As the academic year came to a close, American University School of Communication (AU SOC) held its annual Journalism Awards Ceremony where Journalism and Communication Studies students were honored with an array of prizes and special recognitions including induction for new addition the Kappa Tau Alpha Society AU Chapter. SOC Professors Terry Bryant, Lynne Perri, Whitney Harris Christopher and Chris Halsne served as the hosts of the ceremony. 

Professor Emeritus Rodger Streitmatter presented the top journalism award, the Rodger Streitmatter Journalism Award for Excellence, to Weslan Hansen. Weslan’s name will be engraved on a trophy and she will receive $2,500, thanks to a generous donation from Streitmatter’s husband, Thomas Grooms, in honor of Streitmatter. The couple also fund the Streitmatter Prizes. Hansen was also awarded a scholarship by the American News Women’s Club this spring at a separate ceremony.  

The AU SOC White House Correspondents’ Association Investigative Journalism Scholarship winner, Gabe Castro-Root was recognized. Castro-Root received a $5,000 award, mentorship from a White House press corps member, an awards luncheon, and an invitation to the annual White House Correspondents' Association gala dinner that was held in April. 

Nicole Wiley was recognized for being the inaugural Wendy Rieger Memorial Scholarship winner. Nicole received a $1,250 award. The scholarship was createdmemory of Emmy Award-winning journalist Wendy Rieger (SOC/BA ‘80). Wendy Rieger was an anchor and reporter for NBC4 Washington who became a household name in the DMV as a member of the local journalism corps for more than three decades. 

The awards for Streitmatter Prize winners (below) included $300 for first place and $150 for second place in each category. 

• Best Story in COMM 320: Reporting: Catherine Brennan, first place; Richa Sharma, second place. 

• Best Story in COMM 425: Advanced Reporting: Eliza DuBose, first place; Sanvi Bangalore, second place. 

• Best Audio Story: Jane Caroline Fusco, first place; Gabby Arnold, second place. 

• Best Video Story: Dan Sirota, first place; Bella Barbosa and Jane Caroline Fusco, second place. 

• Best Story in COMM 588: Race, Ethnicity and Community Reporting: Gabe Castro-Root, first place; Daniella Jimenez, second place. 

The Kappa Tau Alpha inductees included: Spaulding Bingaman, Benjamin Chan Bennett, Sarah Jacobs Clayton, Natalie Flynn, Weslan Zona Hansen and Katherine Mass from Journalism; and Sirra Belinda Faal, Henry Jeanneret and Ava Sheffler from Communication Studies. Lynne Perri, who serves as AU's KTA faculty representative, administered the oath and presented each student with a certificate and an honor cord to be worn at graduation.