May 10, 2007

Clark University junior, of Manville, receives scholarship

Worcester, Mass. - Clark University junior Sara L. Fealhaber, of Manville, RI, is the 2007 recipient of the Society of Professional Communicators (SPC) Elaine Cencak Memorial Scholarship, awarded to an outstanding student who plans a career in communications. She will receive the $1,000 scholarship at the SPC's annual meeting May 8, in Worcester.

Fealhaber was instrumental in the development of a community-based Web site called mainsouthspeaks.com, where she gained hands-on experience with Web design and video production.

At Clark, Fealhaber majors in Communications and Culture. She studied abroad in Australia during the fall 2006 semester, and she plans at some point to conduct research in Chiapas, Mexico, using her video documentary and photography skills. Among her many extracurricular activities, she is captain of the varsity women's crew and was named to the NEWMAC Women's Rowing Varsity All-Conference Team and was an All-Conference Athletic Scholar. She serves as photographer for the Athletics Department, mentors students at a nearby public school, is a Peer Learning Assistant, and Clark Trek coordinator. She is a member of the Scarlet Key Society and Lambda Pi Eta honor society. A Dean's List student, she has also received the Harrison Grant and Alumni and Friends Scholarship.

Fealhaber joined the project MainSouthSpeaks.com as a sophomore, and became increasingly involved during the 2006-07 academic year. She credits the support of her faculty advisor, Sarah Michaels, and the creator of the Web site, Clark alumnus Timothy Dzurilla. "With their help," she says, "I have experimented with various media technologies including video production and photo journalism.

"It's rewarding to find a project that includes so many learning experiences, but is also community based and focused on improving Main South in Worcester."

Fealhaber is the daughter of Ronald and Debra Fealhaber, of Manville. She is a 2004 graduate of Mount Saint Charles Academy, Woonsocket.

The scholarship is named for Elaine Cencak, who devoted her energies to promoting and firmly rooting SPC in Central Massachusetts. Founded more than 50 years ago, SPC is an independent association of communications professionals and is the oldest such organization in Central Massachusetts.