Griffin Hadley and Kate McCarville the Tennessee men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams receiving the Torchbearer award at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center in Knoxville, TN. (Photo By Kyndall Williams/Tennessee Athletics)
School of Journalism and Media Professor Erin Whiteside met graduating senior Griffin Hadley for the first time during an informational session for students selected to cover the 2024 Paralympic Games for the USA TODAY Network in Paris.
“But it was not until around 3 am on Aug. 29 (the first day they were in Paris), when Griffin was working in a hotel lobby surrounded by his jet-lagged peers, that I fully realized his extraordinary leadership skills, professional promise, academic excellence, and overall Volunteer spirit,” Whiteside said.
Whiteside believed these traits embody what it means to be a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Torchbearer Award recipient, so she was happy to write a letter supporting Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development Caitlin Ryan’s nomination for Hadley to receive the university’s highest undergraduate student honor.
That nomination was successful. Hadley was among the 10 UT students who received the honor this year.
He was also the first male swimmer to receive the Torchbearer award and, per tradition at UT, was surprised with the news during a swimming and diving team practice last month while surrounded by his teammates, coaches, faculty, and mentors.
“My jaw was on the floor,” Hadley said. “I could not be more grateful to be put in this category of Tennessee Volunteers.”
Hadley said he is honored to be named a UT Torchbearer, adding the accomplishment made him reflect on everyone in his life who helped him become the man he is today.
Becoming A VFL, Leader
Hadley decided to enroll at UT after visiting the campus his junior year of high school.
He was excited at the prospect of competing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as a UT swimmer but also for the chance to cover the SEC as an aspiring sports journalist.
“It’s a big reason why I came here and to this journalism school,” Hadley said. “What I soon realized is that the hands-on-from-day-one attitude is real, and I leaned into that.”
Throughout his college career, Hadley took advantage of as many hands-on opportunities he could. This includes working at different student media properties such as WUTK 90.3 FM and The Volunteer Channel, and internships with Swimming World Magazine and Omaha Productions.
Whether it was writing, video and audio editing, or managing social media, Hadley tried it all and was grateful for those willing to help instruct and mentor him in the craft.
Hadley said his favorite hands-on opportunity was covering the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games for USA TODAY. It was a life-changing experience for him, and he still gets goosebumps knowing that he has USA TODAY bylines he can add to his résumé.
Whiteside said Hadley was a vital part of the Paralympics project. Not only did he produce high-quality work, but when things got chaotic like it did the first night in Paris, his exceptional leadership skills, creativity, positivity, and communication skills elevated the entire team.
“His enthusiasm for everything he does is infectious and he makes everyone around him better,” Whiteside said. “He is off to do big things in the next phase of his life and I am so excited to see what he accomplishes next.”
Hadley said he was fortunate to have several mentors, both in the School of Journalism and Media and Tennessee Athletics, helping him grow as a person and future leader. That is why he is always eager to pay their kindness forward by stepping up to do the same for others.
Hadley said he owes a lot to the VOLeaders Academy in helping him find his style of leadership. The academy focuses on cultivating positive student-athlete leaders using sport as a catalyst to create social change.
“I learned the roots of servant leadership,” Hadley said. “I also learned how you can use sport to change the world in more ways than just athletically. I give so many thanks to them because I think that was a big reason why I’ve grown into the person I am today.”
Hadley will also graduate with a minor in leadership studies, which added to and reinforced leadership skills and concepts he learned as part of the VOLeaders Academy.
Hadley said he took what he learned through the academy and as a student-athlete and applied it to journalism.
He said a lot of aspects required to be a good athlete also make a good journalist; for example, the drive to constantly improve, being coachable, and willingly accepting and applying feedback.
He feels his experience on Rocky Top helped him grow as a person and, as he prepares to walk in May, Hadley is ready to carry the torch into his next chapter of life. He aspires to work in the field of sports media although he doesn’t have a strong preference as to which medium.
“I take pride in what it means to be a Volunteer,” Hadley said. “Now, I can take pride in what it means to be a Torchbearer. I’m going to continue to try and bear the torch and be a leader after I graduate. I’m a Vol for Life.”