Society Pages

STC Awards and Honors

Once again, Intercom is highlighting all individual and community awards and honors in a special section of the same issue. 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 promotion our great profession, and we congratulate all of them on their success.

Please watch the STC website in the coming websites for announcements on next year’s awards and honors and how you can nominate yourself or a deserving colleague for 2018.

Introducing the New STC Fellows and Associate Fellows

STC is pleased to announce that 11 distinguished members have been named Fellows and Associate Fellows of the Society. They will be recognized at the 2017 STC Summit in Washington, DC.

STC awards the rank of Associate Fellow to Senior Members who have attained distinction in the field of technical communication.

The rank of STC Fellow is conferred upon Associate Fellows who have attained such eminence in the field of technical communication that the Board deems them worthy of being singled out as one of the select few who have distinguished the Society and the profession.

Congratulations to all the honorees, listed below with the preliminary citation. And thank you to both the Fellows Committee, Larry Kunz (Chair), Jackie Damrau, George Hayhoe, and Brenda Huether, and the Associate Fellows Committee, Brian Lindgren (Chair), Lisa Cook, Deanne Levander, Mike Markley, De Murr, Thea Teich, and Carolyn Watt.

Associate Fellows

Stephen Adler

For dedication to the technical communication profession and sustained, outstanding leadership in his local STC community, which have provided great value to those who work with him.

David L. Caruso

For application of content strategy and technical communication best practices in occupational safety and health research, and for dedication and willingness to mentor others at work and in STC.

Joseph M. Humbert

For extensive contributions of technical expertise, combined with creativity and business insight, that for many years have made a positive difference for the East Bay Chapter and technical communication in northern California.

Nancy Larbi

For ease in communicating in international communities in English and French, in-person and remotely, and for dedication to providing the highest standards of technical communication to clients in software technology and international development.

Li-At (Ruttenberg) Rathbun

For continually encouraging and mentoring technical communicators in best practices and professional development, and for ongoing support to STC communities in providing relevant programs to STC members.

Maralee Sautter

For enthusiastically promoting the value of technical communication within local and virtual communities, and personal leadership qualities that inspire the professional community and the next generation of technical communicators.

Roberta (Bobbi) Werner

For dedication to developing STC leaders, enacting continuous improvement processes, flawlessly carrying out new STC initiatives while leading conferences and chapters, and for embodying the spirit of volunteerism as a role model for students.

Ben Woelk

For passionate support and mentoring of STC leaders and members by modeling servant leadership and developing innovative solutions that strengthen STC communities.

Fellows

Mark Lewis

For your tireless devotion, enthusiastically pioneering in content strategy/marketing and DITA; for your knowledge in promoting the profession, and your willingness to work with anyone in the field of technical communication.

Patrick Lufkin

For your more than two decades of STC leadership in the Bay Area chapters and the Management SIG, and especially for your work in support of scholarships and communication competitions.

Linda Roberts

For your tireless advocacy for the profession as an author, teacher, and mentor, and especially for your passion for making products and information about them accessible.

Community Achievement Awards

The Community Achievement Awards (CAA) program recognizes STC chapters and special interest groups (SIGs) for exceptional accomplishments in meeting Society goals. The awards not only acknowledge that the obligations of a properly functioning community have been met, but that the winning communities have performed well beyond expectations.

The awards program recognizes, in a visible and meaningful manner, communities that demonstrate outstanding, innovative, and sustained performance in advancing the goals of the Society. STC recognizes the following communities for their efforts. Thank you to the committee, Mary Kay Grueneberg (Chair), Steve Adler, Mak Pandit, Mellissa Ruryk, and Jamye Sagan.

Platinum Communities

Carolina Chapter

For your dedicated promotion of the Society and profession through your quality educational programs, strong leadership plan, innovative student outreach activities, varied social events, and annual competition.

Chicago Chapter

For endless promotion of the Society, trailblazing list of programs, active community outreach, and systematic planned leadership transition. For coming up with innovative ideas for education promotion and formulating the Volunteer Incentive Program.

Instructional Design & Learning SIG

For fulfilling the STC mission of providing quality programs to members through innovative activities. For your outstanding work on leadership, transition, and community outreach.

Philadelphia Metro Chapter

For your dedicated focus in reaching out to the future of technical communication via your Academic Outreach program, for your spirit of teamwork in partnering with both STC and non-STC groups to further the profession, and for your work in organizing many social and educational programs, especially your annual CONDUIT conference.

Rochester Chapter

For your exemplary work in recognizing and nurturing volunteer involvement, helping students of all ages learn about the technical communication profession, and collaborating with other STC communities in knowledge sharing, most notably with your Virtual TechComm Showcase meetings.

San Diego Chapter

For providing value to your members and promoting the Society and the profession through your excellent mentoring programs, student outreach activities, education programs, networking events, and innovative “Webinar Mania” program.

Gold Communities
  • India Chapter
  • Rocky Mountain Chapter
Silver Communities
  • Northeast Ohio Chapter
  • Southeastern Michigan Chapter
Bronze Communities
  • Easy Bay Chapter
  • Technical Editing SIG
  • Texas Tech University Student Chapter
Jay R. Gould Award

The Jay R. Gould Award for Excellence in Teaching Technical Communication honors the distinguished teaching career of professor Gould.

Professor Gould’s academic mentorship of technical communication students guided many men and women into the profession. The Jay R. Gould Award for excellence in teaching technical communication honors his distinguished teaching career, which is an outstanding example of long-term commitment, innovation, and excellence in teaching.

This award honors true academic mentorship; a record of successful students, defined as those who are involved in STC, and actively working in the profession; involvement in student activities outside of the classroom; innovation and creativity in teaching; and involvement in research that leads to changes in the way technical communication is taught.

The committee for this year’s award is Kirk St.Amant (Chair), Jackie Damrau, Russell Hirst, and Ann Jennings.

This year’s winners are:

Madelyn Flammia

The citation reads: For excellence in expanding and advancing international aspects of technical communication education in online and on-site contexts.

Richard Johnson-Sheehan

The citation reads: For dedication to advancing technical communication pedagogy through exceptional research, teaching, and service in the field.

Gregory A. Wickliff

The citation reads: For innovative teaching practices and an exceptional commitment to mentoring students and colleagues.

Congratulations to Madelyn, Richard, and Gregory for this well-deserved honor.

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 Ann Blakeslee (Chair), Michael Albers, Charles Kostelnick, and Hope J. Lafferty.

This year’s winner is Tharon W. Howard. The citation reads: For focused and significant contributions in the area of industry research related to usability and user experience; a superior record of carrying out high-impact research in industry and workplace contexts; a well-deserved reputation in the field; and for mentoring and preparing generations of students for the workplace.

Congratulations to Tharon for this well-deserved honor.

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 Sam Dragga (Chair), Rhyne Armstrong, Leah Guren, Sally Henschel, Richard Mateosian, Melanie Flanders, and Kirk St.Amant.

The judges are pleased to announce that the Frank R. Smith Outstanding Article Award goes to Charles Kostelnick for his article, “The Re-Emergence of Emotional Appeals in Interactive Data Visualization” in the 2016 May issue of Technical Communication.

The citation reads:

For the author’s thorough review of data visualization from historical practice to modern usage, presented in clear language and with effective graphics. The article is not only of educational and historical interest, but also reveals shifts and trends that directly affect both the teaching and practice of our profession.

The judges are also pleased to announce that the Frank R. Smith Distinguished Journal Article award has been awarded to two different articles.

The first goes to Rebecca Walton, Robin E. Mays, and Mark Haselkorn for their article “Enacting Humanitarian Culture: How Technical Communication Facilitates Successful Humanitarian Work” in the 2016 May issue of Technical Communication.

The citation reads: For a compelling reminder of how our work in technical communication can directly help people.

The second goes to Carlos Evia and Michael Priestley for their article “Structured Authoring without XML: Evaluating Lightweight DITA for Technical Documentation” in the 2016 February issue of Technical Communication.

The citation reads: For lucidly cutting through the jargon and hype and presenting practical alternatives to XML.

Congratulations to the honorees.

Intercom 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 Saul Carliner (Chair), Michelle Despres, Linda Oestreich, Marta Rauch, and Kelly Schrank.

The judges are pleased to announce the winners of the Intercom Outstanding Magazine Article Award are co-authors Jenn Carlos, Travis Kelly, and Vivianne Costa for their article, “Measuring Content Like a Marketer: Getting Started with Web Analytics” in the 2016 March issue of Intercom.

The citation reads:

For clearly and enthusiastically explaining how to collect quantitative and qualitative data about Web-based content and use it to strengthen future content and persuade stakeholders of the value of technical communication.

The Intercom Outstanding Guest Edited Issue goes to Nicky Bleiel for her guest-edited 2016 December issue, with a theme of “legends of technical communication.”

The citation reads:

Because of the exceptional commitment of the guest editor, this special issue tells the history of the field from well-informed perspectives and, as significantly, creates an emotional connection with these “legends” and our field.

Congratulations to all the honorees.

Distinguished Service Awards

The Society for Technical Communication has long recognized the importance of the hard work and commitment of its community members. Without their energy and enthusiasm, the Society would cease to be the largest, most effective, and most prestigious organization of technical communicators in the world.

Below are the honorees this year for the Distinguished Chapter Service Awards, Distinguished SIG Service Awards, and Distinguished Service Award for Students. Congratulations to each of them and thank you for your service to the Society. And thank you to the members of the committee, Adam Evans (Chair), Jessica Dougherty, and Mandy Morgan.

Distinguished Chapter Service Awards

In 1988, the Society initiated the Distinguished Chapter Service Award (DCSA) to recognize exemplary dedication to the chapter and its activities. The first awards were presented in 1989. Following is a list of DCSA winners for 2016 with their official citations.

Alberta

Jessie Channey

For outstanding leadership of the Alberta Chapter—for inspiration, enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication.

Chicago Metro

Josee Martens

For your outstanding contributions to the STC Chicago Scholarship and Get Real! Interview programs.

India

Manisha Khurana Sardana

The chapter appreciates your zeal, innovative ideas, leadership and substantial contribution in promoting technical communication in India and providing continuous education support to the technical communication professionals for their career advancement. The chapter looks forward to your continued support, ideas, and leadership.

Northeast Ohio

Lisa Mileusnich

For outstanding leadership of the Northeast Ohio Chapter—for unwavering dedication and service, and for your support and encouragement of strong relationships with local colleges and universities.

Northeast Ohio

Lynn Nickels

For sustained contributions to the Northeast Ohio Chapter, and for your unbridled enthusiasm for educating young people about careers in technical writing and editing.

North Texas Lone Star

Laura Ruggeri

For Laura Ruggeri’s unfailing willingness to initiate and wholeheartedly support multiple innovative and successful North Texas Lone Star STC Chapter activities.

Rochester

Carmel Priore-Garlock

For sustained contributions to the Rochester Chapter—for years of effort managing the Ralph P. Kepner Memorial Award and the Heritage Award, helping the chapter extend its reach to area faculty and students, and for enthusiastically supporting and volunteering at chapter activities.

Rochester

Kelly Schrank

For your noteworthy leadership in the Rochester Chapter—for your tremendous work co-chairing the Spectrum Conference, for your responsiveness to chapter members as Program Manager, for your efforts to engage other professional organizations, for your social media and organizational prowess, and for your always enthusiastic support of STC Rochester.

Rocky Mountain

Dave Wilks

In recognition of your exemplary efforts to revitalize the Rocky Mountain Chapter and for your continuing contributions to chapter activities.

Southeastern Michigan

Patricia Gomez Martz

For your exceptional leadership as Southeastern Michigan Chapter President and your encouragement and support as a mentor in our profession.

Southeastern Ontario

James Bousquet

For your dedication to the health of the chapter and your vision of where it can go.

Philadelphia Metro

Karen Levine

For your dedication in serving the Philadelphia Metro Chapter in many capacities over the years, including Secretary, Membership Chair, and competition volunteer.

Philadelphia Metro

Jessie Mallory

For your dedication in serving the Philadelphia Metro Chapter in many capacities over the years, including President, Vice President, Secretary, and competition judge.

Washington, DC–Baltimore

Sean Stevenson

For your outstanding leadership of the Washington, DC–Baltimore Chapter, enthusiastic support of its First Friday Lunch program, and continuing contributions to chapter activities.

Distinguished SIG Service Award

In 2002, the Society initiated a formal awards program to recognize the commitment and hard work of members of its special interest groups (SIGs). The Distinguished SIG Service Award (DSSA) recognizes length of SIG membership, consistency of service over the duration of membership, and variety of service.

Following are the winners of the 2016 Distinguished SIG Service Award and their official citations.

IDL SIG

Crista Mohammed

For your ingenuity and dedication in bringing the “IDeaL: Design for Learning” newsletter back to life in its online incarnation.

Technical Editing SIG

Marcia Wood

For your creativity in designing and implementing our TEAM participation-awards program, your wonderful work welcoming new members to our SIG, and your contributions to Summit 2016.

Distinguished Service Award for Students

The Distinguished Service Award for Students (DSAS) recognizes student members who provide exemplary service to the Society through their dedication to their chapter and its activities.

Following are the winners of the 2016 Distinguished SIG Service Award and their official citations.

Orlando Central Florida

Crystal Brezina

For inspired leadership of the student members of the Orlando Central Florida Chapter and tireless efforts in strengthening the dynamic partnership between our community and the University of Central Florida.