Students, faculty and alumni from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication celebrated the 21st annual Gutenberg Celebration Thursday night in the Hunter Welcome Center.
Three alumni received the department’s Gutenberg award. Gary G. Hamilton (’04), Elvin Ong (’95) and Kate Vein (’99) were recognized for distinguished professional achievements in their field.
During the event, students had the opportunity to mingle with alumni and faculty while enjoying hors d’oeuvres.
Dr. Cheryl Bacon, chair of the JMC department, presided over the ceremony. She said she hoped everyone present would learn about the great things they can do and about the great things the honorees have done around the world.
The first award went to Hamilton, on-air camera host/reporter and senior producer for the New York Yankees. He also worked for NBC, MTV Networks Music Group – Standards and Practices and Channel One News.
Hamilton could not attend the ceremony because the Yankees would not let him take time off. However, he did submit an acceptance speech via video, which was shown during the ceremony. In his speech he thanked God, his mother, his wife, his professors and the JMC department. He also presented some advice to students.
“You know, it doesn’t matter what school you went to,” he said. “It really doesn’t matter where you’re from, your gender, your race. What does matter is how hard you work and how much you believe in yourself. Hard work always pays off.”
The second award was presented to Ong, director of marketing communications ASEAN Pacific, for Phillips Lighting. He has worked for the Institute for Materials Research and Engineering, Baldwin Boyle Shand Ltd., Hill and Knowlton SEA Ltd. and Intel Technology Asia Ltd.
Ong told students to treasure the time they spend at ACU.
“The foundation that you set for yourself here really sets the tone and the pace for where you will be when you graduate from ACU,” he said.
Vein received the final award. She is the vice president of Elevate Studios in Chicago. She has worked for MaxWorldwide/Ask Jeeves Interactive and Digital Inc., where her clients included Allstate and Best Buy.
She said receiving the award was a huge honor and she emphasized the importance of ACU and the connections it provides.
She concluded by reminding the audience “through our professional and personal achievements that the ultimate success story for out lives has already been written in our salvation.”
