A number of bright and talented students can be found at The School of Communication. Each year, the SoC names a group of outstanding seniors who have achieved academic excellence during their time at the University of Miami. Brooke LeMaire was named the 2013 Outstanding Senior in Public Relations, the school’s most popular major. "It's a true honor to be recognized among such a talented student body,” LeMaire said. “I'm so grateful for the wonderful opportunities UM has offered in order to provide a well-rounded and hands-on education.” LeMaire, 22, of Palmetto Bay, is a public relations and psychology…

The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting has selected Nicholas Swyter, a sophomore majoring in Broadcast Journalism and International Studies, for an international reporting fellowship in Panama this summer. Swyter, 20, a Panamanian citizen, will report on the construction of a major dam in that country and how the project is affecting indigenous tribes in the region. "It is a great honor to receive this fellowship," Swyter said. "I have visited relatives in Panama since I was an infant, and it will be a very rewarding experience to get to know the country through a reporter's lens." As part of…

Thanks to the Miami Marlins Community Foundation, more talented students will be able to attend the School of Communication. The Foundation recently presented the school with a $5,000 check for the Suzanne Rayson Scholarship Fund for student scholarships during UM Family Weekend with the Miami Marlins, April 27-29, 2013. The Suzanne Rayson Scholarship Fund benefits students studying Broadcast Journalism who have shown an interest in sports broadcasting. Rayson, who served as the Marlins director of broadcasting from 2002 to 2008, died after a battle with cancer. The Miami Marlins Community Foundation also made generous donations to UM’s School of…

For the third year in a row, the University of Miami School of Communication’s National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) team – the Miami Collective -- won first place at this year’s American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising District Competition. The UM team now heads to Phoenix, Ariz., June 5-8, to compete nationally against 18 other district-winning schools. This is the third consecutive year UM has defeated competitive schools such as Florida State University, the University of South Florida, and Ringling College. In 2011, UM took home the national championship after advancing from districts. Last year, the team placed 4th…

School of Communication Cinema & Interactive Media students won top awards during the 2013 LA WebFest, held March 28-31, 2013 in Los Angeles. “To Live & Die in Opa Humpka,” a web series developed and produced by SoC students and Lisa Gottlieb, an associate professor in the Department of Cinema & Interactive Media, took home the awards for Best Comedy Series and Best Writing. “To Live & Die in Opa Humpka” is a comedic web series about the fictional town of Opa Humpka, Fla., “the python and foot fungus capitol of the world.” The series takes place during the…

A School of Communication alumnus committed to engaging other alumni to support the School and a student who has raised more than $1 million to fund cancer research were honored at the 2013 University of Miami Alumni Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 18, 2013. Alumnus Spencer Weinkle, B.S.C. ’07, Journalism, and Jacqueline Landes, a senior majoring in Motion Pictures, were recognized for their achievements and commitment to the University during a ceremony held at the Robert and Judi Prokop Newman Alumni Center. Weinkle and Landes were among 11 distinguished honorees that also included Actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Leonard…

University of Miami alumnus Robert Mann, the UM School of Communication Visiting Committee chair and a member of the University's Board of Trustees, has made a $1 million planned gift to a School of Communication scholarship fund. Mann, B.A.’70, has designated his donation to the Samuel and Grace Mann Endowed Scholarship Fund named after his parents. The fund supports scholarships for deserving undergraduate students majoring in broadcast journalism each year. This Momentum2 campaign contribution builds on his significant donations to the School over the years and to the University’s first Momentum campaign in 2005. "I am pleased to continue…

University of Miami School of Communication Associate Professor Donn Tilson, an international scholar and author, has received a 2013 Fulbright Award to Canada to develop research, curriculum, and programming and to lecture on issues of diversity and public relations that include cultural and interfaith dialogue. Tilson teaches in the school's Department of Strategic Communication. He will be in residence this summer at the University of Ottawa – which also has named him one of only 6 UO Distinguished Visiting Researchers internationally – to work with the Department of Communication on research projects and new directions in curriculum that will…

Are []_[] proud of your alma mater? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of current University of Miami School of Communication students? By participating in The GOLDstein Family Challenge, you can! The Goldsteins, a family of dedicated ‘Canes, are challenging 2,013 young alumni to make a donation — in any amount — to the University of Miami by May 31, 2013. If this goal is met, the Goldsteins will make a $25,000 contribution to need-based student scholarships. The best part — if young alumni donations to the School of Communication increase by 25% from last…

Univision CEO Randy Falco was interviewed by USA TODAY Technology and Digital Entertainment reporter Mike Snider as part of the USA CEO Forum held on April 10, 2013 at the School of Communication’s Bill Cosford Cinema. Falco talked about the great growth of the Hispanic population in the U.S. and Univision’s joint venture with ABC News, a network to debut in October called Fusion. Falco said that Fusion was a result of his belief in the power of brands. He has a high respect for the Univision brand and co-branding with ABC, also a powerful brand, to bring a…