Journalism Graduate

You are part of a distinguished global network of alumni and friends leading the field through passionate storytelling, compelling design, and innovative strategy. Your success inspires our students to carry on the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication’s legacy of creative, resourceful graduates who work with heart and integrity.

Alumni Spotlights

Read inspiring stories about alumni of the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication.

Get Involved

Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, your experience and expertise is valuable to our students as they learn the craft. We’d love for you to speak to a class, mentor a student—or whatever way you’d like to engage with us.

SJSC Alumni Society

Contact Us

Email us to volunteer to speak to classes or mentor students.

Connect with fellow alumni through a range of events—from professionally focused activities to fun, social events. The society is charged with stimulating interest in the educational, professional, and social interests of the schools’s alumni—individually and collectively. It hosts annual events, including the annual SJSC awards luncheon, and recognizes alumni accomplishments through the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication Hall of Fame along with a range of other annual alumni awards.

Board of Directors

President: David Studinski, '07 MA '09

Past President: Tom Gayda, '98 MA '05

Vice President: Rick Martinez, '84

Secretary / Treasurer: Megan Carrico, '12

School Director: Johnny Sparks

Faculty Representative: Gabriel Tait

Alumni Association Liaison: Ashlee Anderson, '04 MA '06

Members

Monica Miller, '81 MA '94

Corey Ohlenkamp, '14 MA '20

Brandon Pope, '14

Gerry Appel, '01 MA '03

Nick Paulenich, '98

Kiersten Flint, '21

Casey Smith, '18

Kyle Ellis, '09

Eddie Metzger, '19 MA '20

Heidi Kroft, '00

John Ratz, '09

Taylor Williams, '19

Emeriti Board Member

Gene Policinski, '72

School and Alumni Awards

The School of Journalism and Strategic Communication partners with the SJSC Alumni Society each year to recognize faculty, alumni and friends who are making a lasting mark on the industry and support our students and school initiatives. 

2025 Awards Program   Submit Alumni Award Nominations 

Annual Award Categories Include:

The SJSC Hall of Fame Award recognizes exemplary work and commitment to a communications-related field, making that person worthy of induction into the Hall of Fame. Nominees must have either majored or minored in a SJSC program, worked for a SJSC student media organization or agency, taught in the school or contributed to the curricular development and instruction of the program in a substantial manner. Other than professors and friends who have made extraordinary contributions to the academic excellence of the SJSC programs, nominees must have graduated at least 10 years before the date of their induction. The nomination deadline is March 1.

 

Submit HOF Nominations

The Outstanding SJSC Alumna/Alumnus Award recognizes outstanding achievements in a communications-related career. Recipients must have majored or minored in a SJSC program or worked for a SJSC student media organization or agency before entering the career field.

Submit Outstanding SJSC Alumna/Alumnus Nominations

The award recognizes achievements of a SJSC alumna/alumnus, who is 35 years of age or younger. Recipients must work in a communications-related career area and must have distinguished professional qualities.

Submit Young SJSC Alumna/Alumnus Nominations

Since 1960, the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication has presented a national journalism award for excellence in print and online journalism. The honor will be awarded to a journalist for an article published by a newspaper, magazine or digital news site that shines light on a significant or complex subject and demonstrates clear and focused writing. The competition submission deadline is July 1, for pieces published in the previous calendar year. The winning journalist will receive a cash prize at the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication awards banquet in October. The award recipient must present a guest lecture to students in the evening following the afternoon awards presentation.

Submit NJWA nominations

The Indiana Journalism Award recognizes outstanding achievements in Indiana journalism. Writers, reporters, columnists, editors, publishers, foundations, media outlets and auxiliary organizations are eligible. All entries and nominations should be in the form of a letter supporting the nomination. Pertinent support material is encouraged.

 

Submit Indiana Journalism Award Nominations

 

The Marilyn Weaver Scholastic Journalism Award recognizes individuals and organizations who are making outstanding contributions to scholastic journalism. This award is named after Marilyn Weaver, retired former workshops director and chairperson of the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication at Ball State University. During her tenure, Weaver garnered numerous awards and accolades for her staunch support of scholastic journalism. All entries and nominations should be in the form of a letter supporting the nomination. Pertinent support material is encouraged.

Submit MW Scholastic Journalism Award Nominations

The Majeri Award recognizes innovation and leadership in the profession of graphic journalism. It may be awarded to a publication staff or person for creating a body of work or a singular piece that demonstrates innovation in news design or graphics reporting.

This award is named for Anton Majeri Jr., who is now retired but is a former senior editor for design and graphics at the Chicago Tribune. Under Majeri’s leadership, the Chicago Tribune won more than 100 awards for design and graphic excellence from the Society for News Design. While aesthetics presentation is important, a nominee’s work should emphasize how the visual display of information is driven by editorial content. All entries and nominations should be in the form of a letter supporting the nomination. Pertinent support material is encouraged.

Submit Majeri Awards Nominations

This award is the only national public relations award that recognizes people for their public relations experience, contributions to the profession and encouragement of educational programs in public relations. The award is open to all public relations professionals who demonstrate excellence in public relations experiences and outstanding achievements in the field, contributions to the public relations profession through continuing education and support of public relations education by sponsoring practical work experiences for students. People fulfilling the criteria may nominate themselves or be nominated by others who recognize their contributions to the field of public relations. A letter of nomination detailing the activities of the candidate will be sufficient.  Supporting materials are encouraged.

Submit National PR Award Nominations

This award recognizes photographers who have used their cameras to accurately and carefully document the action of the courtroom. The winning entry demonstrates the use of this communication tool in what is a highly sensitive area. As a founder of the National Press Photographers Association, Joseph Costa, who taught in Ball State’s School of Journalism and Strategic Communication in the 1970s and 1980s, was one of the first to fight for the photographer’s right to be in the courtroom, and it is his pioneering spirit that lives on in this award. Entries must have been published in a newspaper or magazine during the prior calendar year. Entries may consist of a single photo or picture story.

This award recognizes a college or university administrator who has demonstrated support of a free student press on their campus. The award is named in honor of Dr. John R. Emens, president of Ball State University from 1945 to1968. President Emens supported the concept of a free student press on the Ball State campus. As a national leader among higher education administrators, he encouraged others to support a free press at their campuses as well. Nominations should be submitted by letter with the circumstances of the action documented.

Submit Emens Award Nominations

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