DUNMORE, Pa. — Fourth-year corporate communication student Zamarra Vrabel has made campus history with her recent podcast project, which earned two first-place awards, including the campus' first-ever national award, which she received from the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Communications Contest. Her project also garnered a first place award in the Pennsylvania Press Club’s annual contest.
From classroom project to national spotlight
Vrabel’s winning podcast, titled “Culture — Little Pieces of You: A Strong Foundation and a Constant Journey,” was created as a midterm assignment for her CAS 471: Intercultural Communication course, taught by Assistant Professor of Corporate Communication Stephanie Longo. The podcast explores the role of culture in shaping identity, featuring an interview with Luz Cabrales, a local filmmaker and editor who shared insights into her Mexican American heritage.
Vrabel recorded the interview via Zoom and edited the audio to enhance clarity and cohesion. She structured the podcast to highlight how culture influences various aspects of life, including family, work and community.
“I structured my podcast in a way that showed how culture affects all areas of our lives, such as family, work and our place in the community,” Vrabel said. “I wanted to stress that each person defines culture based on how they allow it to shape them into who they are.” The podcast was first submitted to the Pennsylvania Press Club’s annual contest, where it won first place at the state level. That victory qualified Vrabel for the national competition hosted by the NFPW, where she again took top honors.
The NFPW’s 2025 Professional Communications Contest drew nearly 2,000 entries from across the United States and even internationally, including submissions from 47 states, the District of Columbia and Spain. Winners were announced in September during the organization’s national conference in Golden, Colorado.
Although Vrabel was unable to attend the awards ceremony in person, she said she was deeply honored by the recognition.
“Finding out that my podcast gained national recognition, along with an award, made me feel very happy and accomplished,” Vrabel said. “I couldn’t have done it without Dr. Longo’s guidance and support, and Luz Cabrales (my guest on the podcast) sharing her amazing story with me and my family and friends who encouraged me to work hard on the podcast and to enter the competition.”
Longo, who submitted the podcast on Vrabel’s behalf, said the assignment was designed to give students hands-on experience with emerging communication tools.
“I wanted to teach our students a new skill that they might not necessarily get in another class. I decided to forego the usual presentation on an interview with someone from another culture and introduce them to podcasting,” Longo said. “Zamarra created the questions she asked of her podcast guest, as well as recorded and edited her own audio. I am extremely proud of her and can’t wait to see what’s next from her!”
Longo selected the top two student podcasts from the class — Vrabel’s and one by fellow student James Bernosky — to enter the state competition. Both students were recognized in the state competition. Vrabel’s podcast placed first and Bernosky’s placed second.
“Zamarra is a wonderful student to have in class,” Longo said. “She consistently displays intellectual curiosity and a desire to produce the best work she possibly can. What I appreciated the most about Zamarra’s work was her attention to detail — she was determined to produce the best podcast episode she possibly could, even though she had never done work of this nature before.”
Vrabel said the experience of creating the podcast and receiving national recognition was both surreal and inspiring.
“The experience of creating the podcast was something I knew I would enjoy from the start,” Vrabel said. “However, it required much hard work and patience to finish the entire project. As something that started as a fun class assignment, having my podcast recognized on a national level is so surreal to me.”
She added that the journey taught her valuable lessons about communication and personal growth.
“It goes to show that trying your best and taking advantage of opportunities can lead you to places you didn’t think were possible,” Vrabel said. “The biggest thing I took away from this experience was that you never know how far something will go until you put it out there.”
She also emphasized the importance of listening and asking thoughtful questions — skills she plans to carry forward in her career.
“Working on this podcast taught me that listening and asking questions are two of the most important skills in becoming an effective communicator,” she said. “I will continue to remember this and practice these skills as I continue in my Corporate Communication journey.”
Longo said Vrabel’s success reflects the program’s commitment to innovation and student development.
A milestone for Penn State Scranton
Corporate Communication Program Coordinator Kelly Conlon-Mazzucca praised Vrabel’s achievement as a milestone for the Corporate Communication department.
“Winning first place at the National Federation of Press Women’s competition, which is our first national award, is a testament to her extraordinary talent, hard work and dedication,” she said. “Zamarra is not only a gifted communicator, but she is an inspiration to those around her.”
Longo shared similar sentiments.
“Seeing our students recognized on the state and now national level is a thrill for our Corporate Communication department,” Longo said. “Both Professor Kelly Conlon-Mazzucca and I are dedicated to providing our students with real-world, cutting-edge opportunities in the field of communication. We know that if students don’t learn up-and-coming techniques in our classes, they will be behind their peers.”
She added that the department invests considerable time in researching and integrating the latest technologies to ensure students are prepared for the evolving job market.
“Watching a student like Zamarra succeed is an honor and a privilege,” Longo said. “It truly reminds us that when students and faculty work together, we can accomplish great things.”
Vrabel’s award-winning podcast can be found on the NFPW website under the title “Intercultural Interludes: Zamarra Vrabel,” along with a full list of winners and contest details.