Each year, Intercom highlights all individual and community awards and honors in a special section of the magazine. The members, chapters, and SIGS listed on these pages are the best and brightest our Society has to offer. They are at the forefront of our great profession, and we congratulate all of them on their success.
Please watch the STC website in the coming weeks for announcements on next year’s awards and honors and how you can nominate yourself or a deserving colleague for 2016 .
Jay R. Gould Award
The Jay R. Gould Award for Excellence in Teaching Technical Communication honors the distinguished teaching career of the late Professor Gould, whose academic mentorship guided many into the technical communication profession. To be eligible for the award, a nominee must have been a member of the Society for Technical Communication for at least 10 years and must have been involved in postsecondary education for at least 15 years. The committee this year includes Tharon Howard, Thomas Barker, and Kirk St.Amant.
This year’s winners are:
Sally Henschel
Russel Hirst
The citations read:
Sally Henschel
For her innovations in teaching and her active and personal mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students in technical communication. She models what we want our students to aim to become.
Russel Hirst
For his dedication to student success through innovative teaching, a collaborative approach to learning, inspiring mentoring, and a commitment to excellence in all aspects of technical communication education.
Congratulations to Sally and Russel for their honors.
Frank R. Smith Award
Each year, the editor of Technical Communication appoints a judging committee to select the outstanding article from the previous year’s issues. Judges base their decisions on article content and form. The award honors the memory of Frank R. Smith, during whose 18-year tenure as editor Technical Communication became established as the flagship publication of STC and the profession. This year’s judging team for the Frank R. Smith competition consisted of Jackie Damrau, Lisa Meloncon, and Kirk St.Amant.
The judges are pleased to announce that the Frank R. Smith Outstanding Article Award goes to Leo R. Lentz, Henk L.W. Pander Maat, and Ted J.M. Sanders for their article, “Towards Evidence-Based Writing Decisions: The Knowledge Base Comprehensible Text” in the February 2014 issue of Technical Communication.
The citation reads:
For research that contributes to academic and industry practices in ways that can foster meaningful discussions across the field.
In addition, the judges also named a Distinguished Article for the year. This honor goes to Saul Carliner, Adnan Qayyum, and Juan Carlos Sanchez-Lozano for their article, “What Measures of Productivity and Effectiveness Do Technical Communication Managers Track and Report?” in the May 2014 issue of Technical Communication.
The citation reads:
For research that advances our understanding of how technical communicators contribute value to organizations.
Congratulations to all the honorees.
Ken Rainey Award
The Ken Rainey Award for Excellence in Research was established by STC in 2006 to celebrate and honor Professor Ken Rainey’s passion for research that results in improvements to technical communication, especially to practice. The goal of the award is to encourage quality and excellence in technical communication research by honoring those whose research studies have made an outstanding contribution to the field. The committee for this year’s award is Nancy Coppola, Michael Albers, Ann M. Blakeslee, and Patricia Egan.
This year’s winner is Kirk St.Amant. The citation reads:
Kirk St.Amant
For his focused, original, and significant research program that has yielded a superb publication record and a well-deserved national and international reputation in the field.
Congratulations to Kirk for this well-deserved honor.
Intercom Outstanding Article and Guest-Edited Issue Awards
STC gives out two awards for the exemplary work published in Intercom: the best article of the year and the best guest-edited issue of the year. This year’s judging team for the awards consisted of Liz Herman, Beth Agnew, Barrie Byron, and Alan Houser.
The judges are pleased to announce that the Intercom Outstanding Article Award goes to Rick Lippincott for his article, “We Explain Things” in the April 2014 issue of Intercom.
The citation reads:
For a realistic-yet-positive view of the importance of our profession and how technical communicators facilitate technological change. Expressing both the foundations of our past and a hopeful look forward as we engage with the future, this article reinforces our value to society and our shared experience as technical communicators, regardless of industry or medium.
The Intercom Outstanding Guest-Edited Issue Award goes to Tom Johnson for his guest-edited September 2014 issue, with a theme of “API Documentation.”
The citation reads:
For guest-editing an issue of Intercom that contributes to the professional development of technical communicators by delivering valuable information that appeals to both the novice and the veteran technical communicator. This comprehensive issue showcases articles that enlighten and educate readers with useful examples and context for application, as well as effective strategies for practitioners to implement.
Congratulations to both honorees.
Sigma Tau Chi
STC sponsors Sigma Tau Chi (STX) to recognize exemplary technical communication students in baccalaureate or graduate programs.
STX recognizes students enrolled in technical communication programs who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above, are exemplary in participation in STC, and demonstrate a potential for significant contribution to the profession. The committee this year includes Russel Hirst and Tiffany Bourelle.
This year, one student rose above and received this honor. Congratulations to Michelle Malkasian of Portland State University!
