2016 fall Cronkite convocation program

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

The Cronkite School is widely recognized as one of the nation’s premier professional journalism programs. Rooted in the timehonored values — accuracy, responsibility, objectivity, integrity — that characterize its namesake, the school fosters journalistic excellence and ethics among students as they master the professional skills they need to succeed in the digital journalism world of today and tomorrow.

The Cronkite School’s 1,700 students consistently lead the country in national competitions. Over the past decade, Cronkite has been No. 1 in the nation in the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence competition and the Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of Media Arts awards and has finished in the top 10 in the Hearst Journalism Awards each year.

Students are guided by a faculty that is made up of both award-winning professional journalists and world-class media scholars. Cronkite professors include Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, digital media thought leaders, top TV producers and correspondents, major

metropolitan newspaper editors and strategic communications experts. They are master teachers, writers and scholars who often speak around the globe on the most important topics facing journalists today.

The Cronkite School is a leader in journalism education with its innovative use of the “teaching hospital” model, which provides both unparalleled learning opportunities for students and important news content to the community, state, region and nation. In the school’s dozen professional immersion programs, students apply what they have learned in the classroom in real-world learning environments. They cover the most important issues of the day from public affairs news bureaus in Phoenix and Washington, D.C., and report on sports from bureaus in Los Angeles and Phoenix.

Students in the Public Relations Lab develop campaigns for client companies, while Carnegie-Knight News21 multimedia journalists conduct national data-driven investigations into issues critical to Americans. In the Public Insight Network Bureau, students work with professional news organizations to

deepen their connections to audiences, and in the New Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab, they use digital technologies to forge the future of journalism.

Arizona PBS, one of the nation’s largest public television stations, is part of Cronkite, making it the largest media outlet operated by a journalism school in the world. Arizona PBS serves as a hub for the Cronkite School’s fullimmersion professional programs and a testing ground for innovation in journalism. Students produce a nightly newscast that reaches 1.9 million households on Arizona PBS.

More than 70 students in many of these professional immersion programs collaborated to create a statewide TV special on the deadly problem of heroin use that reached more than 1 million viewers last year. “Hooked: Tracking Heroin’s Hold on Arizona,” produced by the Cronkite School in partnership with the Arizona Broadcasters Association, received numerous honors, including the prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award.

Elsewhere at the school, the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism provides education and training to professional journalists and Cronkite Global Initiatives brings international journalists to the school and sends students and faculty to other countries to report and conduct training.

All of these initiatives originate in a stateof-the-art building that is considered one of the best journalism education facilities in the nation. ASU’s investment in the school has generated national and international attention from educators and media professionals who place the school in the top tier of all U.S. journalism schools. The Times of London, The New York Times and USA Today have pointed to the Cronkite School as a leading example of changes taking place at journalism schools across the country. These prestigious publications called the Cronkite School a pioneer, kindling a notion of new media that will shape how news is delivered and how people will stay informed in the future.

About Our Graduates

The Cronkite School has more than 10,000 alumni throughout the Valley, across the country and around the world. Many are leaders in digital media, magazines, newspapers, public relations, radio and television.

In 1993, the school inducted its first class into the Cronkite Alumni Hall of Fame. The charter inductees were Al Michaels (’66), the iconic American sports broadcaster, and ABC News foreign correspondent Bill Redeker (’71). Other notable inductees include CNN International anchor Becky Anderson (’94); Arizona Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall (’91); Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times reporter Julie Cart (’80); CNN Worldwide Senior Latin American Affairs Editor Rafael Romo (’95); FOX 11 News anchor Christine Devine (’87); public relations executive Ray Artigue (’76); and Arizona Republic Editor Nicole Carroll (’91).

Stay connected to fellow #CronkiteNation alumni on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter or call 602.496.5555.

Convocation Program

Processional

Welcome Dean Christopher Callahan

Special Video “Walter Cronkite: Legend and Legacy”

Keynote Speaker Julia Wallace, Frank Russell Chair for the Business of Journalism Presentation of Degrees

Ph.D. Degree Candidate

Doctoral Director Craig M. Allen, assisted by Faculty Emeritus Donald G. Godfrey Master’s Degree Candidates

Dean Christopher Callahan, assisted by Senior Associate Dean Marianne Barrett Bachelor’s Degree Candidates

Dean Christopher Callahan, assisted by Assistant Dean Mark Lodato

Special Awards

Outstanding Graduate Student Giselle Cancio

Outstanding Undergraduate Students Jose Carrera, Heather Hudzinski, Cassidy Trowbridge

Highest Grade Point Average in Journalism Katy Burge

Highest Grade Point Average in Media Studies Melissa Garchie

Top Innovator Award Elizabeth Hansen

Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society Katy Burge, Giselle Cancio, Alexander Caprariello, Joshua Glatt, Madalyn Heimann, Heather Hudzinski, Amanda Jensen, Celina Jimenez, Catherine Ann Nolen, Preston Scott-Hall, Cassidy Trowbridge Moeur Award Katy Burge

Student Speaker Trever Migliorino

Recessional

Outstanding Graduate Student

This award is given to a graduate student who is nominated by Cronkite faculty for academic excellence and professional experiences.

Outstanding Undergraduate Students

This award goes to undergraduate students nominated by Cronkite faculty for excellence in academics, internships, professional experiences and extracurricular activities.

Highest Grade Point Average Cronkite presents highest GPA awards to the top graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication program

and the Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and Media Studies program who have the highest cumulative GPA in their respective programs.

Top Innovator Award

This award honors Cronkite students who champion engaging and cutting-edge ways to do great journalism.

Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society

This national college honor society recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism. Only the top 10 percent of the graduating journalism class is inducted at convocation each semester.

Moeur Award

This award is named for Dr. B.B. Moeur, who was a physician and businessman in Tempe in the early 1900s. The ASU Alumni Association presents the award at the university commencement ceremony to undergraduates with a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 achieved during eight consecutive fall and spring semesters.

Student Speaker

This privilege is bestowed upon a student who represents the very best of the Cronkite School — a well-rounded individual who exhibits both academic and professional excellence.

Keynote Speaker

Julia Wallace, a top executive at one of the nation’s leading media companies and the first female editor-in-chief of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is joining the Cronkite School as the Frank Russell Chair in January.

Wallace will teach classes on the future of news, new business models and innovative ways of thinking about journalism.

As market vice president for Cox Media Group Ohio, Wallace pioneered a converged TV, newspaper, radio and digital operation that led to significant success on every platform. Under her guidance, WHIO-TV

ranked nationally as the No. 1 CBS affiliate in share of audience. She also expanded the development of digital products, increasing audience reach and engagement.

From 2002-2010, Wallace led the Atlanta JournalConstitution, guiding the news organization to two Pulitzer Prizes. She was named Editor of the Year by Editor & Publisher magazine in 2004.

Wallace began her career in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Ledger-Star, and then at the Dallas Times Herald. In 1982, she joined USA Today as a reporter just weeks after the newspaper’s launch

and worked her way up to managing editor for special projects. She was managing editor of The Arizona Republic from 1998-2000.

Wallace earned her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where she was inducted into its Hall of Achievement in 2006.

Student Speaker

Trever Migliorino is graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from the Cronkite School. Migliorino has extensive broadcast production experience, having held internships and jobs with CBS Radio, Crew West, NBA Entertainment, Fox Sports, the PAC-12 and ESPN.

During his four years at the Cronkite School, Migliorino became a well-known presence in Cronkite News, Arizona PBS and the Cronkite equipment lab. He also served as a residential college student leader.

Migliorino also was a standout in the Cronkite News studio, developing skills in broadcast production and information technology to enhance visual storytelling.

He spent three semesters as a director and technical director for the Cronkite News

broadcast, producing 90 newscasts that aired on Arizona PBS, including extensive election coverage in November. He was a trusted resource for many peers and staff members, and he was always willing to lend a helping hand. He was often seen with a camera in hand or wearing headset during key events, such as the Cronkite Award Luncheon.

Cronkite School Graduates

Doctor of Philosophy in Journalism and Mass Communication

Miles Romney “A Historical Examination of Interactive Overnight Talk Radio from the Foundations Established by Herb Jepko”

Master of Journalism and Mass Communication

Keshia Butts

Anna Copper Adam DeRose

Erin Fox Elizabeth Hansen

Sean Holstege Jiahui Jia Edwin Keller Selena Makrides Kathryn Peifer

Master of Arts in Sports Journalism

Michael Boylan

Krandall Brantley Giselle Cancio Alexander Caprariello Katherine Fitzgerald

Ao Gao Patricia Garcia Cory Kamerschak Blair McElroy Rochelle Romero

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication

Kaitlyn Ahrbeck

Jaquelina Balbuena Alejandro Barahona Kathryn Beeso

Yesenia Beltran * Jahaziel Bernal Samantha Bero Adrian Borunda Tyler Boyle James Bunting Katy Burge *** Jesse Canales Ally Carr ^ Jose Carrera Jaclyn Chung * Hannah Cissell Victoria Cohen Brianna Cossavella ** Cody Cunningham * Kara Curtin

Brett Deckert

Ryan Dent * Matthew Durack * Branden Eastwood Sarah Edwards Hope Flores * Yeimi Flores Nicholas Folkman Brian Fore * Dylan Foy

Jordan Garberding Larissa Garza Joshua Glatt **

Kelcie Grega Eric Gregori Katelyn Greno ** Lillian Griego Joseph Hardy ** ^ Ryan Hayes

Allyson Hoskins * Heather Hudzinski *** Amanda Jensen *** Celina Jimenez *** Taylor Johnson Tyler Klaus ** Alexis Kramer-Ainza Neena Krilich ** Nolan Kwit * Hector Lagunas

Kelly Littlejohn Jerod MacDonald-Evoy

Candice Maniga

Jessica Martin ** Cassidy McBride * Mariah McKenzie Isabel Menzel

Trever Migliorino ** Jodi Minaker Marley Molitor Zackary Moran-Norris *

Mindy Riesenberg Cassie Ronda Sabella Scalise

Jonathan Saxon Alexander Stewart Lindsey Wisniewski

Kia Murphy

Taylor Anthony Neigum ** Kathlyn Nguyen

Sarah Niemann

Catherine Ann Nolen *** Kendal O’Connor Hannah Parker Hipple Patel Sean Pepper Philip Piro-Amerine Shay Roddy Aubrey Rumore Natalia Sandoval ** Emily Schilling Preston Scott-Hall *** Wafa Shahid ^ Kimberly Simpson Miranda Smith Xavier Smith

Jacqueline Soto ** Madeline Stack

Rolando Terrazas

Lauren Tomlin Anokina Touman Cassidy Trowbridge ** Giselle Vazquez-Ramirez

Bharat Venkatesh Sara Vermilyea Nicole Vitale

Alexus Washington *

Bachelor of Arts in Sports Journalism

Brian Carroll

Angela Denogean * Katlyn Ewens

Benjamin Halverson *

Bachelor

of

Madalyn Heimann *** Brendan Kennealy Tyler Rubin Jonathan Soto

Tamsyn Stonebarger Tory Weeks Ryan Wright *

Arts in Mass Communication and Media Studies

Nathan Ahles ** Amanda Alexander

Rebecca Alvarado *** Nickolas Arena

Jon Arias *** Ciera Austin

Anika Bates ** David Blackman * Rudy Blake

Debra Brown Kayla Buenting James Carroccio Thomas Chillemi

Melissa Colfer Abigail Comm Christian Cordoba Kirsti Correa

Matthew Crotteau Avalon Crutcher

Said Dodia * Shannon Donohue

Nerissa Edwards *** Richard Eldridge * Michael Fabian Jasmine Fagan Tatiana Fernandez ** Caitlin Fortune Briana Frank ***

Platform Guests

Keynote Speaker

Jennifer Freel *** Melissa Garchie

Courtney Goff Caitlyn Johnson Shalonda Jones Julia Keech

Samantha Klewicki Michael Lahrman Trina Lambourne

Taylor Lonborg ** Austin Long April Ludwick Nicolas Magallanez Kristen Maier Alexandra Maksimik Sarah Manuel Theodore Marschall Carrie Marshall Amanda Mayfield Brogan McDermott Zachary McPherson

William Mei Edward Miller ** Brittany Mowry Janiessa Norice Damaris Orozco Erin Osborne Natalie Paape

Julia Wallace, Frank Russell Chair

Cronkite Endowment Board President Kristin Bloomquist, executive vice president, LaneTerralever

Alumni Representative

Liliana Soto ’13, video journalist, Univision Arizona

Honors designations

Vanessa Panchyshyn

Andrew Parker

Stephen Peterson

Brianna Pham Alexandria Ramirez Matthew Ramirez Candice Rascon Samantha Rogers

Cameron Roper Paul Schlosser Kelly Schureman Heidi Schweizer Javier Silva Luis Solorio Heidi Sorgenfrei *** Hannah Spraker *** Matthew Squaire

Sean Steimel Richard Stephens *** Jamila Stewart Justin Tetlow Alicea Thomas Amanda Thompson Sabrina Torres Johanna Tucker

Christopher Underwood *** Leigh Washington **

Faculty Associate of the Year Tom Fergus, news videographer/reporter, FOX 10, KSAZ-TV

Student Speaker Trever Migliorino

Faculty Emeritus Frederic “Fritz” Leigh

Faculty Emeritus Tim McGuire

Academic recognition is granted to undergraduate candidates only:

* Cum Laude – GPA of 3.40 to 3.59

** Magna Cum Laude – GPA of 3.60 to 3.79

*** Summa Cum Laude – GPA of 3.80 and above ^ Graduate of Barrett, The Honors College

Cronkite Faculty

Faculty

Craig M. Allen Ph.D., Ohio University

Melanie Asp Alvarez M.L.S., Arizona State University

Douglas A. Anderson Ph.D., Southern Illinois University

Marianne Barrett Ph.D., Michigan State University

Rebecca Blatt M.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Sharon Bramlett-Solomon Ph.D., Indiana University

Peter Byck B.F.A., California Institute of the Arts

Christopher Callahan M.P.A., Harvard University

Michael Casavantes Ph.D., Arizona State University

Monica Chadha Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin

Milton Coleman B.F.A., University of WisconsinMilwaukee

Alfredo Corchado B.A., University of Texas at El Paso

John E. Craft Ph.D., Ohio University

Steve Crane M.B.A., University of Maryland

Kevin Dale B.S., Kansas State University

Steve Doig B.A., Dartmouth College

Leonard Downie Jr. M.A., The Ohio State University

Heather Lovett Dunn B.A., University of Mississippi

Tom Feuer B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Kristin Gilger M.A., University of Nebraska

Dan Gillmor B.A., University of Vermont

Dawn Gilpin Ph.D., Temple University

Mark Hass B.A., State University of New York at Buffalo

Venita Hawthorne James B.A., Lincoln University

Retha Hill M.A., Arizona State University

Jim Jacoby M.A.S., Arizona State University

Angela Kocherga B.J., University of Texas at Austin

Brett Kurland M.B.A., Northwestern University

K. Hazel Kwon Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo

Andrew Leckey M.A., University of Missouri

Christina Leonard B.A., University of Oklahoma

Susan Lisovicz B.A., William Paterson University

Mark Lodato M.Ed., Arizona State University

Andrés Martinez J.D., Columbia University

Fran R. Matera Ph.D., University of Miami

Eric Newton M.A., University of Birmingham

Jacquee Petchel B.A., Arizona State University

Theresa Poulson M.M.C., Arizona State University

Jessica Pucci M.A., University of Missouri

Sada J. Reed Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Virgil Renzulli B.A., University of Pennsylvania

Rick Rodriguez B.A., Stanford University

Dennis E. Russell Ph.D., University of Utah

Joseph Russomanno Ph.D., University of Colorado Boulder

B. William Silcock Ph.D., University of Missouri

Leslie-Jean Thornton Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Julia Wallace B.S., Northwestern University

Xu Wu Ph.D., University of Florida

Affiliated Faculty

Lindsey Collom B.A., Arizona State University

Jason Manning M.A., George Mason University

Terry Greene Sterling M.F.A., Goucher College

Faculty Emeriti

Troy F. Crowder M.A., University of Iowa

Robert Ellis

M.A., Case Western Reserve University

Mary-Lou Galician Ed.D., Memphis State University

Faculty Associates

Allysa Adams, Arizona Horizon Monica Alonzo, Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care

Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic

Eduardo Ayala, CBS 5, KPHO-TV

Tom Blodgett, The Arizona Republic

Greg Boeck, formerly with USA Today

Paola Boivin, The Arizona Republic

Sonia Bovio, Cronkite School Ph.D. program

Jamie Bowen, Cronkite School Ph.D. program

Patrick Breen, The Arizona Republic

Christina Caldwell, freelance journalist

Kristina Carlberg, City of Peoria

Adam Causey, The Associated Press

Brad Cesmat, Sports360az.com

Dave Cornelius, C4 Accel Roy Dabner, European Pressphoto Agency

John D’Anna, The Arizona Republic

Matt Dempsey, Houston Chronicle

Deanna Dent, ASU Now

Richard de Uriarte, retired communications manager

John Dille, Federated Media

Becca Dyer, The Arizona Republic

Isaac Easley, Phoenix Suns

Larry Edsall, Classic Car News

Gregg Elder, State of Arizona

Charles Emmert, Know99 Television

Tom Fergus, FOX 10, KSAZ-TV

Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig, shades Magazine

Joe Fortunato, ASU School of Film, Dance and Theatre

Josh Frigerio, ABC15, KNXV-TV

Joseph Garcia, ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy

Donald G. Godfrey Ph.D., University of Washington

Roy K. Halverson Ph.D., University of Illinois

Frederic “Fritz” Leigh Ed.D., Arizona State University

Tim McGuire J.D., William Mitchell College of Law

George Watson Ph.D., Duke University

In Memoriam

Joe Milner (1929-2016) Professor Emeritus

Christia L. Gibbons, communications consultant

David Gordon, The Arizona Republic

Tracy Greer, KJZZ Radio

Francine Hardaway, Stealthmode Partners

Stephen Harding, Gannett Co.

Denise Hawken-Collins, FOX Sports Arizona

Ceasar Hernandez, CBS 5, KPHOTV

Andrew Heyward, Heyward Advisory LLC

Shanna Hogan, journalist and author

Amber Hutchins, Kennesaw State University

Nicole Koester, TV news professional

Donna Krache, formerly with CNN

John Leach, Digital Strategies LLC

Carl Lemon, videographer

Kerry Lengel, The Arizona Republic

Maddie Liseblad, Cronkite School Ph.D. program

Morgan Loew, CBS 5, KPHO-TV

John Lowe, sports researcher

Ilana Lowery, Phoenix Business Journal

Albert Macias, KJZZ Radio

Peter Madrid, communications specialist

Fran Mallace, Cox Communications

Michael Mallace, Sierra H Broadcasting

Elizabeth Mays, marketing and community manager

Robert McJannet, Arizona PBS

Sharon Mittelman, KTAR News

Aliya Mood, The Arizona Republic

Holliday Moore, KTAR News and CBS 5, KPHO-TV

Sarah Muench, freelance journalist

Karla Navarrete, freelance journalist

Dawn Nici, Money Radio

Caitlin O’Hara, freelance photojournalist

Kirstin Pellizzaro, Cronkite School Ph.D. program

Robin Phillips, Castelazo Content

Patricia Piburn, Cronkite School Ph.D. program

Josh Rawitch, Arizona Diamondbacks

Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic

Mark Reda, broadcast production professional

Gail Rhodes, freelance journalist

Kelly Roach, communications consultant

Jose Romero, freelance writer/editor

Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic

Mark Scarp, Heard Museum

David Seibert, professional photographer

Celeste Sepessy, Casual Astronaut marketing

Maren Showkeir, writer, editor and consultant

Glen Stephens, City of Mesa

Jason Stone, Clear Channel Radio

Mike Sunnucks, Phoenix Business Journal

Steven Totten, Phoenix Business Journal

Brian Turner, Agua Fria High School

Betty M. van Iersel, lecturer in communications

Kelly Vaughn, Arizona Highways

Maureen West, communications consultant

Evan Wyloge, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting

Bob Young, The Arizona Republic

Gilbert Zermeño, CBS 5, KPHO-TV

Endowment Board of Trustees

Executive

Committee Board Members

Kristin Bloomquist, executive vice president, LaneTerralever: president

David Bodney, partner, Ballard Spahr LLP: immediate past president

Christopher Callahan, dean, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Tom Chauncey, attorney, Gust Rosenfeld: chair, Nominations Committee

John Hatfield, vice president of communications, APS: chair, Development Committee

Anita Helt, vice president and general manager, ABC15/KNXVTV: chair, Outreach and Diversity Committee

Win Holden, publisher, Arizona Highways Magazine: chair, Assessment Committee

Fran Mallace, vice president, Cox Media: chair, Luncheon Committee

Diane Veres, president and general manager, Clear Channel Outdoor: chair, Mentoring Committee

Ray Artigue, executive vice president, Cardon Global Susan Bitter Smith, executive director, Southwest Cable Communications Association

Art Brooks, president and CEO, Arizona Broadcasters Association

Elizabeth Murphy Burns, president and chief executive officer, Morgan Murphy Media

Paula Casey, executive director, Arizona Newspapers Association

Araceli De Leon, president and regional general manager, Telemundo Arizona

David Eichler, founder and creative director, Decibel Blue Creative Marketing & PR

Elvira Espinoza, publisher, Mixed Voces

Kristin Gilger, associate dean, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Derrick Hall, president and CEO, Arizona Diamondbacks

Scott Harkey, President, Owens Harkey Advertising

Brian Hogan, senior vice president & general manager, FOX Sports Arizona

Rich Howe, executive vice president & general manager, KAZT Gordon James, owner, Gordon C. James Public Relations

Laura Jordan, owner, The Jordan Group

Susan Karis, group publisher, Cities West Publishing

Linda Little, president, Phoenix market, iHeartMedia Michael Mallace, general manager, Sierra H Broadcasting Denise McManus, media consultant

John Misner, president and general manager, 12News / KPNXTV and 12News.com

Art Mobley, CEO, AdviceAd Mary Morrison, Mary M Media

Ed Munson, vice president and general manager, CBS 5 and 3TV, KTVK-TV

Jim Paluzzi, vice president, division of public service, Rio Salado College, KJZZ/KBAQ

Mi-Ai Parrish, President & Publisher, The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com

Tim Riester, president and CEO, Riester

Jose Rodiles, general manager, Riviera Broadcast Group

Mark Rodman, vice president and general manager, Fox 10 / KSAZ-TV Phoenix

Jason Rowley, president, Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury Ray Schey, publisher, Phoenix Business Journal

Alan Silverman, senior vice president, general council and secretary, Cable One

Matt Silverman, vice president and managing director, R&R Partners

Robert Stieve, editor, Arizona Highways Magazine

Scott Sutherland, vice president and market manager, Bonneville Media

Clancy Woods, president, D Mobile Roberto Yañez, vice president and general manager, Univision 33 & Unim

The journalism program at Arizona State University was named in honor of former CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite in 1984.

The relationship started when Tom Chauncey, longtime owner of the CBS affiliate in Phoenix, and his son, Tom Chauncey II, leading supporters of journalism education at ASU, contacted their old friend in an effort to advance the program. An endowment on behalf of the program was soon established, and the school was named after “the most trusted man in America.”

Over the next quarter of a century, Cronkite lent much more than his name to the school. He was closely involved — advising leadership, guiding students and faculty and traveling to Arizona each year to personally give the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism to one of the nation’s top journalists.

The most special relationship, though, was with “our students,” as Cronkite would always call them. Young women and men, some with parents barely old enough to remember Cronkite behind the anchor desk, lit up when he walked into a classroom. They hung on his every word as he thoughtfully answered their questions about the profession he so loved. They lined up just to shake his hand. And he loved every minute of it. He would talk to many students individually, asking them about

their classes, goals and dreams.

Although Cronkite died on July 17, 2009, before he was able to visit the school that bears his name in its new downtown Phoenix location, he remains an ever-present part of the school’s heartbeat and direction.

In November, numerous students gathered at the school to honor Cronkite’s legacy on what would have been his 100th birthday. The birthday celebration also included a special daylong event at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., in September hosted by the Cronkite School, CBS News and the Newseum. Journalists such as Scott Pelley, Gwen Ifill, Bob Schieffer and Lesley Stahl shared their memories of Cronkite and discussed his significance to the profession while Cronkite alumni and faculty spoke about his impact on them and the school.

Cronkite’s legacy lives on in the spirit and passion with which the school teaches both the skills to practice journalism in today’s media environment and the time-honored ethics and news values necessary to do it in the manner that would make him proud.

The Cronkite School has established a special memorial fund in Cronkite’s name. For more information on the fund and to learn more about Cronkite’s career, visit cronkite.asu.edu/cronkite-100