Journalism school honors its grads

The Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication honored three standout 2008 journalism graduates and two alumni at the 48th annual Mark Hellinger Award Ceremony Friday, Sept. 26, at the New York City Athletic Club.

Tanya Reynolds, '08, received the Mark Hellinger Award, which honors Broadway playwright and Hollywood producer Mark Hellinger. The award is given to the graduating senior journalism and mass communication student who demonstrates exceptional academic excellence and promise in the field of communications.

Reynolds made the dean's list every semester for four years and served as editor-in-chief of The Bona Venture. She co-coordinated the 2008 American Advertising Federation campaign plans book, was a member of the Public Relations Society of America and worked as a disc jockey at WSBU-FM 88.3 The Buzz.

In addition to her on-campus involvement, Reynolds worked internships at The Chautauquan Daily newspaper and as a marketing and public relations associate with the Chautauqua Theater Company.

Lee Coppola, dean of the Jandoli school, said Reynolds' versatility within in the program made her stand out among a strong group of candidates.

"There were so many good candidates for Hellinger and each of them excelled in various aspects of the curriculum, but Tanya excelled in all aspects of the curriculum," Coppola said.

In her speech, Reynolds thanked her colleagues in the Jandoli school, her co-workers at The Bona Venture and her parents for their influence on her. She called all graduates of the school "perfectly distinguished" in their own way while still connected by a "truly esteemed presence" in the Jandoli school.

The school honored Chris Michel, '08, as Hellinger Award runner-up. Michel was editor-in-chief of The Bona Venture and interned at The Buffalo News. Michel currently attends graduate school at St. Bonaventure while working as a reporter for The Salamanca Press.

Chelsea Eggleston received The Buffalo News investigative reporting award.

Eggleston worked as an investigative reporter for SBU-TV.

Coppola said Eggleston possessed an uncanny ability and willingness to go behind the scenes to find crucial facts for each story.

"Her determination to dig for the story is what the faculty determined would be the criteria for giving her the award," Coppola said.

Greg Mitchell, '70, received the Alumnus of the Year Award. Mitchell has been the editor of Editor & Publisher magazine since 2002 and has guided the publication to 11 Jesse H. Neal awards, the top business press prize. Mitchell's articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times. Mitchell released his latest book, "So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, Pundits - and the President - Failed on Iraq" in March 2008.

Mike Vaccaro served as the ceremony's keynote speaker. A 1989 St. Bonaventure graduate and Hellinger Award winner, Vaccaro is the lead sports columnist for the New York Post. Vaccaro is the author of "Emperors and Idiots," a book about the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox rivalry and "1941: The Greatest Year in Sports".