Senior Olivia Hicks is graduating twice this semester with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing.

Hicks has spent the fall semester working part-time for MHP/Team SI, a full-service performance marketing agency, learning skills in public relations, social media development and management, and news and editorial writing. After graduation, she plans to begin a full-time public relations position with the company.

“I am very excited for this next step,” Hicks said. “I really love campus, and it will be hard to leave, but I will make sure to come visit.”

Hicks joined ����Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2020, citing affordability as the key reason she chose the university.

“When senior year rolled around, I had to look deep and figure out what was most important to me,” Hicks said. “I realized that being close to home and close to my family would give me many opportunities both personally and academically. Because of the scholarships and grants I have gotten from this school, I am graduating debt free!”

Hicks’ mother also played an important role in her decision to attend college. Hicks grew up watching her mother earn two degrees, which inspired her to work hard in her own college career.

“My mother is also an alum of the university,” Hicks recalled. “She is a single mother who went to school while raising me. She graduated when I was 11 with a bachelor’s degree in history, and then she went back for her master’s degree in secondary education and graduated in 2019. My entire childhood was surrounded by higher education. I grew up on this campus. I remember going to swim in the pool and sitting in on my mom’s history lectures. I loved this campus and the faculty. It’s like home to me.”

Hicks learned key skills while attending ����Vlog��ý Little Rock. Through the Federal Work-Study Program and Trojan Works, she worked for two years as an editorial assistant in the Office of Communications and Marketing.

“I would say that my time as an editorial assistant is what prepared me the most,” Hicks said. “Not only did I get to know the staff at my current job through that position, but it gave me connections, led me on a path to writing stories that won national awards, and gave me confidence in my skill set. A lot of my college career I credit to that time. It gave me a lot of opportunities to hone my skills, be involved in campus, meet a lot of people, and that was the highlight of my college career.”

Meaghan Milliorn, director of digital strategy, described Hicks as an asset to the Communications and Marketing team.

“Her creativity and enthusiasm were valuable as she created content and videos for the university’s social media platforms,” Milliorn said. “I’m so proud of her growth and that she gets to build her career and utilize what she’s learned at the university.”

Along the way, Hicks has also completed internships in marketing, public relations, and social media with the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Trojan Food Pantry, Stone Ward, and Wildwood Park for the Arts. She has been honored for her writing skills with multiple awards in education sports writing and education feature writing by the Arkansas Press Women and the National Federation of Press Women.

Another important part of Hicks’ college experience was being involved in the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps (CLC), which helped her pay for college and learn valuable leadership skills.

“I started CLC as a freshman and immediately found a home there,” Hicks said. “Corrigan Revels and Tiffani Silvey were very integral to my college experience. They’ve been wonderful mentors, and I’ve learned a lot from them. I was a peer mentor for the arts and communication student group for two years. My mentees were amazing, and I loved getting to help them through their early college experience.”

As this part of her life comes to a close, her advice for new college students is to get involved in campus and professional opportunities.

“Get out of your comfort zone because you never know who you might connect with, who might have job opportunities, and who might be your friend,” she said. “There are so many opportunities here that people don’t know about, and it’s a matter of putting yourself out there and knowing the right people.”

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“The CASE Circle of Excellence Award holds great significance in our industry, representing excellence and innovation in university advancement,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor of university advancement. “It is a reflection of our team’s exceptional talents and the impact they are making on our organization and the community we serve. Their commitment to excellence has set a benchmark for others to aspire to, and it fills me with immense pride to see their hard work acknowledged by CASE which is widely viewed as the standard bearer in our profession. I am confident that this award is only the beginning of many more achievements to come.”

The Communications and Marketing team received a silver-level CASE Circle of Excellence Award in the Marketing/Advertising Category for digital advertising.

“The work the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is doing around affordability is incredible, and to have our team be recognized in an international competition for that work means so much,” said Dr. Carrie Phillips, chief communications and marketing officer. “I am so proud of this team and their continual work to support the mission of ����Vlog��ý Little Rock. Being recognized for that work is incredibly special.”

The premier accolades for educational advancement, the Circle of Excellence Awards recognize colleges, universities, and schools whose talented staff advanced their institutions with ingenuity and resourcefulness.

“The Circle of Excellence Awards showcase the impact advancement professionals have upon their institutions and communities around the globe, every day,” says CASE President and CEO Sue Cunningham. “Our 2023 honorees—from diverse institutions and teams of all sizes—are bold, creative, and resourceful. They demonstrate how powerful it is when advancement teams champion teaching, learning, research, and the progress that education ignites.”

The CASE judges noted that the digital advertising campaign’s strategic focus on affordability and its powerful impact on prospective students stood out among the nominations.

“By directly addressing the financial barriers faced by students, the ads instilled hope and effectively conveyed the university’s commitment to accessibility,” the judges wrote. “The impressive reach, click-through rate, and increased interest in campus tours and inquiries demonstrated the campaign’s success. Moreover, the ads served a dual purpose of both raising awareness and substantiating the university’s claims of affordability. ����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s innovative approach and the profound impact it had on prospective students make it a deserving recipient of this recognition.”

In addition to the CASE award, the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications and Marketing team has won several top awards from the annual National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest.

Phillips, Angelita Faller, news director, Klansee Tozer, senior graphic designer, and Olivia Hicks, editorial assistant, received awards during a June 24 awards ceremony during the NFPW’s annual conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Tozer received second place in Graphics and Design – Book Designed by Entrant for the Donaghey Scholars Honor Program Booklet as well as first place in Public Relations Material – Brochure for Department of History Brochure.

“I am very excited to have won on a national level,” Tozer said. “These two print projects were fun to design, and work in collaboration with our university print shop in the production. I continue to be thankful for the creative opportunities at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock. Go Trojans!”

Faller received first place in Publication Regularly Written by Entrant – Newsletter/other publication for ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Now.

Phillips received second place in Public Relations Materials – Report for the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Annual Report.

Additionally, Faller and Phillips received an honorable mention for a Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant – Newsletter/other publication for the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association Newsletter.

Hicks, a senior double majoring in mass communication and professional and technical writing, received second place in Collegiate/Education Writing – Features for “Hudson Graduates from ����Vlog��ý Little Rock” and first place in College/Education Writing – Sports for “Disc Golf Makes Its Debut on ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Campus.”

The ����Vlog��ý Little Rock winners were among a slate of statewide winners that helped the Arkansas Press Women win the Sweepstakes Award for receiving the most winning entries of any state affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women. It was the first time the Arkansas chapter has earned the award.

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Angelita Faller, news director, Dr. Carrie Phillips, chief communications and marketing officer, Klansee Tozer, senior graphic designer, and Olivia Hicks, editorial assistant, received awards during a May 20 awards luncheon on the campus of the NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville.

“I want to express my appreciation and gratitude for the work that Carrie, Angie, Klansee, and Olivia are doing,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor of university advancement. “They are a part of a team of marketing and communications professionals working collaboratively across campus with valued partners to help them achieve their goals. Hard work and professionalism earned them this due recognition from Arkansas Press Women.”

Faller and Phillips received first place for a Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant – Newsletter/other publication for the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association Newsletter. Additionally, Phillips received first place in Public Relations Materials – Report for the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Annual Report.

Faller also received first place in Specialty Articles – Sports for “����Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Wins Legal Writing Contest for Exploration of Jock Taxes During COVID-19;” first place in Specialty Articles – History for “����Vlog��ý Little Rock Researchers Uncover History of American Indian Nurses in World War I;” and first place in Publication Regularly Written by Entrant – Newsletter/other publication for ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Now.

Tozer received first place in Graphics and Design – Book Designed by Entrant for the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program Booklet as well as first place in Public Relations Material – Brochure for the Department of History Brochure.

“As a graphic designer working for a university, my creative hunger is fulfilled each day,” Tozer said. “The folks in the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program are always easy to work with so when I asked them if they were open to a redesign of their recruitment booklet incorporating our new brand elements, they were excited to see the outcome. Printing Services did a great job printing their eight-page, saddle stitched booklet, and they were pleased with the results.

The Department of History sent a request for help with their ‘Evenings With History Series’ brochure. The two-sided print piece consisted of 10 panels and four folds. Working with Printing Services, we were able to give this brochure a pop of gold shine with their new printing capabilities. It turned out beautifully and the folks in the Department of History thought it was fantastic. I am thankful for every creative opportunity.”

Hicks, a senior double majoring in mass communication and professional and technical writing, received first place in Collegiate/Education Writing – Features for “Hudson Graduates from ����Vlog��ý Little Rock;” first place in College/Education Writing – Sports for “Disc Golf Makes Its Debut on ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Campus;” and third place in Collegiate/Education Writing – News for “Forcum and Nadeem to Serve as New SGA President and Vice President.”

“I was so excited to learn that my stories won such prestigious awards, especially since I’m still a student,” Hicks said. “My work with MarComm the past two years has been the most rewarding experience of my college career, and being awarded for my stories are just the cherry on top.”

An affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women, APW was founded in 1949 by women working in Arkansas newspapers to provide an opportunity to compete and network in a male-dominated industry. The organization is now an association of communicators in journalism, public information, business, education, and government.

All first-place entries will go on to compete in the National Federation of Press Women competition. National winners are announced during the NFPW’s annual conference June 22-24 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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Daniel Breen, a 2018 graduate of ����Vlog��ý Little Rock and award-winning reporter and news anchor for ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio, served as the keynote speaker.

“My journey from a student at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock to newsroom leader has taken me a long way, and I am grateful to be where I am today,” Breen said. “My mentors here at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock gave me the space to breathe and learn and ensured that I had the strongest foundation possible for growth.”

Dr. Tim Edwards, interim chair of the School of Mass Communication, and Professor Sonny Rhodes presented the Meritorious Service Award to Arkansas Press Association/Arkansas Newspaper Foundation and the Arkansas Broadcasters Association for their invaluable support to mass communication students at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock.

Six students were inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication. These students include undergraduate students Jesse Cain, Allison Risius, Olivia Hicks, and Ahmed Elkhattabi as well as graduate students Abigail Carlson and Daniela Dehaghani. Cain also received the Top Scholar Award.

Students who received the Academic Achievement Award for being on the Chancellor’s List and/or Dean’s List include Shalonda Nelson, Allison Risius, Jaelyn Tucker, Kayla Woods, Adrian Rogers, Emily Wells, Ahmed Elkhattabi, Jesse Cain, Kate Benne, Kristin Divino, Olivia Hicks, Braden Rainey, and Miles Miller.

Mass communication students who received additional awards include:

• Outstanding/Top Graduating Senior Award – Jesse Cain and Allison Risius
• Outstanding/Top Graduating Graduate Student Award – Franca Afolabi and Diana Denning
• Clifton O. Lawhorne Memorial Award – Chloe McGehee – Awarded to journalism student/major who exemplifies outstanding leadership.
• Director’s Award – Emily Wells – Presented to a student who demonstrates initiative, leadership, collaboration, and engagement both in and out of the classroom, and whose efforts contribute to the life of the School of Mass Communication.

The School of Mass Communication awarded nearly $100,000 in scholarships to students for the 2023-24 academic year. Mass communication students who received scholarships include:

• The Dan and Johnnie Winn Memorial Scholarship – Matt Anderson, George Arthur, Andrew Bacon, Kevin Beckwith, Kiara Bradford, Arielle Fresh, John Reed, Adrian Rogers, and Kelle Watts
• K.A. Engel Memorial Scholarship – Kate Benne, Kristin Divino, Ahmed Elkhattabi, Daniela Montero, John Reed, Kennedi Stephens, and Daneisha Whitaker
• Golden Mike Award/Steve Stephens & Belinda Shults Endowed Scholarship – Matt Anderson
• Arkansas Broadcasters Association Endowed Scholarship – Adrian Rogers
• TreDay.com Scholarship – Daneisha Whitaker
• Television Broadcasters of Arkansas Scholarship – Ahmed Elkhattabi
• RD Doubleday Endowed Scholarship – Andrew Bacon
• Roy Mitchell Scholarship – Ahmed Elkhattabi
• Governor Orval E. Faubus Scholarship – Frankquetta Mallett
• Jane and John Thompson Endowed Journalism Scholarship – Ebony Gurley
• Herbert and Gertrude Latkin Scholarship Fund – Kate Benne
• Jerol Garrison Endowed Journalism Scholarship – Kristin Divino
• William K. Rutherford Freedom of Information Act Endowed Memorial Scholarship – Kate Benne
• Jason Irby Scholarship – Kevin Beckwith
• Harry Ashmore Award – Kristin Divino
• Edith Woods Sweezy Memorial Scholarship in Journalism – Daniela Montero

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