Category Archives: Alumni News
2020 CCI School/Program Alumni of the Year
The College of Communication and Information’s 2020 school/program alumni of the year were honored during the fall CCI Board of Visitor’s meeting on Nov. 6.
This year’s award winners include: Advertising Alumnus of the Year Brad Jacobus (BS/AD ’06), Communication Studies Alumnus of the Year Curt Maggitt (BA/CS ’14), Information Sciences Alumnus of the Year David Johnson (MSIS ’93), Journalism and Electronic Media Alumna of the Year Teresa Walker (BS/JEM ’87), and Public Relations Alumnus of the Year Jamie Lonie (BS/PR ’10).
They accepted awards alongside Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Lelan Statom.
CCI has been honoring alumni … Read more “2020 CCI School/Program Alumni of the Year”
Statom Named 2020 CCI Hileman Award Winner
Award-winning meteorologist Lelan Statom (JEM ’86) is the recipient of the UT College of Communication and Information’s 2020 Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest alumni honor given by the college.
Statom was honored along with five school and program alumni of the year award winners during the virtual CCI Board of Visitors meeting on Nov. 6
In addition to his many newsroom accomplishments, Statom has made significant contributions to the University of Tennessee through his service as a charter member of the UTK Alumni Board of Directors and as a member of the CCI Board of Visitors. In … Read more “Statom Named 2020 CCI Hileman Award Winner”
Q&A With Alissa Sommerfeldt
The College of Communications and Information offers a master’s program in Communication and Information with four different concentrations: advertising, public relations, communication studies, and journalism and electronic media. The program equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a career in both professional and management positions. Students gain knowledge in each concentration, regardless of which they choose to pursue, to ensure a well-rounded education. The program also provides students with opportunities to study abroad, receive scholarships, and to participate in research projects.
Alissa Sommerfeldt is working toward her master’s degree with a concentration in public relations, balancing the … Read more “Q&A With Alissa Sommerfeldt”
CCI Alumni Start VOLs Remote Internship Program for Students
As many students around the country had their summer internship plans put on hold because of COVID-19 and economic uncertainty, the University of Tennessee’s New York City Alumni Chapter quickly organized a virtual internship program for future communicators.
The VOLs Remote Internship pilot program paired five interns from CCI with social media and digital communication roles at nonprofit organizations dedicated to education.
CCI Board of Visitors member Jamie Lonie (PR ’10), who also serves as president of UT’s New York City Alumni Chapter, said the idea for a digital internship program was born at the October 2019 CCI Board of … Read more “CCI Alumni Start VOLs Remote Internship Program for Students”
Q&A with Gabriela Szymanowska
While she was a student in the School of Journalism and Electronic Media, Gabriela Szymanowska (JEM ’20) developed a passion for telling people’s stories that can raise awareness or inspire change on important social issues.
She gained more experience telling those critical stories through writing and photography during her eight-month John and Patty Williams Fellowship with the Carnegie-Knight News21 program, the prestigious multimedia project that brings together the country’s top journalism students and graduates. Because of COVID-19, this year’s 31 News21 fellows from 16 universities collaborated virtually on “Kids Imprisoned,” an investigation into juvenile justice in America.
Szymanowska served as … Read more “Q&A with Gabriela Szymanowska”
Seattle Public Library, Led by Marcellus Turner (SIS ’88), Named 2020 Library of the Year
CCI Board of Visitors member and Seattle Public Library Executive Director and Chief Librarian Marcellus Turner (SIS ’88) credits the library’s staff for earning it the 2020 Gale/Library Journal Library of the Year Award.
“This is well-deserved recognition of their commitment to involving community voices in programs, reducing barriers to access and actively pursuing key partnerships. It’s our staff that has been leading the way,” Turner stated in a news release.
Visit the School of Information Sciences website to continue reading.
Lexie Little (JEM ’18) Places in Hearst Awards for Clarence Brown Story
Alumna Lexie Little (JEM ’18) placed sixth nationally in the Personality/Profile Writing Competition in the 2019-20 William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s Journalism Awards Program.
Her award-winning feature article, “A Roustabout Career: The Forgotten Celebrity of Clarence Brown,” started as a class assignment but eventually appeared in the Torchbearer, the University of Tennessee’s alumni magazine.
Little is now pursuing her Master’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. She recently started work on her thesis project, which explores shifts in the collective memory of the Civil War through studying newspaper coverage of Confederacy … Read more “Lexie Little (JEM ’18) Places in Hearst Awards for Clarence Brown Story”
Ask Alumni: Making the Most of Telecommuting
With many professional communicators now working from home because of COVID-19, we asked CCI alumni for their advice on making the most of telecommuting.
For the most updated campus information related to the coronavirus as well as resources for students, faculty, and staff, please visit utk.edu/coronavirus.
Wendy Bishop
JEM, 1995
Copywriter/Editor, Jewelry Television
Have set working hours if you can. Don’t work in the same room where you sleep or relax. Try to set boundaries so you don’t feel “on” all the time and take breaks during the day to get up, step away or go outside. My husband … Read more “Ask Alumni: Making the Most of Telecommuting”
Peyton Manning Surprises CMST Students in Online Class
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, students received a big surprise today when Peyton Manning dropped in on John Haas’ Communication Studies Senior Capstone class.
“I realize this a unique time and probably not the ideal way you guys expected to spend your senior year,” Manning said. “I just encourage you to keep a positive attitude, keep doing what you’re doing, and try to take advantage of the little bit of extra time you have to accomplish something else or help out somebody in need.
“There are a lot people hurting out there during this time. Be thankful for what you have … Read more “Peyton Manning Surprises CMST Students in Online Class”
CCI 50th Anniversary: My Proudest Moment – Part II
To celebrate the College of Communication and Information’s 50th anniversary, we asked our alumni about their proudest accomplishments. Before beginning professional careers, they learned to deliver speeches, meet deadlines, and tell stories about the Knoxville campus and beyond.
Sandra Frost Dickerson
JEM, 1969
I graduated in the Spring of 1969, just before CCI opened. My classes were in the lower level of the Glocker Business Building, and the Daily Beacon office was in an old house not far from Krystal and ‘the Strip.’ My best memories while earning my degree in journalism were associated with working on the Daily Beacon… Read more “CCI 50th Anniversary: My Proudest Moment – Part II”