ACCC Gives Arts and Communications Awards

MAYS LANDING — Atlantic Cape Community College hosted the second annual Communication and Art Awards ceremony on May 1 at the Mays Landing Campus.
Mike Richman and Diane Mitchell of WAYV’s “Mike and Diane Morning Show” served as emcees. The evening included a performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” by ACCC’s Performing Arts Club. NBC 40 news anchor Michelle Dawn Mooney was honored as an Outstanding Media Professional.
Many of the winners and participants were from Cape May County and most of the Communication Awards Committee was from Cape May County. The big winner of the night, Brittany Wehner, is from the Villas.
The Communication Awards Committee consisted of Alexandra Bednarek of Sea Isle City, Lindsey Hand of Stone Harbor, Brittany Todd of Dennis Township, Chris Urie of Ocean City, Erin Laffey of Cape May Court House, Julianne Scott of Ocean View, Professor Joy Jones of North Cape May, Professor Keith Forrest, a 1984 graduate of Lower Cape May Regional High School, and Professor Jessica Carleton, who teaches performing arts in Cape May County.
Public relations professional Anthony Fulginiti, a professor at Rowan University, presented a tribute in memory of Donald Bagin, a beloved Rowan University Professor of Public Relations, who died in November.
Other participants included ACCC Dean of Instruction Ron McArthur, Assistant Professor of Communication Keith Forrest, Arts and Humanities Chairperson Cheryl Knowles-Harrigan and Assistant Professor of Communication Joy Jones.
Three students competed for the Communication Major of the Year award. Shannon Hartey, 2008 recipient, presented this year’s honor to Ben Marks of Hammonton.
Winners of the Public Speaking Awards were: Best Debate Speeches, Zachary Pashley of Ocean View and Dante Barfield of Wildwood; Best Informative Speeches, Marnie Niederhofer of Dorothy and Gerri Ridings of West Wildwood; Best Persuasive Speeches, Brittany Wehner of Villas and Stephanie Fisher of Egg Harbor Township; and Best Call to Action Speeches, Joseph Bell of Northfield and Alexandra Bednarek of Sea Isle City.
Mass Media Awards winners were: Best Mass Media Paper, Paul Venesz of Longport; Best Mass Media Project, Tracy Schmidt of Linwood, Mea Giorgadze of Egg Harbor City, Gabriel Suriano of Egg Harbor City and Lindsey Hand of Stone Harbor; and Best Mass Media Project for the Worthington Atlantic City Campus, Tim Gaskill of Absecon.
News Awards winners were: Best News Stories, LaQuay Weekes of Atlantic City and Dominic Russo of Galloway; and Best Commentaries, Paul Vanesz of Longport, Aliya Amilani of Mays Landing and Mike Kuzma of Hammonton.
Public Relations and Interpersonal Communication Award winners were: Best Press Releases, Maura Bakley of Linwood and LaQuay Weekes; Best PR Projects, Joe Carter of Millville and Lynne Chalmers of Ocean City; Jacqueline Loder of Somers Point and Alicia Wagner of Ventnor; Best Interpersonal Paper, Laura Chester of Vineland; Best Interpersonal Projects, Brittany Todd of Dennis Township, Brittany Wehner, Stephen O’Connor of Sea Isle City; and Traci Taylor of Cape May.
Creative Writing and Theater Awards winners were: Best Poem, Amber Frederick-Birbilas of Brigantine; Best Fiction, Chris Urie of Ocean City; Best Creative Non-Fiction/ Playwriting, Ben Marks of Hammonton; Best Creative Writing, John Guttschall of Egg Harbor City, and Jon Weeks of Linwood; Rewrites Award, Samantha Brown of Port Republic; Best Monologues, Rebecca Stout and Shannon Decker, both of Cape May Court House; Best Theater Project, Jennifer Post of Villas, Kristen Dougherty of Cape May Court House; and Performing Arts Club Award, Cory D’Amore of Dorothy.
The Art Awards winner were: Best Book Project, John Martin of Galloway and Michael Wheeler of Seaville; Best of Show, Helene Maxwell of Galloway; Best Drawing, Vivian Webster of Linwood; Best 2D Work, Lee Neuman of Cape May Court House; Best 3D Work, Peggy Evans of Wildwood; Best Digital Arts Work, Carlos Soto of Atlantic City; Best Photograph, David Lee of Estell Manor; Best Crafts, Candy Henry of Brigantine; and Best Ceramics, Michelle Mauro of Brigantine.
Pioneer and Achievement Awards winners were: Outstanding Achievement, Fred Galloway of Ocean City; Professional Pioneer, Samantha Bednarek of New York, graphic designer for Family Circle magazine; Student Pioneers, Alexandra Bednarek, Julianne Scott of Ocean View, Erin Laffey of Cape May Court House, Lindsey Hand, Brittany Wehner, Brittany Todd, Janay Reaves of Egg Harbor Township and Chris Urie; Faculty Pioneers, Lydia Lehr of Egg Harbor City and Rita Michalenko of Mays Landing.
Rebekah Zumwalt (’08) of Pleasantville, a reporter for The Current newspaper, received the Alumni of the Year Award.