Awards
AWARDS and Honors
ALUMNI AWARDS
Four alumni awards are distributed each year including:
Named after the late John Holliman, Grady alumnus and former CNN reporter, the John Holliman Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award honors sustained contributions to the profession throughout a career.
The Professional Excellence (Mid-Career) Award is presented to a graduate for their professional achievements, influence, and success in his or her field.
The John E. Drewry Young Alumni Award recognizes a graduate of the last decade who has experienced a successful early career.
The Distinguished Scholar Award honors a graduate for excellence and sustained contributions to scholarship in journalism and mass communication education.
Alumni Award Nominations for 2026
Winners of the 2026 Alumni Awards will be announced by early February and celebrated at Grady Salutes on April 16, 2027.
2025 Alumni Award Recipients
John Holliman Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award
Tracy Brown (ABJ ’88)
John Holliman Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award
Tracy Brown (ABJ ’88)
Tracy Brown is chief partnerships Officer at Chicago Public Media with an extensive background in news media with a plethora of previous editor positions such as managing editor, feature editor, education editor, Page 1 editor, news editor and arts editor. Recently, Brown has been named a honoree of the Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Award as stated in the Chicago Sun Times. Brown has been honored for her work’s impact in leadership and creativity. Throughout her career, Brown has made it a point to be involved in her community, being recognized by national institutions across the country for leadership display in ethics, community service and stewardship in culture.
Professional Excellence (Mid-Career Alumni Award)
Eric NeSmith (ABJ ’02)
Professional Excellence (Mid-Career Alumni Award)
Eric NeSmith (ABJ ’02)
Eric NeSmith is the publisher and co-owner at The Bitter Southerner, a media outlet that tells stories about the South through print magazines, books, podcasts and e-commerce. In 2013, NeSmith was recognized for his work in journalism by being named in Editor & Publisher’s “25 under 35” list. This recognition highlighted those working in journalism as individuals dedicated to bring excitement, passion, and a cutting-edge to the world of publishing. NeSmith went on to receive the Daniel M. Phillips Leadership Award at the National Newspaper Association’s 127th Annual Convention that same year. Additionally, he previously served as the president of the board of directors for the Georgia Press Association and past chair of the Grady College Alumni Board. He currently serves on the Grady College Board of Trust.
John E. Drewry Young Alumni Award
Sarah Karges (ABJ ’15)
John E. Drewry Young Alumni Award
Sarah Karges (ABJ ’15)
Sarah Karges is the senior vice president of performance investment at Havas Media Group in New York City, an international media agency. As an advertising major at Grady College, Karges served on the PHD Scholars Program, a six-month externship and research project focused on Millennial purchasing trends. That project led her to her first job after graduation working on digital media buying at PHD. In 2018, Karges joined Havas to direct programmatic activation, or digital advertising, for the agency’s largest pharmaceutical client. Currently, Karges oversees the entire U.S. programmatic practice across all clients and verticals in the New York, Chicago, Boston and Miami offices. Karges also regularly serves as a guest lecturer for Grady College classes.
Distinguished Scholar Award
Wilson Lowrey (MA ’90, PhD ’00)
Distinguished Scholar Award
Wilson Lowrey (MA ’90, PhD ’00)
Wilson Lowrey is a professor in the Department of Journalism and Creative Media at the University of Alabama. He earned a B.A. in English from Davidson College in 1985, an M.A. in Mass Communication from Grady College in 1990, and a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from Grady College in 2000. Prior to earning his Ph.D., Lowrey worked seven years in newspapers: two years at the Athens Daily News, where he drew political cartoons, and five years at the Atlanta Constitution. In 2003, he joined the faculty at the University of Alabama after three years at Mississippi State University. He was the AEJMC Newspaper & Online News Division’s Educator of the Year in 2013. Lowrey has authored or co-authored over 80 scholarly publications, including several books.
Full List of Past Recipients
1975 – Tom Johnson (ABJ ’63)
1976 – Jasper Dorsey (ABJ ’36)
1977 – Don Carter (ABJ ’38)
1978 – Eugene Patterson (ABJ ’43)
1979 – Bill Ray (ABJ ’35)
1980 – Aubrey Morris (ABJ ’45)
1981 – Frank Hawkins (ABJ ’33)
1982 – William Ott (ABJ ’49)
1983 – William S. Morris, III (ABJ ’56)
1984 – James G. Minter, Jr. (ABJ ’51)
1985 – Powell A. Moore (ABJ ’59)
1986 – Eugene H. Methvin (ABJ ’55)
1987 – Robert Sherrod (ABJ ’29)
1988 – C. Richard Yarbrough (ABJ ’59)
1989 – Randall E. Savage (ABJ ’72)
1990 – Thomas C. Dowden (ABJ ’62)
1991 – Willie K. Thrower Friar (ABJ ’47)
1992 – Billy Watson (ABJ ’60)
1993 – Connie Stewart (ABJ ’59, MA ’68)
1994 – J. Carrol Dadisman(ABJ ’56)
1995 – Harley Bowers (ABJ ’42)
1996 – James P. Wooten (ABJ ’68)
1997 – Jack Avrett (ABJ ’50)
1998 – Earl Leonard (ABJ ’58)
1999 – John Holliman, Jr. (ABJ ’70)
2000 – Willis Johnson (ABJ ’43)
2001 – Edwin Pope (ABJ ’48)
2002 – Neil Aronstam (ABJ ’65)
2003 – Dennis Berry (ABJ ’66)
2004 – Harry Chapman (ABJ ’67)
2005 – Dan Magill (ABJ ’42)
2006 – Donald Perry (ABJ ’74)
2007 – Millard Grimes (ABJ ’51)
2008 – Carolyn Tieger (ABJ ’69)
2009 – Judge R. Alex Crumbley (ABJ ’64)
2010 – W.H. “Dink” NeSmith, Jr. (ABJ ’70)
2011 – Roger Strauss (ABJ ’80)
2012 – Edward Ingles (ABJ ’58)
2013 – Claude Felton (ABJ ’70, ABJ ’71)
2014 – Alan Griggs (ABJ ’72)
2015 – Joel Babbit (ABJ ’76)
2016 – Ernie Johnson Jr. (ABJ ’78)
2017 – Bonnie Arnold (ABJ’ 77)
2018 – Sally Yates (ABJ’82, JD’86)
2019 – Chris Holcomb (ABJ ’85)
2020 – Monica Pearson (MA ’14)
2022 – Carolina Acosta-Alzuru (MA ’96, PhD ’99)
2023 – Doreen Gentzler (ABJ ‘79)
2024 – Ed Grisamore (ABJ ’78)
2025 – Eric Baker (ABJ ’90)
2026 – Tracy Brown (ABJ ’88)
1995 – Deborah L. Blum (ABJ ’76)
1996 – Michelle Green (ABJ ’75)
1997 – Bonnie Arnold (ABJ ’77)
1998 – Bill Mattox (ABJ ’84)
1999 – Dan Gearino (ABJ ’75)
2000 – Walt Lloyd (ABJ ’73)
2001 – Dawn McCall (ABJ ’77)
2002 – Betty Hudson (ABJ ’71)
2003 – Brenda Hampton (ABJ ’73)
2004 – Lee Duffey (ABJ ’80)
2005 – Randy Travis (ABJ ’82)
2006 – Bill Dean (ABJ ’83)
2007 – Jennifer Sloan (ABJ ’86)
2008 – Gene Colter (ABJ ’89)
2009 – Josh Jackson (ABJ ’94)
2010 – Justin Gillis (ABJ ’82)
2011 – Col. Bryan Salas (ABJ ’87)
2012 – Lisa Ryan Howard (ABJ ’92)
2013 – William Ostick (ABJ ’88)
2014 – Amy Glennon (ABJ ’90)
2015 – Michael Giarrusso (ABJ ’92)
2016 – Michael Abramowitz (ABJ ’90)
2017 – Jason Kreher (ABJ ’00)
2018 – Ashley Huston (ABJ’96).
2019 – Henry “Hadjii” Hand (ABJ ’98)
2020 – Purvey Farahi (ABJ ’95)
2022 – Julie Wolfe (ABJ ’03)
2023 – Yolanda Taylor Brignoni (ABJ ’98)
2024 – Lianne Sinclair (ABJ ’01)
2025 – Marah Lidey (ABJ ’11)
2026 – Eric NeSmith (ABJ ’02)
1977 – Rex Granum (ABJ ’72)
1978 – Roger Ann Jones
1979 – Rodney Allen Smith (ABJ ’71)
1980 – Frank Compton (ABJ ’68)
1981 – W.H. (Dink) Nesmith, Jr. (ABJ ’70)
1982 – Betty Johnson Hudson (ABJ ’71)
1983 – Dennis McClain (ABJ ’70)
1984 – Mary Jo West (ABJ ’73)
1985 – Ernie Johnson, Jr. (ABJ ’78)
1986 – Deborah A. Norville (ABJ ’79)
1987 – Lewis Grizzard (ABJ ’84)
1988 – William R. Jones (ABJ ’77)
1989 – Mary Anne Hill (ABJ ’80)
1990 – Carolyn Carlson (ABJ ’73)
1991 – Joel Babbit (ABJ ’76)
1992 – Condace Pressley (ABJ ’86)
1993 – Deborah Roberts (ABJ ’82)
1994 – Hanna Ledford (ABJ ’68)
1995 – Julie Bryan Moran (ABJ ’84)
1996 – Timothy W. Mapes (ABJ ’86)
1997 – Lauran Neergaard (ABJ ’89)
1998 – Chip Caray (ABJ ’87)
1999 – Chris Decherd (ABJ ’90)
2000 – Michael Giarrusso (ABJ ’92)
2001 – Todd Fantz (ABJ ’92)
2002 – Amanda Rosseter (ABJ ’90)
2003 – Christopher Grimes (ABJ ’92)
2004 – Erin McClam (ABJ ’99)
2005 – Tom Lasseter (ABJ ’99)
2006 – Kyle Wingfield (ABJ ’01)
2007 – Jon Gallo (ABJ ’99)
2008 – Jessica Foster Bonner (ABJ ’04)
2009 – Jennifer Rainey Marquez (ABJ ’00)
2010 – Lynssey Gardner (ABJ ’06)
2011 – Kelly Hornbuckle (ABJ ’06)
2012 – Alex Wallace (ABJ ’04)
2013 – Ben Mayer (ABJ ’06)
2014 – Greg Bluestein (ABJ ’04)
2015 – Dawn Brun (ABJ ’04)
2016 – Maria Taylor (ABJ ’09)
2017 – Brooke Beach (ABJ ’11)
2018 – Polina Marinova (ABJ’13)
2019 – Angela Alfano (ABJ ’10)
2020 – Lindsey Cook (ABJ ’14)
2022 – Julia Carpenter (ABJ ’13)
2023 – Maura Friedman (ABJ ‘13)
2024 — Meredith Dean (ABJ ’14)
2025 – Anne Noland (ABJ ’15)
2026 – Sarah Karges (ABJ ’15)
2006 – J. Thomas Russell (ABJ ’63)
2007 – Jack Lule (PhD ’87)
2010 – Carol Pardun (PhD ’92)
2013 – Marie Hardin (PhD ’98)
2014 – Kathy Richardson (MA’83, PhD ’92)
2015 – Denise DeLorme (ABJ ’89, MA ’91, PhD ’95)
2016 – Eric Haley (ABJ ’87, MA ’89, PhD ’92)
2017 – Jane B. Singer (ABJ ’76)
2018 – Jisu Huh (MA’00, PhD’03
2019 – James “Ford” Risley (MA ’92)
2022 – Pat Curtin (MA ’91, PhD ’96)
2023 – George Daniels (MA ‘99, PhD ‘02)
2024 – Yongjun Sung (MA ’03, PhD ’06)
2025 – Heidi Hennink-Kaminski (PhD ’06)
2026 – Wilson Lowrey (MA ’90, PhD ’00)
Grady Fellowship
Grady Fellowship
Established in 2008, the Grady Fellowship honors friends of the college whose accomplishments, friendship and service to the industries they serve have made a positive impact on Grady College. Grady Fellowship inductees are honored each spring.
McCommons Award
McCommons Award
The McCommons Award honors outstanding leadership, innovation and entrepreneurism in community journalism. Supported by an endowment, the annual award was created in 2018 to recognize professional journalists, students or faculty who produce community journalism of consequence. The award highlights the substantial contributions of community journalism to civic life and inspires students to pursue careers in community journalism. It is named for Pete McCommons, editor of Flagpole Magazine in Athens, Georgia, in honor of his outstanding career in community journalism as a leading reporter, editor, publisher and innovative entrepreneur.
