Fourth Annual Senior Superlative Awards for WAMC's The Academic Minute

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ALBANY, NY (12/29/2014)(readMedia)-- WAMC Northeast Public Radio, Mount Holyoke College and Newman's Own Foundation recently celebrated the fourth anniversary of The Academic Minute, the daily segment that has become a higher education staple by bringing the latest research from international institutions to listeners across the United States, Canada, and online at www.academicminute.org.

To honor the hard work of the contributors and public relations teams at the higher learning institutions, The Academic Minute team is proud to announce the Fourth Annual Senior Superlative awards.

The Academic Minute provides a forum for leading experts to explain their research and discoveries to an engaged listening audience. It is made possible through the support of Mount Holyoke College and Newman's Own Foundation.

Since its launch in July 2010, The Academic Minute, which is hosted by Mount Holyoke College President Dr. Lynn Pasquerella, has featured professors from more than 320 colleges and universities. Including the WAMC network, the daily segment airs on more than 60 stations across North America. It is also available to visitors to the Insider Higher Ed website, and on a brand new website launched in June 2014.

"We at Northeast Public Radio (WAMC) are in love with this show," says station president and CEO Dr. Alan Chartock. "As a lifelong professor and academic, I know how frustrating it is to do important research and only have a handful of people know about it. That's why I wanted to do this show. Too much important work is being done in our colleges and universities that people don't know about. We are most appreciative of our partners at Mount Holyoke and President Lynn Pasquerella for partnering with us on this project."

Dr. Lynn Pasquerella, an accomplished scholar, medical ethicist, and global advocate for women's education and empowerment, was named the 18th president of Mount Holyoke College in October of 2009. As host, she introduces each segment.

"Congratulations to each of the winners for their informative and thought-provoking segments," says Pasquerella. "Their ability to communicate complex research and scholarship in a manner that is both accessible and entertaining through The Academic Minute is bound to inspire the next generation of leaders in the academy. We are truly grateful!"

The 2014 Senior Superlative Awards

Mister(s) Congeniality

Radu Sporea – University of Surrey

Dr. Radu Sporea has become The Academic Minute's resident technology and engineering expert. He contributed several fabulous segments in 2014 showcasing his ability to affably communicate complex concepts in an engaging manner.

Nicholas Leadbeater – University of Connecticut

Dr. Leadbeater is The Academic Minute's go-to chemist. He remains one the program's top contributors, communicating his extensive knowledge of chemistry with wit and enthusiasm.

Most Likely to Change the World

Russell Johnson - Michigan State University

Dr. Russell Johnson won the Most Likely To Change The World Senior Superlative Award for an enlightening analysis of the harm our smartphones might be doing to us.

Most Likely to Blow Your Mind

Craig Vierra – The University of The Pacific

Dr. Craig Vierra, a professor of biological sciences, takes home the Most Likely To Blow Your Mind Senior Superlative Award for his intriguing entomological research. Dr. Vierra is working to replicate spider silk synthetically, a project that may revolutionize engineering in the coming years.

Most Likely to Take Over the World

Phillip Sponenberg, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech

Dr. Phillip Sponenberg wins the Most Likely To Take Over The World Senior Superlative Award for his profile on an internet sensation: the fainting goat.

World Traveler

Jeremy Mould – Swinburne University of Technology

More than 10,000 miles separate Albany, NY and Melbourne Australia. As a result, Dr. Jeremy Mould's profile of gravity's constant wins our World Traveler Senior Superlative Award.

Best Couple

The University of The Pacific – Keith Michaud and Claudia Morain

Keith works in media relations for The University of The Pacific. There, Claudia serves as director of communications. Together, they form a media team that helps ensure Pacific researchers get their media due. Thanks to their skills and hard work, The Academic Minute has proudly showcased a number of their faculty.

Best Press

Katherine Cinnamond – Tufts University

Without Katherine's hard work, Tufts University would not be as well represented on The Academic Minute. With her assistance, Tufts University features have been consistently impressive in terms of content and quality. Congratulations to her on winning the Best Press Senior Superlative and thank you so much for your ongoing support of the program.

Most School Spirit

Jill Shockey – Penn State University

As manager of PSU's news bureau, Jill has exemplified school spirit throughout her relationship with The Academic Minute. Her pride shines through her work and helps keep Penn State researchers active on the program. Congratulations to her on winning the Most School Spirit Senior Superlative Award.

Social Butterfly

Andrew Timming – University of St. Andrews

Because this segment garnered the most internet traffic, Dr. Timming's provocative profile of how visible tattoos influence the outcome of job interviews won the Social Butterfly Senior Superlative Award.

The President's Choice Award

Luis Zayas – The University of Texas at Austin

Luis Zayas, professor and dean of the department of social work at UT Austin takes home our President's Choice Senior Superlative Award. Dr. Pasquerella selected this stirring analysis of the troubling trend of teenage suicide in the Latino community.

Listener's Choice Award

Jason Kalirai – Johns Hopkins University

The people have spoken and they've selected an astonishing astronomy segment as the Listener's Choice Senior Superlative Award. Dr. Kalirai's stunning discussion of exo-planets took us to deep space and garnered nearly one-third of the total votes.

All segments aired between 9.1.2013 and 7.1.2014 were considered.

WAMC Northeast Public Radio broadcasts 24 hours a day with information and cultural programming from stations reaching parts of seven Northeastern states. WAMC is an award-winning producer of regionally based programming. WAMC is a member station of National Public Radio and is affiliated with Public Radio International and American Public Media. http://www.wamc.org/

The Academic Minute airs on the WAMC Northeast Public Radio network at 7:30 a.m. and 3:56 p.m. weekdays.

It is also carried by:

KTCU – Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX, KMPB – Dillon, CO, KUCR – Riverside, CA, KTSW – San Marcos, TX, WNAA – Greensboro, NC, WYPL – Memphis, TN, WERB – Berlin, CT, WITR – Rochester, NY, W257BL – Oneonta, NY, W226AC – Troy, NY, WAMC – Albany, NY, WCAN – Canajoharie, NY, W246BJ – Hudson, NY, WAMQ – Great Barrington, MA, WUSR – Scranton, PA, WSUM – Madison. WI, WLUR – Lexington, VA, RADIO READING SERVICE OF MS – Jackson, MS, WNHU – West Haven, CT, W299AG – Newburgh, NY, W280DJ – Beacon, NY, W295AA – Middletown, NY, W243BZ – Ellenville, NY, W296BD – Warwick, NY, WOSR – Middletown, NY, WLNA – Beacon, NY, WBNR – Beacon, NY, WCEL – Plattsburgh, NY, WANC – Ticonderoga, NY, KJZA – Kingman, AZ, KJZA – Kingman, AZ, KJZP – Kingman, AZ, KJZK – Kingman, AZ, WAMK – Kingston, NY, W271BF – Highland, NY, WRUN – Utica, NY, WGHQ – Beacon, NY, KAMU – College Station, TX, KRPS – Pittsburg, KS, WUIS – Springfield, IL, CISE – Wolseley, SK (Canada), KISU – Pocatello, ID, W215BG – Milford, PA, CRIS Radio – Windsor, CT, WUOW – Oneonta, NY, WRFA – Jamestown, NY, KXCV – Maryville, MO, WKCC – Kankakee, IL, WWES – Mt. Kisco, NY, KENW – Portales, NM, CISE – Wolseley, SK (Canada), W248AN – Cooperstown, NY, WRUC – Schenectady, NY, WGSU – Geneseo, NY, WAMK – Dover Plains, NY, Science 360 Radio, WSCL – Salisbury, MD, WSDL – Ocean City, MD, KRNW – Chillicothe, MO, WNUB – Northfield, VT

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