Each semester, Robertson School faculty choose outstanding graduating students in each academic concentration to receive a Faculty Award. This is more than about just good grades—faculty look for students who really distinguished themselves while at VCU and in the School. This could be through campus involvement in clubs and organizations, amazing class work, demonstrating a can-do attitude and/or being an unforgettable member of the Robertson School family.

Separate awards are given out for undergraduate creative advertising, strategic advertising, broadcast journalism, digital journalism, public relations, media production and graduate Integrated Communication. Typically, the winner receives a plaque with their name, the name of their academic concentration and the inscription that this person "best exemplifies the standards of the Richard T. Robertson School of Communication."

At least once per year, Robertson School faculty choose a student to receive the Josephine (Josie) Varnier Stone Award, in honor of an unforgettable student who was killed shortly after graduating from VCU and the School.

The award identifies the winner, "as the student who best exemplifies the spirit of generosity, creativity and dedication."

Read more about Josephine Varnier Stone and her special impact on the Robertson School.

Josie was a May 2011 graduate in Mass Comm print journalism and English.

She really made an impression on the faculty. We created the award to recognize someone like Josie, who, in Jeff's words, "has spirit, creativity and commitment to hard work. We'd want a student who works to pay the bills ... has a solid GPA but it doesn't have to be spectacular ... but above all has an attitude of helpfulness and good cheer and a creative flair."

Kappa Tau Alpha is the honor society for journalism and mass communications. According to the organization’s website, "Membership must be earned by excellence in academic work at one of the colleges and universities that have chapters. Selection for membership is a mark of highest distinction and honor."

Membership is by invitation only for undergraduate and graduate students. The VCU Robertson School is home to the George T. Crutchfield chapter, named after the School’s inaugural director.

Once students are initiated into KTA they are eligible to be the KTA Top Scholar. This could be the same semester in which they are initiated or in a future semester. The chapter presents the award to the graduating undergraduate and/or graduate student with the highest grade point average, which includes a plaque and KTA medallion.