Last month, the School of Communication hosted the annual Undergraduate Scholarship & Awards Ceremony. This event celebrates the highest-achieving students, awarding more than $100,000 in scholarships. 

Dr. Kelly Garrett, director of the School of Communication, opened up the ceremony, acknowledging the achievements of John Oller, recipient of the Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award.

Oller graduated summa cum laude in 1979, earning a BA in Journalism. During his time as a student at Ohio State, he wrote and was an editor for the Lantern. He is now an author and retired attorney/partner at Willkie, Far & Gallagher LLP.

Top Communication Scholar was awarded to Amanda Bovenzi, and the Top Journalism Scholar was awarded to Emma Wozniak. These awards are presented to the top junior-level students who demonstrate exceptional academic performance. 

The Joseph S. Myers and Director’s Award for Achievement, given to the top senior majoring in communication, was awarded to Nigel Becker. 

The Professional Journalism Award, established to honor an outstanding graduating senior student in the transition from academic scholar to professional journalist, was awarded to Nathan Mader.

The Robert F. Wolfe Journalism Honor Medal, the school’s oldest award, was presented to Arianna Smith. Established in 1918, this award is traditionally given to a senior journalism student. 

The school appreciates all of the alumni donations that make this support for students possible. 

Alumni interested in helping the school fulfill its mission to make the next generation of communicators and communication scholars the best it can be can review donation opportunities. 

The following students were honored with awards and scholarships for their outstanding academic and professional achievements:

Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award: John Oller

Bollinger - Kissel Scholarship: Margo Nagle

Marsha S. Bosley Memorial Scholarship: Lucy Lawler

William Drenten Memorial Scholarship: Jaclyn Karpinsky

Charles W. Durfey Memorial Scholarship: Carter Kohli

The Robert W. Ferguson Award for Excellence in Writing: Kobie Parrish

John B. Fullen Scholarship: Brooke Tacsar

Lester C. Getzloe Memorial Scholarship: Emma Dawson 

The William Randolph Hearst Scholarship: Noah Weiskopf

The Professional Journalism Award: Nathan Mader

The Donald L. Kidwell Memorial Scholarship: Tyler Danburg

The George J. Kienzle Memorial Scholarship: William O’Malley

Kappa Tau Alpha (KTA) Recognition of New Members: AJ Hymiller, Katherine Simon, Arianna Smith, Jayla Vanhorn

Kappa Tau Alpha (KTA) Top Scholar Award: Katherine Simon

Kappa Tau Alpha (KTA) Paul V. Peterson Memorial Scholarship: Arianna Smith

The Brennan Family Award for Courageous Journalism: Josie Stewart

The Hermanoff Special Lantern Editor Position: Lucy Lawler

The Carolyn N. Kraft Special Lantern Editor Position: Kamrynn Karr

The Patricia B. Miller Special Lantern Editor Position: Emma Dawson

The John R. Oller Special Lantern Editor Position: Josie Stewart

The Robert F. Wolfe Journalism Honor Medal: Arianna Smith

Ann Mack Communication Technology Scholarship: Jocelyn Bailey, Tingxuan Chen, Erin Shaw

Judy Stewart Mesenburg Memorial Scholarship: Talia Moses

Ohio Newspaper Scholarship: Corey Virag

James E. Pollard Memorial Scholarship: Nicole Giannetta

Robert E. Schaefer Scholarship: Olivia Riley, Sara Sharp, Carli Urban

Hermanoff PRSSA/PRactice Leadership Awards: Isabella Renteria, Lindsey Romano

Walter W. Seifert Award: Lindsey Romano

Frank J. Tate Scholarship in Journalism: Amani Bayo

Joseph S. Myers and Director’s Award for Achievement: Nigel Becker

Paul Underwood Endowment Scholarship: Samantha Herden

The Paul Williams Scholarship: Emma Wozniak

Wilson Sports Writing Scholarship: Evan Hartmann

Bill Zipf 4-H Scholarship: Sara Sharp

The NBCU Academy Scholarship: Meghan Beery, Audrey Bowers, Dash Hill, Tommy Hudec, Averie Ison, Sydney Jones, Alayna Lopez, Madilynn McAlister, Andrew McLain, Sarah Ndiaye, Emily Sculli, Sando Ware

Top Scholar Award: Communication: Amanda Bovenzi

Top Scholar Award: Journalism: Emma Wozniak