Top photo: SJMC director Damion Waymer, Rick Henry, Jack Miller, Erika Ryan, Jason Porter and Dean Tom Reichert.
The School of Journalism and Mass Communications honored five alumni at the annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The awards recognize exceptional graduates whose careers represent significant professional achievement. The ceremony also honored a faculty member for excellence in teaching.
Dean Tom Reichert delivered the welcome address, focusing on the momentum the school has built over the last hundred years and recent developments. “We are very blessed to have 12 brand new faculty members joining us this year. That's almost 26% more faculty. And many of them are here tonight,” said Reichert. “And most importantly, we were reaccredited last year. We’ve been continually accredited and reaccredited since 1954.”
SJMC Director Damion Waymer opened the awards portion of the evening with a reflection on his first year at the school. “It's symbiotic. I just want to thank you for really making my job easy, as I work to recruit students, as I work to recruit faculty. All I do is brag on the successes of our alums and the research that our faculty produces,” said Waymer.
Distinguished Alumni
The Distinguished Alumni Award is for graduates who completed school more than 10 years ago and whose careers represent significant professional achievement.
Rick Henry, ‘77 Broadcast
You can't tell the story of sports in South Carolina in the last 40 years without Rick Henry.
Kevin Hull, associate professor
Rick Henry was the first African-American sports director in the state of South Carolina when he started his career at WPDE-TV. He later joined WIS-TV in 1988 as assistant sports director and was named sports director in 1996.
An award-winning journalist, he has received numerous accolades, including being named the South Carolina Sportscaster of the Year and earning two Southeast Regional Emmys. In 2014, he was the recipient of the Herman Helms Excellence in Media Award.
Henry is actively involved in the community, serving on various boards. He continues to cover sports while enjoying family time and golfing.
Watch the awards presentation and comments by Kevin Hull
Jack Miller, ‘01, Advertising
Over the year's Jack's dedication to advertising is matched only by his commitment to giving back to the community and the next generation.
Jeff Williams, senior instructor and advertising sequence head
Jack Miller is a vice president and creative director at FCB Chicago, where he leads creative across multiple pillars on the Cox Communications account.
In addition to his work on Cox, Miller has produced award-winning projects for the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Walmart and the Chicago Public Library.
Prior to FCB, Miller began his career as an art director at Arnold Worldwide in Boston, where he worked on iconic brands and campaigns including Jack Daniel’s, Ocean Spray, McDonald’s and Progressive. His work has earned numerous industry awards including Cannes Lions, One Show, D&AD, Art Director’s Club and Clios.
Watch the awards presentation and comments by Jeff Williams
Outstanding Young Alumni
The Outstanding Young Alumni Award is for graduates who have completed school within the past 10 years and who have demonstrated significant professional accomplishments early in their careers.
Allen Devlin, ‘18, Broadcast Journalism
Allen recently landed the job as news anchor at WCBS in New York City, the number 1 market in the country. He is only 29 years old.
Rick Peterson, senior instructor
Allen Devlin recently joined CBS New York as an anchor/multi-skilled journalist, excited to share stories from the tristate area. Previously, he worked at Atlanta News First, where he earned multiple Emmy nominations and covered significant events, including an active shooter incident and former President Trump’s arrest.
A proud Gamecock alumnus who also earned a master’s from Columbia University, Devlin has reported on various topics, receiving numerous awards for his work. He is passionate about community engagement and values the human element in storytelling, always eager to connect with others and share their stories.
Watch the awards presentation and comments by Rick Peterson
Erika Pantaleone Ryan, ‘17, Mass Communications
Smart. Curious. Hard working and dedicated to the craft of storytelling. Erika has all of these qualities and more.
Laura Smith, senior instructor
Erika Ryan is a producer for NPR’s "All Things Considered," handling high-profile interviews, field reporting and feature stories. Ryan won an Edward R. Murrow award for a piece about a Palestinian farmer detained by Israeli forces.
Before NPR, she spent five years at CNN, starting as an intern and eventually producing live shows in Washington, D.C.
Ryan began her journalism career as arts and culture editor for The Daily Gamecock and editor-in-chief of Garnet & Black magazine. She lives in Washington with her fiancée, their dog and their cats.
Watch the awards presentation and comments by Laura Smith
Mary Caldwell Excellence in Teaching Award
The Mary Caldwell Teaching Award is awarded annually to a School of Journalism and Mass Communications faculty member for outstanding teaching.
Jason Porter, '18, Visual Communications
When it comes to teaching, Jason is a rock star. Over the years I have heard our students talking about him; they call him the goat — the greatest of all time.
Sabrina Habib, associate professor and visual communications sequence head
Jason Porter is committed to a holistic, student-centered approach to teaching, where the focus is on both technical proficiency and personal growth. He emphasizes real-world experiences in his courses, collaborating with external clients and partners to prepare students for the demands of the creative industries.
By integrating cutting-edge technology and fostering a supportive learning environment, Porter ensures that his students are not only well-equipped with industry-relevant skills but also confident and resilient as they embark on their professional journeys.