STC Carolina awarded Brian Gaines, a student in Clemson University’s Master of Art in Professional Communications program the 2013-14 Ernie Mazzatenta Scholarship. This $500 scholarship is awarded to a student in Clemson’s program on the basis of merit and promise of future contribution to the field of technical communication.

Brian, a native of Anderson, SC, received his undergraduate degree in Graphic Design from Anderson University. Prior to matriculating in Clemson University’s Master of Art in Professional Communication program, he was a U.S. Navy photographer and journalist, who documented a variety of combat and humanitarian missions globally, including the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates. Brian was awarded two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and numerous other awards and decorations for his efforts.

While at Clemson, Brian has been named the Director of Publications as well as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Clemson University chapter of the Society for Technical Communication and is a member of the Society of English Graduate Students. During the 2012-2013 academic year, he was a Graduate Assistant in the Multimedia Authoring, Teaching, and Research Facility (MATRF), a multimedia lab that serves the College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities.

After graduating Clemson, Brian plans to pursue a career in User Experience Design.