue to foster university and industry connections. Throughout the year, CAN supported the Communication Hall of Fame, provided student meals at Advising Parties, assisted with Communication Week and the Communication Subscription Series, and also hosted the CAN Wine & Cheese Reception for alumni, faculty and recent graduates of the department.

Alumni and friends of the Department of Communication can join the Communication Alumni Network by visiting BUFFALUM.COM and selecting the Communication Alumni Network as the special interest group.

Summer 2016 35

Students Land Impressive Internships

Kelly Ramos worked this summer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., as a journalism and multimedia intern.

Amanda Koontz participated in the AAF Multicultural Advertising Internship Program (MAIP) this summer in New York City at mcgarrybowen.

Seth Gillitzer worked in Los Angeles this summer as an intern with the National Football League (NFL) and the NFL Network.

At the end of each spring semester, the Department hosts two end-of-year award ceremonies: one for communication studies students, including master’s students, and one for mass communication students. At these ceremonies, awards are given and graduating seniors are honored.

End of Year Celebrated


In December 2015, 32 undergraduate and 8 graduate students from the Department of Communication graduated. In May 2016, 42 more undergraduate and 4 graduate students from the department completed their degrees.

Communication Buffs Graduate

Documents

newsletter 2016 final