News & Events

Awards presented, alums speak at graduating senior reception

December 1, 2011

Two alumns, James MacKenzie and Sarah Giavedoni, spoke at the December 1 reception for MCOM graduating seniors.

"The world has changed just since I graduated from the Mass Communication department in 2006," said MacKenzie.  "Now, when a newspaper reporter covers an event, they take a video camera.  And their deadline is right then."

"You're not going to be a specialist in print or video or the web.  You're going to do all those things," said MacKenzie.  "And the more versatile you are, and the better you know your community, the better off you'll be."

Giavedoni, who works with MacKenzie at a not-for-profit as well as working as a freelance editor, said that the students would find that the courses in arts, humanities and other disciplines they had taken would be what made them valuable to employers.

"It's the additional things I know that have helped me with the work I'm doing," Giavedoni said.

Mark West, chair of the Mass Communication department, announced the Mary Caitlin Byrd, Katherine Elisabeth Clark, and Craig Arthur Koenekoop had been nominated for Departmental Distinction upon graduation.  Stephanie Schon had been awarded a scholarship funded by Nantahala Power and Light, and Lassi Hurskainen was awarded the Chair's Award for Meritorious Service.

A short film by Dudley Merrifield was screened, showing the graduating seniors as they discussed their plans and hopes for the future.  The reception was organized by PRAdA, UNCA's public relations organization.