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UC Honors Top Students in Public Relations, Journalism

Raymond Simon Institute Fetes 20 Students, Successful Alum

Written By Keith Henry, PR Intern

Contact - cleogrande@utica.edu

The Raymond Simon Institute (RSI) for Public Relations at Utica College presented awards to students and an alumnus at its annual recognition ceremony in April. 

The institute is named for Raymond Simon, professor emeritus of public relations and founder of the college’s PR program, one of the first of its kind in the country. 

At the ceremony, Bruce Maguire was honored with the 2008 RSI Distinguished Public Relations Alumni Award. Maguire, a 1980 UC graduate, is the CEO of Freeman Public Relations, Clifton, N.J. His firm spearheaded the TMX Elmo ad campaign in 2006, generating unprecedented press coverage and rejuvenating the lagging toy sales of Fisher-Price and the Sesame Street line of products. PR Week named Maguire’s Elmo promotion the Best Consumer Product Launch of 2006. 

Thomas Armitage ’09 (Barneveld, NY) was awarded the Ben and Gene Comora/RSI Scholarship for attaining an outstanding academic record and demonstrating exemplary personal and professional qualities. 

Jacqueline Klotzbach ’09 (Hilton, NY) was awarded the Raymond Simon/RSI Scholarship for her superior academic record, high quality participation in extracurricular associated with the PR major and her promise for success in the field of public relations. 

Adam Lawless ’08 (Frankfort, NY) received the RSI/Faculty Award in recognition of his attaining the highest GPA in the PR/J program. The award was established in honor of Raymond Simon’s 24 years as Executive Director of the RSI and his commitment to high academic standards. 

Zachary Lewis ’08 (Clinton, NY) received the Flaherty/RSI Award for his demonstrated outstanding creativity. Sarah Richards ’08 (Stafford Springs, CT) received the Gagliardi/RSI Award for her expertise in public relations and the arts. 

Brent Grier ’08 (Brooklyn, NY) and Jennifer Stock ’08 (Clinton, NY) received the Joanne Reppel Initiative Award in recognition of their resourcefulness in academic performance, internships and extracurricular activities. 

Jonathan Monfiletto ’08 (Morristown, NY) received the Owen Comora/RSI Tangerine Award, given to the staff member of the student-run newspaper, the Tangerine, who has contributed the most to the success of the paper in the last year. 

Katelyn Houlihan ’08 (Yorktown Heights, NY) and Michael Kinney ’08 (Frankfort, NY) were awarded the Fred and Corinne Grates/RSI Achievement Award in recognition of their achievements, which fulfill Robert Browning’s precept that one’s reach should exceed one’s grasp. 

Keith Henry ’08 (Vernon, NY) and Callan Bignoli ‘09 (Johnson City, NY) were awarded the Eleanor and Matty Sokolow/RSI Writing Awards for superior writing proficiency in PR/J classes.
Michael LaFave ’08 (Holland Patent, NY) was awarded the Ed Matesky/RSI Award, given to a student who shows promise in the field of broadcasting. 

Amanda Damiano ’08 (Whitesboro, NY) was awarded the RSI/Student of Promise Award, which recognizes a student from the Mohawk Valley who shows exceptional promise for success in public relations or journalism. 

Courtney Witherspoon ’08 (Buffalo, NY) and Attia Nasar ’08 (New Hartford, NY) were honored with the George Jones/RSI Outstanding PR/J Student Award for the senior class. This award recognizes outstanding PR/J students in each class for demonstrated excellence in academics, research and writing.

Jacqueline Klotzbach ’09 (Hilton, NY) was honored as the outstanding PR/J junior. Nicole Adamczyk ’10 (Sayville, NY) was honored as the outstanding PR/J sophomore. Devorne Hormeku ’11 (Brooklyn, NY) was honored as the outstanding PR/J freshman. 

Keshia Clukey ’08 (Plattsburg, NY) was honored with the Rubin R. Teitelbaum/RSI Award for maintaining stellar academic standing while involved in a variety of activities and experiences at Utica College. 

Amanda Giruzzi ’08 (Yorkville, NY) was awarded the Gary and Jeanne LaBella/RSI Transition Award for excellence in making the transition from a previous school to the PR/J program at Utica College.



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