TMU 10(5), April 30, 2013

Mav Forensics sixth in nation. For the fourth consecutive year, UNO's public speaking team finished among the top groups in the nation. UNO became only the sixth school ever to regularly place among the top schools. A record three speakers won overall individual awards in Hutchinson, KS April 8.

Senior Lauren Ackerman finished 12th overall among more than 450 speakers. Juniors QueenTara Pimentel and Traelon Graham were 14th and 20th. The duo team of Ackerman and Pimentel finished second in the nation. Ackerman was fifth in prose. Graham finished fourth in oral interpretation.

UNO team members qualified for second-round competition in all 11 events. The final team standings were: 1. Bradley, 2. George Mason, 3. Western Kentucky, 4. Texas, 5. Alabama, 6. UNO, 7. UNL, 8. Gustavus Adolphus, 9. Illinois State, and 10. Northern Iowa.

Advertising student award. UNO Ad Club students were among Hugh Reilly's advanced advertising students winning UNO's first top Pinnacle Award in American Marketing Association competition. The students developed a marketing book to pitch their campaign to a new restaurant in Aksarben.

PRSA regional. Graduate student Megan Romero and a team from Maverick PR and UNO PRSSA hosted a successful PRSSA Regional conference at Mammel Hall April 12-14. More than 70 students from as far away as Boston attended "Big Biz, Big O." Eight schools were represented, including a large group from Wichita State. Jerilyn Kamm, Dave Ogden, Adam Tyma, Teresa Lamsam, Gail Baker and Jeremy Lipschultz participated as moderators and hosts. 

UNO PRSSA Adviser Karen Weber collaborated with students in planning and execution of all events. Alumni Kathleen Al-Marhoon, Teresa Paulsen, Tim McMahon and Heather Tweedy presented. 

Edelman Digital Senior Vice President Phil Gomes provided a keynote speech.  UNO PRSSA followed the event the next week with their annual Organ Donor Awareness campus presentation.

Honors conference. The School of Communication chapter of Lambda Pi Eta will host the undergraduate honors conference at UNO in 2014. At the 2013 meeting, May graduate Giovanni Consolio received a top paper award. He has been selected as a graduate teaching assistant for 2013-14. Lauren Harrahill and Ehite Allison also presented papers this year at Wayne State.

Allen returns to Kabul. Professor Chris Allen taught students and faculty at Kabul University during his second visit in three years. Allen's trip was part of the Kabul University-UNO Journalism Partnership funded by the U.S. Department of State. The program has been extended to a fourth year because of its success in developing curriculum and translated materials for the Department of Journalism at Kabul University. 

Additional workshops are planned this fall in Delhi, India. UNO also will again host faculty from Kabul in early 2014.

Excellence in action. Isaacson Professor Bruce Johansen received copies of his new book, The Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement published by ABC-CLIO/Greenwood in Santa Barbara, CA.

Graduate student Brittney Ryba presented her paper, "Mommy Blogging, Inc., Band-Aids to Children's Health Awareness" at the No Limits conference in Lincoln, NE.

The Gateway published 11 stories written by Instructor Kevin Warneke's news writing and reporting students. The focus of the series was on volunteering by UNO students, faculty and staff.

Videos and photos.

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Warren Francke receives OPC Journalism Educator Award

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Brittney Ryba's No Limits Presentation  

Five top UNO students were honored with Omaha Press Club scholarships

Interim Director Hugh Reilly receives

School ceremonial gavel from Jeremy Lipschultz  

Calendar.

May 

2 –  58th Annual Communication Awards Banquet, Thompson Alumni Center, 5-9 p.m.
3 –  Commencement Lunch, Thompson Alumni Center, 11 a.m. and world premiere of "Mr. Buffett the Teacher," Mammel Hall, 6:30 p.m.
4 –  CFAM Commencement, Thompson Alumni Center, 11 a.m.