By Kate Habrel
Students affiliated with the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism have been honored at the MSU School of Journalism’s annual Student Awards Convocation.

Thousands of dollars were awarded to these students who are studying environmental journalism in a changing world and have worked for the Knight Center or taken environmental journalism courses.
Undergraduate Steven Maier was a co-recipient of the Len Barnes AAA Michigan Fund Scholarship. It honors the late Len Barnes, a J-School graduate and editor of Michigan Living, and his career in travel and recreational journalism. It was established by the Auto Club Insurance Association. Master’s student Shruti Saripalli was another co-recipient of the award.


So was master’s student Carin Tunney, who also co-received the Kyle C. Kerbawy Graduate Scholarship in support of furthering graduate student research.

Undergraduate Jack Nissen received the Don Caldwell Memorial Scholarship in Environmental Journalism, given to a student planning a career in science and environmental journalism. He is also a Mary Gardner Scholar, an honor given to the top 14 graduating J-School seniors who are nominated by faculty members.
Undergraduate Ben Muir is also a Mary Gardner Scholar.

Master’s student Karen Hopper Usher received the Rachael Carson Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Environmental Journalism, given by the Knight Center to a top graduate student in environmental journalism. She was also a co-recipient of the Capital News Service Connections Award for top CNS correspondents for their news coverage of Michigan politics, policy and government,
Undergraduate Chloe Kiple received the Michael A. and Sandra S. Clark Scholarship, given to a student pursuing a career in science and the environmental journalism. She was also a co-recipient of the Glenn and Thelma Buell College of Communication Arts and Sciences Endowed Memorial Scholarship and a co-recipient of a Mary Adelaide Gardner Scholarship.
Ph.D. student Apoorva Joshi received the Dana Creasy Scholarship, an award established this year in memory of a doctoral student who died last fall. She also received the Mickie L. Edwardson Endowed Scholarship, established in memory of James Lawrence Fly and given to a master’s or Ph.D. student studying environmental science communication with the Knight Center.

Master’s student Katherine Habrel received the Donald F. and Katherine K. Dahlstrom Scholarship for students planning a career in environmental journalism.
Undergraduate Morgan Linn received the Great Lakes Echo Excellence Award.
Former master’s student Marie Orttenburger received the Knight Center Service Award, given to a student who has made outstanding contributions to environmental journalism at MSU.
Undergraduate Natasha Blakely received the Edward J. Meeman Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Environmental Journalism, given by the Knight Center. She is also a Mary Gardner Scholar.

Ph.D. student Ran Duan received the J-School’s Outstanding Doctoral Student award.

Master’s student Pechulano Ngwe Ali was inducted into the Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society, a national organization for outstanding journalism students. The Greek letters stand for Knowledge, Truth and Accuracy.
Master’s student Kelly Van Frankenhuyzen received a College of Communication Arts & Sciences study abroad award.