U of A Agricultural Communications Students Earn Individual, Chapter Awards at Media Summit

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At the Agricultural Media Summit this summer, Bumpers College students Grace Vehige (left) was a finalist for the Livestock Publications Council Forrest Bassford Student Award, and Jessica Wesson was awarded the AAEA/ACT Presidential Scholarship and Livestock Publications Council Forrest Bassford Student Award, and elected president of the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Several University of Arkansas Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow members were recognized for outstanding achievements at the 21st Annual Agricultural Media Summit July 27-31 in Minnesota.

Four U of A students competed in the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow Critique and Contest and placed with their entries. The NACT Critique and Contest allows students to submit work to be judged by agricultural communications professionals and ranked among fellow competitors.

Madelaine Giebler, a recent agricultural communications graduate from the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science's Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology, placed third in the Editorial category, second in Plant Photo and first in Short Personality Story. Tabitha Hudspeth, an agricultural and extension education master's degree student, placed second in the Infographic category. Jessica Wesson, a senior in agricultural communications, was fourth in the News Story category. Will Clark, an agricultural and extension education M.S. student, was first in the Logo category and received the Design and Layout Award of Excellence.

"I entered my work in the NACT Critique and Contest so I would have an opportunity to showcase the work I created through my academic experiences," Clark said. "When I found out I had won not only my category, but my division, I was ecstatic."

NACT is a national professional organization for college students who aspire to careers in agricultural communications. The organization provides professional and academic development opportunities for members. The University of Arkansas' chapter is housed in the Department of AECT.

"ACT helped me as a student by providing me with opportunities to learn, serve and network," Clark said.

Clark is pursuing his graduate degree at the U of A.

"I'm working to earn an M.S. in agricultural and extension education as well as serving Bumpers College students through the International Programs Office," Clark said.

The U of A ACT chapter was recognized for being Chapter of the Year-Leadership. Giebler was named NACT Distinguished Member of the Year and Maggie Jo Hansen, U of A and Bumpers College ACT graduate, was recognized as NACT Distinguished Alumni of the Year. Jefferson Miller, AECT professor of agricultural communications and ACT advisor, was elected to the organization's executive treasurer position.

Also during the summit, Grace Vehige, a senior agricultural communications student and ACT member, was a national finalist for the Livestock Publications Council Forrest Bassford Student Award. Jessica Wesson was awarded the AAEA/ACT Presidential Scholarship and the Livestock Publications Council Forrest Bassford Student Award, and was elected as the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow President.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.