Smalec earns recognition as Wilson Award winner;
4 Communications students receive DSA honors

Andrea Smalec, a public relations major from Mountain Home, was named April 15 as the recipient of Arkansas State University's most prestigious student honor, the R. E. Lee Wilson Citizenship Award.

The award was announced at Monday's annual Student Honors Awards Ceremony and Reception. The Wilson Award is selected on the basis of character, determination, involvement and academic achievement. The recipient is selected from students who received Distinguished Service Awards from the university. Those recipients were also announced Monday.

Four of the seven Distinguished Service Awards went to Communications majors. In addition to Smalec, recipients were Eric Blackwell, a public relations major from Bald Knob who was graduated in December; Laura Choate, an advertising major from Beebe; Meghan Hackney, an advertising major from Stuttgart, David Huckabee, a political science major from Little Rock; Nicole Pugh, a criminology major from Pine Bluff, and Deatra Rieke, a business major from Hazen.

Smalec has served as president of the Student Government Association and the Public Relations and vice president of Kays Hall Council. She received a national Gold Key Award from PRSSA and was recognized with honorable mention status on USA Today's All Academic team. Smalec is a former reporter for The Herald and served on several university committees and boards.

For further information, contact Joel Gambill, chair of the Department of Journalism & Printing (870-972-3075).