The Society of Adventist Communicators (SAC) celebrated excellence in various communication related fields during its annual awards banquet, recognizing Adventist communicators and students from across the North America Division. Several individuals from the Mid-America Union Conference territory were honored for their significant contributions to communication ministry.
Mid-America Union Honorees
Jodi Dossenko, communication director for the Dakota Conference, received first place in the Professional Campaign Design category. This marks the first time a local conference in the Mid-America Union has won first place in this category.
Her recognized work, Dakota Adventist Academy Today: A Comprehensive Picture, was created to help delegates clearly understand the academy’s situation ahead of a major vote. As a one-person communication department, Dossenko collaborated closely with conference leadership managing design, messaging, and strategy across print and digital platforms.
“It was an honor to have Dakota Adventist Academy Today: A Comprehensive Picture recognized at SAC,” Dossenko said. “This project was created to give delegates a clear and thorough understanding of the academy’s situation ahead of a difficult vote, and our team worked through many revisions to handle it carefully. I’m grateful for leadership that allowed the time to do the work thoughtfully and in a way that honored our mission.”
Campaign entries were evaluated on clarity, strategy, resource management, and creative direction.
Savannah Carlson, communication and human resources director for the Minnesota Conference, earned an honorable mention for Long-form Feature Writing. Long-form submissions must be between 501 and 2,500 words and are judged on clarity, organization, reader engagement, relevance, and originality. Carlson serves as a single-person communication office supporting multiple ministries and departments across Minnesota, and her article highlighted Maplewood Academy during a challenging season.
“Submitting work for review is always nerve-wracking, especially when the topic is as complex and close to the heart as our Maplewood Academy story,” Carlson said. “I’m both humbled and pleasantly surprised that our piece received an honorable mention — a small affirmation that honesty and hope can coexist, even in difficult seasons.”
She also celebrated Dossenko’s award, noting that her thoughtful work encourages transparent communication and trust in God’s leading.
Union Adventist University student Seth Coe also earned an honorable mention in Long-form Feature Writing, representing the next generation of communicators who are preparing to contribute to the church and community through media and ministry-focused storytelling.
Strengthening Communication Across the Territory
Mid-America Union communication director Hugh Davis expressed gratitude for the recognition given to communicators in the territory.
“It is good to see the work recognized, because communication ministries work so hard throughout the year and then move quickly to the next project,” Davis said. “When done well, communication can have a significant impact, especially on projects like the Dakota campaign that helped constituents make a tough decision.”
He added that recognition encourages communicators who often work with limited staff resources.
“The award helps create value and appreciation for the dedicated work that was done by the individuals from our territory who were honored,” he shared.
Davis also emphasized that attendance at SAC is made possible through strong partnership across the territory. “We are grateful for the support of our local conference administrations and university leadership,” he said.
“They make it possible for their communicators and students to attend, and we gladly come alongside them with additional support. Mid-America Union proudly invests in professional growth, and when we work together, we strengthen communication across our territory. This partnership helps our communicators continue developing their skills and connecting with peers who share this ministry calling.”
Savannah Carlson, third from left (front row) and Jodi Dossenko, fourth from left
About SAC and the Awards
SAC supports Christian communicators through training, networking, and spiritual encouragement. Its mission is to nurture the professional growth of communicators in a spiritual and social environment, and its vision is to strengthen a global network of leaders committed to communication excellence. The organization values communication as a holy calling, integrity, collaboration, diversity, and respect across all media roles and platforms.
Through events like this awards program, SAC continues to inspire communicators, from students to single-person conference offices, to use their gifts to advance mission-driven communication and share messages of faith and hope.
The next SAC convention will take place October 15–17, 2026, in Orlando, Florida. Those interested in attending or learning more about the convention and awards can visit:https://www.adventistcommunicator.com/ or subscribe to the newsletter here.
