We want to help any deserving student, but if we can help someone from where we’re from, even better.”
HUNTER GRESHAM (’98, ADPR)
On why she and partner Steven White created the Gresham-White UT Knoxville Alumni Student Success Endowed Scholarship
Impact CCI Through Philanthropy
Our donors live out the Volunteer tradition of lighting the way for others. As we build the culture of philanthropy in the College, we look to our alumni, faculty, staff, community members, and current students to give back with their time, talent, and treasure to provide opportunities for the next generation of Volunteers.
- Recruiting the best and brightest faculty to lead engaging classroom education
- Scholarships for first-generation students
- Programs and resources for historically underrepresented student groups
- The newest technology for real-world experiences
All of these are possible through philanthropy. When the CCI family gives as one, the impact is great. Gifts of all sizes move the needle on student success and launch CCI into its new future as a first-choice school. If you’re ready to make an impact and spark a flame of greatness for our students, we’re here for you.
What’s Your Passion?
Investments from our alumni, friends, and corporate partners provide opportunities for our students through scholarships, innovative programs, and career-oriented experiences. It takes a Volunteer to keep CCI prepared for the next generation of thoughtful and innovative communicators.
Faculty Support
Creating opportunities for our faculty to continue conducting and publishing quality research is vital to CCI’s mission as a land-grant university. You can support faculty research through graduate research assistantships or endowed professorships.
Leaving a Legacy
You can provide for the continued growth of the college, and leave a legacy to benefit generations of Vols. Planned gifts can include bequests, gift annuities, or beneficiary designations.
Scholarships
Whether you create an endowed scholarship or make a one-time gift, giving to CCI’s scholarships allows our undergraduate students to thrive and be successful both in and out of the classroom.
Hands-on Learning
CCI provides many valuable hands-on learning opportunities, and there’s just as many ways you can contribute to creating these opportunities. Donors like you can also help make these accessible to all students, especially those with financial need.
Be a Part of CCI’s Future
CCI continues to evolve and grow to meet the goals of our Strategic Plan. Giving to the College Fund for Communication and Information provides college leadership the flexibility to apply that gift where it is most needed to advance CCI’s mission and vision.
Graduate Fellowships
Graduate fellowships provide funding for research and teaching experience. They also help CCI recruit top graduate students who contribute to important research in the communication and information fields.
Join CCI’s Giving Societies
We relaunched CCI giving societies with a greater focus on keeping you engaged with the college. Our Volunteer community has a heart for our students—we know you want to see them succeed, and we want you to be a part of the new vision for the college.
Our graduates are launching their careers as advertisers, professional communicators, journalists, data scientists, and more. Your investment in the College of Communication and Information elevates the student experience. Gifts from donors also help us recruit and retain top faculty to help ensure the best educational outcomes for our students, too.
To learn more about how you can become a member of our giving societies, please contact the College of Communication and Information Advancement office at 865-974-7464 or email CCIAdvancement@utk.edu.
CCI Sparks
Our new giving club for young alumni! Graduating seniors who make a Senior Impact gift of their class year (ie: $20.24) to any CCI fund and our graduates of the last decade who renew their class year gift each year are invited to become a CCI Spark.
Courtesies:
- A CCI-branded gift your first year
- Circle Park newsletter
- Annual special event invitation from the dean
Dean’s Circle
We welcome donors who make a gift of $1,000 or more to a Dean’s strategic initiative fund in a fiscal year to join the Dean’s Circle.
Enrichment Funds
- College of Communication and Information
- School of Communication Studies
- School of Journalism andMedia
- School of Information Sciences
- Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations
Other Funds
- CCI Research and Innovation Center
- CCI Study Abroad
- CCI Technology
- CCI Diversity Leadership Initiative
- CCI Career Development
For UT Knoxville graduates of the last decade, a gift of $500 or more secures your membership in the Dean’s Circle.
Courtesies
- Circle Park newsletter
- Birthday and holiday cards
- Annual special event invitation from the dean
Karl Bickel Society
We recognize donors who have given lifetime gifts between $25,000 and $99,999 to any CCI fund in the Karl Bickel Society.
Courtesies
- Circle Park newsletter
- Birthday and holiday cards
- Annual special event invitation from the dean
- Athletics event invitation
Circle Park Society
Affectionately named for the campus landmark adjacent to the College of Communication and Information, the Circle Park Society recognizes donors who have given over $100,000 to transform CCI.
Courtesies
- Circle Park newsletter
- Birthday and holiday cards
- Annual special event invitation from the dean
- Athletics event invitation
- Torch sculpture
CCI Legacy Society
Donors who graciously include CCI in their estate plans are invited to join the new CCI Legacy Society. We recognize the visionary leadership of deferred gifts in any amount.
Courtesies
- Circle Park newsletter
- Birthday and holiday cards
- Two special event invitations each year from the dean
- Athletics event invitation
“I really owe my professional career to my experience at the Daily Beacon. The ability to gather and synthesize information and communicate an issue concisely to somebody are critical skills that I have carried with me. I hope through this endowment somebody in some way can benefit in the way I did.”
Jeff Copesky ’82
State Government Relations Manager, Southern Region ExxonMobil
Established Jeff Copesky Editor in Chief Endowment
We are Here to Help You Make an Impact
The Office of Advancement works to create a culture of philanthropy in CCI, where everyone can light the way for future Volunteers through financial support.
