TMU 7(4) -- March 16, 2010

UNO Forensics is on the road to Nationals. UNO Forensics qualified a record 45 events for national competition in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The entire team qualified to compete with hopes of a top-10 finish. In each of the last two years, the competitive public speakers placed 13th in the nation. At the earlier Nebraska State Tournament, UNO and UNL battled to the final performance with each taking home team honors. UNL edged UNO 137.5 to 136 in the closest ever overall sweepstakes award, and UNO took home the NIFA Quality Award. Doane College was a distant third with 35 points in team competition. UNO's Cameron Logsdon alone scored 32 points. UNO qualified 24 events, the most ever, for the finals and won a campus record six of 11 speaking events. The five state champions include:

Cameron Logsdon: Poetry and Program of Oral Interpretation

Brian Robinson: Impromptu

Niveditha Rajagopalan: After-Dinner Speaking

Tessie Stednitz: Dramatic Interpretation

Iven Mendoza: Poetry

Rajagopalant also was third in individual sweepstakes and Logsdon was second -- just two points shy of placing first in the combined top speaker competition. Rajagopalan also qualified to compete as one of two Nebraska representatives to the Interstate Oratory competition. UNO has been represented in five consecutive years. In preparation for travel to Nationals, UNO Forensics hosted a fundraiser dinner in late February. Online donations are being accepted at the University of Nebraska Foundation.

PR students host successful event. UNO Public Relations students held the annual Eating Disorders Awareness Event as part of the Public Relations Student Society of America national competition.

University of Nebraska at Omaha students, alumni and friends gathered in the Nebraska Room at the Milo Bail Student Center February 23. Approximately 200 guests attended the program. A panel of health specialists and two recovering eating disorder students from UNO informed the audience about danger signs.

Classical 90.7 KVNO fund drive. Your home for beautiful classical music and Maverick sports, KVNO's Spring Pledge Drive kicked off March 9. Financial contributions may be made on-line anytime (by check, credit card or payroll deduction). Pledge online here!

Academic excellence in action. Associate Professor Hugh Reilly is the 2010 recipient of the Alumni Teaching Award for the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media. He will be recognized at an Honors Week breakfast in April. *** Assistant Professor Robert Franklin, university media director, received word that KVNO-FM is among those stations recognized in 2010 with the My Source Education Innovation Award for an innovative approach to education through the “KVNO/UON Digital Technology and Civic Engagement Project.” The awards ceremony will be part of the CPB/PBS hosted Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Public Media Executive Summit on March 20 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Each My Source Community Impact Awards for Education honoree receives a $3000 grant to support their innovative work, as well as a $500 travel stipend to attend the award ceremony. *** Speech Communication major Jennifer Rome received a University Committee on Research & Creative Activity (UCRCA) $500 travel grant to present, "Obama’s Campaign Rhetoric and the Power of Identification" at the Central States Communication Association meeting in Cincinnati. Rome was advised by Assistant Professor Lynnette Leonard. *** Professor Bruce E. Johansen published a 10,000-word featured bibliographic essay in CHOICE: “What’s Hot: The Explosion of Knowledge about Global Warming.” (47:7, March 2010, pp. 1217-1227). The essay compared and contrasted 100 top books in the field. *** UNO Broadcasting students are holding National Broadcasting Society (NBS) chapter meetings to practice reading teleprompter and create resume tapes. The group was named Most Improved Chapter last year. *** Alumna Linsey Carsey has been serving as PR director for Orthopaedic Marketing Group (OMG) -- a position she has held since August of 2009. This is a full service agency that provides marketing, advertising and public relations services to orthopaedic surgeons across the country. "Hugh Reilly put in a great recommendation for me, which got me the job," she said. Carsey replaced UNO grad, Chassity Bassett, who was promoted. Carsey recently also was promoted to Account Director. She will now be responsible for managing projects for clients; everything from rebranding campaigns to advertising to e-newsletters and media relations. She also will be producing training videos for clients. Carsey told Dave Ogden that her client’s surgeons are traveling to Haiti. Many of them are providing medical care for those in need after the earthquake. Carsey also worked with an anchor/reporter in Fresno on a piece for sweeps about a new procedure for total knee replacements. *** Kappa Tau Alpha March 3 initiated eight new members into KTA, national journalism honor society: Kim Martin; Tracy Hamann; Jenna Zeorian; Jasmine Maharisi; Kristen Cloyed; Noelle Blood; Lasonia Hart; and Andrew Swartz. The ceremony was hosted by Associate Professor Chris Allen at a Student Center breakfast. *** Marlina Davidson, Speech Center consulting coordinator, assisted two programs recently: the Architectural Engineering program and a group of visitors from Japan. *** Alumnus Reg Chapman has joined WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. He previously was a reporter for WNBC -TV in New York City.

The photo gallery.

The School of Communication received second-year funding for the Albers Communications Intern Scholarship and selected two very deserving students: Matt SantaMaria (KETV intern, fall semester); and Scott Stewart (Bellevue Leader, spring semester). Director Jeremy Lipschultz hosted a lunch at the Omaha Press Club for Matt, Scott and our generous donor Tom Albers. Dave Ogden also attended the lunch.

The School of Communication brought David Mathison, author of Be The Media, to campus in February. His speech was recorded for a KIOS-FM Noon Forum broadcast in April. Mathison met with faculty and students. He also had dinner with the Omaha Press Club Foundation Board and spoke the next day at Creighton University.

Upcoming events

March
15 - Spring Break Week
24 - UNO Forensics Night Before Nationals, Eppley Auditorium, 6 p.m.
27 - OPC 2010 Show, Mid-America Center Council Bluffs, 5:30 p.m.

April
8 - Faculty Honors Convocation, MBSC, 7 a.m.

16 - OPC Scholarship Dinner, Omaha Press Club, 5:30 p.m.
22 - High School Media Conference & PRSSA National Organ Donor Awareness Event, MBSC, 11:30 a.m.
26 - Communication Week Events (April 26-29)
27 - Mav Solutions, MBSC Chancellor's Room, 4 p.m.
29 - Scholarship Breakfast, MBSC Chancellor's Room, 9 a.m.;Alumni Panel, MBSC Dodge Room, 1 p.m.; 55th Annual Communication Awards Banquet, Thompson Alumni Center, 6 p.m.
29 & 30 - National Student Advertising Competition, St. Louis, MO.

May
7 - Commencement Breakfast, Thompson Alumni Center, 9 a.m.; Commencement, Civic Center, 2 p.m.