Past Winners
Dating as far back as 1994, the Kentucky Communication Association has bestowed fourteen awards to over 170 recipients. To join this list of prestigious winners click here to submit for our next conference.
Presidential Award for Distinguished Service
2019. Siobhan Smith-Jones, University of Louisville
2010. Zachary Hart. Northern Kentucky University
2009. James Reppert, Southern Arkansas University
2004. Vijay Krishna, Indiana University Southeast
2001. Christine Marley, Union College
2000. Gary B. LaFleur, Morehead State University
Judi Truitt, Jefferson Community College
1999. Robert J. Glenn, Owensboro Community College
1998. Thomas J. Sabetta, Jefferson Community College
1995. John Modaff, Morehead State University
Hope Bennin, Prestonsburg Community College
Virginia Landreth, Rowan County High School
Robert Looney, Prestonsburg Community College
Judi Truitt, Jefferson Community College
1994. Harlan Hamm, Morehead State University
Helen Freeman, Rowan County Middle School
Robin Glascock, Harrison County Middle School
Robert J. Glenn, Owensboro Community College
Graduate Mentor Award
2021. Stephanie Young, University of Southern Indiana
2019. Leigh Anne Howard, University of Southern Indiana
2018. Lindsay Della. University of Louisville
2017. Angela Jerome. Western Kentucky University
2016. Michael Strawser. Bellarmine University
2014. Holly Payne. Western Kentucky University
2013. Derek Lane. University of Kentucky
2012. Donald Helme. University of Kentucky
2009. Jimmie Manning. Northern Illinois University
2007. Jimmie Manning. Northern Illinois University
2005. Tim Ashmore, Morehead State University
Derek R. Lane, University of Kentucky
2004. No name listed
2003. Tim Ashmore, Morehead State University
2002. Lou Davidson Tillson, Murray State University
Enid Walhart, University of Kentucky
Robert West, University of Southern Indiana
Educator of the Year
2019. David Shabazz, Kentucky State University
2013. Karen H. Johnson. Looney-Bennin Community College
James L. Applegate Award for Excellence in Research
2022. David Randall Brandt, Northern Kentucky University
2017. W. Scott Sanders. University of Louisville
2016. Pamela Parry. Eastern Kentucky University
2015. Kathy Previs. Eastern Kentucky University
2014. Blair Thompson. Western Kentucky University
2013. Lindsay Della. University of Louisville
2011. Jimmie Manning. Northern Illinois University
2010. Margaret D’Silva. University of Louisville
2008. Jimmie Manning. Northern Illinois University
2006. Stephen Yungbluth. Northern Kentucky University
2005. Christine Marley Frederick, Union College
2004. Thomas J. Sabetta, Jefferson Community College
2003. Derek Lane, University of Kentucky
2002. No name could be found
2001. Carl L. Kell, Western Kentucky University
2000. No name could be found
1999. Michael W. Shelton, University of Kentucky
1998. Jill W. Hall, Jefferson Community College
1997. James Reppert, Southern Arkansas University
Vernon Gantt Award for Distinguished Service
2022. Krista Kimmel, Eastern Kentucky University
2019. Theresa Rajack-Talley, University of Louisville
2017. Holly Payne, Western Kentucky University
2015. Deborah T. Givens, Eastern Kentucky University
2014. Shannon Brognn, Kentucky State University
2013. Jimmie Manning, Northern Illinois University
Jacqueline McNally, Norther Kentucky University
2012. William ‘Bill’ Brantley, University of Louisville
2011. William ‘Bill’ Brantley, University of Louisville
2005. Lou Davidson Tillson, Murray State University
2004. Gary B. LaFleur, Morehead State University
Thomas J. Sabetta, Jefferson Community College
2003. Ed Bryant, Henderson Community College
Rosemary Bryant, Eastern Kentucky University
Derek Lane, University of Kentucky
Thomas J. Sabetta, Jefferson Community College
2002. Gary Deaton, Transylvania University
Alyce Grover, Somerset Community College
Thomas J. Sabetta, Jefferson Community College
Enid Waldhart, University of Kentucky
2001. Mary Jackson, Jefferson Community College
Christine Marley, Union College
2000. Gary B. LaFleur, Morehead state University
Judi Truitt, Jefferson Community College
1999. Robert J. Glenn, Owensboro Community College
1998. Thomas J. Sabetta, Jefferson Community College
1997. Judi Truitt, Jefferson Community College
1996. Lou Davidson Tillson, Murray State University
1995. Alyce Grover, Somerset Community College
Harlan Hamm Longstanding Service to the Association Award
2022. Melissa Chastain, Spalding University
2021. Erin E. Gilles. University of Southern Indiana
2019. Siobhan Smith-Jones, University of Louisville
2018. Jeffrey Fox, Northern Kentucky University
2017. Kathy Previs, Eastern Kentucky University
2016. Jacqueline Emerine, Northern Kentucky University
2015. Gary LaFleur, Morehead State University
2014. Jimmie Manning, Northern Illinois University
2005. Thomas J. Sabetta, Jefferson Community College
2004. Eileen Lewandowski, Prestonsburg Community College
2003. Alyce Grover, Somerset Community College
2002. Robert J. Glenn, III, Owensboro Community & Technical College
Undergraduate Mentor Award
2022. Shannon Brogan, Kentucky State University
2021. Jennifer Fairchild, Eastern Kentucky University
2019. Gary Deaton, Transylvania University
2018. Vicki Bagwell, Western Kentucky University
2017. Erin Gilles, University of Southern Indiana
2015. Gary Deaton, Transylvania University
2013. Mary Ashlock, University of Louisville
2012. Jimmie Manning, Northern Illinois University
2010. Jacqueline (Emerine) McNall, Northern Kentucky University
2007. James Reppert, Southern Arkansas University
2005. Robert West, University of Southern Indiana
2002. Greg Phillips.
Jerry Thomas. Lindsey Wilson College
Communication Professional of the Year (Prior 2005, Communicator of the Year Award)
2022. Crystal Rae Coel, University of Louisville
2021. Jeffrey Fox, Northern Kentucky University
2018. Jennifer Perkins. Eastern Kentucky University
2015. Siobhan Smith. University of Louisville
2012. J. Michael Skaggs. Northern Kentucky University
2010. Zachary Hart. Northern Kentucky University
Jimmie Manning. Northern Illinois University
2004. David Carter, Hopkinsville Community College
2003. Lawrence Albert, Morehead State University
2002. James Applegate, Council on Postsecondary Education
2001. Enid Waldhart, University of Kentucky
2000. Robert Bostrom, University of Kentucky
Vernon Gantt, Murray State University
1999. James L. Applegate, University of Kentucky
1998. Alyce Grover, Somerset Community College
1997. Mary C. Jones, Jefferson Community College
Excellence in the Practice of Communication Arts
2019. John Fitch, Eastern Kentucky University
2016. Kandi Walker and Joy Hart, University of Louisville
2015. Jason Donner, Western Kentucky Communication and Technical College
2013. J. Michael Skaggs, Northern Kentucky University
2012. Jimmie Manning, Northern Kentucky University
Stephanie Klatzke, Northern Kentucky University
Jacqueline McNally, Northern Kentucky University
2005. Basil Clark, Berea College, Performance as President U. S. Grant
Selene Phillips, University of Louisville, Performance as Pocahontas
2004. John Asher, Churchill Downs, Performance as V.P. of Communications
2003. Basil Clark, Berea College, Performance as President James A. Garfield
Excellence in the Art of Teaching
2022. William Brantley, University of Louisville
2021. Jennifer Fairchild, Eastern Kentucky University
2019. Amy Thieme, Eastern Kentucky University
2018. Shannon Brogan, Kentucky State University
2017. Margaret D’Silva, University of Louisville
2016. James Reppert, South Arkansas University
2013. Siobhan Smith, University of Louisville
2012. Jacqueline (Emerine) McNally, Northern Kentucky University
2006. Greg Rikert, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
James Reppert, Southern Arkansas University
2005. Cyrstal Coleman, Murray State University
Derek R. Lane, University of Kentucky
2004. Christine Marley, Union College
Greg Phelps, Lindsey Wilson College
2003. Tim Ashmore, Morehead State University
Robert J. Glenn, Owensboro Community College
Bob West, University of Southern Indiana
2001. Eileen Lewandowski, Prestonsburg Community College
2000. James Reppert, Southern Arkansas University
1999. Robert Frank, Morehead State University
1998. Vernon Gantt, Murray State University
1997. John Modaff, Morehead State University
1996. Gary B. LaFleur, Morehead State University
1995. Vicki Hogan Boyd, Owensboro Community College
1994. David Carter, Hopkinsville Community College
Robert Looney, Prestonsburg Community College
Robert Mullen, Ashland Community College
Lou Davidson Tillson, Murray State University
Michael S. Shelton Top Graduate Student Paper Award
2022. Hannah Flannery, Bellarmine University
2021. Sydney Dotson, University of Louisville
Mary Z. Ashlock, University of Louisville
2019. Mary Madison Lyons, Western Kentucky University
2018. Jonathan Sahlman. Western Kentucky University.
2017. Roxanne Renee Romero Millman
2015. Myeongok (Lilly) Lee. Western Kentucky University
Brian Embry.
Casey Binder.
2014. Flynn Ashley. Northern Kentucky University
Arielle Goldberg. Northern Kentucky University
Brian Snape. Northern Kentucky University
2006. Sarah Cavendish, University of Kentucky
2005. Zachary Henning, University of Kentucky
Deepa Oommen, Morehead State University
2004. No name listed
2003. Malan Cai, Morehead State University
2002. David Ghiradelli, University of Kentucky
2001. Donna Willis, University of Kentucky
2000. Holly Payne, University of Kentucky
1999. Jason Myers, Morehead State University
1998. Pamela Dawes, Murray State University
1997. Caryn Blow, Morehead State University
1996. Jami Hornbuckle, Morehead State University
Overall Top Paper Award
2022. Siobhan Smith-Jones, University of Louisville
Johnny Jones, Simmons College of Kentucky
2021. Madeline Berter, Northern Kentucky University
Natalie Eller, Northern Kentucky University
Marianna Mills, Northern Kentucky University
Whittney H. Darnell, Northern Kentucky University
Crystal Daugherty, Northern Kentucky University
2019. David Randall Brandt, Northern Kentucky University
2018. David Shabazz. Kentucky State University
2017. Anne M. Thompson. Northern Kentucky University
Zoe J. Waldridge. Northern Kentucky University
Carlos Matthews. Northern Kentucky University
S. Austin Lee. Northern Kentucky University
2014. Stephanie Klatzke. Northern Kentucky University
2013. Stephen Yungbluth. Northern Kentucky University
Sean Pronay. Northern Kentucky University
Top Undergraduate Paper Award
2019. Emily Johnson, Eastern Kentucky University
2018. Siobhan E. Smith-Jones’ Honors 331/341: Fandoms and Their Audiences class. University of Louisville.
2013. Joshua Hood
Looney-Bennin Community College Teaching Award
2019. Sandra Saad, Big Sandy Community and Technical College
2016. Ronald Mace. Somerset Community College.
2015. Mike Searcy. Kentucky Community and Technical College Systems
2013. Michelle Deeley-Wilhite. Gateway Community and Technical College
Karen Johnson. West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Mass Media Studies
2013. James Reppert, Southern Arkansas University
Award for Outstanding Instruction in Mass Media
2014. James Reppert, Southern Arkansas University