Proven Success
CCI alumni have proven success in their careers. Our alumni go off to be news directors, CEOs, marketing coordinators, international journalists, Librarians of Congress, advertising executives, and more.
These awards are one small way the college recognizes the valuable work our alumni 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
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 Po
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. Torchbearers are seniors who have served their alma mater with overall excellence.
Torchbearer Recipients from CCI
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 Alumni 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)