The College of Communication and Information will hold its annual Experience Diversity Banquet at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 21, at the Bearden Banquet Hall, 5806 Kingston Pike, in Knoxville.
The keynote speaker is Robin Wilhoit, news anchor for WBIR-TV in Knoxville. Wilhoit also will receive the 2014 College of Communication and Information Diversity Award.
Alice R. Bowling Wirth, a lecturer in the college’s School of Communication Studies and director of the college’s Diversity Student Leaders Society (DSLS), said the banquet is the society’s major fundraiser for the year.
“The funds raised from this year’s banquet will provide our students with support, programs, and experiences that will help prepare them for their futures as professionals,” said Wirth. “The activities in which DSLS members are involved will inspire them to believe in themselves, to become leaders, and to embrace and value the importance of diversity and inclusion in building stronger social, business, and civic communities.”
Wilhoit is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She began her career in television journalism at WJHL-TV in Johnson City, Tennessee. In 1992 Wilhoit joined the news team at WBIR in Knoxville, and in 1998 was promoted to the anchor desk, joining veteran anchor Bill Williams.
The Buddy Check 10 program Wilhoit founded in 1998 has helped promote breast cancer awareness throughout East Tennessee. She also is involved in a wide range of community organizations serving women and children, including Variety of East Tennessee, A Children’s Charity, The Next Door, and the UT College of Nursing advisory board. Wilhoit was the inaugural recipient of the YWCA Knoxville’s “Spirit of the YWCA” Award in 2012.
In addition to the keynote speech, the program will include creative diversity presentations, music and dancing. For information on tickets, contact Beth Cole at 865-974-1540 or bethcole@tennessee.edu.
—
C O N T A C T :
Donna Silvey (865-974-6727, dsilvey@utk.edu)