JMA Day 2014

JMA Day honors Post-Gazette Hopey, outstanding students

Don Hopey receives his award
Photo by Alyssa Kramer

The annual Department of Journalism and Multimedia Arts Celebration of Excellence attracted over 100 visitors, including dozens of area high school students. JMA Students showcased portfolio work in writing, design, photography and video; all work produced in conjunction with classes, student media or independent projects.

They also taught high school students at interactive media stations. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Don Hopey received the Sean Doherty Distinguished Communicator Award for his ongoing coverage of the Marcellus Shale industry and ongoing excellence in environmental reportage.

Senior Journalism major Kate Dillon won the 2nd annual Roy McHugh Award for Writing Excellence. The $2,000 award is endowed by Art Rooney II. McHugh, 98, was on hand for the awards luncheon and shared stories about a lifetime covering some of the biggest sporting events of several generations.

The luncheon also featured an induction ceremony for seven new members of Kappa Tau Alpha. Inducted were: Katie Bennett, Amanda Ducheck, Sherie Key, Talia Denise Kirkland, Eileen Robertson, Sara Speedy, and Raquel Trunk. The Celebration of Excellence was the biggest yet and filled the Power Center.

Graduate student Raquel Bouvy planned the event in consultation with Dr. Giselle Auger – a process that took several months.