Student Awards

Every year, the Department of Communication Studies recognizes its students with COMM Awards. In the early Spring semester, students are given the opportunity to self-nominate themselves or be nominated by faculty/staff for these COMM Award scholarships. The COMM department then organizes the COMM Awards event, where students are celebrated for their hard-earned achievements and dedication to their COMM programs, extracurricular activities, and more.

Communication Studies Excellence Award (the Sproule Award)

San José State University Professor Emeritus J. Michael Sproule and Dr. Betty Sproule established the Department of Communication Studies Fund for Excellence to recognize outstanding student scholarly and creative activities. Each year, the Sproule Award is given to Communication Studies students who have demonstrated excellent scholarly and/or creative achievements.

The Marie Carr Award

The Marie Carr Award honors the memory of our department’s fourth chair, Dr. Marie Carr. Marie Carr received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from San José State University. She loved our university so much that, after she received her PhD from Stanford, she returned here to teach. Dr. Carr also served as our department chair for 12 years. Each year, the Marie Carr Award is given to a continuing Communication Studies student based on their scholarship and need.

The Minnie Carr Award

The Minnie Carr Award was established by the department’s fourth chair, Dr. Marie Carr, in honor of her mother, Minnie. Dr. Marie Carr received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from San Jose State University. She loved our university so much that, after she received her PhD from Stanford, she returned here to teach. Each year, the Minnie Carr Award is given to a continuing Communication Studies junior or senior who has performed significant service to our department and who has a high GPA.

Emeritus Faculty Award

The Communication Studies Emeritus Faculty Award was established to recognize an outstanding graduating Communication Studies senior.

Outstanding Graduate Student

The Outstanding Graduate Student Award recognizes students in the MA in Communication Studies who have demonstrated excellence in one or more of the following areas: research and creative activity, service to the department, and leadership in the field. Outstanding Graduate Students are recognized for academic achievement as well as good citizenship within the department.

Shannon Doyle Award for Study Abroad

Shannon Doyle was a COMM Professor and an enthusiastic world traveler who took enormous pleasure in exploring new places around the globe. Shannon was also a dedicated teacher, committed to the success of her students. This scholarship, established in Shannon's honor, is awarded to COMM majors who are participating in a COMM-sponsored study abroad program.