Nine students from the College of Communication, Information, and Media were recognized by the Ball State University Foundation’s annual Top 100 Student Awards.

This award honors outstanding undergraduate students who represent Beneficence both in and out of the classroom with academic excellence, campus leadership, and community impact.

On March 21, these students who go above and beyond in all their endeavors, were celebrated at the Top 100 Recognition Event. During the event, the Top 25, Top 10, and Top 2 students among the 2025-26 Top 100 Students were also announced.

Please join CCIM in extending our heartfelt congratulations and thanks to this year’s honorees.

Kira Arkins*

Theater Education & Communication Studies: Relational and Interpersonal Communication

Kira is a senior Theatre Education and Communication major with a concentration in relational and interpersonal. She is so excited and humbled to receive the honor of being in the Top 25 Students at Ball State! Kira has engaged in several hands-on courses where she directed Willy Wonka Jr. at Northside Middle School and works as the CSH Success Hub Event and Communication Intern. Out of the classroom, Kira has several leadership roles in organizations across campus, including Chi Alpha: Christian Fellowship as the treasurer, a Bible Study Leader, and a Worship Leader. Additionally, she is the secretary for Lambda Pi Eta, the Communication Honor Society, and the Vice President of Ritual for Sigma Alpha Iota, a music fraternity. Kira loves connecting with others and finds that both of her majors allow her to form genuine, strong, and lasting friendships. She believes she would have never received this honor if it weren’t for the support of her professors, classmates, family, and God.

Emma Deaton*

Multimedia & Broadcast Storytelling

Emma Deaton is a fourth-year student majoring in Multimedia & Broadcast Storytelling, driven by a passion for broadcasting and production in sports! Deaton is honored to be named a Top 50 student. She thanks Ball State for the opportunities, mentors, friendships, and experiences that have shaped who she is, and feels this recognition is a chance for her to give back to the university that has poured so much into her. Throughout Deaton’s time in CCIM, she has tried to say yes to every single opportunity and give her absolute best in every room she steps into. Deaton is incredibly grateful to represent a school that has helped her grow in ways she never expected.

Mar Nester*

Media Production

Mar Nester is a junior majoring in Media Production with a passion for marine biology and science communications. They have minors in Biology and Scuba and spend their free time working on films with a focus on conservation and education. By combining art and storytelling with science, they hope to promote conservation efforts and inspire future scientists. 

Evan Sanders

Media Production

Evan Sanders is a senior studying media production, screenwriting, and marketing here at Ball State University. Sanders is honored to be recognized as a Top 100 Student. He is proud to represent the Ball State Speech Team and Radiance Cinema. Sanders has spent his years at Ball State telling stories that matter, whether through engaging in public speaking or collaborative filmmaking.

Meghan Sawitzke

Journalism: Sports & Photographic Storytelling, Strategic Communication: Public Relations, Sports Concentration

Meghan Sawitzke is a senior with a double major in Strategic Communications (Public Relations, Sports Concentration) and Journalism (Photographic Storytelling Concentration). Sawitzke is also pursuing minors in American Sign Language and leadership studies. She currently serves as a writing intern for the Ball State Alumni Foundation Blog, a role she has held for over a year. During the summer of 2025, Sawitzke worked with the U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs Office at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where she served as a photographer, writer, and videographer and was selected to lead teams covering high-profile events. Sawitzke has also been a writer and photographer for The Ball State Daily News and Ball Bearings Magazine since her freshman year. Outside of her professional and academic commitments, Sawitzke is involved in Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority, Order of Omega, Kappa Tau Alpha, the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), and the ASL Club.

Marie Scudder

Relational & Interpersonal Communication

Marie Scudder is a senior in Communication Studies with a minor Strategic Communication. Scudder has been a member of the Ball State Speech Team for 4 years and has served as president for 2 years. In her free time she loves to crochet and volunteer as a coach for high school and middle school speech teams. 

Zoe Whitacre*

Strategic Communication: Advertising

Zoe Whitacre is a junior honors student majoring in Strategic Communication: Advertising with minors in Digital Marketing Strategy & Analytics & Communication Management, and a member of Ball State’s Accelerated Master’s Program in Public Relations. She currently serves as a Resident Assistant in Housing and Residence Life, a member of Kappa Tau Alpha, Treasurer of PRSSA, and Marketeer and Social Media Manager for the Performance Collaborative at Ball State. Through her work in leadership, creative storytelling, and community engagement, Whitacre is passionate about using communication to inspire connection and help others discover their own passions. She is honored to represent CCIM as a Top 100 Student and proud to embody the values of Beneficence both in and out of the classroom.

Amelia Winter

Media Production

Amelia Winter is a broadcast journalism student at Ball State University who came to campus as an out-of-state student ready to get involved and make her mark. From her first semester, she immersed herself in campus life, finding her place in the newsroom and stepping into leadership opportunities that challenged her to grow. Winter has gained hands-on experience reporting and anchoring, and she thrives in fast-paced, live environments where storytelling comes to life. She is passionate about creating content that informs, connects, and reflects the voices of the community. Beyond the newsroom, she serves in Panhellenic leadership, focusing on fostering a sense of belonging and strengthening collaboration across campus. As a Top 100 Student for 2026, Winter is proud of the community she has built and the impact she continues to make at Ball State.

* Indicates Top 50 Students

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Blog by Amelia Harker (Strategic Communication: Public Relations ’27)