Step into the spotlight of our annual awards ceremony, a celebration of student excellence. This highly anticipated event honors outstanding achievements across our 6 undergraduate and graduate program.
2026 SJMC Top Student Award
The SJMC Top Student Award symbolizes excellence and distinction within our six undergraduate programs and graduate program within the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Recipients of this award were nominated by faculty members of their program and chosen as the top student, recognizing their outstanding achievements and positioning them as leaders and innovators in the dynamic fields of each discipline that encompass SJMC.
2026 Top Students
Rhian Davis
Journalism Top Student
Lauren Culp
Electronic Media Top Student
Reese Raley
Advertising Top Student
Mabel Mba
M.A. Digital Media Communication Top Student
Alexandra Mayad
Mass Communication Top Student
Erin Everette
Digital Media Innovation Top Student
Andrea Estela Pabon
Public Relations Top Student
Honor Society Inductions
Each year, our school inducts top seniors into esteemed journalism and mass communication honor societies.
Kappa Tau Alpha is a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication. Membership is a mark of high distinction and honor. Membership is by invitation only by one of the Society’s campus chapters and is based solely on scholarship and character.
Alpha Delta Sigma, a national honor society sponsored by the AAF, recognizes and encourages scholastic achievement in advertising studies. Alpha Delta Sigma is the only national, professional advertising honorary society in American higher education.
2026 Awards Ceremony Photo Gallery
Highlights from the 2026 SJMC Awards Ceremony. Photos courtesy of our student photographers.
2026 SJMC Awards Ceremony
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication came together to celebrate outstanding student achievement and the people who help make that achievement possible. The ceremony recognized academic excellence, national competition success, faculty honors, staff service, student media leadership and the legacy of members of the SJMC community. Speakers highlighted the classrooms, newsrooms, studios, broadcasts, student organizations and hard work that turn effort into achievement.
Dr. Carrie Angell, EdD
Michael S. “Mike” George Lecture
Honoring Mike George’s legacy through storytelling and leadership with this year’s guest speaker was Dr. Carrie Angell, EdD, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving the Heart of Texas.
The ceremony opened with the annual Michael S. “Mike” George Lecture. George, a Texas State alumnus from the Class of 1985, was an Emmy-winning television journalist known for truth, storytelling and mentorship. His family established an undergraduate scholarship and lecture series in his honor to continue supporting future journalists. Angell, a Texas State alumna and former investigative television journalist, spoke about ethical leadership, professional preparation and carrying Bobcat pride into the communications field.
Faculty and Staff Excellence
Texas State President Dr. Kelly Damphousse joined SJMC Director Dr. Judy Oskam recognized the people who make student success possible The ceremony honored several faculty and staff members whose work has strengthened the school.
Dr. Cindy Royal
Recognized as a 2026 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor, the first Piper Professor recognition for SJMC. The award is one of the top teaching honors in Texas.
Dr. Michael Devlin
Recognized as Educator of the Year for AAF District 10. He also helped introduce the NSAC team during the ceremony.
Sports Broadcast Initiative
The ceremony recognized faculty, staff and students involved in recent sports media achievements, including the first Texas State baseball game broadcast in Spanish and the school’s first pregame show before a baseball game.
Director Judy Oskam, Ira Bruce Gaultney, President Kelly Damphousse
Ira Bruce Gaultney
Recognized for his service, mentorship and impact on SJMC, including his work with students at Round Rock.
Angela Sambrano
Recognized for her years of service and support for students, faculty and staff as she prepares for retirement.
Student Teams Winning Nationally
SJMC teams advance on the national stage.The ceremony spotlighted student teams competing at the national level.
AdvoCats Bateman Team National Winners
Bateman Competition
Two Texas State Public Relations teams were recognized as top three national finalists in the PRSSA Bateman Competition. The run of show notes that this marked the program’s first national-level appearance in 20 years.
National Student Advertising Competition
The National Student Advertising Competition team was recognized for advancing to the national competition, with Dr. Michael Devlin, Cimin Cohen and Sage Baker listed as faculty advisors in the program.
Honor Society Inductions
The ceremony included inductions for two national honor societies.
Kappa Tau Alpha
Dr. Amber Hinsley led the Kappa Tau Alpha induction. The organization is a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication. Membership by invitation only and is a mark of high distinction, honor, and is based solely on scholarship and character.
Alpha Delta Sigma
Dr. Clay Craig led the Alpha Delta Sigma induction, honoring students in the national honor society for advertising. It is a national honor society sponsored by the AAF, recognizes and encourages scholastic achievement in advertising studies. Alpha Delta Sigma is the only national, professional advertising honorary society in American higher education.
Kappa Tau Alpha
Alpha Delta Sigma
2026 SJMC Top Student Award
The SJMC Top Student Award symbolizes excellence and distinction within our six undergraduate programs and graduate program within the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Recipients of this award were nominated by faculty members of their program and chosen as the top student, recognizing their outstanding achievements and positioning them as leaders and innovators in the dynamic fields of each discipline that encompass SJMC.
2026 Top Students
Rhian Davis
Journalism Top Student
Lauren Culp
Electronic Media Top Student
Reese Raley
Advertising Top Student
Mabel Mba
M.A. Digital Media Communication Top Student
Alexandra Mayad
Mass Communication Top Student
Erin Everette
Digital Media Innovation Top Student
Andrea Estela Pabon
Public Relations Top Student
Student media and leadership
Student leadership, journalism and media innovation were recognized. Special recognition was given to the students behind The University Star and KTSW 89.9, two student-led media organizations.
The University Star
The University Star was recognized for the work of student journalists producing impactful reporting, storytelling and multimedia coverage throughout the academic year. During the ceremony, faculty advisor Laura Krantz was also recognized for her leadership and mentorship, including being named the university’s part-time teaching award recipient and receiving the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Advisor of the Year honor. The ceremony included recognition of outgoing and incoming student editorial leadership, as well as the publication’s recent competition success through Texas Intercollegiate Press Association awards.
Faculty Advisor Laura Krantz
KTSW 89.9
KTSW 89.9 was recognized for student excellence in broadcasting, audio storytelling and station leadership. The ceremony highlighted the role students play in daily programming, live production and creative media work.
Faculty advisor and general manager Daniel Schumacher was recognized for receiving the Dave Black Excellence in Advising Award from College Broadcasters, Inc. The ceremony also included recognition of new station leadership and student broadcasting accomplishments.
Faculty advisor Daniel Schumacher
Celebrating SJMC’s Top Students
One of the ceremony’s most meaningful moments recognized SJMC’s top students, selected by faculty based on academic excellence, leadership, participation and impact within their programs. As Director Judy Oskam noted, the competition was strong across every discipline. Each student was recognized by a faculty member from their academic area, highlighting the qualities that made them stand out among their peers.
Advertising Top Student – Reese Raley
Presented by Sage Baker, Reese was recognized as the Advertising program’s top student for her excellence in academics, involvement and leadership within the program.
2026 SJMC Top Student Award
The SJMC Top Student Award symbolizes excellence and distinction within our six undergraduate programs and graduate program within the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Recipients of this award were nominated by faculty members of their program and chosen as the top student, recognizing their outstanding achievements and positioning them as leaders and innovators in the dynamic fields of each discipline that encompass SJMC.
Reese Raley
2026 Awards Ceremony Photo Gallery
Highlights from the 2026 SJMC Awards Ceremony. Photos courtesy of our student photographers.