Awards of Excellence

Volunteer Chapter PRSA Hosts Annual Awards Event April 25

Knox County Schools’ Dr. Jim McIntyre, Tennessee Farm Bureau Insurance Honored

The Volunteer Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) hosted its 38th annual awards event – The “V” Awards – on Thursday, April 25, 2013, at The Square Room at Café 4. These awards recognize excellence in public relations programs, products and individual achievements in the East Tennessee region. It was a great evening, and we are grateful to John Becker with WBIR, who served as our guest emcee for the second year in a row.

The Volunteer Chapter PRSA presented 66 Awards of Excellence, Awards of Quality and Awards of Merit in 44 public relations program and product categories. Award entries were judged by members of the Orange County, Calif., chapter of PRSA.

2013 Award of Excellence winners include the American Cancer Society, B&W Technical Services Y-12, Blackberry Farm, Dalton Dupes Agency, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Helen Ross McNabb Center, Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Tennessee Valley Authority, The Tombras Group, University of Tennessee Knoxville and University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. The 2013 J. Carroll Bateman Award of Excellence – the Volunteer Chapter’s “Best of Show” award – was given to Blackberry Farm.

In addition, the Volunteer Chapter honored five outstanding individuals or organizations for excellence in a specific role they play in the community. This year’s individual award winners are: Lifetime Achievement Award – Gail Rymer, APR, Fellow PRSA, with Tennessee Valley Authority; Harvey I. Cobert Award – Melissa Ogden, Knox County Schools; Executive of the Year – Dr. Jim McIntyre, Superintendent of the Knox County Schools; Community Service Award – Tennessee Farm Bureau Insurance; and Rising Young Professional Award – Taylor Griffin, The Tombras Group.

View the complete list of winners and photos from the event (password: "vawards").

The Volunteer Chapter of PRSA also presented a $500 donation to the University of Tennessee Sammie Lynn Puett Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) in memory of PRSA members Jeannine McKamey, APR and Lorna Norwood, APR, who both passed away in 2012. The donation will assist PRSSA students to attend the annual PRSSA national conference.

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