The Media and Entertainment held their annual Scholarship and Awards Luncheon on Thursday April 30th in the Occhiato Student Center Ballroom. The occasion marked a day of celebration and appreciation to those contributing to the Media and Entertainment department past and present.
After a Mediterranean-style buffet and a warm address and welcome from professor Clifton Hyde, interim-chair Matthew Garcia took to the stage. Garcia thanked the audience for being in attendance, ranging from alumni, foundation members and friends and family of award-winners.
Referencing the recent change within the leadership of the Media and Entertainment department, Garcia expressed his gratitude to the support he has received during his tenure. Respective professors from the Media and Entertainment department then shared their students’ highlights from this semester and beyond.
Students AJ Gunn and Ruby Sweeney-Spitzeck’s production on professor Shahrzad Dadger’s ‘Eternity Road’ film earned praise for their work throughout the editing process, whilst Trevor Vigil received a round of applause on his senior capstone project that addressed adjusting the department to function more like an agency, bringing in income and providing students valuable portfolio work.
Professor Dakota Sandras gave a special shoutout to student Emma Harry, whose leadership has taken The Today magazine to the next level as well as all of those in her Social Media class who have worked a marketing pitch to Pueblo Transit, both projects expanding the department’s community collaboration and connection. Professor Hyde then announced the work of him and his students this semester – most notably the work on Juniper Stulb’s Padded Cell Sessions. Hyde also noted the work of alumni Ashley Tosh, 2025 graduate, who’s been working on the production team of the Savannah Bananas after earning a job after a successful summer internship last year.
All three professors, alongside Garcia, thanked the audience for supporting the department throughout a time of change. Adding to this, professor Sandras made sure Garcia’s direction hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“There’s been a lot of change and a lot of transition this year, but, we truly could not have done it without the interim, but really, true leadership of Dean Muller and Professor Garcia,” Sandras said.
Students who have been supported through scholarships donated by those in the audience, were invited to come onto stage, where they were given a certificate to mark the occasion.
This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award was awarded to Jennifer Mullen. Mullen earned a Bachelor’s degree in mass communications from CSU Pueblo in 1983 and has served the university as a faculty and staff member for more than 25 years. Her roles have included being on the President’s and Chancellor’s search committees, the President’s Cabinet as Chief of Staff, and chair of the Mass Communications Department. Mullen also used her vision and leadership as the first managing director of the Institute for Cannabis Research as well as leading boards for the Boys and Girls Club and Rocky Mountain PBS.
“I’m very grateful for this honor. I’d like to thank you for everything you do for this department. Graduating so many outstanding students over the fifty-plus years of the department, who have gone on to amazing careers, is testament to our department, the guidance of our professors and the support shown through these scholarships,” Mullen said.
Dr. Andreas Mueller, Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS) at CSU Pueblo added, “The faculty in this department have been absolutely phenomenal. There’s so much energy, dedication and deep care for our students. From the beginning, I’ve been amazed how the faculty go above and beyond and it is seen in the amazing work of our students.”
The event was successfully hosted by Jan Jones, who has functioned as a sales advisor and long-time friend of the department.
The full list of award winners can be found here:
VIRGINIA E. ULLMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Jesus Aguilar
Giovanni Alfonso
Michael Applegate
Juan Casso
Abigal Medved
Lola Perez
RICHARD JOYCE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
IN JOURNALISM
Lola Perez
THE KOAA-TV SCHOLARSHIP
Giovanni Alfonso
THE CENTER FOR NEW MEDIA SCHOLARSHIP
Abigail Medved
Richard Murphy
THE OSNOWITZ FAMILY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Trevor Vigil
THE DOUGLAS HARTFORD SCHOLARSHIP
Michael Applegate
THE EVELYN WEIR SCHOLARSHIP
Khyliendra Montoya
THE FRANK S. HOAG JR. SCHOLARSHIP
Trevor Vigil
THE DOROTHY HOAG RAWLINGS SCHOLARSHIP
Maranatha Rodriguez
SALLY MCGILL-EAGAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Tanner Clark
OUTSTANDING LEADERS
Revolution 89.5 Station Manager: Divina Walter
Revolution 89.5 Operations Director: Zach Peulen
Editor-in-Chief of The TODAY Magazine: Emma Harry
Senior Designer for The TODAY Magazine: Maranatha Rodriguez
Outstanding Contributions to SOCO Student Media: Ruby Sweeney-Spitzeck
DISTINGUSHED ALUMNI
Jen Mullen
Shelly Moreschini (2025)
