On April 4, 2025, the College of Communication & Information Sciences (C&IS) celebrated its outstanding students and alumni at the annual Honors Day ceremony held at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Honors Day is an opportunity for C&IS to recognize graduates who have made exceptional contributions to their professions, communities and beyond. Each year, one Outstanding Alumni Award is presented for each major within the college to honor individuals who have demonstrated leadership, dedication and success in their fields. During the ceremony, students were also celebrated for achieving remarkable academic accomplishments, including high GPAs and scholarship awards. As Dean Butler noted, “Honors Day is an opportunity for us to recognize the impact our students and alumni make in their community, both during their time at the University and after they leave.”
The Outstanding Alumni Award honors individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to making a difference. Nominations for the award are accepted each fall semester, and the awards are given out in the spring. “The individuals who are recognized each year as Outstanding Alumni are superstars who, through their accomplishments and contributions, make invaluable contributions, to the college and University’s national reputation as a source of great talent and expertise,” says Dean Butler. In addition, he states that “this award is a way for the college to recognize alumni accomplishments and contributions to the college and their professions, allowing us to strengthen our connection with some of our amazing graduates. It also enables us to support them as they move forward in their careers as exemplary leaders and professionals.”
The alumni honored included Sally Lyons Wyatt (Advertising), Eileen Wallce (Book Arts), Ruth Rohs (Communication Studies), Danilo Madatag Baylen (Library & Information Studies), Henry Chassaignac (Public Relations), Angela Scott Abdur-Rasheed (Creative Media) and Lyanne Melendez (News Media). These exceptional students and alumni serve as inspirations for current students and reinforce the lasting impact of C&IS on both professional success and community contribution. Their stories are a testament to the impact of a C&IS education before and after you leave the classroom.
By: Melanie Bumpus