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School of Communication Honors 2020 Alumni Achievement, Scholarship Winners

Typically, scholarships and awards are presented to outstanding students, honored alumni and communication professionals during a reception, however, the event will be delayed until April 2021.

School of Communication award winners

Despite the cancellation of the 65th Communications Awards Receptionn planned for April 24, the School of Communication honors its 2020 alumni achievement and scholarship winners.

Typically, scholarships and awards are presented to outstanding students, honored alumni and communication professionals to celebrate the accomplishments of students and faculty during the past year. With the COVID-19 added in the mix, the event will be delayed until April 2021.

The School plans to honor the alumni award recipients at the April 2021 event. Students will receive their scholarship awards, but not at an event, said Dr. Paige Toller, School of Communication assistant director and coordinator of the annual event.

“We are very proud of all of our students and we wish that we could present their scholarship awards in person,” Toller said.

The School’s faculty nominated and selected the 2020 top students and alumni award recipients earlier this year.

Alumni Awards

  • Rising Star Award – Linyu Huang, Social Media Channel Leader, Dealmoon

  • Alumni Achievement – Kelsey Bugjo, Director of Public Relations and Corporate Communications, Omaha Steaks

  • Lifetime Achievement – Martha Bruckner, Executive Director, Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium


Top Student Awards

  • Top Graduate Thesis – Abby Surprenant

  • Top Graduate Teaching Assistant – Allegra Hardin

  • Top Graduate Student – Naomi Yanike

  • Outstanding Communication Studies Student - Keely Algya

  • Outstanding Journalism and Media Communication Student – Ethan Wolbach

2020 Student Scholarships

Albers Communications Group UNO Scholarship

  • Ana Bellinghausen
  • Sarah Fixmer

Fred and Mary Jo Peterson Communication Scholarship

  • Rose McCaffrey

Gunnar Horn Journalism Talent Scholarship

  • Sophia Ridder
  • Isabella Zink

Hartman Memorial Journalism Talent Scholarship

  • Abbie Russman

Hugh P. & Juliette L. Cowdin Communication Scholarship

  • Zachary Gilbert

Joe Henry Baker Memorial Scholarship

  • Harrison Popp

Kim Jones Passion Scholarship

  • Karissa Madrigal

Marcus Family Scholarship

  • Claire Redinger

Omaha Press Club Floyd Kalber Scholarship

  • Owen Godberson

Omaha Press Club Gautier Intern Scholarship

  • Ulises Orozco

Omaha Press Club Howard Silber Scholarship

  • Ethan Wolbach

Omaha Press Club John Davis Scholarship

  • Ana Bellinghausen

Omaha Press Club NBA Scholarship

  • Owen Godberson (nominated)

Omaha Press Club Panko Roberts/President’s Memorial Scholarship

  • Sarah Fixmer

Omaha Press Club Paul N. Williams Scholarship

  • Ulises Orozco

Omaha Press Club Zorinsky Graduate Scholarship

  • London Homer-Wambeam

Paul & Fern Borge Communications Scholarship

  • Mathew Denny

Raf Czarnecki Legacy Scholarship

  • Leta Lohrmeyer

Sue Francke Memorial Scholarship

  • Kylie Squiers

Virginia Allen McIntire Scholarship

  • Mikayla Dyell
  • Katheryn Lopez-Chavez
  • Alyse Mancino
  • Diana Munoz
  • Faith Perrone
  • Taylor Shipley
  • Natalie Veloso
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