Augusta University
David Bulla
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.—Two Augusta University communication students won awards for their research at the American Journalism Historians Association (AJHA) Southeast Symposium on Feb. 8.
Grace McMahon took second place for her paper on the Forsyth County town of Oscarville, which was literally wiped off the map in 1912. Later, the town was buried under Lake Lanier, a major reservoir for Atlanta.
J.Ben Haynes’ paper on the late University of Georgia play-by-play announcer Larry Munson took home third place. Haynes looked at Munson’s work in the 2002 season, when the Bulldogs broke a 20-year Southeastern Conference championship drought by going 13-1. That included back-to-back victories over highly ranked Tennessee and Alabama, and a win over Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. Haynes shows how Munson’s gravelly voice, pessimistic tone and creative images provided the narrative of that championship season.
Both McMahon and Haynes are seniors. McMahon is from Cumming and Haynes from Cleveland (Ga.).
Ashleigh Ahlstrom, another communication student from AU, presented a paper titled “Herschel Walker: National Champion to Georgia Political Failure.” It examines Walkers rise as a football player at UGa. and in the USFL and NFL, but then his loss to incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock in the 2022 campaign in Georgia. Warnock won in a runoff on Dec. 6, 2022. Ahlstrom also noted that Walker has at last finished his degree at Georgia after the election defeat, and that President Donald Trump has suggested he would make his former New Jersey Generals’ star running back the ambassador to the Bahamas.
Students and faculty from the following schools participated in the conference: Augusta University, Mercer University, Samford University, Southern Mississippi University, University of Alabama, University of North Florida.
The best undergraduate paper one to Mercer’s Shivika Nath. The master’s competition went to Alabama’s Anthony Montalto and the Ph.D. paper winner was Min Sung Chun of Florida.
The paper competition was coordinated by Professor Willie Tubbs at West Florida.
The annual conference was first held in 1993, AU Professor Emerita Debbie van Tuyll is the president of AJHA, and Dianne M. Bragg of Alabama runs the conference, which was held at the Hampton Inn on Thomas Drive.
“For more than thirty years, the AJHA Southeast Symposium has been notable for the opportunity it has given to undergraduate and graduate students to present their research in an encouraging environment,” said Bragg, who teaches journalism at Alabama. “As in previous years, the students who attended the 2025 Symposium were excited to hone their presentation skills and receive suggestions on ways to further their research. In the past, many presenters have gone on to have their work published and/or included in their graduate research work. This year’s stellar students will undoubtedly do the same. For the faculty who attend, the Symposium is always a highlight of our year as our students are able to receive well-earned recognition for their hard work.”
AU communication Professor David Bulla gave a talk about The Southeastern Review of Journalism History, which van Tuyll and Bulla edit. It is housed in Pamplin College at AU.
