Ball State University honored a longtime supporter of the Center for Information and Communication Sciences (CICS) Nov. 5 during a dinner and awards ceremony. Walter Edward Jones received the CCIM Steward Award at the annual CICS alumni dinner. Jones, president and chief executive officer of Constellation Communication Corp., an event marketing and business communications consulting and research firm, was nominated by Ray Steele, CICS director.

Jones, who previously received the first CICS International Industry Fellow of the Year and is one of five Decade Fellow Award recipients, has worked with Ball State faculty and students for nearly 20 years. 

With 30 years of experience in various sales, marketing and executive management positions, Jones has spoken to CICS classes, helped students find jobs, sponsored students for various corporate projects and participated in the center's Student Learning Program training events.

Jones also has provided counsel on education projects for the United States Distance Learning Association, the Telecommunications Institute at Oklahoma State University and the Ohana Foundation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to increase the effectiveness of technology and curriculum in the classroom.

First presented in 2002, the CCIM Steward Award is given in recognition to individuals outside the college for outstanding contributions to the faculty and mission of Ball State's College of Communication, Information, and Media.