Senior and The Daily Beacon Editor Abby Ann Ramsey was named a University of Tennessee Torchbearer.
Going to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was a last-minute decision for Abby Ann Ramsey.
The Knoxville native and UT senior with a double major in journalism and media and religious studies grew up immersed in Tennessee Vols culture. Despite this, she was initially hesitant about going to UT because she was concerned it would feel like high school 2.0.
Setting aside that concern and attending Rocky Top turned out to be a life-changing decision for Ramsey as she excelled academically, and demonstrated a strong commitment to the university and community through various student activities such as leading The Daily Beacon.
In recognition of her efforts, Ramsey was named a UT Torchbearer—the university’s highest undergraduate honor.
“It’s strange to look back and think ‘what if I hadn’t made the decision to go here?’,” Ramsey said. “There are so many incredible students on campus I think deserve this honor and there are so many Torchbearers in the past who have done incredible things. So, to be honored is just so incredibly humbling and meaningful to me.”
Torchbearers are seniors who have served their alma mater with overall excellence. Seven students were named Torchbearers this year. Ramsey is also one of two School of Journalism and Media students to receive the award in 2024. Senior journalism and media student and Lady Vols softball player Rylie West was also named a UT Torchbearer this year.
Serving Others Through Journalism
From a young age, Ramsey knew she wanted to write.
As a Bearden High School student, she enrolled in journalism elective classes and worked at The Bark, the school newspaper, starting as a writer and moving up to editor-in-chief. It was there her mentor and newspaper advisor, Tim Vacek, stoked her interest further to pursue journalism.
Vacek often talked about his days at the Beacon, so when Ramsey got to campus, applying to work at the student-run newspaper was a natural fit.. She couldn’t get involved as quickly as she wanted to due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but began working as a contributing writer her sophomore year and immediately loved it.
Ramsey said one of her favorite things she has done while serving at the Beacon was apply for the managing editor position.
“Making that decision to apply was pretty monumental for me,” Ramsey said. “I thought ‘OK, I’m fully plugged in.’”
She got the position and would go on to later be selected by the Office of Student Media Board to serve as the editor-in-chief for the 2023-24 academic year.
Ramsey enjoys storytelling that focuses on the human connection and, as both a writer and editor, has tried to center helping others through her journalism. As a newsroom leader at the Beacon, she has worked with others to cover important issues and tell stories of students on campus and in the community.
As a student journalist, she has won several awards. This includes finishing first place in the Best New Coverage alongside former Beacon editor Daniel Dassow, and first place for Best Feature Story in the student categories of the annual Golden Press Card Awards hosted by the East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists. In addition, the Beacon has won various accolades while she has been part of its leadership, including finishing second in the Best Newspaper category at the 2024 Southeast Journalism Conference “Best of the South” competition, and a second place 2023 CMA Pinnacle Award for best special section, four pages or less.
Ramsey is grateful for the many people at the Beacon who helped her grow as a journalist and newsroom leader. Ramsey said she owes a great deal to individuals such as Office of Student Media Advisor Kylie Hubbard, Technology Coordinator Austin Orr, Assistant Professor Michael Martinez, former Beacon editor Sarah Rainey, Dassow, Beacon Managing Editor Isabella Hughes, and countless others.
“I feel so inspired by the people that we currently have and those I know will come in,” Ramsey said. “Our entire editorial team this year has done a tremendous job in setting up the Beacon for success in the future.”
She is also grateful for those in the religious studies program who also supported her. This includes Professor Tina Shephardson, who she worked with doing independent research her sophomore year, and Associate Professor Megan Bryson. She said many might think the journalism and media and religious studies programs clash, but she felt the opposite. She said her experience in religious studies helped inform the type of journalist she wants to be as it challenged her to view things from other people’s perspectives.
Her passion to help others extends beyond the Beacon as she also got involved in various community and campus activities throughout college. This includes serving as a kitchen intern at Thrive Youth Ministry, which provided meals to K-12 students to promote physical wellness. She was also a member of the UTK Chapter of Leading Women of Tomorrow, a group that seeks to encourage young women to work in public service to bridge the gender gap among public representatives.
She was also selected as a 2023 White House Correspondents’ Association Scholar and was inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, a college honor society that recognizes excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.
In her free time, she performs comedy improv as part of InVOLuntary Sports Party.
In addition to serving as the Beacon’s current editor-in-chief, Ramsey works part-time as an editorial assistant for Canopy Atlanta, a community-powered nonprofit newsroom serving neighborhoods in the metro Atlanta area.
After she graduates, Ramsey plans to continue working as a journalist and find ways to help the communities she serves through her storytelling and more. She has a strong interest in nonprofit and community journalism and hopes that is where she would land but is open to any type of reporting assignment.
“I love UT. I love being at the Beacon, doing improv and being on campus,” Ramsey said. “So, definitely sad to be departing but I feel like UT has prepared me in so many ways, not just to enter the journalism industry but the world.”
