A couple balancing marriage and successful media careers and a longtime public-relations firm owner from Michigan received top alumni awards during the annual University of Tennessee at Martin Mass Media and Strategic Communication Awards Ceremony held April 1 in the Boling University Center’s Duncan Ballroom.
Ashleigh and Blake Stevens of Mt. Juliet received the department’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award, while Mary Ann Sabo of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award. The event included award presentations to departmental students who were among those attending the event.
Ashleigh Burton Stevens, originally from South Fulton, has achieved success as a content creator on her own YouTube channel. Her husband, Blake, from Tipton County, left television news after stops in Paducah and Knoxville to work with U.S. Rep. John Rose (R-TN) as the congressman’s communications director. Rose recently announced his candidacy to run for Tennessee governor as Gov. Bill Lee completes his second and final term leading the state.
Dr. Richard Robinson, professor and adviser to WUTM 90.3 “The Hawk” student radio station, taught and mentored Ashleigh and Blake. Before presenting their awards, he surprised the couple and the audience with a January 2018 video of Blake’s surprise marriage proposal to Ashleigh in the UT Martin classroom where they first met. He praised the couple for finding success in both marriage and in the media.
“I think it could be said that these two are sort of a ‘power couple,’ and both have carved out successful careers in the world of mass media and strategic communication, which is certainly no easy task,” he said.
Blake thanked Robinson for “taking my many calls over the years and talking me through every one of those TV contracts.” He also thanked department chair Dr. Robert Nanney for his academic guidance that encouraged him to achieve the most he could at UT Martin and in his career.
“I would have never gotten a bachelor’s in communications. I would have never gone into TV had it not been for you (Nanney) convincing me that I could do both and just stick around for another year (before graduating),” he said.
“It means a lot to us to get this together because obviously we kind of count on each other from time to time,” Blake said in closing. “We hope we keep making you proud. It means a lot.”
Ashleigh added her own appreciation to the university faculty for guiding the couple to media careers.
“If it weren’t for the amazing faculty and staff of this college, we could not have accomplished what we have today,” Ashleigh said, encouraging current students to take advantage of the opportunities offered them through the university’s learning resources and faculty members. She added some personal advice as a successful YouTuber.
“No matter how crazy your idea is, bet on yourself … because the person who’s going to show up for you is you, and as long as you do it, then you’re going to accomplish it.”
Tomi McCutchen, mass media and strategic communication instructor and longtime adviser to The Pacer student newspaper, introduced Sabo, who was a UT Martin classmate and fellow Pacer newspaper staff member.
Sabo, originally from upstate New York, graduated from UT Martin in 1984, earned a Master of Arts in English from The Ohio State University, and worked many years in print journalism until she formed Sabo Public Relations. Her team of eight just celebrated the company’s 22nd anniversary, and McCutchen spoke of both Sabo’s successful career and her passion to help others.
“Mary Ann will tell you that she loved her time at UT Martin, enough to graciously agree a few years ago to become a member of our industry advisory board, which helps our department serve our students better,” she said. “She believes very deeply in giving back to her college and to her community, which she does in Michigan by supporting nonprofits focused on students, seniors and those with disabilities.”
Sabo said her love for journalism began at age 12 when she followed Watergate reporting by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. She recalled witnessing major changes in the media world, including the start of CNN and USA Today, and credited UT Martin, her communications major and The Pacer for her career preparation.
“The Pacer staff was my first family at Martin,” she said. “We took classes together, we lived in the newsroom together, and we ate many of our meals together.
“We bonded over the adrenaline of deadlines. We debated campus politics as fervently as we did parking violations.”
In her career, Sabo has worked as a newspaper reporter, college newspaper adviser, journalism professor and now in public relations. During this time, the media and related technology changed in major ways but not the fundamental skills she learned at UT Martin, including how to write, interview, edit and work in a team.
“My profession may have changed at warp speed over the past 40 years, but those skills have not,” she said. “They are my foundation, and they continue to serve me incredibly well.”
Sabo offered some closing advice to the students attending the event – advice she gathered from communications colleagues, including “no one knows your life path better than you,” “keep seeking a more challenging role,” and “perfection is the enemy of progress.”
Another colleague reminded her of the importance of setting boundaries and noted that she (the colleague) had not done this well as a young professional.
“By creating boundaries, she’s now better able to focus on what she wants in her career and be able to bring her best self, personally and professionally,” Sabo said.
Sabo added her own advice not to place career and work ahead of the important people in our lives.
“The communication profession has a way of leapfrogging over everything and everyone in your life sometimes, and that’s fair for them to want to be first in line but only to a point,” she said. “You run the risk of missing family celebrations, date nights, holidays and other important milestones with those you love unless you prioritize them.”
The awards ceremony came just ahead of spring semester’s conclusion, with classes ending April 25 and commencement ceremonies set for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Saturday, May 3, in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. More information about UT Martin is available at www.utm.edu.
