Communication Students Earn State Awards, Prof Selected for Fellowship

Three Rogers State University communications students have earned awards from the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association during its annual student awards competition, while a communications faculty member was selected for a fellowship from the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.

Earning two first place awards were Houston Gaither, a communications junior from Coweta, and Braeton Hightower, a communications senior from Sperry, who together earned top honors in the radio promotional spot category and the radio talk program category.

Their promotional spot highlighted Tulsa’s Center of the Universe Festival, while the talk program entry was for their interview with singer/songwriter Taylor Mathews.

Kessiah Neff, a communications junior from Claremore, earned second place in the scriptwriting category for her piece, “Living with Anxiety.”

Lee Williams, assistant professor of communications, was selected as the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters’ 2015 Lisa John Faculty Fellowship, a four-week work program at an Oklahoma radio or television station. The fellowship provides an opportunity for faculty members to update their skills and develop closer relationships with radio and television broadcasters.

Also announced this week, Adrienne Muñoz, an RSU communications junior from Waxahachie, Texas, is one of six Oklahoma college students selected by OBEA to earn a $2,000 OAB Foundation scholarship for the 2015-16 academic year.

Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association members include the state’s largest public universities, regional universities, community colleges and private colleges and universities. OBEA members work closely with the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters to promote quality broadcast education and professional preparation.

“I am so pleased with the results of this year’s OBEA awards. I think these awards reflect well on the quality of our students, as well as the excellence of our communications program,” said Cathy Coomer, assistant professor of communications and Student Broadcasting Association advisor. “Our students stand toe-to-toe with larger programs from around the state and continually bring home top awards. This also marks the 6th year that an RSU student has earned the $2,000 OBEA scholarship, which also speaks to the quality of our students.”

This year’s student awards competition included 260 entries from 13 Oklahoma colleges and universities.  Awards will be presented during the upcoming OAB Convention and Student Awards Ceremony, scheduled for March 27 in Oklahoma City.

For more information, visit www.oabok.org or www.obea.org.