Professor emerita of communication Katherine Adams was recognized by the Western States Communication Association with the Distinguished Service Award for her contributions to the field of communication and the WSCA.

Derek Buescher, committee chair for the award, said Adams served WSCA in multiple roles throughout the years and has invited others to join in her love and passion for communication and her belief of WSCA as a home for communicators. During that time, she has practiced and preached the motto “of all things, communication is the most wonderful.”

Although Adams was not in attendance when she was announced as the award recipient due to an illness, she was still able to partake in the many congratulatory sentiments offered to her.

“I received so many texts and emails from friends that are priceless to me. One in particular from one of my mentors and dear friend struck a note,” Adams said. “I am so used to being recognized by students over the years that I forget I was once a student, and when my mentor shared with me how proud he was of me, to hear my name, I was particularly touched. The gratitude I felt receiving this award was surprising to me. I just had forgotten, perhaps, how much this association has meant to me.”

Cher Teng [Bee] Yang, lecturer in the Department of Social Work Education, is a recipient of the Hmong National Development IMPACT Awards. The award recognizes trailblazers in the Hmong community who are making a difference in their respective fields. Yang will be honored at the national conference on April 19 in San Jose.

Scott Sailor, chair and professor in the Department of Kinesiology, will be inducted into the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in Las Vegas on June 26. Sailor served as president of the association from June 2015 – 2018.