22 SC&I Journalism and Media Studies majors were inducted into the Rutgers University Chapter of Kappa Tau Alpha (KTA) for the 2024-2025 academic year at a ceremony held on May 7, 2025.

As the national undergraduate Journalism and Media Studies honor society, KTA membership is earned through excellence in academic work and is only open to seniors in the top 10% of the graduating classes at universities that host KTA chapters. 

“I am incredibly proud of our 22 new KTA inductees,” said Chair and Professor of Journalism and Media Studies Lauren Feldman. “Representing the top ten percent of the JMS major, these students have worked extremely hard and have shown deep commitment to the study and practice of journalism and media. Majoring in JMS requires strong writing, critical thinking, and technical skills, along with a sense of civic purpose. The students honored tonight demonstrate all of these and more. They are an exceptional group whose passion and dedication offer much optimism for the future of journalism and media.”

Held at the College Ave Student Center, the ceremony began with welcome remarks delivered by Feldman; Professor of Professional Practice and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Journalism and Media Studies Steve Miller; and Rutgers University KTA Chapter Advisor and Professor of Journalism and Media Studies John Pavlik.

Following these remarks, Jessica Kurdali JMS’04, senior vice president of talent strategy at NBC News, delivered the keynote lecture.

Miller said, “The Kappa Tau Alpha Society and the induction ceremony itself celebrates the best, brightest, and most accomplished students in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies. They not only have succeeded in the classroom, to qualify you must be in the top 10% of the junior and senior classes, they have made significant strides in their extra-curricular and vocational activities.  These young people are leaders in their academics and will help ensure a bright journalistic future for the country.”

Pavlik, who inducted the students into KTA, said, “The Kappa Tau Alpha (KTA) induction ceremony was a wonderful occasion and opportunity to celebrate and recognize the best students in journalism and media studies and to initiate them into the national honor society in our field. I am delighted to help continue this tradition of excellence in education at Rutgers.”

The KTA, according to the website, is “the seventh oldest national honor society, founded in 1910 at the University of Missouri, the world’s first school of journalism. KTA is the nation’s only certifying agency for college and university honor societies. The emblem of Kappa Tau Alpha is the key, the oldest symbol of knowledge and communication. The Greek letters mean ‘The Truth Will Prevail.’ The letters also suggest three English words: knowledge, truth and accuracy. The Society’s colors are light blue, significant of truth, and gold, emblematic of worth and high standards.”

During their inductions, the students took the KTA historic pledge, “I promise to be faithful by word and deed to these cardinal precepts of journalism and mass communication: Standards of education in our fields must continually be raised. Study and learning are a lifelong obligation. Industry and alertness are the marks of our calling. We must continually strive to improve the media. I dedicate myself to the highest ideals of journalism and communication; to liberty of communication; to honesty; to fairness to all; to skill and artistry; to accuracy; to truth.”

Class of 2025 KTA Inductees:

Chloe Berwick
Kimberly Greenblatt
Ruby Rosky Hoffman
Isabella Soleil Hussar
Victoria Jonach
Amillia Keagle
Amber Kurland
Anita LaBelle
Shelby Lawson
Hope Abigail Lein
Jack Maitlin
Camden Markel
Dario Maya
Rose Marie Meyers
Chaka M. Mishoe II
Yazan Mohammad
Nazli Mohideen
Vianise Negron
Julianne Huynh Nguyen
Jeynelee Ortiz Martinez
Umehani Rehmanji
Isabella Rose

Learn more about the Journalism and Media Studies major at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.

Photo Credit: Tomi Balogun JMS’28