By Ted Pease

LOGAN - The Utah State University department of journalism and communication honored 22 of its own Friday at it's annual JCOM Awards Banquet, and awarded scholarships to 15 students for the coming academic year.

Salt Lake Tribune humor columnist Robert Kirby was the keynote speaker, telling 85 students, faculty and guests at the David Haight Alumni Center on the USU campus that while a career in journalism is a license to do good for society, "don't forget to have fun, too."

Graduating senior Justin B. Smart, the 2003 JCOM valedictorian, offered a list of the top 10 reasons to be grateful to be a JCOM graduate, including survival of professor Penny Byrne's media law class. Smart, who graduates with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, is editor of the university's Utah State Today website.

The dinner honored the JCOM department's best and brightest on the last day of classes of the 2002-03 academic year at USU, and celebrated the department's largest-ever graduating class. Some 123 members of the JCOM Class of 2003 will graduate at USU commencement ceremonies on May 3.

The outstanding JCOM graduates of 2003 are: Karina K. Fain, print journalism; Jeremy M. Seeley, broadcasting and electronic media, and Smart, public relations & corporate communications.

The outstanding seniors and juniors in each of the JCOM concentrations also were announced:

Outstanding Seniors in Broadcasting & Electronic Media
* Michael B. Chidsey
* Justin L. Creech
* Daniel R. Houtz

Outstanding Juniors in Broadcasting & Electronic Media
* Miaken A. Christensen
* Mark R. LaRocco
* Lindsey N. Parrott

Outstanding Seniors in Print Journalism
* Anna Marie Brunson McEntire
* Joseph A. Rowley
* Heidi Thueson

Outstanding Seniors in Print Journalism
* Leon P. D'Souza
* Toby G. Hayes
* Marie MacKay

Outstanding Seniors in Public Relations & Corporate Communications
* Tory A. Neiwert
* Tracy M. Kell
* Danielle London

Outstanding Juniors in Public Relations & Corporate Communications
* Myrica G. Hawker
* Shara L. Holt
* Callie M. Taggart

Outstanding JCOM graduate student:
* Christina Domichel

The department also announced its annual faculty awards:
* JCOM Teacher of the Year: Nancy M. Williams
* JCOM Researcher of the Year: Michael S. Sweeney
* JCOM Faculty Service Award: Dean Byrne

Eleven students were named as winners of 15 scholarships for the 2003-04 academic year totaling more than $8,600. They are:

* The Jay W. Glasmann Family Scholarships in print journalism, funded by gifts from the former owners of the Ogden Standard-Examiner: Seniors Julie Ann Grosshans of Layton, and Hilary Judd of Coalville, and incoming freshmen Manette Newbold of Syracuse, Utah, and Philip Nigohosian of Salt Lake City

* The Glacus and Marie Merrill Scholarships in broadcasting, funded by gifts honoring the Cache Valley radio pioneer: Mark LaRocco of Providence, and Philip Nigohosian of Salt Lake City.

* The John Morris Scholarship, funded in memory of the former USU journalism instructor: Jacob Moon of Sandy, Utah, the incoming editor of The Utah Statesman.

* The Edward C. Pease Scholarships, funded by the head of the JCOM department: Shara Holt of Logan, and Danielle London of Morgan, Utah.

* The Wilford D. Porter Scholoarship, funded by students of one of the first journalism professors at USU: Alison Aikele of Logan.

* The Michael S. Sweeney Scholarships, funded by contributions by a JCOM professor: Shara Holt of Logan, and Jacob Moon of Sandy.

* The Josey Barnes Wayman Scholarship, funded by a USU alumnus who was the first woman TV host in Utah: Heidi Broadwater of Sandy, Utah; Danielle London of Morgan, and Callie Taggart of Farmington, Utah.

For more information, contact the USU Journalism and Communication Department at 435-797-3292.

TP
TJ