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Student Honors
ARTS ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA MANAGEMENT
ART + DESIGN
- Emanuel Aguilar, Vincent Finazzo and Eric Siegel, BFA in Fine Arts candidates, collaborated to create the sculpture "Phoenix," exhibited at the Thompson Center, January 2009.
- Three A+D students received awards in the Graphis New Talent 2009 competition for their work, which was subsequently printed in the latest Graphis New Talent Book.
- Jaclyn Capozzoli and Rachal Duggan, Art + Design students, recipients of the 2009 Weisman Award.
AUDIO ACOUSTICS
- Nelson Robinson, 2008 Audio Arts & Acoustics graduate, won the Grammy award for his work and participation on the recording of The Clark Sisters album, "Live-One Last Time."
FILM AND VIDEO
- Dalia Tapia, Film & Video MFA, first feature Silent Shame was showcased at 25th annual Chicago Latino Film Festival.
- Hannah Dallman's, F&V MFA thesis student, "Small Comforts", screened at The San Francisco International Children's Film Festival February, 2009.
- Carolyn Okafor, F&V MFA student, "A Man's Image" selected for screening for 2008 CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL REEL SHORT FESTIVAL, Sept. 11-14.
- Ai Lene Chor, MFA Alum thesis student, "Tiffin" won Best Short Film at the MALAYSIAN FILM FESTIVAL, the grand prize is $3,000!
- Torsten Evan, MFA Alum thesis student's, "Dirty Bird," selected for THE BLACK HARVEST FILM FESTIVAL in Chicago. Dirty Bird was written and directed by Torsten, produced by MFA students Sunnye C. Durham and Karla Dibenedetto, and shot by undergraduate Alum Julie Bucek.
- Kameishia Wooten, MFA Alum thesis student, "Southern Cross" accepted to the CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL CHILDRENS FILM FESTIVAL.
FICTION WRITING
- Keith Sprewer, Fiction Writing MFA candidate, finalist for the Theodore Ward Prize for African American Playwrights
- Chris Maul Rice, Hair Trigger 30 advisor, and the student editors and writers of Hair Trigger, won the Gold Crown Award given to the magazine by the Columbia University Scholastic Press Association on March 14, 2009.
- Silver Medalist Award in the CSPA Specialty Magazine competition - in its first year of entry, no less!
- Many Fiction Writing Department students won individual awards, including first-place prizes in all three of the major categories and a clean sweep of Traditional Fiction.
- Individual student writers have now won well over one hundred awards from CSPA and other national competitions for Hair Trigger and Fictionary.
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Awards Hair Trigger & Fictionary
- Hair Trigger 30 Gold Crown winner (overall magazine)
- 2009 Collegiate Circle Winners (individual awards):
- First-place Experimental Fiction: Stephanie Shaw, "Afterbirth"
- Third-place Experimental Fiction: J. E. Harrington, "Little Boy"
- First-place Traditional Fiction: Chelsea Laine Wells, "The Heart of God"
- Second-place Traditional Fiction: Jessica M.Young, "A Change is as Good as a Rest"
- Third-place Traditional Fiction: Kristen Fiore, "The Language of Tires"
- Certificate of Merit Traditional Fiction: Tracy Blight, "People You Wouldn't Touch"
- Certificate of Merit Traditional Fiction: Faisal Mohyuddin: "At the Funeral of Munir Omar"
- Certificate of Merit Traditional Fiction: Kevin Peterson: "View from the Top"
- First-place Essays: J. S. Gordon, "When Thinking About Corners"
- Third-place Essays: April Newman, "Diagnosing Father"
- Certificate of Merit Essays: Jana Dawson, "How I Met Ted Dawson"
- Certificate of Merit Essays: Daniel Prazer, "No Experience Required"
- Third-place Cover Design, Spot Color: Mary Forde, Cecil McDonald, Jr. & Chris Maul Rice
- First-place Photographs, Portfolio of work: Kelli Connell, "Double Life"
- Certificate of Merit Photographs, Portfolio of work: Cecil McDonald, Jr., "Let's Go to Work, Steppers"
- Fictionary, spring-summer 2008 Silver Medal winner (overall magazine)
- 2009 Collegiate Circle Winners (individual awards):
- Second-place Nonfiction article: Jessica M. Young & Jessie Tierney, "Literati Hustle"
- Certificate of Merit Nonfiction article: Brooke Hennen, "Where Verbal Meets Visual"
- First-place Overall Design, Specialty Magazine: Guido Mendez & Jessica Tierney
- First-place Cover Design, Spot Color: Guido Mendez & Art Spiegelman
- Certificate of Merit, Typography, General use of typography throughout magazine: Guido Mendez
- First-place Informational Graphics, Black and White: Jana Dawson, Guido Mendez, & Jessie Tierney, "Crib Notes"
- Second-place Informational Graphics, Black and White: Colin Channer, "The Lists: Columbia's Writer in Residence Colin Channer"
- Third-place Informational Graphics, Black and White: Guido Mendez & Jessie Tierney, "Nicole Chakalis's 4 Essential Tools"
- Certificate of Merit Informational Graphics, Black and White: Jana Dawson, Guido Mendez, & Jessie Tierney, "Fictionary Contributors"
- Certificate of Merit: Page Design, Literary Portfolio: Danielle Desjardins, "On the Shelf (Six sidebars placed through magazine)"
- Third-place Page Design, Special or general interest magazine multi-page presentation: Jessica M. Young, "Literati Hustle"
GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS
- Brandi Homan, MFA Poetry '07, published her first book Hard Reds in 2008, and has another book Bobcat Country, forthcoming with Shearsman Books.
- Kristina Fluty, MA Dance/Movement Therapy & Counseling, has been invited to speak at the esteemed Chicago Dancemakers Forum salon series, Monday, April 6.
- Peter Stover, MAT Educational Studies, presented at the Illinois Association of Teachers Educators (IATE) in fall 2008.
JOURNALISM
- Thomas Pardee, American Society of Magazine Editors Internship winner
- Thomas Pardee, selected as a member of the UWIRE 100 - a collection of the top student journalists across the country.
- Jessica Wylie - MA Journalism program, was awarded Honorable Mention for her thesis project in the highly competitive Studs Terkel Scholarship competition.
- Erica Christoffer - MA Journalism program, is a finalist in the upcoming 2009 Society of Professional Journalists' Peter Lisagor Awards, in the online category for Best Investigative/Public Service Reporting.
- Jennifer Lacey - MA Journalism program, received a 2009 Albert P. Weisman Award to complete her thesis documentary on a case study of CPS Renaissance 2010.
- Two journalism students from Columbia were finalists for 2009 Lisaagor awards as well.
- 2008 Peter Lisagor Award Winner
COLUMBIA CHRONICLE AWARDS
- First Place - General Excellence (Non-Daily newspaper with a school population of more than 4,000): The staff of The Columbia Chronicle.
- First Place - In-House Promotional Ad (Open Category): Konrad Biegaj
- First Place - Advertising Campaign (Open Category): Emilia Klimiuk
- First Place - Advertisement Less Than Full Page (Open Category): Ben Andis and Matthew Mielke
- First Place - Entertainment Supplement (Open Category): Jessica Galliart
- First Place - Sports Feature Story (Non-Daily newspaper with a school population of more than 4,000): Matt Fagerholm
- Second Place - Special Supplement (Open Category): Dana LaCoco, Jessica Galliart, Molly Lynch, Kaylee King, Joel Alonzo, Megan Ferringer
- Second Place - Feature Story (Non-Daily newspaper with a school population of more than 4,000): Jessica Galliart
- Second Place - Feature Page Design (Non-Daily newspaper with a school population of more than 4,000): Dana LaCoco
- Second Place - Chicago Shoot-Out Photo Competition: Lenny Gilmore
- Second Place - Photo Essay (Non-Daily newspaper with a school population of more than 4,000): Jody Warner, Robert Bykowski, Lenny Gilmore, Jill Casey, Cristina Rutter, Alexa Rubinstein
- Third Place - Photo Essay (Non-Daily newspaper with a school population of more than 4,000): Lenny Gilmore, Jill Casey, Cristina Rutter, Robert Bykowski, Alexa Rubinstein
- Third Place - In-House Promotional Ad (Open Category): Dana LaCoco
- Third Place - Sports News Story (Non-Daily newspaper with a school population of more than 4,000): Tim Bearden
- Third Place - Feature Page Design (Non-Daily newspaper with a school population of more than 4,000): Emilia Klimiuk
- Third Place - Feature Photo, Including Sports (Non-Daily newspaper with a school population of more than 4,000): Jody Warner
- Honorable Mention - Editorial (Non-Daily newspaper with a school population of more than 4,000): Bethany Reinhart
- Honorable Mention - Full Page Ad (Open Category): Kimberly Badger
MARKETING COMMUNIATIONS
- Ebonne Just, 2nd Place, PRSA Scholarship ($500)
- Luis Roberto Castello, invited to present paper (The Hope of an Alderman to Integrate Immigrants and American Citizens) at 2009 Central States Communication Association Conference in St. Louis.
- Ad Agency Course, numerous students from class were part of team that won the following awards:
- Platinum, Ava Awards, Pro Bono Category, "Prevent the Emergency," Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, Presented by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, 2008.
- Gold, Ava Awards, Pro Bono Category, "Silence," Chicago Fire Department, Presented by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, 2008.
- Gold, MarCom Creative Award (Pro Bono), "Love Yourself," TPAN (Test Positive Aware Network), Presented by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, 2008
- Honorable Mention, MarCom Creative Award (Pro Bono), "Silence," Chicago Fire Department, Presented by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, 2008
- Winner, 38th Annual Creativity Awards (Student Category - Print), "Get Down," TPAN (Test Positive Aware Network), 2008
- Winner, 38th Annual Creativity Awards (Student Category - Print),
- "Ashtray," Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, 2008
- Winner, 38th Annual Creativity Awards (Student Category - Print), "Butt Breath," Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, 2008
- Platinum, Ava Awards, Student Category, "Impossible is Nothing," Presented by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, 2008.
- Platinum, Ava Awards, Student Category, "Save Your Shirt," Presented by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, 2008.
- Summer Violet, winner, "Love Your Body Calendar Contest," Presented by the National Organization for Women, 2008.
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
- Jessica Hunt won the "William Russo Scholarship for Excellence in Music" for academic year 2008 - 2009.
- Jessica Hunt, piano and Bachelor of Music in Composition student, won a spot in the Training Camp for Music Director of Second City.
- Students KeJuan Carter and Adam Dittman won the Outstanding Musician Award at the Milikin University Vocal Jazz Festival, February 16, 2009.
- The Columbia College Jazz Ensemble won an award for "Outstanding Recognition" at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival, February 2009.
- Alex Marianyi (First place); Luke Wieting (Second place); Bradley Althouse (Third place) recipients of the "Allen Turner Award 2008 - 2009" prizes for their solo compositions..
- Nick Cline, graduating Bachelor of Music in Composition, won a competition conducted by the Composition Program for a commission to compose a large piece for last year's Commencement. The piece, called Fanfare for a New Beginning, is scored for string quartet and Jazz band, and was played at the ceremony.
- Charlie Coffeen, Nathan Graham, Mike Cantagio, Paige Fernandez, Patrick McFowler and Milton Hughes, who comprised last year's Columbia College Blues Ensemble, were invited to perform for the inaugural presentation of the "Great Performer of Illinois Award," presented to Buddy Guy on July 20, 2008.
PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
- Rachelle Friesen, was awarded 1st Prize in Photography at the Hokin Honors Exhibition
- Matt Austin, Student Honors Exhibition 2008, Weisman Grant 2008. Weisman Grant 2009
- Matt Austin -- Published in Photographer's Forum Best of College Photography Annual 2008.
- Brooke Beger, Recent Accomplishments: New American Talent: The 23rd Exhibition, Arthouse at the Jones Center Contemporary Art for Texass. Juried by Nato Thompson, June-August 2008. Emerging Illinois Artists, Brant Gallery, McLean County Arts Center, IL, May 18-July 2007.
- Alison Grant -- Intervention, Vespine Gallery - Chicago, IL, 2009; Lost, Forgotten, Erased or Misplaced, Tugboat Gallery - Lincoln, NE, 2009; I Know What You Did Last Summer, Co. Prosperity Sphere, sponsored by the Harold Arts Organization- Chicago, IL, 2008; Chicago Art Open, Merchandise Mart - Chicago, IL, 2008; 31 under 31: Young Women In Art Photography Now, 3rd Ward sponsored by Humble Arts Foundation - New York, NY, 2008; Photography School: A Group Crit, Light Work - Syracuse, NY, 2008; I was also awarded a 2009 Weisman grant and my work was acquired by the Seattle public art collection 4 Culture. I have a limited edition print available through the Humble Arts Foundation here
- Jennifer Ray Work was included in several other juried exhibitions including: the Evanston Biennial at the Evanston Art Center, the National Juried Photography Exhibition at the University of Toledo Center for the Visual Arts.
CHICAGO ARTIST COALITIONS 2008 CURATORS CHOICE NOMINEES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
- Matt Austin - (Undergraduate)
- Aidan Fitzpatrick (Undergraduate)
- Brooke Beger (Graduate)
- Alison Grant (Graduate)
- Lisa Lindvay (Graduate)
- Jennifer Ray (Graduate)
RADIO DEPARTMENT
- Gilbert Sanchez Best Technical Production, 2008 Collegiate Broadcasters Student Awards
2008 COMMUNICATOR AWARDS IN RADIO
- Jeremy Bayer Award of Distinction - "Columbia Recycling Program" PSA -
- Silvan Tabares Award of Distinction - "Meet Elvira Arellano" - Documentary -
- Rebecca Silvermintz, Brian Lynch, Jeff Frieders, Emily Pennington, Nicole Ondracka, Josh DeGroot, Colin Shaughnessy, Kristin Feledy, Antonia Zito, Chris Tourloukis, Ricardo Costabile, James Grigesbey-- Award of Distinction - "WCRX Holly Jolly Trolley" Public Affairs Program
- Gilbert Sanchez Award of Distinction - "We'll Never Forget" PSA -
- Jessica Sanchez, Frank Carney -- Award of Distinction - "Find a Job Special - Job Outlook 07" - Student Produced -
Student Honors
