2025 Kay Phillips Distinguished Service Award Recipients
Honoring the 2025 Kay Phillips Distinguished Service Award Recipients
By Cami Guzman Enloe Magnet High School
The Kay Phillips Distinguished Service Award is given each year to two North Carolina high school journalism advisers who have made a big impact on student journalism and supported the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association. To win, recipients need at least 5 years of service in scholastic journalism.
LIVIS FREEMAN
Livis Freeman, director of UNC Hussman’s Sports Communication Certificate Program, and the Chuck Stone Program for Diversity in Media and Education, has been a big part of the journalism program for more than a decade. He started a public relations company called 4ourFans in 2001, helping athletes build their brand, give back, connect with fans, manage their image, and transition into post-sports careers. In 2023, Freeman received the Edward Vick Award for Innovation in Teaching, which honors creative and innovative teaching that improves student learning. Freeman isn’t just a teacher but a key part of the community for mentoring future journalists and shaping their journeys in a way that sticks with them.
DEDICATED INSTRUCTOR AND MENTOR
Erica Perel, a former colleague and current oOperations dDirector of The Tiny News Collective, mentioned that over the years they have worked together in various roles, especially in the Chuck Stone program, where Freeman has served as a dedicated writing coach and instructor.
According to Perel, “One thing to know about Freeman is how much enthusiasm he brings to his work, whether it’s in the classroom with the students at UNC or in his work as the administrator at the journalism school or in his work with the Chuck Stone students,.” Perel said.
She praised his ability to put students first, always.
She added, “He always puts students first. “He’s always thinking about how can I make their experience better,” she said. “. How can I help them make connections in the professional realm? How can I open their eyes to new opportunities and new experiences?”
Steve Hanf, First Flight High School journalism advisor and fFormer professional sports writer, Steve Hanf described Freeman as someone who has a magnetic aura.
He explained, “Every time I hear him talk, I’m blown away by how cool he is,” Hanf said. “He exudes coolness, and whether that’s talking about the different marketing stuff that he does, the different fun companies that he’s been associated with, he has such a cool vibe that I think that’s what makes it such an engaging presence for both teachers and the students that come into the program.”
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RYAN THORNBURG
Ryan Thornburg is a big part of UNC’s School of Journalism. He , associate professor of journalism & mass communication, spent a decade in leadership positions in online newsrooms, mainly working on both national and international news at The Washington Post. Now he’s using that experience to teach his students, primarily in data journalism.
IMPACT ON STUDENTS
Ari Sen, an award-winning investigative data journalist at CBS News and a the 2016 NC Journalist of the Year, already liked using technology in his reporting when he came into Thornburg’s class. His dad had a computer science background, and Ari was already coding in HTML and CSS in high school. Mr. Thornburg encouraged him to pursue this path further.
Sen explained that on the first day of class, Thornburg challenged them to treat journalists’ investigations more like a scientist’s inquiry.
“You develop a hypothesis about what you think is happening and then explore all different methods, both quantitative and qualitative, to prove or disprove that hypothesis,.” he said.
This approach stayed with Sen and guides his investigative work today. He also got hands-on experience investigating Chatham County’s “impact fees,” which is money that developers pay to help fund schools and infrastructure.
“That impact fee story was one of the things that I brought to my future boss when I was interviewing for an internship at NBC,” he said.
Thornburg not only taught him valuable skills, but also supported him when other opportunities fell through — and he taught many other students the same valuable lessons, Sen said.
“He provided a launchpad for me to pursue my career.”