Awards

Communication Impact Award 2026

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Presented by the UConn Department of Communication

Many hands grouped together to form a heart
Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash

Award Overview

The Communication Impact Award recognizes undergraduate Communication majors who are making meaningful, positive contributions to the Department of Communication, the University of Connecticut community, and/or their local communities.

This award celebrates students who demonstrate the power of effective communication through service, leadership, collaboration, and real-world impact. The Communication Impact Award recognizes students who use their communication knowledge and skills to create positive change through leadership, mentoring, service, advocacy, research, community engagement, or other forms of meaningful involvement. 

Each year, three (3) exceptional undergraduate students will be selected to receive this honor. Each awardee will receive $1,000 and be formally recognized at the Department of Communication’s end-of-year celebration. 

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be an undergraduate major in Communication at UConn in good academic standing. 
  • Have passed COMM 1000, 1100, and at least 2 other Communication Courses. 
  • Demonstrate clear and meaningful positive contributions to: 
    • The Department of Communication, and/or 
    • The UConn community, and/or 
    • Their local or broader communities.

Award Details

  • Three awards will be granted annually. 
  • Each recipient will receive a $1,000 scholarship* 
  • Recipients will be recognized publicly at the Department of Communication’s end-of-year celebration.

Application Requirements

Students must submit the following:

  • Impact Statement (500–750 words) 
    Describe your contributions and the positive impact you have made. Be specific about: 
    • What you did 
    • Who was impacted 
    • Why this work matters 
    • What you learned through the experience 
  • Unofficial UConn transcript
  • Resume or CV 
  • One brief letter of support from a faculty member, advisor, supervisor, or community partner who can speak to your impact. 
     

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: March 22, 2026 (11:59 PM) 
  • Notification of Award: By April 17, 2026 
  • Recognition Ceremony: End-of-year Department of Communication celebration (April 30, 2026)

How To Apply

Students should submit the application materials and their impact statement through the following Submission form: Communication Impact Award Submission form (Kuali)

* All scholarships will be administered by the Office of Student Financial Aid Services. If you are a need-based financial aid recipient (loans, grants, work-study employment), your financial aid package may be revised as a result of this award. If no adjustment is necessary and your fee bill is paid in full, you may be entitled to a refund. If you have questions about how a scholarship could affect your financial aid package, please call (860)486-2819. 

Apply Now

Communication Assistant Professors Amanda Cooper and Elizabeth Hintz Named 2025 Early Career Scholars by NCA

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Portrait of Elizabeth Hintz
Portrait of Amanda Cooper

Dr. R. Amanda Cooper, PhD. (image on right), assistant professor of interpersonal communication, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Leslie A. Baxter Early Career Award, presented by the Family Communication Division of the National Communication Association (NCA).

Dr. Elizabeth Hintz, PhD. (image on left), assistant professor of health communication, has been honored with the 2025 Early Career Scholar Award from NCA’s Health Communication Division. This marks her third early career accolade from the association—having previously received awards from the Interpersonal Communication and Family Communication divisions in 2023. With this trio of recognitions, Hintz has achieved a rare and distinguished milestone in the field of communication.

These awards celebrate the impactful research and scholarly contributions of Cooper and Hintz, as well as their commitment to advancing their respective areas of study.

Awardees will be formally recognized at the 111th Annual NCA Convention this November.

The National Communication Association is a scholarly society committed to promoting excellence in communication research, education, and practice to enrich lives and foster a more informed and connected world.

UConn Professor of Communication Dr. David Atkin, PhD., inducted as ICA Fellow

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Dr. David Atkin receiving fellowship award on stage.
Dr. David Atkin shaking hands with person bestowing award.

Inducted as a Fellow of the International Communication Association (ICA)

DENVER, CO — The International Communication Association (ICA) has named Dr. David Atkin, Professor of Communication at the University of Connecticut, to its prestigious 2025 Class of Fellows, recognizing his distinguished contributions to the field of communication.


The ICA Fellow designation is one of the highest honors in the discipline, awarded to scholars whose work has made a lasting impact on communication research and theory. Dr. Atkin’s selection reflects a career defined by innovation, rigor, and influence across multiple domains of digital and mediated communication.

Since first attending ICA in the mid-1980s, Atkin has built a prolific research portfolio that includes over 190 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and five scholarly books. His work has shaped understanding in areas such as media effects, communication technologies, political communication, and media policy. He is widely recognized for developing and validating key theoretical models, including the Functional Equivalence framework, the Integrated Communication Technology Adoption Model, and Technology Fluidity Theory.


Atkin’s scholarship has earned him a place among the top 1% of researchers in the Humanities and Social Sciences globally, with consistent rankings for research output and citation impact. His contributions have not only advanced academic discourse but also informed real-world applications in media and technology policy.

Beyond his research, Dr. Atkin has served in editorial roles for leading journals and played an active role in ICA and other professional organizations. His commitment to teaching and mentorship has been recognized with honors such as the Krieghbaum Under-40 Award and the University Distinguished Scholar Award.