Vol. 25, No. 2 Summer 2009 Non-profit Org. Department of Journalism and Mass Communications U.S. Postage Murray State University PAID 114 Wilson Hall Murray, KY 42071-3311 Permit No. 248 JMC Murray, KY 42071 www.murraystate.edu/jmcjournal Top JMC students honored at spring banquet Five students who were selected as the Dycus used his video skills in his minor best in their respective JMC programs of theatre, with productions on MSU TV- were honored at the annual JMC awards 11 and with The Murray State News’ banquet and at the University’s Honors web site. He was responsible for filming Day. and editing video content for the site. They were Ashley Johns, advertising; He worked with the MSU Student David Dycus, electronic media; Jessica Recreation and Wellness Center and with Jeffress, journalism; Shannon Davis, Biokinetics Family Fitness in Calvert public relations; and Rui Qu, graduate City. program. Jeffress, who had a minor in business Johns served two years as president of administration, was the designer and edi- Ads Club and three years as presenter in tor in chief of the Shield yearbook. The the annual National Student Advertising 2008 edition was named a Pacemaker Competition. She was named to this Finalist (top 15 yearbooks in the country) year’s “Who’s Who in American Colleges by the Associated Collegiate Press. and Universities.” She also worked as a writer/photogra- She was a Student Ambassador, a pher in the university public relations member of the women’s crew team, a office and had an internship with FLW member of the Hart Residential College Outdoors Magazine. Photo by Orville Herndon Honor Society and the coordinating offi- Her other work experience included Dr. Bob Lochte recognized JMC’s five top students at the department’s spring banquet. cer for the G-Factor Campaign to retrain editorial assistant with the New Caledo- This year’s top students are from left, Rui Qu, Ashley Johns, Shannon Davis, Lochte, students for MSU. nian Press, a writer/editor for Murray Jessica Jeffress and David Dycus. She received a 2008 American Associa- Life Magazine and a designer for K- tion of Advertising Agencies internship Squared Designs. tions Department as a writer/designer in Literature with Teaching Chinese as where she worked in media planning Davis, a transfer from the University of and did publicity for the Student Govern- Foreign Language from the Beijing Lan- with Walt Disney Studios Home Enter- Kentucky, had a double major in public ment Association. guage and Culture University. tainment in North Hollywood, Calif. relations and Spanish. Last summer she was the public rela- She worked as an editor for English Johns also worked as a sales represen- She was an officer in Public Relations tions and marketing intern for Baptist learning books for the Beijing New Chan- tative for The Chicago Tribune and a Student Society of America and editor of Hospital East in Louisville. nel International Education Group and media consultant for ConferencePlus, Inc. the MSU chapter newsletter. She was Qu, known to the JMC faculty and staff as an advertising sales assistant for the in Schaumburg, Ill. She was named a also the chapter publicity director for the as “Ray Chew,” had a perfect 4.0 grade- City Weekend magazine. Most Promising Minority Student for 2009 “Bands n’ BBQ Blowout.” point average in her master’s program. Qu plans to earn her doctorate and by the American Advertising Federation. Davis worked in the MSU Public Rela- She received her undergraduate degree return to China to be a professor. Valentine recognized for teaching excellence Robert Valentine, senior lecturer director of forensics. of Scottish stories, “I’ll Take the in the Department of Journalism His debate team won the national Low Road.” and Mass Communications, has title in 1982 and captured many Valentine returned to full-time been named the recipient of the event trophies during his years as teaching in 1999 with a split load 2009 Regents Teaching Award for the debate coach. between JMC and Theatre. In 2001 the College of Business and Public He left teaching for several years he became co-head of Elizabeth Affairs. to start several companies, includ- Residential College with Bob Valentine, a member of the facul- ing Theatre Arts Enterprises, Medi- McGaughey and served as the head ty since 1974, teaches in advertis- cal Claims Services and Prologue, from 2003-2007. As college head, he ing and is the instructor for the LLC. set up and taught many sessions in beginning course (JMC 168) for all The owner/publisher of Murray the residence hall and he and majors in the department. He has Life Magazine, he serves as senior McGaughey taught the first for- taught in theatre and served as editor for the Wake Up Book Series. credit course in the residential col- guest director for the MSU Theatre. He also has served as acting direc- lege. He began his teaching career at tor of the Community Theatre in He has taught for many years in the University of Kentucky, where Murray. the annual JMC High School Jour- Photo by Riza Marjadi he earned his undergraduate He is known for his portrayal of nalism and Broadcasting Work- Bob Valentine, left, was recognized by Alan Stout, chair of degree in history and his master’s the Unknown Scout, Thomas Edi- shop. the Murray State Board of Regents and JMC alumnus, dur- in communications. He then served son, Mark Twain and most recent- He has had more than 100 pre- ing the Faculty Recognition Banquet. Valentine was the as lecturer in communications ly, Nathan B. Stubblefield. He also College of Business and Public Affairs’ recipient of the before coming to MSU to teach performs at Scottish games Please see Valentine Regents Award for Excellence in Teaching. speech courses and serve as the throughout the U.S. and has a CD page 11 2 JMC Journal Summer 2009 Eleven chosen for “Who’s Who” Eleven of the 53 seniors was also a member of the Voices Hart Resi- She was an officer in her soror- She was a member of Kappa selected for the 2008-09 “Who’s of Praise Gospel Choir. dential ity, Alpha Omicron Pi, and secre- Tau Alpha, Alpha Chi, Alpha Who in American Colleges and Graves, Honor tary of the American Humanics Sigma Lambda, Phi Eta Sigma Universities” were majors in the an honor Society Student Association. She was a and Alpha Gama Beta honor Department of Journalism and student and the member of the Kentucky Board societies. Mass Communications. with a 3.9 coordinat- of Student Body Presidents, the A four- They were Cynthia Blalock, GPA, was ing officer Kentucky Governor’s Student year schol- Natalie Cunningham, Katie a public for the G- Advisory committee, SHOUT arship Graves, Jessica Jeffress, Ashley relations Factor America, the I-Racers Sports member of Johns, Megan Locke, Kara Man- major with Campaign Marketing Group and the Mur- the MSU tooth, Elizabeth Oldenburg, a minor in to recruit ray State-Paducah Task Force. soccer Teresa Ray, Kellyn Robison and English. and retain Johns She was in the Order of team, Robi- Emily Wuchner. She was students for Omega and White College Honor son had a Blalock an officer Graves MSU. Society. She had a summer major in was an in Alpha She received a 2008 American internship as team leader in the public rela- honors Omicron Pi Association of Advertising Agen- Quantum Learning Network tions with a student sorority. president of the largest cies internship where she Super Camps in Winston Salem, minor in Robison with a Racer Marching Band in MSU’s worked in media planning with N.C.; Seattle, Wash.; and Hous- marketing. major in history and a member of the Walt Disney Studios Home ton, Texas. With 3.85 advertis- Student Ambassadors. Entertainment in North Holly- Olden- GPA she was on the OVC Aca- ing and a She was selected to Omicron wood, Calif. burg had a demic Honor Roll for three minor in Delta Kappa, Gamma Sigma Johns also worked as a sales major in years, was part of the women’s marketing. Alpha, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha representative for The Chicago advertising soccer team that had the highest She was a Chi, Alpha Lambda Delta and Tribune and a media consultant with a GPA in the nation in 2007 and senator in Blalock Alpha Mu Gamma honor soci- for ConferencePlus, Inc. in minor in was a member of Phi Eta Sigma the Student eties. She was the Outstanding Schaumburg, Ill. She was named marketing. honor society. Govern- English Student for 2007, 2008. a Most Promising Minority Stu- She was She worked in the Sports Mar- ment Association, an officer in She studied in the summer dent for 2009 by the American the vice keting Department in promotions Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, and abroad program in Japan and Advertising Federation. president and had an internship in market- a member of the Public published articles in the Modern Locke of the Ads ing/promotions with Provident Relations Student Society of Languages Department newslet- was a Club and Oldenburg Music Group in Nashville. America and the American ter. print jour- worked on An accomplished singer, she Advertising Federation. Jeffress, nalism the national student advertising performed in Campus Lights She was a member of Phi Eta a print major with competition. productions of “Bye Bye Birdie” Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta and journalism a minor in She was an officer in her and “Fame.” Sigma Alpha Lambda honor major with English. sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Wuchner societies. The campus life editor a business She was a and a member of the Marketing was a dou- and business manager for the adminis- writer for Club and Gamma Sigma Alpha.