Reynolds School of Journalism students awarded over $184,000 in scholarships

More than 60 students were honored at the annual Savitt Awards Banquet

Media & Society | May 05, 2025
Lauren Maynard
Hunter Ramberg and Kyrstiana Marangi holding up their certificates.

Reynolds School of Journalism students awarded over $184,000 in scholarships

More than 60 students were honored at the annual Savitt Awards Banquet

Media & Society | May 05, 2025
Lauren Maynard
Hunter Ramberg and Kyrstiana Marangi holding up their certificates.

Reynolds School of Journalism students and faculty were recognized at the school’s annual Savitt Awards Banquet on May 1, 2025. Those honored included 54 scholarship recipients who received awards from 53 different scholarship funds during the 2024-2025 academic year, as well as 15 students who received outstanding student awards in different categories.

Over $184,000 was awarded to journalism students in various fields of study, from writing and investigative reporting to strategic communications.

Saurabh Chawla and Kari Barber at the celebration.

Fifteen journalism students received outstanding student awards in categories including electronic media, new media, advertising, documentary film, news, public relations, business journalism, visual communication, graduate studies, service and more. The Reynolds School is proud to recognize:

  • Kyrstiana Marangi, James Fasules Award for the Outstanding Advertising Student
  • Saurabh Chawla, Doris Sinofsky Documentary Film Award
  • Gabriel Kanae, Outstanding Student in Electronic Media Award
  • James Perez, Outstanding Student in New Media Award
  • Alex Psak, Kieste Janulis Outstanding News Student Award
  • Charlie Sakmar, Outstanding Public Relations Award
  • Hunter Ramberg, AAF Reno Award for the Outstanding Strategic Communication Student
  • Jace Ouchida, Marilyn Newton Award for the Outstanding Student in Visual Journalism
  • Charlene Orozco, Nita Spangler Service Award
  • Heather Saxe, Reynolds Outstanding Student in Business Journalism Award
  • Abdulmalik Adetola, Outstanding Graduate Student Award
  • Genevy Machuca, Robert Laxalt Distinguished Writer Award
  • Piper Heath, Lerude First Amendment Award
  • Lily Wright, Steve Martarano Best Published Article Award
  • Kat Fulwider, Frank McCulloch Student Award for Courage in Journalism

Twelve students were inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, the national collegiate honor society for journalism and mass communication.

Patrick File and a group of student inductees to Kappa Tau Alpha.

Senior Scholars Jianna von Savoye (‘24) and Kyra Fields were honored for their phenomenal academic achievements.

The Nevada Semenza Christian Teaching Award, which is student-nominated and presented annually to a Reynolds School faculty member to acknowledge exceptional teaching, was awarded to Ran Duan, Ph.D., assistant professor of environmental communication.

Ran Duan and Dean Gi Woong Yun.

The Savitt Awards Banquet is named for the late Ella Savitt, a passionate supporter of journalism and education, whose generosity has made a difference in the lives of so many Reynolds School students.

Media & Society | May 05, 2025
Lauren Maynard
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