Alumni Awards

Department honors alumnae

The Mass Media Non Nobis Solum Alumni Award recognizes those alumni or friends of the mass media department who are past the 10-year graduation point, and who continue to make an impact in media and their communities. Martha B.

The 2020 Award Piland goes to Martha B. Non Nobis Solum Piland. Alumni Award

Piland graduated in 1986 with a degree in communications.

Piland started her own company 22 years ago. MB Piland is a company that focuses on branding and strategic planning.

MB Piland also started a program called “Banktastic,” where millenials share their thoughts about money, how to save it, and what they think banks can do better.

In September of 2019 Piland published her second book “Beyond Sticky.”

In her book she focuses on how financial brands and institutions can learn about business, customer development and branding.

The Mass Media Ad Astra Alumni Award recognizes graduates within 10 years after their graduation.

The 2020 Award goes to Sarah Towle.

Towle graduated in 2007 with an emphasis in writing-publishing.

Sarah Towle worked for

Towle KU Medical and the Ad Astra Special Olympics

Alumni Award for a few years, but found herself back at Washburn in 2011. She now is the director of marketing and communications at the Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation.

Here she spends her time helping the university connect with alumni, setting up events, and communicating what is happening at Washburn.

She has also served the mass media department as an adjunct in the mass media department and has taught several classes.

Towle received the award for all her professional accomplishments, outstanding achievements and dedication to Washburn University and the Topeka community.