Tag: Bonnie Arnold

Spring 2018 graduates hear messages of adapting through change

Posted on by Don McClain

Pictures from the Spring 2018 Grady Convocation can be viewed on the UGAGrady Flickr galleries:

       Spring 2018 convocation graduates:

More than 500 students were eligible for graduation from Grady College this semester, many of whom were recognized at the Spring 2018 Convocation ceremony on April 26, 2018, at the Classic Center.

Forty graduate students graduated from Grady College, include three Ph.D. graduates. Undergraduates who were recognized included 142 students with an advertising degree, 130 with a degree in public relations, 114 from the journalism program and 81 from the entertainment and media studies department.

Dean Charles Davis presided over the ceremony, giving an overview of Grady’s accomplishments this past year and commending the students for their hard work, passion and academic excellence.

Bonnie Arnold (ABJ ’77), a producer at DreamWorks with production credits including “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Toy Story,” delivered the charge to the candidates and focused on making change work in their favor.

Four lessons in her address included:

  1. Be flexible and take advantage of every opportunity. “Focus on building a track record of success and people will keep betting on you,” Arnold advised, pulling from a quote from Kim Lubel. Arnold illustrated this advice among stories of how she got her start driving Harrison Ford as a production assistant, and serving as a body guard for Kevin Costner for a movie called, “Revenge,” which led to her start producing credit for “Dancing with Wolves.”
  2. Seek out a mentor…or even better, a sponsor. “Mentors open the door, sponsors help you walk through them,” Arnold said.
  3. Be brave. “It takes courage to deal with change,” Arnold said, recalling stories of getting “Toy Story” into production through the creation of computer-generated animation.
  4. “The quicker you realize this, the better,” she concluded.

The distinguished senior speaker, a student chosen based on an audition among the graduates for the spot, was Noelle Lashley, a journalism major from Cartersville, Georgia.

Near the conclusion of her speech, Lashley talks about why Grady is special to her: “I walked into Grady as a terrified student who didn’t even know how to set up a camera tripod. Now, I leave Grady as a journalist who has found a second family and a second home. This college has given us all the skills to move forward in the future…as who we ARE, not who we think we SHOULD be.”

Dana Todd (ABJ ‘91), chair of the Grady Society Alumni Board, concluded the platform of speakers by welcoming the students to the alumni ranks of the college.

Todd encouraged graduates to connect with the Grady alumni family by thinking outside the box about ways to give back…through networking, mentoring, supporting current students with new educational opportunities and encouraging other alumni.

“Don’t forget to reach back while you are reaching for the stars,” Todd concluded.

Grady Salutes honors alumni, provides advice for students

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In a room full of Grady College luminaries, Grady Fellow inductee Suzy Deering said it best when she talked about how humbled she was to be among the honorees.

“When you see these amazing people that walk this stage…that walk our world… and the change that they are making happen, you’ve got to feel so proud that you can call this, the University of Georgia, your home, but more importantly, that Grady is your family.”

Deering was one of ten honorees at the 2017 Grady Salutes: A Celebration of Achievement, Commitment and Leadership on April 28, 2017, in the UGA Tate Grand Hall.

Alumni Awards winners included: Bonnie Arnold (ABJ’ 77), John Holliman Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award; Jason Kreher (ABJ ’00), Henry W. Grady Mid-Career Alumni Award; Brooke Beach (ABJ ’11), John E. Drewry Young Alumni Award; and Jane B. Singer (ABJ ’76), Distinguished Alumni Scholar Award.

The 2017 Class of Grady Fellows were Deering, Philip Meeks (ABJ ’76), Amy Robach (ABJ ’95), Carla Sacks (ABJ ’88) and Kathleen Trocheck (ABJ ’76). Arnold also was inducted into the Fellowship.

Loran Smith (ABJ ’62) received the Dean’s Medal.

From remembrances of faculty inspiration and cultural impacts like Watergate, to heart-felt cheers of ‘Go Dawgs,’ each honoree added to the flavor of the evening.

  • Brooke Beach started out her comments saying it was not long ago that she was attending the awards ceremony as a student and a Grady Ambassador. Beach said: “to the students who may be looking at the stage wondering the same thing that I did, ‘will I ever be up there,’ my charge to you is this…to never stop dreaming, to work really hard, stay positive and treat others well. If you do those things, you may surprise yourself with the stage you end up on.”
  • Jason Kreher used his time on stage to implore the audience to focus on the subject of diversity. “What we all have in common in the room is storytelling and diversity has got to be one of our key priorities. In my 17 years here, I am watching that slowly start to change, but slowly is the key. Everyone in this room has the ability to speed that up.”
  • Bonnie Arnold, along with Trocheck later in the program, talked about the influence of Watergate, which was in the headlines during her time at Grady College. “This situation dramatically demonstrated the power and importance of investigative reporting. It aroused the passion in young people like myself, providing further inspiration to join the profession dedicated to finding the facts and getting the story. My career ultimately revolved into a different realm of storytelling, filmmaking, but journalism is something I revere. This is why I am so encouraged today to see young people again being galvanized by the news of our time.”
  • Jane Singer, who teaches in London, could not attend Grady Salutes, but her good friend Janice Hume, read a note of thanks from Singer. “One of the greatest privileges of life in a democratic society is asking questions. And, one of greatest rewards is uncovering answers that lead to new questions. This ongoing pursuit of understanding, combined with insight, fueled by curiosity, is at the heart of journalism and at the heart of academic research, too.” Singer will be presented her award this summer by some Grady students who are studying in Oxford, England.
  • Suzy Deering talked about the foundation her classes at Grady College provided in preparing her for unknown adventures ahead. “The first step was getting into the University of Georgia, then it was actually taking the steps to make sure I was well-prepared for what my next adventure was. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to prepare me for that next adventure.”
  • Phil Meeks channeled musician Bob Dylan for the basis of his comments when he talked about Dylan’s lyrics, ‘if you’re not busy being born, you’re busy dying.’ “To me, that exemplifies getting better every day, and evolving and growing as a person, and a lot of that journey began for me here on this campus.”
  • Amy Robach began her talk with an admission that journalism was a back-up plan to being an actress, but that once she started, she fell in love with storytelling and journalism. He classes taught her how to be fair and compassionate and gave her confidence for her first job. “I am so proud to be a Bulldawg and so proud to be a graduate of Grady College because this is the reason why I am a journalist. This school is the reason why I have the career I have. I truly credit this university and this college, specifically, with giving me the most magical, beautiful career because it’s a lot better than being an actress.”
  • Carla Sacks talked about her time working at WUOG while she was a student at Grady College. She met her husband at Grady, and while she thought she wanted to be a documentary filmmaker, she went on to create one of the largest PR agencies representing musicians and filmmakers. “Be open-minded, because you never know what’s around the corner.”
  • Kathy Trocheck talked about how her background in journalism has inspired her to excel at writing fiction. Her work at the Red & Black was her learning lab. “I learned to ask important questions. I didn’t learn to just ask questions, I learned to ask follow-up questions. I learned to listen and listen to the way people spoke.” She concluded with thoughts about the journalism profession: “Journalists, students, I honestly believe you are doing the most important work you can do. You are doing the work that needs to be done. I am inspired by you.”
  • Loran Smith closed the ceremony by taking a cue from the late Furman Bisher who wrote an annual Thanksgiving column. “Thanksgiving is something most Americans can celebrate every day,” Smith began. “I am thankful to be a graduate of Grady. I am thankful for our ebullient dean. Charles has credentials, vision and a fine sense of direction for our school.” He continued with words of thankfulness for Grady’s faculty, the Peabody awards and “students who will be world-changers as we move forward in this century.” He also spoke about the influence of another Grady alumnus, Dan Magill (ABJ ’42) “I am thankful that a Grady titan, the late Dan Magill allowed a country boy to learn that you can travel the world and enjoy its delights but there’s no place like home, especially if home is Athens.”

A Grady Salutes 2017 photo album can be found on the UGAGrady Flickr page, and select interviews through Facebook Live can be found the UGAGrady Facebook feed.

DreamWorks Animation’s Bonnie Arnold honored with Grady College Lifetime Achievement Award

Posted on by Don McClain

Bonnie Arnold, president of DreamWorks Animation, is the 2017 recipient of the John Holliman Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Grady College. Named after the late John Holliman, Grady alumnus and former CNN reporter, the award honors sustained contributions to the profession throughout a career. She will also be inducted into the 2017 Grady Fellowship class.

A trailblazer in the world of animation, Arnold (ABJ’ 77) is known for critically and commercially acclaimed animated hits as well as award-winning dramas. She won a Golden Globe and garnered an Oscar® nomination for 2014’s “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” the sequel to the Academy Award®-nominated blockbuster “How to Train Your Dragon,” which she also produced.

Her films span from the pioneering “Toy Story” to the Oscar®-winning “Dances with Wolves;” from “Over the Hedge” to the Oscar®-nominated “The Last Station.” Along the way, she has worked with many of the industry’s most creative directors. Next for Arnold is “How to Train Your Dragon 3.”

Arnold will be recognized at “Grady Salutes: A Celebration of Achievement, Commitment and Leadership” on April 28 at 6 p.m. at the UGA Tate Grand Hall.  Other 2017 Alumni Award recipients include:

Read more about this year’s Alumni Award honorees at https://t.uga.edu/37u.

Registration for Grady Salutes is now closed, please contact Karen Andrews, karena@uga.edu for more information.

UGA Grady College announces recipients of 2017 Alumni Awards

Posted on by Don McClain

The University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is pleased to honor four outstanding graduates with its 2017 Alumni Awards.

Bonnie Arnold (ABJ’ 77) receives the John Holliman Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award; Jason Kreher (ABJ ’00) is honored with the Henry W. Grady Mid-Career Alumni Award; Brooke Beach (ABJ ’11) is awarded the John E. Drewry Young Alumni Award; and Jane B. Singer (ABJ ’76) receives the Distinguished Alumni Scholar Award.

Named after the late John Holliman Jr., Grady alumnus and former CNN reporter, the Lifetime Achievement Award honors sustained contributions to the profession throughout a career. The Henry W. Grady Award honors a mid-career graduate who has been influential in his or her field. The Dean John E. Drewry Award recognizes a graduate of the last decade who has experienced a successful early career. The Distinguished Scholar Award honors an alumnus/a for excellence and sustained contributions to scholarship in journalism and mass communication education.

“This year’s Grady Alumni Awards winners underscore the breadth and depth of the college’s graduates and remind me of what an incredible level of talent we produce,” said Charles N. Davis (MA ’92), dean of Grady College. “We’re of course counting down the days to April 28 and our annual Grady Salutes celebration, where we’ll honor all Grady alumni while recognizing these outstanding winners and inducting a new class of Grady Fellows. It’s going to be a glamorous celebration befitting a college with more than 22,000 alumni.”

A trailblazer in the world of animation and president of DreamWorks Animation, Bonnie Arnold is known for critically and commercially acclaimed animated hits as well as award-winning dramas. She won a Golden Globe and garnered an Oscar® nomination for 2014’s “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” the sequel to the Academy Award®-nominated blockbuster “How to Train Your Dragon,” which she also produced. Her films span from the pioneering “Toy Story” to the Oscar®-winning “Dances with Wolves;” from “Over the Hedge” to the Oscar®-nominated “The Last Station.” Along the way, she has worked with many of the industry’s most creative directors. Next for Arnold is “How to Train Your Dragon 3.”

Jason Kreher is a creative director at Wieden+Kennedy in Portland, Oregon, working for clients such as KFC, Verizon, Weight Watchers and Old Spice. Prior to becoming a creative director, Kreher was a copywriter on Old Spice, Target, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Jaguar, Howard Stern for Sirius and MTV. In the span of his 17-year advertising career, he has won nearly every major industry award, including 12 Cannes Lions and the AICP’s Campaign of the Year, a distinction that puts Kreher’s work in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection. In 2015, AdWeek chose him as one of the top 30 most innovative people in media.

Brooke Beach is the founder and CEO of Marketwake, a digital marketing agency that focuses on sharing stories and building brands for businesses across the globe. Before starting her own company, Beach was the CEO of a technology company called Kevy, where she helped turn the company around after its pivot into marketing automation in 2015. Beach started her career as a spokesperson for Fortune 500 companies and helped lead nationwide PR and marketing campaigns.

Jane B. Singer is the director of research for the Department of Journalism at City, University of London, where she is Professor of Journalism Innovation. She previously held faculty posts at the University of Iowa and Colorado State University, and served as Johnston Press Chair in Digital Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire in the United Kingdom. She worked for more than 15 years as a print and online journalist before earning her PhD in journalism at the University of Missouri. Her research has traced the evolution of digital journalism since the mid-1990s, with a focus on journalists’ changing roles, perceptions, norms and practices.

“Grady Salutes: A Celebration of Achievement, Commitment and Leadership” will be held on April 28 at UGA Tate Grand Hall. 

Registration for this event is now closed, please contact Karen Andrews, karena@uga.edu for more information.