This article was written by Drue Hamlet
College of Communication and Information students and outlets in The Media Center brought 20 awards back to Rocky Top from the 2025 Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC), more than doubling the number earned at last year’s competition.
Ten students traveled to Cartersville, Georgia, on February 5 to compete against more than 25 schools in the region. The three-day event featured panel discussions with industry professionals, networking opportunities, and the opportunity to earn awards in over 30 categories.
“Attending conferences like SEJC is an achievement in itself, but returning to campus with a historic number of awards is truly extraordinary. I am incredibly proud of all our students in The Media Center and CCI,” said Professor Nick Geidner, director of The Media Center.
The conference’s most coveted honor—Best of the South Journalist of the Year—went to Gracyn Thatcher, a journalism and media major. This award is not only a reflection of the quality of her work but also of the persistence required to succeed in student journalism.
“Winning journalist of the year feels like all the hard work really paid off,” the senior said. “There have been so many late nights spent editing or running around to finish a story and I wouldn’t change it for the world. It felt like a key moment that I needed here at UT to know that I’m ready for what’s next.”
The Media Center—which houses multiple student media outlets— also celebrated a historic win as the selection committee awarded The Daily Beacon the Best of the South Newspaper of the Year, marking the first time the honor has been presented to the newspaper.
“It points to the dedication that my team has, not only to the standards of journalism, but also
to the long hours and the consistent hard work that goes into winning the Best Newspaper of the South,” said Caden Dyer, editor-in-chief of The Daily Beacon and public relations major.
In addition to the Best of the South awards, students could participate in the SEJC On-Site Competition, which offers over 15 categories for competitors to enter. Students received their assignments Thursday evening and were expected to create polished products by Friday afternoon, mirroring the tight deadlines and high-pressure demands of a modern newsroom.
For Dyer, this experience felt familiar.
“I won second place in the same public relations challenge last year, and I knew I wanted to come back and do even better,” the junior said. “I spent the last year learning from some amazing public relations professors in the college, and that guidance helped me earn first place this year with my strategic crisis communications plan.”
The accolades at SEJC represent only a snapshot of the impactful work produced by students in The Media Center. The combination of mentorship, travel opportunities, and hands-on experience continues to shape their success both in competition and beyond.
Below is a complete list of the awards.
Best of the South awards:
| Award | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Best of the South Journalist of the Year | Gracyn Thatcher |
| Best of the South Newspaper of the Year | The Daily Beacon |
| Best Opinion-Editorial Writer | First place, Claire Thatcher, The Daily Beacon |
| Best Video Newscast | First place, The Volunteer Channel |
| Best TV Feature Reporter | First place, Aubree Curran, The Volunteer Channel |
| Best Arts & Entertainment Reporter | Second place, Andi Jones, The Daily Beacon |
| Best Special Events Writer | Second place, Olivia Lee, The Daily Beacon |
| Best Photographer | Second place, Cole Moore, The Daily Beacon |
| Best TV News Reporter | Third place, Gracyn Thatcher, The Volunteer Channel |
| Best Radio News Reporter | Third place, Pierce Gentry, WUOT |
| Best Radio Feature Reporter | Third place, Pierce Gentry, WUOT |
| Best TV Journalist | Third place, Alexa Durben, The Volunteer Channel |
| Best Public Service Journalism | Third place, The Daily Beacon |
| Best TV Station | Third place, The Volunteer Channel |
| Best of the South Journalist of the Year | Honorable Mention, Caden Dyer, The Daily Beacon |
On-Site Competition awards:
| Award | Recipient |
|---|---|
| TV News Anchoring | First place, Alexa Durben, The Volunteer Channel |
| Media Law Challenge | First place, Patrick Busch, The Daily Beacon |
| Public Relations Challenge | First place, Caden Dyer, The Daily Beacon |
| Feature Writing | Second place, Olivia Lee, The Daily Beacon |
| Feature Writing | Third place, Trevor McGee, The Daily Beacon |
Find a full list of SEJC winners here.