University To Honor Alumni at Inaugural Hall of Fame Event Sept. 19

The University's Department of Communication and Media will present the inaugural Hall of Fame award to John A. Walsh '66, Susan Swain '76, Mike Bonner '95, Kate Groark Shields '97 and Nicole Young '01 on Saturday, Sept. 19, on campus. The award was established to recognize the achievements of alumni, to bring alumni and students together, and to provide funding for the Department's equipment and student career development needs. All alumni, parents, friends, students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

A student-focused panel will kick off the event, followed by an induction ceremony. Registration, details and sponsorship information will be available soon. For more information on the Communication and Media Hall of Fame, contact Department Chairperson Stacy Smulowitz at [email protected].

The deadline for submissions for the 2027 Communication and Media Hall of Fame awards is March 30, 2027. Nominations for the 2027 event will open on Sept. 19.

The University of Scranton Communication and Media Department Hall of Fame honors distinguished alumni, living or deceased, who have made extraordinary and lasting contributions at the highest levels of public service, industry, the military or academia for at least 20 years. Eligible nominees do not need to be retired professionals. All graduates of the University, no matter their degree at the time of their graduation, are eligible for nomination.

Hall of Fame Criteria

To be considered a Hall of Fame candidate, an individual's nomination should clearly demonstrate the following:

• Superior service and achievement in the nominee's respective field(s); nominations should highlight merits of accomplishment and may also highlight previous awards and honors

• Significant impact of professional contributions at the organizational, local, regional, national or international levels

• Outstanding leadership, character, values and ethical conduct

• Jesuit model of being men and women for and with others

Fields for Consideration

Any area of the communication arts will be considered for this honor. Examples include communications planning, social media, media relations, marketing, public relations, advertising, journalism, business communication, broadcasting, video and audio production and graphic arts.

What to Include in a Nomination Packet

All packets should include the following:

• A two-page narrative of the nominee's accomplishments and qualifications for receiving the award

• The candidate's resume

• A list of any awards received

Also, packets may include letters of support, endorsement or recommendation.

Need Additional Information?

Questions can be directed to Stacy Smulowitz, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Communication and Media, at [email protected].