Rich Rasmussen '86

LAKELAND, Fla. (April 23, 2010) -- Florida Southern College's Communication Department held its annual awards banquet April 15 to recognize a distinguished alumnus and outstanding students for their work in the field of communication.

This year, the Hal Waters Alumnus of the Year award was presented to Rich Rasmussen, a 1986 broadcast journalism graduate who has distinguished himself in the fields of public relations and advocacy. Mr. Rasmussen, of Tallahassee, serves as vice president for membership relations for the Florida Hospital Association (FHA), where he manages grassroots activism, oversees the activities of the Florida Hospital Association Political Action Committee, and serves as a member of the advocacy team. He also is responsible for supervising the emergency management functions for the association. Previously, Mr. Rasmussen served seven years as FHA's vice president for strategic communications. Under his leadership, the FHA received a Silver Anvil for the Medical Liability Reform Campaign and a Golden Sabre from the Holmes Report for a campaign to protect the Medicaid Medically Needy program in 2008. Recently, FHA was honored with the Grand All Image Award and a second Image Award from the Capital Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association for its "No But(t)s About It" tobacco tax campaign in 2009.

Before joining FHA in 2000, Mr. Rasmussen had served as vice president of the Association of Community Hospitals and Health Systems of Florida for 10 years. His hospital advocacy career began after serving as press assistant to the U.S. Senate Budget committee under the chairmanship of former senator and Florida governor, the late Lawton Chiles. In addition, Mr. Rasmussen is a member of the Florida Public Relations Association, the Florida Society for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing, and the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development. He has served on a number of community boards, including the Tallahassee Urban League, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and as district captain of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Student awards presented at the banquet include:
Doc Dockery Founders Award: Lacey Brown
Forensics Team MVP Award: Megan Getter
Southern Journalist of the Year: Christine Simone
Interlachen Outstanding Leadership: Jessica Kaepernik
Interlachen Commitment and Devotion: Justin Bivens
Outstanding Ad Fed Member: Kendra Haley
Outstanding Broadcast Student: Justin Bivens
Teeter Journalism Award: Ashley Islas
Outstanding Freshman Major: Jessica Kaepernik
Outstanding Sophomore Major: Megan Getter
Outstanding Junior Major: Sam Mattell
Outstanding Senior Major: Krista Miller
Outstanding Communication Minor: Laura Howell