Homecoming Highlights!
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Author: Audrey Whitman, Communication Studies Student Worker
Honoring the Past, Engaging the Present: Communication Studies Homecoming Highlights
The Communication Studies Program at Iowa State University celebrated Homecoming Week with a series of events honoring alumni and fostering connection among students, faculty, and graduates. The week featured two outstanding alumni award recipients: local business owner Kori Heuss, who delivered a lecture at the Memorial Union, and Emma Runde, recognized for her impactful work with the Food Bank of Iowa. Mid-week we had faculty and students staff our table at the Majors Fair. The celebrations concluded with a program-hosted tailgate before Saturday’s football game, bringing together members of the Communication Studies community to share Cyclone pride and reconnect.
Heuss Printing owner receives alumni award and shares her story
Local entrepreneur Kori Heuss, owner of Heuss Printing in Ames, was honored with the Communication Studies Program’s Distinguished Alumni award. A 1996 Iowa State graduate in Interpersonal Communication, Kori has built a successful career as a communication strategist and business leader. She has grown her family’s business and expanded it to include a wide range of services, from digital and screen printing to branded apparel and social media management, serving clients across the U.S. and internationally.
Kori’s work at the intersection of marketing, manufacturing, and economic development highlights her commitment to supporting Iowa’s business community. As a leader of multiple businesses, she serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs, helping amplify the voices of others and demonstrating the impact of effective communication in business growth and community development.
Honored for her impactful work with the Food Bank of Iowa
Communication Studies alumna Emma Runde (’14, Communication Studies and Spanish) was recognized for her remarkable efforts to address food insecurity, receiving the 2025 Outstanding Achievement by a Young Alumni Award during the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Alumni Awards Ceremony on October 23.
Since graduating, Emma has dedicated her career to community service and nonprofit development. As the marketing and events manager at the Food Bank of Iowa, she leads initiatives that raise awareness, inspire giving, and mobilize Iowans in the fight against hunger. Her passion for service and creativity in connecting people with opportunities to make a difference exemplify the heart of the Communication Studies Program, using communication to strengthen communities and create meaningful change.
Read our more in-depth article about Emma and her work at Iowa Food Bank here.
Students visit our Majors Fair table
In the middle of Homecoming Week we had the Majors Fair. We met so many great students who were interested in Communication Studies and stopped to talk and learn more about our program. Our student ambassadors helped staff our table that featured information on our minors and majors, COMST merch, apples and full-sized candy bars. (Yes, you read that right. We were that table.) Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hi!
Students, alumni, and faculty gathered to celebrate before the big game
To close out a week full of celebration and connection, the Communication Studies Program hosted a lively Homecoming tailgate before Saturday’s football game. Alumni, students, faculty, and friends gathered to enjoy food, games, and great conversation while showing their Cyclone pride. The event offered a fun and relaxed atmosphere for alumni to reconnect with one another and share memories from their time at Iowa State, while current students had the opportunity to build new relationships and learn from graduates’ experiences.
See you next year!
Homecoming Week was a meaningful celebration of connection, achievement, and Cyclone spirit within the Communication Studies Program. From honoring inspiring alumni to gathering with friends and faculty before the big game, the week showcased the strength of our community. We’re grateful to everyone who joined in the festivities, and we can’t wait to celebrate again next year!