MASS Communication juniors at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) Daniel Nicholas and Anya-Terae Edwards are this year’s Burgundy Jacket winners.

The Burgundy Jacket is a symbol of academic excellence and has been awarded annually for the past five years by the Department of Communication Studies (DCS) to students with the highest grade point average (GPA) and exemplary citizenship and leadership abilities.

Nicholas and Edwards, who are both pursuing a public relations emphasis, have GPAs over 3.4.

They will serve as ambassadors for the department for the 2015/2016 academic year, which, according to department chair Rhoma Tomlinson, means they will be expected to represent the department at various functions both on and off campus, and carry out projects that will positively impact the community.

“They are also expected to maintain a high GPA and be role models for their peers,” Tomlinson said.

Nicholas said that being donned with the Burgundy Jacket is a higher calling for leadership.

“I am indeed honoured, yet humbled to be selected to represent a dynamic and excellent department,” he said.

“I would like to use this medium to express my deepest gratitude to the department and, by extension, all the mass communication students who have been a great source of support. Also, I look forward to working with Anya-Terae as I believe that together we will exemplify the high quality DCS has to offer Jamaica.”

For her part, Edwards also said she was honoured to have been selected.

“I am looking forward to serving and being supported by the students as we work together to showcase the best of DCS. It is an amazing feeling to be recognised, and I’m truly humbled and grateful for this opportunity,” she said.

The students were donned with the jackets at the department’s annual Communication Symposium last Wednesday.