Association for Women in Communications honors local professionals

Marlene Dietz, wife of Illinois State University president Larry Dietz, was the keynote speaker during the Bloomington-Normal chapter of the Association for Women in Communications 2015 Crystal Awards ceremony at Epiphany Farms Restaurant Thursday night. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – A lecturer and academic advisor within the school of communication at Illinois State is being honored for her work.

The Bloomington-Normal chapter of the Association for Women in Communications has awarded its member of the year award, the Crystal Award, to Julie Navickas. Jackie Langhoff with the AWC credits Navickas with reviving the student chapter of the AWC at Illinois State.

"One of our goals at AWC is to mentor young communication professionals," Langhoff said. "Julie has given us a new realm to reach this goal."

Katy Killian, assistant to the vice president for student affairs for marketing and communication at Illinois State, was given the Outstanding Woman in Communications award last night by the AWC.

"It's always an honor to be recognized by your peers and your colleagues," Killian said.

Five women – WJBC's Colleen Reynolds, Julie Dobski of Little Jewels Learning Center and McDondalds, Kris Andrews of Bliss McKnight and Susan Mitchell of Mitchell Family Chiropractic – were nominated for the award.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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