UT Office of Communications and Marketing Team Honored with PRSA Awards

Photo by Adam Brimer

KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee Office of Communications and Marketing received seven awards, including the Excellence in Mentorship award, at the Volunteer Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America’s annual awards ceremony.

The May 12 event celebrated the best of East Tennessee’s public relations community and the UT team received Awards of Excellence, Merit or Quality, notching awards for each of its entries.

Ellie Amador, assistant director of communications, received the Volunteer Chapter’s inaugural mentorship award after being nominated by colleague Erica Jenkins, UT public relations associate.

“She will never take credit for it, but her mentorship has helped me become the type of person I want to be in all facets of my life—generous, kind and courageous,” Jenkins wrote in her nomination letter. “Through weekly meetings during the past four years, Ellie has been my greatest champion as she helped me become the best version of myself.”

Amador called mentorship a privilege.

“Knowing that Erica believes I’ve made a positive impact on her life is deeply fulfilling,” she said. “This award is a reminder of the importance of investing in the success and wellbeing of others.”

In addition to its inaugural presentation, the Excellence in Mentorship Award also was formally named for the late Lorna Norwood, former UT Institute of Agriculture director of communications who was a past winner of the chapter’s annual award for service to the profession and community.

Jenkins also received the Award of Excellence for her work on the University of Tennessee Conferences for Counselors program.

Amador received an Award of Quality for the Work Healthy UT Blog. UT System photographer and videographer Adam Brimer received an Award of Quality for the “Ice Cream with Joe” teaser videos. The team also received an Award of Quality for its 2015 University of Tennessee Campus Guide publication.

UT received Awards of Merit for the Tennessee Alumnus magazine and for UT President Joe DiPietro’s editorial on embracing a bold advocacy role.