Students and Alumni Win Communication Awards

At the Society of Adventist Communicators convention

A group of Andrews University students and professors attended the Society of Adventist Communicators convention in Chicago. (Photo by Pieter Damsteegt)

Several Andrews University communication students and alumni have been recognized by the Society of Adventist Communicators (SAC) for exemplary work in communications-related areas, including design, photography, writing, video and spoken word. The awards were given during the 35th annual communication conference, which took place in Chicago, Illinois, from Oct. 17–19. The association aims to nurture the professional growth of Adventist communicators in a spiritual and social environment.

According to the SAC website, “Each year communication, film, design, and marketing students and professionals have the opportunity to submit projects for award consideration in more than 15 categories.” Each submission is evaluated on “content, creativity, audience appeal, and quality of craft” by a panel of judges specific to the category of media.

Envision Magazine

Envision Magazine, a Christian collegiate lifestyle publication, is produced entirely by students from the Department of Communication, Visual Art & Design at Andrews. Student contributors to the magazine won three major awards during the ceremony on Saturday evening.

For her work as a graphic designer and illustrator on the Envision Magazine story “Oranges for Dinner,” Chloee De Leon, senior graphic design major, won “Best Student Print Design.” Her project was evaluated on effective use of design principles and choice of print medium. The judges noted her “great balance of creativity and content while exploring principles of design,” saying, “This is something we would pick off a table and read.”

The award “Best Student Artistic/Design Photography” went to Nate Reid, junior digital communication/digital media major, and Skyler Campbell, senior graphic design major, for their work on Envision’s cover. The project was selected for its ability to express a clear message, idea and emotion within a single image. The judges commented, “Fantastic execution that immediately intrigues the viewer and piques interest in the story behind the subject. This entry left the judges with no suggestions for improvement.”

Sophomore elementary education major Amanda Park won the “Best Student Long-Form Feature Writing Award” for her article “Hidden in the Waiting,” published in Envision Magazine. Her story, evaluated for effective reporting, was recognized for its vivid descriptions, relatable storytelling and ability to capture “the power of nature as an antidote to the modern epidemic of busyness and impatience.”

Htet Myint, MLS certificate recipient, also received an honorable mention in the long-form feature writing category for his Envision Magazine article “Sponsorship and Solidarity.”

Kaara Harris, assistant professor of journalism and communication and managing editor of Envision, expressed, “I’m so proud of the work our students did on Envision! As professors, we provided guidance, but the students conceived and executed the vision for the issue, continuing a strong legacy of collaboration across disciplines to deliver a quality product.” She added, “I’m especially thrilled that they were recognized across categories—writing, design and photography—because it shows their depth as creative storytellers. We don’t do this for awards, but the recognition is a great affirmation that there is a place for our students to excel in the gifts God has given them.”

Individual Student Awards

Nicholas Gunn, sophomore elementary education major, received the “2024 Student of the Year Award,” one of the Society of Adventist Communicators Professional Recognition Awards. At the awards ceremony, Kimberly Maran, SAC executive director, noted, “As a communicator, Nicholas has shown his talent across multiple platforms, from writing for Andrews University, the Lake Union Herald and the Benton Spirit Newspaper, to his community outreach on WAUS 90.7 FM and his YouTube channel.” She continued, “His work as a junior editor and his role in Benton Harbor’s communication strategy have enhanced transparency and engagement …. His commitment to faith-based initiatives began in high school and continues today.”

“I’m incredibly blessed to attend Andrews University, where I have the opportunity to learn from so many amazing people in a faith-based environment,” Gunn said, reflecting on the recognition. “Although I’m pursuing a degree in education, I’m grateful for the chance to gain real-world experience in communications. Receiving this award is truly an honor, and I’m thankful for the support of my mentors and community as I continue to grow both as a student and a professional.”

Gunn’s dedication to leadership, community service and excellent communication were highlighted throughout the program, as he received several other honorable mentions as well. In the podcast category, his interview with gospel singer K-Anthony was highlighted. Two of his writing projects, “Alumni Highlight: Emma Kinnard Now Commissioner” and “Zach Fedoruk Continues Fifth Annual Hotdog Giveaway Tradition,” also received recognition.

Moraya Truman, junior digital communication/digital media and religion major, received the “Best Student Microcopy Award” for her work on social media copy for The Hopeful, a film released in 2024 focusing on the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist church. The award is given to a contextualized phrase or series of short sentences that inspire a target audience to action online. Truman was recognized for her posts promoting the film’s theatrical release, which the judges noted “received a lot of engagement, and the NAD’s social media pages reflected an uptick in engagement as well.” Additionally, Truman received an honorable mention for campaign design on the same project.

Several students received honorable mention recognition throughout the ceremony as well. Alina Weber, senior photography major, was recognized for her work on the January/February 2023 Lake Union Herald cover featuring Sojourner Truth. A group of students from an Andrews cinematography class were acknowledged in the web video category for their work on the project “Eliza’s Gift,” created for the Lake Union Conference. The class included students Kara Shepard, Nate Reid, Lia Glass, Moraya Truman, Nigel Emilaire, Solana Campbell and Yohance Mack.

Alumni Awards

Andrews University alumni were also well-represented at the awards ceremony. Among them were Kurt Johnson (MDiv ‘75), Richard Aguilera (BARCH ‘92), Alexander Carpenter (BA ‘03), Stephen Adetumbi (BT ‘06), Raquel Mentor (BSELED ‘14), Pablo Fernandez (MA ‘15), Danni Thaw (BA ‘17), Randy Fishell (BA ‘83, MDiv ‘88), Debra Anderson (BBA ‘86), Charles Tapp (MDiv ‘90), Tompaul Wheeler (MDiv ‘01), Francis Tuffour (MA ‘17, DMin ‘17) and Shawn Ellis (MAPM ‘17). Three alumni were specially recognized as monument award winners: Claudia Allen (BA ‘13) who received the Young Professional Award, Olivia Woodard (BFA ‘20) with the Reger Smith Cutting Edge Award and Gary Burns (MA ‘98) who was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The standout number of conference participants and award winners associated with Andrews University exemplifies the quality of the school’s educational programs and the impact of its extended community. To learn more about the Department of Visual Art, Communication & Design at Andrews University, visit their website here.