Four seniors were bestowed with UT’s highest honor, as Blake Brown, Catherine Cocke, John Rader and Anna York were named this years Torchbearers. They were honored at the Chancellor’s Honors Banquet on April 10.

The Torchbearer award is “awarded for academic achievement and outstanding commitment to… the University and the community,” according to UT’s Web site.

Students may either be nominated for the award, or nominate themselves.  For Brown, it was a little of both.

“I didn't realize that winning was possible until two of my advisors expressed interest in nominating me for the award,” said Brown. “We filled out the application and got the letters of recommendation turned in.”

The students were overjoyed at receiving the prestigious honor.

“To win the Torchbearer is a wonderful honor,” said Rader, “As a Volunteer, it is a dream come true, and it is something that I will cherish forever.”

The winners were given medals by Interim Chancellor Jan Simek, and participated in the ceremonial "passing of the torch."

The Torchbearer award was established in 1931 with the slogan of "He who bears a torch shadows himself to give light to others."  Today, Torchbearers are expected to do exactly the same, and the maxim appears to be embraced by this 2008 class.

"When I think about being named a Torchbearer, I use it as motivation to work hard for others and to try to find ways to improve the world," said Brown.