Awards
Awarded to the outstanding Communication major in the graduating class.
Dr. John Henry Lawton came to 涩里番下载 in 1960 after earning a doctorate in Rhetorical Studies at the University of Iowa. After coaching the Fulton Debating Society to national prominence, Dr. Lawton returned to the faculty and served as chair of the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre from 1963 until 1980.
Awarded to an outstanding senior major pursuing graduate work in Communication.
Gail Ann McGrath joined the Speech Communication and Theatre department in 1966. Dr. McGrath's pedagogical interests were varied and she taught courses in public speaking, rhetoric, and voice and articulation. For many years she also directed the department's internship prog
In her memory, students, colleagues, and friends raised money to endow an award in her honor. This award is presented to a graduating senior pursuing an advanced degree in Communication.
Awarded to majors writing a senior honors thesis under the direction of a Communication faculty member.
To graduate with Communication Honors, a student must satisfy all of the requirements for the major, receive an A or A- in two honors seminars, and complete an honors thesis directed by a member of the Communication faculty.
Members of the national honor society for Communication Studies.
Lambda Pi Eta (LPE) is the official communication studies honor society of the National Communication Association. LPE was founded at the University of Arkansas in 1985 and has grown into a national organization with more than 400 active chapters at colleges and universities across the country. After it reached a reasonable size, LPE became a member of the Association of College Honor Societies
The Communication Department historically inducted senior majors who finished an honors thesis into LPE. This was an appropriate way to recognize a significant academic accomplishment, but it meant the department was inducting majors at the very moment they graduated and left the Heights.
In an effort to make our chapter more active, the department changed when we inducted new members in 2009. Rather than waiting until students finish the honors program, eligible majors will be inducted when they start taking honors classes. This means the department will be inviting our very best majors to join LPE during their junior year with the hope that they will decide to write a thesis their senior year. Under the new scheme, everyone in the honors program will be eligible for LPE and those who complete a thesis will graduate with department honors.
Awarded to top majors in the senior class.
The Dorman Picklesimer Jr. Outstanding Major Award is presented to top Communication majors. A member of the Communication faculty from 1969 to 2002, Dr. Picklesimer taught courses in American Public Address, Communication Criticism, Public Speaking, Group Communication, Interpersonal Communication, and The Rhetorical Tradition.
Awarded for outstanding academic writing, writing for the print media, production projects, and design work.
The Communication department issues a call for submissions each spring semester in聽Department Digest. Students are invited to submit work in categories of academic writing and writing for the print media. A committee of faculty members reviews the work and determines how many students will be recognized in any given year.
Winners of the annual speech competition sponsored by the Communication department.
A persuasive speaking contest was endowed by friends and family of Father Leonard. The annual spring competition, sponsored by the Communication department, is open to all 涩里番下载 undergraduates and announced in聽Department Digest. Contestants' speeches must deal with a controversial topic and are judged on the basis of evidence, reasoning, organization, analysis, and delivery.