2026 SOC Awards Reflect Record-Breaking Nomination Year
By Selina Heinen, MA ’25 / Event photos by Melis Basaran, MA ’24
They covered important stories, built web resources, launched campaigns, and organized communities across state lines. They stepped into uncomfortable rooms and filled the silence with something worth hearing. They debated, created, and connected, and in doing so, made Emerson a richer place for everyone around them.
And on Monday, April 6, the School of Communication honored these 24 students for their contributions and achievements at the annual SOC Award Ceremony, held in the Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre.
What unites this year’s honorees is the willingness to go further than required, to lift others along the way, and to bring their whole selves to the work.
With 150+ nominations submitted across 21 categories—the largest pool in the program’s history—the 2026 SOC Awards reflect not just the achievements of honorees, but of the contributions of all nominees, and the respect and appreciation they earned from professors and peers.
2026 SOC STUDENT AWARD RECIPIENTS
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION:
- DJ Mara – Civic & Community Engagement
- Bushe Wang – Civic & Community Engagement
- Averie Morren – Creativity & Innovation
- Oliver Katz – Leadership
- Amaya Briones – Student Athlete of the Year
COMMUNICATION SCIENCES & DISORDERS:
- Jocelyne Castellanos – Most Valuable Peer
- Logan Ramos – Outstanding Freshman or Sophomore
- Carter Castaneda – Outstanding Undergraduate Research
JOURNALISM:
- Iselin Bratz, Bryan Hecht, & Meg Richards – Victoria Snelgrove Award for Journalism Ethics
- Emily Martinez – Bob Hoyt Journalism Excellence
- Jules Telfort – Paraschos Journalism
- Iselin Bratz, Everest Leach, Arthur Mansavage, & Meg Richards – Outstanding Journalism
MARKETING COMMUNICATION:
- Katelyn Chen – Outstanding Freshman or Sophomore
- Jordan Fayne – Most Valuable Peer
- Elani Waight – Outstanding Undergraduate Research
COMMUNICATION STUDIES:
- Briana Cordon – Outstanding Junior
- Logan Braden – Most Valuable Peer
- Kendi Bispham – Zulene and Janice Payne Spirit Award
- Shibo Mu – Zulene and Janice Payne Spirit Award
- Olivia DeCesare – Helen Rose Forensics Award
- Harold Sostek – Helen Rose Oral Interpretation Award
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AWARDS
CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
DJ Mara ’27
Major: Political Communication
Minor: Journalism
DJ Mara is a storyteller at the intersection of politics, community, and civic life. During their time at Emerson, Mara has served as Special Assistant to Worcester Red Sox President Dr. Charles Steinberg, Digital Communications Manager on Worcester Mayor Joe Petty’s re-election campaign, and Deputy Metro News Editor and Senior Political Reporter for the Berkeley Beacon — among many other roles. A Communication Studies Student Ambassador and former Kasteel Well Bureau Chief, Mara embodies what it means to show up, get involved, and make an impact.
Bushe Wang ’28
Major: Marketing Communication
At Emerson, Wang has served as SGA Vice President, working to reconnect students with campus life and reinvigorate a sense of shared purpose on campus. A champion of cultural tradition, Wang has also participated in the Southwick Recital, a literary recitation event with over 126 years of history. Through media, cultural commentary, and genuine civic care, Wang has made the Emerson community a little more connected, a little more engaged, and a lot more alive.
CREATIVITY & INNOVATION
Averie Morren ’26
Major: Communication Studies
Minors: Marketing Communication / Journalism
With 13 peer nominations to her name, Morren’s impact at Emerson speaks for itself–but her work speaks even louder. Through her EmChannel shows, Averie’s Asking and The Afterparty, she has brought students together in ways that are fun, inclusive, and utterly unexpected, spotlighting everyone from drag performers to basketball captains. Equal parts comedian, interviewer, and producer, Morren has built a stage where Emerson’s full range of talent and diversity gets its moment to shine.
LEADERSHIP
Oliver Katz ’26
Major: Political Communication
Minors: Peace and Social Justice, Health and Society
Katz has been a cornerstone of student life at Emerson College since his arrival on campus. He has served as a student representative on the Shared Governance committee for two years, and as treasurer for the SGA for three years. He brings a thoughtful and mature perspective to both roles that reflects the student experience and an understanding of institutional needs. One faculty nominator shared, “I have seen firsthand his care and passion in his responses and willingness to help.”
STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Amaya Briones ’27
Major: Sports Communication
Minor: Journalism
Sport: Tennis
Coaches describe Briones as vocal, determined, and the kind of teammate whose energy on the sideline is just as valuable as her game on the court. Holding the #2 singles position on the Emerson Women’s Tennis Team, she has racked up 10 singles and doubles wins this season, including a sweep of both draws at the Springfield Invitational.
But Briones’ impact doesn’t stop there. As Director of Emerson Channel Sports, she has worked to make sure every Emerson athlete gets their moment in the spotlight–expanding livestream and social media coverage across all athletic programs, launching pre-game shows and post-game interviews, and co-founding ECS Weekly to keep the whole community in the loop. She doesn’t just play for the win. She plays for the team.
COMMUNICATION SCIENCES & DISORDERS
MOST VALUABLE PEER
Jocelyne Castellanos ’27
Major: Communication Disorders
Nominated by a peer who calls Castellanos a close friend despite living on opposite sides of the country, she has become a quiet anchor for her cohort. In a distance education environment where connection doesn’t come automatically, she has made it her business to show up anyway. She’s the first to flag a registration deadline, pass along a textbook reminder, and drop everything when a fellow student needs help. Dependable, generous, and unstoppable, Jocelyn doesn’t let distance get in the way of showing up for the people around her.
OUTSTANDING FRESHMAN OR SOPHOMORE
Logan Ramos ’28
Major: Communication Disorders
From the beginning, Ramos emerged as a natural leader in the classroom, stepping into those awkward silences with insights that sparked deeper conversation and pulled others in. As Professor Robin Danzak put it, Ramos is “a bright light in class, spreading energy and engagement that inspires other students to not only participate, but to think critically and deeply connect with content.” A superstar by any measure, Ramos has made every class worth showing up for.
OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Carter Castaneda ’26
Major: Communication Disorders
Minors: Hearing and Deafness / Health and Society
Castaneda’s impact lingers long after the class ends. Working alongside Professor Lisa Wisman Weil, Castaneda contributed to research on access to early intervention, examining disparities across states and building a web resource that stands as one of the project’s most significant deliverables. Professor Cheryl Reed, who has taught across many institutions, named Castaneda one of the top students she has ever encountered, noting his deep commitment to making theatre and media accessible to people with disabilities. In the classroom, Castaneda is a consistent force who challenges peers to think critically, sharing perspectives that shift the conversation, and showing up with the kind of intention that makes everyone around him better. The faculty who taught him will be the first to say they can’t wait to watch what he does next.
RETURN TO 2026 AWARD RECIPIENTS
JOURNALISM
VICTORIA SNELGROVE AWARD FOR JOURNALISM ETHICS
Iselin Bratz ’26
Minor: Political Communication
Bryan Hecht ’27
Minor: Media Studies
Meg Richards ’26
Double Major: Journalism + Political Communication
Last October, Bratz, Hecht, and Richards covered a pro-Palestinian protest in downtown Boston that ended in 13 arrests, documenting the event carefully and publishing a social media video that followed traditional ethical journalism guidelines. However, the response from their peers raised urgent questions about doxxing, safety, and the real-world consequences of responsible reporting. Rather than shy away from the complexity, they leaned into it. The experience deepened their understanding of what it means to cover the news fairly while remaining accountable to the communities being covered. As leaders within the Berkeley Beacon, they have carried those lessons into the newsroom and shaped editorial decisions with fairness, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the public interest.
BOB HOYT JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARD
Emily Martinez ’26
Minor: Marketing Communication
Through her work in the classroom and in leadership, Martinez has proven that the future of broadcast journalism can be smart, relatable, and innovative. There is no doubt Emily will be an important voice in this industry in the years to come. It’s a sentiment her professors share wholeheartedly. Whatever comes next, the industry is lucky to have her heading its way.
PARASCHOS JOURNALISM AWARD
Jules Telfort ’29
Minor: Political Communication
Telfort is a first-year student and is already making Emerson pay attention. Nominated by a staggering number of peers, Telfort has packed more into one year than most students accomplish in four. As SGA Journalism Senator, Deputy Copyeditor at the Berkeley Beacon, and a prolific writer earning accolades across her classes, she has hit the ground running and hasn’t slowed down. Her Beacon story “At Emerson, Black History Month Fades Into The Background” sparked real conversation on campus, and she organized the Know Your Rights for Immigrants and Journalists event–a timely, necessary, and distinctly Jules kind of contribution. And she’s only getting started.
OUTSTANDING JOURNALISM AWARD
Iselin Bratz ’26
Minor: Political Communication
Everest Leach ’27
Double Major: Journalism + Sports Communication
Arthur Mansavage ’26
Minor: Political Communication
Meg Richards ’26
Double Major: Journalism + Political Communication
Mansavage brings readers into the moment. His photography is vivid and immediate; the kind of images that make you feel like you were there.
Richards led the Berkeley Beacon through no shortage of challenges and steered the publication to a second-place ranking nationwide. That’s not luck. That’s leadership.
Leach has a sharp eye for the numbers behind the story. His work on the current coaching landscape lays out the facts and statistics with clarity–and doesn’t stop there. He digs into what it all actually means for athletes and prospective students.
Bratz goes beyond standard reporting. Covering stories across three outlets–the Berkeley Beacon, Cambridge Day, and Maine Public–she also photographs and records audio and video. Her range is as impressive as her dedication.
RETURN TO 2026 AWARD RECIPIENTS
R
MARKETING COMMUNICATION
OUTSTANDING FRESHMAN OR SOPHOMORE
Katelyn Chen ’29
Major: Business of Creative Enterprises
Chen is a leader among her peers, shining like the star she is to all who are lucky enough to interact with her. Giving, kind, determined, and driven far beyond the ordinary, Chen approaches everything she takes on with a relentless pursuit of excellence. She leads naturally, shines effortlessly, and leaves a mark on everyone she encounters. An ace student and, by all accounts, a born rebel, Chen is the rare person who makes the world around her better just by showing up in it.
MOST VALUABLE PEER
Jordan Fayne ’26
Major: Marketing Communication
Minor: Leadership and Management
Fayne is the first hand up in the room, and the reason everyone else feels brave enough to raise theirs. Her passion for marketing is genuine, infectious, and the kind that lifts her peers along with her. Whether it’s a paper, a discussion post, or a presentation, Fayne brings the same level of care and rigor to everything she touches. Fellow students have learned from her, been inspired by her, and counted themselves lucky to work alongside her before she makes it big. And make it big she will; that much is clear to everyone who has had the privilege of being in the room with her.
OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Elani Waight ’26
Major: Marketing Communication
Minor: Leadership and Management
Described by those around her as super committed and hardworking, Waight consistently goes above and beyond in everything she takes on. A standout moment came when she partnered with a resort in Belize to develop a full 12-month marketing campaign. She dove deep into what draws tourists to the country and what makes that destination worth choosing. It’s the kind of project that requires curiosity, strategy, and genuine care, and Waight brought all three. Whatever she sets her sights on next, she’ll give it everything she has. She always does.
RETURN TO 2026 AWARD RECIPIENTS
COMMUNICATION STUDIES
OUTSTANDING JUNIOR
Briana Cordon ’28
Double Major: Political Communication + Marketing Communication
A Political Communication student with an unmistakable eagerness to learn, Cordon threw herself into her Emerson-Blanquerna Global Communication Summit presentation with the kind of energy that turns heads. And that was just one item on her list. Cordon’s research on fashion and subculture trends as an expression of coded creativity among China’s Gen Z was accepted for presentation at the International Academy of Business Disciplines conference–a recognition that speaks to both the originality of her thinking and the rigor of her work. With her zest, work ethic, and drive, there’s no telling how far Cordon will go. But everyone who has worked with her already has a pretty good idea.
MOST VALUABLE PEER
Logan Braden ’27
Major: Sports Communication
Minor: Journalism
Braden knows that the best work–on the field or in the classroom–is never done alone. Throughout their time in the Department of Communication Studies, Braden makes everyone around them better, showing up with humility, smarts, and a genuinely good nature that people gravitate toward. The impact has been quiet but tremendous, felt by classmates and colleagues alike.
ZULENE AND JANICE PAYNE SPIRIT AWARD
Kendi Bispham ’27
Major: Sports Communication
Minor: Marketing Communication / Business Studies
A Sports Communication major and member of the Emerson tennis team, Bispham has been described by those who know her as intelligent, soft-spoken, engaged, and poised beyond her years. There’s no drama, no fanfare — just Bispham, prepared and ready to go, every single time. In a world that often rewards the loudest voice in the room, her steadiness is its own kind of superpower.
Shibo Mu ’25, MA ’27
Double Major: Journalism + Communication Studies
Graduate Program: Political Communication
From covering political campaigns in New Hampshire and the Midwest to organizing trips to Kent State and building bridges between Emerson students and their peers there, Mu has made himself an indispensable connector, organizer, and advocate. A Political Communication graduate student and departmental ambassador, Mu is everywhere at once, and somehow pulls it off. He doesn’t just participate in the life of the department. He helps hold it together.”
HELEN ROSE FORENSICS AWARD
Olivia DeCesare ’26
Major: Political Communication
Minor: Environmental Studies
DeCesare joined the Speech and Debate Team three years ago with a resume that seemed too good to be true, and then proved every word of it at her very first practice. An active participant in Emerson’s DC program, she has built a record that speaks for itself: third in the world last year, and a 97 percent winning percentage this year, having lost only four rounds. But what makes DeCesare truly remarkable isn’t just the wins. It’s how she wins.
HELEN ROSE ORAL INTERPRETATION AWARD
Harold Sostek ’26
Major: Sports Communication
Sostek earned the Oral Interpretation Award for his outstanding performance in the Drama Module of Oral Presentation of Literature. Presenting a monologue and dialogue from The Producers, he demonstrated confident, committed, and specific choices in voice, body language, gesture, and facial expression–the essential tools of any skilled literature presenter.
Sostek will be the first to tell you this wasn’t exactly his comfort zone. But, as presenter Ken Grout said, “He took the scoop and dipped it into the bucket of what-the-hell,” and allowed himself to be fully vulnerable and present, transforming remarkably over the course of the semester into a truly compelling performer.
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