18th Annual Communication Awards Ceremony Honors Student Excellence; Announces 2025 Communication Major of the Year Recipient

MAYS LANDING — In classic Roaring 20’s style with flashy attire and swinging tunes, Atlantic Cape Community College’s 18th Annual Communication Awards Ceremony celebrated the best of this year’s communication students’ creativity, theatrics, peer mentoring and writing while also honoring the 2025 Communication Major of the Year on April 25 in Walter E. Edge Theater on the Mays Landing campus.

This year’s “Oscar Night” event featured the presenting of more than 100 awards to recipients for their excellence in more than 40 categories, including journalism, public relations, public speaking, performing arts, film and television.  Individual students, alumni, faculty and media professionals were among the evening’s award recipients.

Atlantic Cape President Dr. Barbara Gaba welcomed everyone and applauded the tremendous efforts shown by all throughout the school year.

“The communication awards are a highlight of Atlantic Cape’s academic year as we showcase the talents of our students, alumni, faculty and media professionals,” said Gaba. “To all of tonight's nominees, congratulations. Your nomination shows that you have a passion for your work. These qualities are essential to your success in college and also in life. If you keep up the hard work, you can achieve truly the highest limits. Your efforts here demonstrate your commitment to excellence.”

Kyleigh Robertson, a native of Buena, took home the evening’s top honor by being named the 2025 Communication Major of the Year.

“I am really excited and honored. I was not expecting to win. I just spoke from my heart on how the entire Communication major and this group has changed me and helped me grow my confidence tremendously. I really appreciate and love all of them, so I am really grateful,” said Robertson.

Current and former members of the Communication Awards Club paid their respects to their former Club President and classmate Max Fineran, who tragically passed in 2024.

“Max was a radiant soul whose presence made every room brighter and every heart a little lighter,” said friend and former classmate Kevin Del Cid ’15. “Max had a gift for making people feel seen, heard and truly cared for. His infectious laugh echoed with joy down the hall, his charisma brought people together and his legendary hugs offered comfort like no one could.”

The following are this year’s award recipients:

• Best Creative Writing - Luca Serra, Trinity Velez, Hana Nouri Moussavi, Thomas Michelfelder, Kaylah Ross, Charis Ross, Carmela Colon-White, Kyleigh Robertson, Taya Reed, Madison Ventura, Marlee Boland, Nicole Smith and Adriano Colombo
• Best Screenplay – Eleni Desantis
• Best Novel – Ciara Zwicker
• Best Poetry – Dominica Beningo, Deena Khan, Emily Mason and Miachi Williams
• Rewrites – Angelo DiBartolo
• Communication Achievement – Kylee Walker
• Best Interpersonal Achievement – Morgan Kenny, Jonathan Santiago and Esther Bhatti
• Best Interpersonal Group – Bryant Cruz Sanchez, Ashton Krause and Evan Xayaphachan-McMahan
• Best Journalism Achievement – Adriano Colombo
• Atlantic Cape Review – Dan Luna
• Best Informative Speech – Aliyah Lamarr, Ariana Brown, Eve Riccio-Olson, Scott Chaffin and Thomas Michelfelder
• Best Persuasive Speech – Maria Conroy, Cheyenne Schwenker, Barrett E. Farschon, Serenity Colon and Shelby Appleyard
• Best Public Speaking Achievement – Carmela Colon-White and Matthew Grimley
• Best Public Relations Group – Sandy Bollo, Mishael McFarlane and Ian Palzer
• Best Press Release – Mori Tozer and Mishael McFarlane
• Best Comedic Scene – Kai’Ree Parker, Asuri Fryaer
• Best Improved Actor – Miguel Negron
• Best Improved Actress – Liz Carlin
• Best Original Monologue – Kayla Dyer
• TAG Acting Award – Gisele Collins
• TAG Lightning Award – Leonardo Velazquez
• TAG Stage Management – Jaylah Figueroa
• Theater – Mari Castro
• Best Mass Media Paper – Kyleigh Robertson
• Radio Club – Luca Serra
• Communication Awards Club – Henderson Cervantes-Garcia
• Best Pop Music Project – Ruby Taylor, Allison Kingsman and Sandy Bollo
• Best Pop Music Achievement – Brielle Santiago
• Best Film History Project – Stephen Gotta, Charlize Roldan, Leslie Moreta and Maleah Moore
• Best Film History Achievement – Maleah Moore and Taya Reed
• Best Film Paper – Maleah Moore
• Best Honors TV Project – Dominica Beningo, Tori Prickett and Matt Moliver
• Best Honors TV Achievement – Tyler McDonald
• Best Honors TV Paper – Zoey Allegretto
• Best Honors TV Script – Jay Corbin
• Best Honors Scandinavian Paper – Jolianette Pizarro
• Mentors – Brooklyn Fennen, Cheyenne Schwenker, Aliyah Lamarr, Dylan McDonald, Sandy Bollo, Zoey Allegretto, Katherine Jaques, Shayne Crowley, Brianna Lassiter, Henderson Cervantes-Garcia and Allison Kingsman
• Senior Mentors – Ruby Taylor, Dylan Reyerson and Mason Michot
• Lifetime Mentor – Laura DeBlois
• Alumni of the Year – Aris Theofanopolous ‘13
• Faculty Pioneer – Madison Russ
• Jeopardy Hall of Fame – Jessica Schachner and Bobby Prince
• Student Pioneer – Brooklyn Fennen, Sandy Bollo, Dan Luna and Ruby Taylor
• Julianne Scott Volunteer Service – Ruby Taylor
• Max Fineran Support Each Other – Ruby Taylor
• Outstanding Academic Achievement – Sandy Bollo

View a photo gallery of this event on Flickr here.

Visit the Communication Awards Club on Campus Groups (sign in required) at https://atlantic.campusgroups.com/cac/home/.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 46 undergraduate degree programs, and 32 certificate and professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May County campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.