Proven Success
CCI alumni have proven success in their careers and these awards are just one way to recognize the valuable work they do as Volunteers and as valued members of their professions and communities.
Hileman Award
The Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award, named for the first permanent dean of the college, was established in 1994 in celebration of the college’s 25th anniversary. The award is given to college alumni who have made notable contributions to the field of communication and information.
Hileman Award Recipients
- 2024 – J. Phenise Poole
- 2023 – Chris Grabenstein
- 2022 – Gloria Sharrar
- 2021 – Alan Carmichael
- 2020 – Lelan Statom
- 2019 – Nannette Baker
- 2018 – Stephen Land
- 2017 – Martha Rogers
- 2016 – Cathy Ackermann
- 2015 – Mark McNeely
- 2014 – Sharon Price John
- 2013 – Charlie Tombras
- 2012 – Alexia Poe
- 2011 – Alan D. Wilson
- 2010 – Alan Greenberg
- 2009 – Faye Julian
- 2008 – John Noble Wilford
- 2007 – Peyton Manning
- 2006 – The Honorable John J. Duncan Jr.
- 2005 – Karen Brown Dunlap
- 2004 – H. Wayne Hudson
- 2002 – Monica J. Langley
- 2001 – Thomas B. Ballard
- 2000 – Susan G. Barnes
- 1999 – Richard Marius
- 1998 – Gill Duff
- 1997 – Gordon A. Glover, Robert E. Selwyn, and M.J. Wyatt
- 1996 – Steven A. Holland, Stephen D. Reese, and Danny Wendell
- 1995 – Sarah Booth Conroy, W. Lawrence Patrick
- 1994 – Anne Holt, Dwayne Summar, and Bruce Vanden Bergh
The Torchbearer
The Torchbearer is the highest student honor conferred by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Torchbearers are seniors who have served their alma mater with overall excellence.
Torchbearer Recipients from CCI
- 2025 – Griffin Hadley
- 2024 – Abby Ann Ramsey, Riley West
- 2019 – Elizabeth Longmire
- 2018 – Justin Crawford
- 2015 – Rilwan Balogun, Cierra Burdick, Kelsey Keny
- 2014 – Kristen Barnett, Diane Tate
- 2012 – Courtney Vick
- 2010 – Jamil Price
- 2009 – Rachel Edwards
- 2008 – Blake Brown
- 2007 – Ashley Yeager
- 2006 – Lauren Binkley
- 2005 – Rachel Parsons Nall
- 2004 – Jessica Hinch, Brandon Long
- 2002 – Bradford Bricken, Tiffani Saxton
- 2001 – Laura Lefler Herzog
- 1996 – Amanda Biggers Leach, Leah Sparks
- 1993 – Levita Mondie
- 1991 – Molly Lee Eddins
- 1989 – Melanie Woods
- 1988 – Janette Benson
- 1985 – Brian Gregory
- 1984 – William McCaskill Jr
- 1982 – Ed Ingle, Melissa Mashburn Parker
- 1980 – Monica Langley
- 1978 – Nancy Sharp Stark, Barbara Ward
- 1975 – Marilyn Denney Blankenship, Martin Covert, Mae Jean Go
- 1973 – Karen Welch Bohr
- 1965 – Lynda Leftwich Newton
- 1964 – E. Wallene Threadgill Geek
- 1961 – B. Dwayne Summar
- 1958 – Sammie Lynn Puett
Annual Alumni Awards
Advertising Alumni Award Winners
- 2021 – Marc Loffredo (’96)
- 2020 – Brad Jacobus (’06)
- 2019 – Leslie Osborne (’97)
- 2018 – Curtis Rose (’03)
- 2017 – Erin Hauck (’07)
- 2016 – Erik Izo (’87)
- 2015 – Adam Brown (‘94)
- 2014 – Dana McCullough (’95)
- 2013 – Kevin Kirksey (’98)
Communication Studies Alumni Award Winners
- 2021 – Ashley Jones Slayden (’12)
- 2020 – Curt Maggitt (’14)
- 2019 – Graham Thomas (’08)
- 2018 – Heather Fasano (MS ’15; BA ’12)
- 2017 – Amy Harp Donahue (MS ’11; BA ’09)
- 2016 – Tiffany M. Haverly (’08)
- 2015 – Elizabeth Clement Webb (‘03)
- 2014 – Tyler Summitt (’13)
- 2013 – Dean Rice (’94)
Information Sciences Award Winners
- 2024 – Alice Faye Duncan (’91)
- 2023 – Ariel Factor Birdoff
- 2022 – Susan Jennings (’07)
- 2021 – Nancy Pack (’81)
- 2020 – David Johnson (’93)
- 2019 – Zoe Hoyle (’94)
- 2018 – Sandra Treadway (’07)
- 2017 – Dr. Kendra Albright (PhD ’02, MS ’85)
- 2016 – Gloria Sharrar (’82)
- 2015 – Dr. Danuta Nitecki (‘76)
- 2014 – Marcellus Turner (’88)
- 2013 – Dr. Shali Zhang (’88)
Journalism & Media Alumni Award Winners
- 2024 – Todd Steed
- 2024 – Bob Kelsing
- 2023 – Jessica Yonker
- 2022 – Miriam Kramer
- 2021 – Marquita Smith
- 2020 – Teresa Walker (’87)
- 2019 – Sharrie Williams
- 2018 – Frank Gibson (’76)
- 2017 – Steve Dean (’74)
- 2016 – Knight Stivender (’99)
- 2015 – Tori Blase (‘93)
- 2014 – Viola Gienger (’84)
- 2013 – Dean Littleton (’92)
Public Relations Alumni Award Winners
2021 – Lauren Moore (’07, ’09)
2020 – Jamie Lonie (’10)
2019 – Ed Patterson (’89)
2018 – Rebecca Huckaby (MS ’03)
2017 – Kellie Davie (’11)
2016 – Tiffany Utsman Carpenter (’96)
2015 – Ellen Liston (‘84)
2014 – Isaac Wright (’03)
2013 – Mary Beth West (’94)