Work experience gained as students at Wichita State University was critical to the success of the recipients of the 2012 Elliott School of Communication alumni awards, taking place in October.

Denver television news anchor Jeremy Hubbard, and Jennifer Wright, president of Wichita’s Orpheum Theatre, will return to the WSU campus Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 17-18 to accept their awards and make presentations to students during the Elliott School’s annual Communication Week. A complete schedule for Communication Week will be announced soon.

Hubbard, who is the Elliott School’s outstanding alumnus for 2012, had his start in broadcasting as part of Studio B, WSU’s student-produced live weekly newscast. His career eventually led him to ABC News in New York.

 About Jeremy Hubbard:

• Born in Glenwood Springs, Colo., and a graduate of Newton (Kan.) High School. Earned bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from WSU in 1996.
• First full-time job in television was at Wichita’s KWCH-TV as an assignment editor and reporter.
• Anchor and reporter at KMBC-TV in Kansas City from 1998 to 2004.
• Anchor and correspondent for ABC News from 2007 to 2011, where he co-anchored national early morning newscasts “World News Now” and “America This Morning” and reported on national stories for “Good Morning America,” “World News with Diane Sawyer” and “Nightline.” First assignment at ABC was covering the May 2007 Greensburg tornado.
• Returned to Colorado in 2011 as an anchor at Denver’s KDVR and KWGN-TV, where he also worked from 2004 to 2007.
• Accolades include a national Edward R. Murrow Award, national recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists and three regional Emmy awards.
• Married to Elliott School broadcast journalism graduate Taunia Hottman and has a son, Charlie.

“I’m grateful to have attended classes at the Elliott School,” Hubbard said. “I can’t wait to come back and see the new ways students are learning the fundamentals taught to me by people I respect and admire to this day.”

 About Jennifer Wright:

• A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Wright graduated from WSU with a strategic communication degree in 2010.
• Involvement with the Orpheum began through an Elliott School class project in 2009.
• Hired as a marketing assistant at the Orpheum while completing her degree. Became marketing director upon graduation.
• Named interim president of the Orpheum in late 2010, before becoming president in May 2011.

“Jeremy and Jennifer exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit that sets Elliott School students apart,” said Lou Heldman, the school’s interim director. “Their stories and successes are inspiring. We are excited to have them back on campus to share their passion and knowledge with our current students.”

The Elliott School’s outstanding alumni award has been presented annually since 2001. Previous winners are: Alan Schroeder, Quincalee Brown, Al Higdon, Cliff Tarpy, Cathy Henkel, Vaughn Sink, Orin Friesen, Ralph Vautravers, Sara Quinn, Gary Bender, and Carol and Norman Rehme.