Each year, the Volunteer Chapter recognizes the excellent public relations efforts of our members with the annual Volunteer PR Awards. The awards, judged by other PRSA chapters, go to campaigns, strategies and tactics that exemplify the very best in public relations. Additionally, the V Awards recognize individuals who are making significant contributions to PRSA, the Volunteer Chapter and the public relations profession.
2019 V Awards Winners
Awards of Merit
- Dura-Line Corporation, Feature Story on Broadband Access in Estes Park, Colorado
- East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, 2018 Fantasy of Trees Media Guide
- Helen Ross McNabb Center, 70th Anniversary Annual Report
- Helen Ross McNabb Center, 70th Anniversary Video
- ORAU, 2018 Annual Report
- BarberMcMurry Architects, Video Series
- Fletcher Marketing PR, Girl Scouts Get Out the Vote Campaign
Awards of Quality
- Fletcher Marketing PR, Peaceful Side of the Smokies Campaign
Awards of Excellence
- ORAU, orau.org
J. Carroll Bateman Best of Show Award
- ORAU, orau.org
Individual Awards
Lorna Norwood Excellence in Mentorship
Named in memory of Lorna Norwood, a longtime public relations professional and chapter member who championed mentorship throughout her career, this award recognizes individuals who champion and mentor public relations professionals.
Harvey I. Cobert Award of Excellence
Named in honor Harvey I. Cobert, APR, founding member of the Volunteer Chapter, leading public relations practitioner and early champion of accreditation in public relations, this award recognizes individuals who contribute to the growth of the public relations profession in East Tennessee and of the Chapter.
Gary McCormick Lifetime Achievement Award
Named in honor for Gary McCormick, Volunteer Chapter member and former PRSA National President, this award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the Chapter and the profession over at least 20 years in the public relations profession.
Ellen Liston Rising Young Professional Award
Named in honor of Ellen Liston, APR, a Volunteer Chapter member and distinguished public relations professional, this award recognizes individuals who are members of the Chapter, have demonstrated leadership potential and proven accelerated progression in public relations practice in fewer than five years in the profession.
Community Service Award
This award recognizes individuals or organizations who use public relations practices to improve the quality of life within East Tennessee.
Executive of the Year Award
This award recognizes an executive officer or employer who has shown exceptional support of PRSA and of the public relations profession.
Winners
Community Service Award
1989 – Ted Beattie, Penny Beatty, Knoxville Zoo
1990 – Carolyn Krause, Society for Technical Communication
1991 – Patricia Adcock, Richard Ray and Julie Watts, WATTec Sponsors Committee
1992 – Ijams Nature Center
1993 – John Gill, Special Counsel, Chief of Staff – Knox County Attorney General’s Office
1994 – National Foundation to Protect America’s Eagles
1995 – Peter W. Carter, MD, Director of the Local Chapter of the Coalition on Smoking OR Health
1998 – Bill Baxter, CEO Holston Gases
1999 – Steve West, West Chevrolet
2000 – No award given
2001 – Lynne Fugate, Nine Counties. One Vision.
2002 – Ann Yates, Nature’s Pantry
2003 – Pat Bright, Prism Pools
2004 – Larry Fleming, KUB (Presented to wife Linda on his behalf)
2005 – Shoney’s of Knoxville, Inc.
2006 – Bonnie Carroll
2007 – Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
2008 – Julia Pearce, Blount Memorial Hospital
2009 – Tim Williams, 21st Mortgage
2010 – WBIR TV, WVLT TV, WATE TV
2011 – Kevin Painter, LeConte Wealth Management
2012 – No award given
2013 – Tennessee Farm Bureau
2014 – Larsen Jay, Random Acts of Flowers
2015 – No award given
2016 – Helen Ross McNabb Center
2017 – No award given
2018 – No award given
2019 – League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox County
Executive of the Year Award
1982 – Roger F. Hibbs, President, Nuclear division, Union Carbide Corporation
1983 – Randy Tyree, Mayor, City of Knoxville
1984 – Jack E. Reese, Chancellor, UTK
1985 – Darrell Akins, Executive Vice President, Greater Knoxville Chamber of Commerce
1986 – D. M. “Pete” Gossett, Dean, UT Agricultural Experiment Station
1987 – Wayne Heatherly, Administrator and CEO, HCA Park West Medical Center
1988 – No award given
1989 – Mr. Richard Van Sickle, President, Rohm and Haas Tennessee
1990 – Dr. Sherry Hoppe, Roane State Community College
1991 – Dr. Richard I. Ferrin, President, Maryville College
1992 – Dr. Joseph E. Johnson, President, University of Tennessee
1993 – Hatcher Meeks, Carrier Corporation
1994 – Clyde Hopkins, President, Martin Marietta Energy Systems
1995 – Joseph M. Dawson, Administrator, Blount Memorial Hospital
1996 – No award given
1997 – No award given
1998 – No award given
1999 – James A. Haslam, II, Founder, Pilot Corporation
2000 – Gen. Frederick H. Forester
2001 – Gloria Ray, Knoxville Sports Corp.
2002 – Emerson H. “Eli” Fly, Acting President, University of Tennessee
2003 – Barbara Blevins, Peninsula Behavioral Health
2004 – Bruce Hartmann, The Knoxville News Sentinel
2005 – Lucille Griffo, CEO, Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council
2006 – Bruce Pearl, University of Tennessee Men’s Basketball
2007 – Larry J. Frank, Knox Co. Library
2008 – Tom Catani, U.S. Cellular
2009 – Mark Cate, Lawler-Wood
2010 – John Lansing, Scripps Networks
2011 – Ian Anderson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
2012 – No award given
2013 – Dr. Jim McIntyre, Knox County Schools
2014 – Mike McClamroch, East Tennessee Foundation
2015 – Lofton K. Stuart, University of Tennessee Foundation & UT Alumni Association
2016 – Dr. Joe DiPietro, University of Tennessee System
2017 – No award given
2018 – No award given
2019 – No award given
Gary McCormick Lifetime Achievement Award
1993 – Sammie Lynn Pruett, APR, Fellow PRSA
1994 – Harvey I. Cobert, APR
1995 – Robert L. Wesley
1999 – No award given
2000 – Susan Dimmick
2001 – Sandra Plant, APR
2002 – Gary McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA
2003 – Ann Cryster, APR
2004 – Susan Lauver, APR
2005 – No award given
2006 – Donna Creech, APR
2007 – Susan Barnes, APR, Fellow PRSA
2008 – No award given
2009 – No award given
2010 – No award given
2011 – No award given
2012 – No award given
2013 – Gail Rymer, APR, Fellow PRSA
2014 – No award given
2015 – Don Lindsey
2016 – Cathy Ackermann
2017 – Kelly Fletcher
2018 – Cynthia Moxley
2019 – No award given
Lorna Norwood Excellence in Mentorship
2016 – Ellie Amador
2017 – Mary Beth West, APR, Fellow PRSA
2018 – Chelsey Riemann, APR
2019 – Laura Mansfield, APR
Harvey I. Cobert Award of Excellence
1997 – Cathy Ackermann
1998 – Ann Cryster, APR
1999 – Cynthia Moxley
2000 – Rod Irvin, APR
2001 – Susan Barnes, APR, Fellow PRSA
2002 – Steven L. Wyatt
2003 – Bonnie Reichert, APR, Fellow PRSA
2004 – Alan Carmichael
2005 – Ellen Liston, APR, Fellow PRSA
2006 – Mary Beth West, APR, Fellow PRSA
2007 – Becky Huckaby, APR
2008 – Lorna Norwood, APR
2009 – Cheryl J. Ball, APR
2010 – Barbara Martocci, APR
2011 – Tom Looney, APR
2012 – No award given
2013 – Melissa Ogden
2014 – Megan Brown, APR
2015 – Kristin Alm
2016 – No award given
2017 – No award given
2018 – Heather Beck, APR
2019 – No award given
Ellen Liston Rising Young Professional Award
2005 – Erin McCarty
2006 – Seth Linkous
2007 – Elle Butler
2008 – Chelsey Riemann, APR
2009 – Sarah Elder
2010 – Mallorie Mendence
2011 – No award given
2012 – Hayley Martin
2013 – Taylor Griffin
2014 – No award given
2015 – Erica Jenkins
2016 – No award given
2017 – Katie Banks
2018 – Caitlin Darras
2019 – Jordan Vines