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 2025
Alumni Award nominations for 2025 are now closed.
Winners of the 2025 Alumni Awards will be announced by early February and celebrated at Grady Salutes on April 27, 2026.
2025 Alumni Award Recipients
John Holliman Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award
Eric Baker (ABJ ’90)
John Holliman Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award
Eric Baker (ABJ ’90)
Eric Baker’s current role at Universal Creative is serving as the senior creative director on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Ministry of Magic™. His career spans almost three decades and includes not only multi award-winning theme park worlds at Universal Creative and Disney World, but also more than 20 years in film and television production. In addition to his work managing the props teams for Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade™ and The Wizard World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley™. Baker has also served as creative director for Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. He has won numerous Themed Entertainment Association Awards (THEA) for his work. He graduated with a degree in what is now entertainment and media studies. As the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Baker will also be inducted into the Grady College Fellowship.
Professional Excellence (Mid-Career Alumni Award)
Marah Lidey (ABJ ’11)
Professional Excellence (Mid-Career Alumni Award)
Marah Lidey (ABJ ’11)
Marah Lidey has spent 15 years building and growing mission-driven brands. Prior to Pinterest, she was the co-founder and co-CEO of Shine, an award-winning mental health app backed by the New York Times. A strong advocate for inclusion and equity in tech, Lidey has been recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and continues to be a leading voice in both the startup and mental health communities. Lidey earned a degree in journalism and a Certificate in New Media.
John E. Drewry Young Alumni Award
Anne Noland (ABJ ’15)
John E. Drewry Young Alumni Award
Anne Noland (ABJ ’15)
Anne Noland joined the Miami Dolphins in 2021 and was named the club’s vice president of communications in March 2024. She has also spent time in roles with the New England Patriots, the Denver Broncos and the Tennessee Titans. In 2021, Noland was named to The Athletic’s NFL 40 Under 40 list, which highlights rising stars from coaching staffs, team personnel and business executives across the league. She graduated from Grady College with a degree in public relations and a Carmical Sports Media Certificate.
Distinguished Scholar Award
Heidi Hennink-Kaminski (PhD ’06)
Distinguished Scholar Award
Heidi Hennink-Kaminski (PhD ’06)
Heidi Hennink-Kaminski’s research focuses on interdisciplinary health communication, emphasizing social marketing strategies to promote healthy behaviors at both individual and community levels. Her research has been funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, among others. Before joining MSU in 2024, Hennink-Kaminski was an 18-year faculty member at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was the Hugh Morton Distinguished Professor.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
