On Monday, April 27, the Department of Communication and Media Studies welcomed dedicated senior communication students and proud families to celebrate the revival of the 2026 Colloquium and Pinning ceremony.

The Colloquium has a rich and complex history that dates back to the fall of 2004 at SLU, where it was founded by Dr. Joseph Mirando.

Its main purpose is to showcase the research of graduating seniors in the COMM 4980 course, providing students the opportunity to present and defend their findings before an audience. 

From that point on, students were required to participate in the academic showcase, presenting their respective research as part of their COMM 4980 course grade.

The traditional ceremony continued until fall 2019, when the colloquium came to an end, its future left uncertain in the wake of 

Following a few years, the opening of D Vickers and the Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center prompted the department to revive the colloquium, reimagining the tradition in the process.

In the 2025 fall semester, the department opted to softly reintroduce the showcase with a “Senior Spotlight.”

With several refinements, the full tradition returned in spring 2026, once again providing students with a platform to present their research.

Despite its hiatus, Heather Jackson, an instructor and academic advisor in the Department of Communication and Media Studies, remained committed to reviving the colloquium.

“The moment I started teaching COMM 4980, I knew I wanted to bring back the colloquium,” Jackson said. 

However, Jackson explained that, as large-scale as the event is, she quickly recognized she couldn’t plan it alone.

“I knew this wasn’t an event I could host alone. I needed the support of our entire department, and everyone was quick to step in, whether it was being assigned as a project grader, presentation grader, session moderator, or event coordinator; everyone played a part.”

The success of the revived colloquium was reflected not only in its organization but also in the students it honored.

Among those recognized, these were the recipients of the Top Documentary and Top Paper awards:

• Top Paper Recipient, Roselyn Rivas
• Top Documentary Recipients, Jules Dorman and Ashton Clay

Roselyn Rivas, a senior strategic communication major, focused her paper on SLU’s Lion Pride Career Closet, a resource that recently moved under the leadership of the College of Business.

Her project outlined a market strategy to expand awareness of the career closet. The semester-long effort included meetings with Dr. April Kemp, research on similar programs at other universities, and the development of deliverables.

“This was the largest project I’ve worked on within my undergraduate career, and it helped solidify my confidence in my strategic communication skills and abilities,” Rivas said. 

When her name was announced as the award recipient for top paper, Rivas said she was in disbelief.

“I was hesitant about my project and felt I was falling behind my classmates,” she said. “It took me a minute to process that my name was even called. I didn’t even start as a communication major, yet it’s given me so much happiness, connections, and satisfaction.”

Jules Dorman and Ashton Clay produced a documentary examining the turnaround of Denham Springs High School’s athletic programs over the course of eight years, highlighting improvements such as new facilities.

“I thought the colloquium was a great re-addition to campus, because it gives Communication Seniors a chance to show off their hard work and effort. We put so much time and passion into our projects. It’s nice to be able to show how proud we are.” 

For students, faculty, and families alike, the colloquium’s return reaffirmed the value of shared academic achievement – and the community built around it.

For Jackson, the event’s return was especially meaningful, as it showed how proud the students’ families were to see the work the students had put into it.

“It was amazing to see the turnout for the event. It was a beautiful experience to see the friends and family members of our graduating seniors come out to support their accomplishments; I remember the colloquium being such a special and personal event for me when I was in school, and it was amazing to see our students have the same experience.”