Reynolds School of Journalism students and faculty gathered on Wednesday, May 3 for the school’s annual awards banquet. Honored at the event were 82 students who received scholarships during the 2022-2023 academic year from 50 different scholarship funds. The scholarships reflect a broad range of emphases and areas of study within the school, totaling $175,850 in funds awarded for this academic year. Since 2008, the Reynolds School has awarded more than $2.5 million to its students.

“The Savitt Awards Banquet is a highlight of the Reynolds School year,” said Dean Al Stavitsky. “It’s an opportunity to honor student success, show gratitude to our generous donors, and celebrate our graduating students.”

During the event, Associate Professor of Media Law Patrick File inducted eight students into Kappa Tau Alpha, the honor society which recognizes academic excellence in journalism and mass communication. Dean Al Stavitsky recognized the four 2023 Scripps Scholars and the 2022-23 Senior Scholars, Katelyn Welsh and Vanessa Ribeiro. Reynolds School faculty presented individual awards to 16 outstanding students in several fields, including advertising, documentary film, electronic media, new media, news, business journalism, public relations, visual communication, graduate studies, and service, among others.

The Nevada Semenza Christian Teaching Award, which is nominated by students and presented annually to a Reynolds School faculty member to recognize outstanding teaching, was awarded to Alison Gaulden, senior lecturer of public relations and advertising.

The Savitt Awards Banquet is named in honor of the late philanthropist Ella Savitt with support from the Rev. Jackie Leonard.

The Reynolds School is celebrating 100 years of journalism at the University. The school will continue to celebrate its centennial by introducing a new scholarship in the 2023-24 academic year: the Reynolds School of Journalism Centennial Scholarship.