The Volunteer Chapter, serving Knoxville, Tennessee, and surrounding areas, recognized the 2017 V Awards winners at its annual awards ceremony on June 1. The V Awards honor the achievements of individuals and organizations in the community for their creativity and innovation in public relations.

Kelly Fletcher, CEO of Fletcher Marketing PR, received the Gary McCormick Lifetime Achievement Award for her significant contributions to public relations and to the Volunteer Chapter.

Mary Beth West, principal of Mary Best West Communications, took home the Lorna H. Norwood Excellence in Mentorship Award for her investment and mentorship in young public relations professionals.

Katie Banks, digital marketing specialist at Helen Ross McNabb Center, received the Ellen Liston Rising Young Professional Award for her demonstrated leadership and quick progression in the PR field.

The chapter also awarded the J. Carroll Bateman Award of Excellence — the “Best in Show” award — to Tennessee Valley Authority for its Norris Dam 80th Anniversary Celebration public relations campaign.

The Award of Excellence winners from this year’s competition include:

• Designsensory, “PetSafe Bark For Your Park 2016 Campaign”
• Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, “Smoky Mountain Air Show Aerial Acts Announcement”
• Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, “Smoky Mountain Air Show”
• Tennessee Valley Authority, “Norris Dam 80th Anniversary Celebration”
• Mary Beth West Communications, “‘Grow Maury’ Infographic Call-to-Action Series”
• Mary Beth West Communications, “‘Grow Maury’ Initiative Campaign”
• University of Tennessee System, “2017 My Campus Student Experience Survey”
• Consolidated Nuclear Security, “Mission Connection”

For a complete list of V Award winners and more information, including the winners of Awards of Quality and Awards of Merit, visit www.volunteerprsa.org/awards.