草榴社区

aerial view of Western's campus at night, with golden lights surrounded by dark trees

Western becomes newest member of Kappa Tau Alpha journalism honors society

 

Aria Nguyen, here with Journalism Department Chair Brian J. Bowe, was one of two 草榴社区 students chosen as Kappa Tau Alpha top scholars this year. In total, 26 graduates from the past four years were inducted into the journalism honors society.

草榴社区鈥檚 Department of Journalism is the newest member of Kappa Tau Alpha, the national honor society that promotes scholarship in mass communication. The organization, founded at the University of Missouri鈥檚 journalism school in 1910, is the seventh oldest national college honor society in the country.  

Western joins a distinguished group of journalism programs that, along with Missouri, includes the likes of Northwestern University, the University of Maryland, and the University of Texas. While Kappa Tau Alpha chapters are located across the United States, Western is the first Kappa Tau Alpha member from the state of Washington. 

The Greek letters of Kappa, Tau, Alpha stand for 鈥淜nowledge, Truth, and Accuracy鈥 and highlight the society鈥檚 dedication to excellence in journalism education, practice, and research. Induction into the society is earned through excellence in academic work. 

According to journalism department chair Brian J. Bowe, Western鈥檚 entry into Kappa Tau Alpha builds upon the department鈥檚 tradition of outstanding student work and alumni success, as well as the longstanding work of faculty and staff. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity for us to celebrate the academic achievements of students who are forging new pathways in news reporting, public relations, visual journalism, and environmental media,鈥 Bowe said. 

The department marked the occasion at this spring鈥檚 草榴社区 journalism picnic on June 9, with related events planned for the 2024/25 academic year.

As a new chapter, Western is able to induct recent alumni from the past several years.

鈥淲e鈥檙e happy that we can honor these students, whose university experience was shaped in many ways by the COVID-19 pandemic,鈥 Bowe said.

The list of student inductees is below. Associate Professor Peggy Watt is also being inducted as a faculty member, joining current KTA faculty members Bowe, Joe Gosen, and Derek Moscato. More information about Kappa Tau Alpha can be found at: .

Also honored during the induction were the department鈥檚 two top scholar award winners, Aria Nguyen and Kumiko Juker. This award honors the student with the highest GPA, and there was a tie this year.

 

2023-24

  • Kumiko Juker
  • Aria Nguyen
  • Mia Limmer-Lai
  • Jase Picanso
  • Alexander Johnson
  • Eli Voorhies
  • Riley Weeks

 

2022-23

  • Olivia Palmer
  • Rowan Forsythe
  • R. Chauncey Gummere
  • Finn Wendt
  • Taras McCurdie
  • Katie McNabb
  • Olivia Hobson

 

2021-22

  • Kaleigh Carroll
  • Sadie Fick
  • Sophia Struna
  • Olivia Hicks
  • Teya Heidenreich
  • Victoria Corkum

 

2020-21

  • Emily Feek
  • Jaya Flanary
  • Jaxon Kiel
  • Henry Stewart-Wood
  • Riley Kankelberg
  • Olivia Klein