April May 2023 College News

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION MAY ISSUE | SPR I NG 2023 f inearts.t xstate.edu facebook.com/t xstcollegefac instagram.com/t xstfac twitter.com/t xstfac youtube.com/t xstatecollegefac FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! LETTER FROM THE DEAN DR. JOHN FLEMING We just celebrated graduation, with over 600 degrees awarded at our May ceremony. It was a joyous day of celebration with students and their families, and a fitting conclusion to a highly successful semester. Students and alumni continue to win awards and assume leadership positions. Communication Design students won 116 awards in the Graphis New Talent 2023 competition, 22 American Advertising Federation awards, 6 American Institute of Graphic Arts Flux awards, and 4 National Student and Show Conference awards (p. 5). Students on the LBJ Debate Society and Elton Abernathy Forensics Society team won numerous national awards, with Haley Bass, Callum Ritter, and Hanna Prince winning national championships, Ashton Rios winning a Silver medal, and Callum Ritter earning Silver and Bronze as well (p. 13). Our National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) team won 1st in District, 1st in the semi-finals, and has now advanced to National Finals in June as one of 8 universities (p. 17) Students with The University Star won 15 awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and 2 Society of Professional Journalists Region 8 Mark of Excellence Awards (pp.15-16). After 10 years at The New York Times , alum Maira Garcia is now the Television Editor for The Los Angeles Times (p.16). Music students have been selected for prestigious summer programs in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Italy (pp.20-21). Music alum Meredith Shoults won Teacher of the Year for her district (p. 21). Rachel Aho, Javier Sanchez, Ollie Payne, and Angelica Hadiwibowo were National Finalists at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, with Angelica winning a National Championship for Costume Design (p. 23). Alum Jada Owens plays Juliet at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, while Beau Harmon performed on Saturday Night Live (p. 23). For her lead performance in New York, New York , Anna Uzele has been nominated for a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and a Drama League Award (p. 23). Many more student, alumni, and faculty accolades are in inside. My gratitude and congratulations to all, with wishes for a healthy, happy summer! COVER PHOTO: Members of Texas State's LBJ Debate Society and Elton Abernathy Forensics Society with some of their recent awards. [ P G . 1 0 ]