FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7/22/14

Contacts:
Chad Hosier, SPJ Awards Coordinator, (317) 920-4791, chosier@spj.org
Taylor Carlier, SPJ Communications Coordinator, (317) 920-4785, tcarlier@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to honor Rachel Minske with the 2014 Julie Galvan Outstanding Graduate in Journalism Award.

The Award is named in memory of Julie Galvan, a former president of the SPJ San Jose State University Campus Chapter who was killed in a car accident in 1996 while on her way to an internship. At the close of the college year, SPJ accepts nominations for someone who is outstanding in his or her class on the basis of character, community service, scholarship, proficiency in practical journalism and significant contributions to the chapter. SPJ national leadership selects one graduate who is considered most outstanding for national recognition.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, Minske excelled in her studies and made a significant mark at her university and in her community as a journalist and active SPJ member.

She is a four year member of the UW-Eau Claire SPJ and held two executive board positions: Treasurer and secretary. Under her leadership, UW-Eau Claire SPJ has increased in membership and member meeting turn out. She organized a series of workshops aimed at filling knowledge gaps in students’ cross-media experiences, as well as lined up both students and professionals to make presentations on the topics of digital video editing and InDesign.

Minske has also been heavily involved in her SPJ chapter’s First Amendment Free Food Festival, among other extracurricular and journalism-related activities.

Currently, Minske is completing an internship at the Green Bay Press-Gazette in multimedia journalism, as a part of the 2013-2014 Ann Devroy Fellowship that she was awarded.

She will be recognized Sept. 5 at the Excellence in Journalism conference in Nashville, Tenn. Click here for a list of past winners.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information on SPJ, please visit http://www.spj.org.

-END-