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
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
- 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
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
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)