Springtime in Mass Comm

Springtime in the Mass Comm department brings... Capstone presentations and the Awards dinner! We are busy preparing for these annual events, and nothing makes them more special than having our alumni come back to share the joy. Please let me know through Facebook or email if you plan to attend either (or both!). Here are the essentials:

Wednesday, April 29 3:30pm Capstone Presentations:
Ruben Mendez
Brian Carter
Tim Becker
Missy Hoffman

Thursday, April 30 3:30pm Capstone Presentations:
Daniela Guevara
Cale Padgett
Sandi Tatum
Myron Phelps

Sunday, May 3 6pm Awards Dinner

*All events will take place in the Swanson Center Screening Room
*RSVP to Stacy Simon by April 10th.

Navigator Wins Awards

The Piedmont Navigator won six awards at the Georgia College Publishers Association Better Newspaper Contest:

1st place Layout & Design

1st place Improvement

1st place Campus Community Service - News

2nd place General Excellence

2nd place General Advertising

2nd place Campus Community Service- Editorial

This year's convention was expanded to two days and held in Athens. I was accompanied by:

Sandi Tatum, Editor-in-Chief

Cassie Scarborough, News Editor

Tim Suda, Opinions Editor

Matt Jackson, Features Editor

Rebekah Scruggs, Calendar Editor

Brian Carter, Sports Editor

Hollie Autry, Copy Editor

A big thank you to all the alumni who worked so hard on the Lion's Roar and the Navigator in the past. We built on your success!

News and Updates

• Felicia McDaniel has been crowned Mrs. Washington Plus America and will be competing for the crown this summer in Monroe, Louisiana.

• Eric Mathews is working part-time in a Washington D.C. hostel while he looks for PR work in politics. He says he had a blast working on political campaigns this past year in Atlanta. He started out interning for free at the Martin campaign during the primary, then landed a job doing campaign finance for Bill Jones, who ran for U.S. Congress in District 6. Eric started writing press releases and speeches for Jones and eventually ended up serving as the campaign's communications director.

• Brandon Orth is working in Atlanta for a corporate real estate consulting firm. His position as a transaction specialist requires him to travel and negotiate leases for his firm's fortune 500 clients. He also negotiates lease renewals and early terminations for corporate clients. Brandon says he hopes to one day work in television.

• Dr. Blakeslee is recovering from a health issue which contributed to her resignation last semester. I had lunch with her last week, and she is in good spirits and looks great. She plans to attend student capstone presentations April 29th and 30th in the Swanson Center Screening Room.

Spring 2009

Spring semester has begun, and faculty and students have returned to Swanson Center. We've had a few changes around here. Dr. Blakeslee resigned from Piedmont College, and Dr. Van Cantfort is chairing our department. Jerisa Pierce graduated after impressing all of us with her capstone on graphic novels.

Over the break, I learned that the Navigator won 6 awards from the Georgia College Publishers Association. The categories are:
Best Campus Community Service--Editorial
Best Campus Community Service--News
Improvement
General Advertising
Layout and Design
General Excellence

As in past years, we know only that we've placed. We find out how well (1st, 2nd or 3rd) when we attend the conference Feb. 6 & 7. In another change, the GCPA moved its conference from Macon to Athens. You can imagine how well that news is going over with the students. Check back here for an update after the awards ceremony. And remember to email me at ssimon@piedmont.edu with all the news you'd like to share with your fellow Piedmont mass comm alumni.

Dr. Blakeslee on Leave

Dr. Blakeslee has taken a medical leave of absence. No details are available at this time and it is not clear when she will return to Piedmont.
Dr. Van Cantfort is acting as chair for the rest of the academic year, and all the mass comm faculty are working together to divide up her teaching and advising duties. We are confident we can continue to take care of the students and run the department professionally and effectively.
I know you are all concerned about Dr. Blakeslee, and I will post information if and when I am able to do so.
Stacy

Save $$ at Piedmont Bookstore

Champion Buy One Get One Sale at Bookstore

(November 2008) – The temperatures may be cooling down, but sales are just warming up at the Piedmont College Bookstore. Between November 9 and November 30, you can buy any regular price Champion item and get a second (of equal or lesser value) at 50% off.

All men’s, women’s, and even children’s Champion apparel is included in the sale. It’s a great opportunity to get an early jump on holiday shopping – right on campus. The bookstore offers a variety of Champion items bearing the school name and logo. Make sure your friends and family show their school pride from top to bottom.

Piedmont College Bookstore is located at 551 Georgia Street, Demorest GA., across from the Post Office on the corner. It’s open Monday –Thursday 8:00 – 6:00 Fridays 8:00 – 3:00 for your convenience.

We are a Barnes and Noble Bookseller store. We have gifts items as well as books. Please drop by and see us.

Claudia Sam Barton
Store Manager

Chance Encounter with David Brandt

I was watching my son Jeffrey's soccer game in Decatur this morning and noticed a familiar face. David Brandt was the referee! He did a great job calling the game, although he did call Jeff offsides, which, technically, he was. Apparently David believes in fairness and impartiality in his role. Jeff's team lost 3-2, but Jeff made a gorgeous goal with his left foot, so that made the loss easier to take. I didn't have my camera, but I sure plan to bring it from now on.