Alumni Awards
Alumni Awards
Each year, in conjunction with Homecoming, the School of Media and Journalism presents three alumni awards.
2020-21 Event:
Cancelled due to the pandemic.
William D. Taylor Award
The William D. Taylor Award Journalism Alumnus of the Year is the most prestigious award given by the School of Media and Journalism. It is presented at Homecoming to an alumnus/alumna who is well established and well respected in the media and communication industry and has given back to our students and/or the School. Since its inception in 1957, more than 65 distinguished alumni have become Taylor Awards winners, including:
| YEAR | NAME | TITLE/COMPANY |
| 2019 | Tom Jennings | Executive Producer, 1895 Films |
| 2019 | Carolyn Robinson | Region Director, Solutions Journalism Network |
| 2018 | Kristen DelGuzzi | Managing Editor, Politics, Government and World, USA TODAY |
| 2017 | Laura Gordon | General Manager, Edelman |
| 2016 | Diane Laney-Fitzpatrick | Author |
| 2015 | Christine Plonsky | Director of Women's Athletics, University of Texas |
| 2014 | Wayne Dawson | Co-Anchor, Fox 8 News in the Morning |
| 2013 | Sam Roe | The Chicago Tribune |
| 2012 | Elizabeth Z. Bartz | President and CEO, State and Federal Communications, Inc |
| 2011 | Stephanie Danes Smith | Central Intelligence Agency (Retired) |
| 2010 | Tom Jordan | Hoffman York |
| 2009 | Earl Jones Jr. | Founder Chairman and CEO of Jones Broadcast Group LLC. |
| 2008 | Bob Circosta | President, Bob Circosta Communication Inc. |
| 2007 | Richard Ramhoff | President and Publisher, Lansing State Journal |
| 2006 | Brooke Spectorsky | President and General Manager, WKYC-TV |
| 2005 | Connie Schultz | Columnist Plain Dealer |
| 2004 | Jim Nash | Managing Partner, Marcus Thomas Associates |
| 2003 | Hal McCoy | Sports Writer, Dayton Daily News |
| 2002 | King Hill | President, Digiknow Inc. |
| 2002 | Cynthia Vrsansky Schulz | Senior Managing Director, Dix and Eaton |
| 2002 | Mark Nylander | Vice President, Liggett-Stashower Public Relations |
| 2002 | Thomas Welsh | Vice President, First Energy Corp. |
| 2002 | Lynne Dragomier | Vice President, The Hoover Company |
| 2002 | William Oliver | Vice President, AT&T |
| 2002 | Richard Edwards | Consultant |
| 2001 | Paul Tople | Akron Beacon Journal |
| 2000 | Ronald Clark | Editorial Page, Editor, Paul Pioneer Press |
| 1999 | Brian Tucker | President, Plain Communications |
| 1998 | David McGrail | Director, Live with Regis & Kathy Lee |
| 1997 | Walt Seifert | Professor Emeritus, Ohio State University |
| 1997 | Frances Waterbury | International Educator and Journalist |
| 1997 | Stanley Mouse | Retired CEO, Cox Broadcasting |
| 1997 | John Scott | New York Broadcasting and Executive |
| 1997 | Adelaide Snyder | Broadcast News Pioneer |
| 1997 | Kenneth Goldstein | Professor Emeritus, Columbia University |
| 1996 | Nancy Lee | The New York Times |
| 1995 | Alice Weston | WKYC Television |
| 1994 | Anthony May | Nieman May Communications |
| 1993 | William Girgash | APCOA |
| 1992 | Thomas Litwiler | Executive Assistant to the Chairman Westinghouse Electric |
| 1991 | Carl Grant | Senior Vice President, Chamber of Commerce |
| 1990 | Ron Sustana | Public Relations Consultant |
| 1989 | John Filo | Photographer, Sports Illustrated |
| 1988 | Ted Henry | Co-Anchor, News TV Channel 5 |
| 1987 | Charles Conconi | Columnist, Washington Post |
| 1986 | Maynard Buck, Jr. | Newspaper Publisher, Cadiz/Carrollton |
| 1985 | J. Ross Baughman | President, Visions Photo Group |
| 1984 | Robert McGruder | ME/NEWS Plain Dealer |
| 1983 | David Meeker | President, Meeker-Mayer Agency |
| 1982 | Max Brown | Publisher, Columbus Magazine |
| 1981 | Kenneth Halterman | WAKR |
| 1980 | Luella Cordier | Record Courier |
| 1979 | W. Thomas Duke | B.F. Goodrich |
| 1978 | Donald Deer | American Standard Inc. |
| 1977 | William Miller | Industry Week |
| 1976 | O Louis Mazzatenta | The National Geographic |
| 1975 | Robert Baumgardner | Griswold Eshleman Co. |
| 1974 | Robert Burdock | The Plain Dealer |
| 1973 | Albert Fitzpatrick | Akron Beacon Journal |
| 1972 | Robert West | WJW Radio |
| 1971 | Frank Quine | Associated Press Institute |
| 1970 | Donald Kirkman | Scripps Howard Newspapers |
| 1969 | Edward Cliney | E. Edu Poul de Nemours |
| 1968 | Ann E. Gray | Akron City Hospital |
| 1967 | John W. Mine | Associated Press |
| 1966 | William Schlemmer | Akron Beacon Journal |
| 1965 | August W. Quattrochi | General Electric Company |
| 1964 | Russell N. Baird | Professor of Journalism, Ohio University |
| 1963 | Paul P. Haney | Public Affairs Officer, NASA |
| 1962 | Clement C. Scerback | U.S. Information Agency |
| 1961 | Kenneth F. Cole | Akron Beacon Journal |
| 1960 | Loris C. Troyer | Kent Ravenna Record-Courier |
| 1959 | John Lewis Stage | Freelance Photographer |
| 1958 | Frances E. Murphey | Akron Beacon Journal |
| 1957 | Helen Wescott Dix | First President, Journalism Alumni Association |
Fast-Track Award
The Fast-Track Award recognizes a recent alumnus/alumna who has been a significant early achiever in his/her field. Since its inception in 2009, the following alumni have earned this honor:
| YEAR | NAME | TITLE/COMPANY |
| 2019 | Jinae West | National Geographic, Washington D.C. |
| 2019 | Isaac Versaw | Senior Creative, RYOT Studios (NYC) |
| 2018 | Phylicia McCorkle | Manager of Diversity and Inclusion, MLB |
| 2018 | Brooke DiDonato | Freelance Photographer |
| 2017 | Brianne Kimmel | Zendesk |
| 2016 | Tyler Pina | The Verge |
| 2016 | Natalie Pasquarella | NBC 4 New York |
| 2015 | Danielle Wiggins | WKYC-TV |
| 2015 | David Lawson | Miner & Co. Studio |
| 2014 | Christina Stowers | U.S. Department of Energy |
| 2014 | Kyle Michael Miller | TODAY.com |
| 2013 | Jenn Yokley | The Cleveland Cavaliers/Quicken Loans Arena |
| 2013 | Shannon Lanier | Arise Entertainment 360 |
| 2012 | Haraz N. Ghanbari | University of Toledo |
| 2012 | Mandy Jenkins | Digital First Media |
| 2011 | Kirk Yuhnke | News Anchor, ABC15, Phoenix |
| 2011 | Andy Alt | GuitarTV.com |
| 2010 | Brian Handler | Blue Sky Studios/Fox |
| 2010 | Elaine Murphy | McKesson Corporation |
| 2009 | Lauren Harper | Crispin Porter & Bogusky |
Sharon Marquis Friend of MDJ Award
| YEAR | NAME |
| 2019 | David Hrvatin |
| 2019 | Ryan Dunn |
| 2017 | Edwige Winans |
| 2016 | Gary and LuEtt Hanson |
| 2015 | Gary Harwood |
| 2014 | Marianne Warzinski |
| 2013 | Chris Hallahan, Jen Kramer |
| 2012 | Gary Harwood |
| 2011 | Steve Savanyu |
| 2010 | Rita Andolson |
The Sharon Marquis Friend of MDJ Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated remarkable support to our mission and its students.