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2 | April & May | College News COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION APRIL & MAY | SPRING 2025 LETTER FROM THE DEAN DR. JOHN FLEMING At the spring commencement, nearly 700 College of Fine Arts and Communication students earned their degrees. Much of this issue celebrates student success, including the cover photo of our National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) team which has advanced to the national finals (only 8 schools advance) for the 4th time in the last six years, with two recent silver medals (p.18). This is the longest College News ever (a lot of success to celebrate!), and so this intro is a small sample of highlights. Debate Students : The LBJ Debate/Elton Abernathy Forensics team won the Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association Championship and placed 2nd in the National Online Forensics National Championship, with 3 students winning gold medals and Josh Lockaby and Robert Davis sharing the top overall speaker award. In addition, at the International Public Debate Association National Championship, Luke Sides placed 2nd overall (pp.10-11). Public Relations/Advertising Students : The Texas State CommCats team was one of 12 finalists in the PRSSA Bateman Case Study Competition and the only school from Texas to advance to the finals (p.16-17). On their way to the national finals the TXST NSAC team defeated UT, SMU, TCU, Houston, Tech as well as schools from Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas (p.18). University Star /KTSW Students : Students with The University Star won 28 awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) and 10 awards from the Society of Professional Journalism, with those 10 advancing to the national competition. Students with KTSW won 6 awards from TIPA (p.17). Theatre Students : Theatre students won 26 awards at the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, with 6 students advancing to the Kennedy Center as national finalists. In D.C. Emma Bayless, Michael Aguilar, and A.J. Rose won national titles, while Catherine Kenner placed third. Since 2000, Theatre has had 77 national finalists and 19 national champions (pp.28-29). Tyler Korock won the Hollywood Stage Script Film Competition (p.27). Music Students : Adrian Gomez was selected for a composition program in Korea, while Amalia Sica won the 2025 STAR Student Teacher award (pp.21- 22). Residencies: Sterling Allen (Rauschenberg), Joey Fauerso (Japan), and Jessica Mallios (Arctic Circle) were selected for artist residencies (p.2) Scholarship : New publications by Tricia Burke, Stephanie Dailey, Kristin Farris, Elizabeth Eger, and Maureen Keeley ( The Good Goodbye , a “sequel” to her award-winning book Final Conversations ) (pp.6-7). Also, publications by Nandini Bhalla (p.14), Hank Hehmsoth (p.20), Ana Martinez (p.24), and Deonte Warren (p.25). Creative Activity : Art faculty have work in Austin, Brooklyn, New Mexico, Marfa, Istanbul, and more (pp.2-4). Dance faculty have work in Malayasia, Mexico, Canada, Greece, and more (p.12). Music faculty performed in Poland, Nepal, and were featured on “World of Jazz” (pp.20-21). Bryan Poyser’s film Leads premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival (p.24). Alumni : Debra Davis won an Outstanding Austin Communicator Award (p.17). Coty Raven Morris was named one of Yamaha’s “40 under 40” for her work as a Music Educator (p.23), while Mark Gonzalez is performing at Dance City Festival Chicago (p.13). Community Engagement : Adetty Perez de Miles and Kevin Jenkins provided a workshop to San Marcos High School students (pp.2-3), while Joshua Duttweiler’s students partnered with the City of San Marcos (p.4). Kaysie Setiz Brown and dance students performed for schools in Round Rock and San Marcos (p. 13), while Neil Patric Stewart and acting students received a Community Partnership Award from the San Marcos Police Department (p.25). My gratitude and congratulations to all, John Fleming, Dean COVER PHOTO: The Texas State Advertising Competition team takes first place.