By Raegan Scharfetter/managing editor
TCC’s former student publications director was honored with the Texas Community College Journalism Association’s highest award at its conference Oct. 6.
Eddye Gallagher was inducted as the third member of the TCCJA Hall of Honor, making her the second TCC member after former adviser Diane Turner. Kilgore College’s Bettye Craddock has also received the honor.
“It was really special to me because the other two people that are in it were very dear friends of mine,” Gallagher said. “It was an honor for me, not only to get that award but for me to be considered on their level and in their league.”
Students need to realize that when their advisers give them advice, they are doing so because they want them to be the best they can be and want them to succeed in life because they care about them, Gallagher said.
Gallagher has collected awards throughout her time at TCC, winning the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association’s 2005 Adviser of the Year and the College Media Association’s 2014 National Distinguished Two-Year Newspaper Adviser of the Year.
Under her leadership, The Collegian has won the College Media Association’s Pinnacle Award for Best Two-Year Weekly College Newspaper in 2014 and 2016, the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award Finalist in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2014 and 2017 and the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Best Non-Daily College Newspaper in 2014 and 2015.
The Collegian staff overall won 20 awards in TCCJA’s competition, including the Sweepstakes award, which is the highest honor in its division. The staff won third place in headline writing, second place in website and honorable mention in overall excellence.
The Collegian editor-in-chief Kathryn Kelman said Gallagher taught her everything she knows about journalism and she definitely wouldn’t be in the position she is without her guidance and support.
“She’s done a lot for journalism in general but also a lot for college media and the newspaper at TCC,” Kelman said. “I’m still learning from her and the example that she set. I know I will take everything she’s taught me with me for the rest of my career.”
