Torchbearer Athletes

The title of Torchbearer is the highest honor UT bestows on select graduating seniors for their academic excellence and service to others. Take a look at a few of the athletes who have earned the honor.

Cierra Burdick Named A Torchbearer

Lady Vols forward Cierra Burdick was a two-time member of the SEC Community Service Team who developed a speaker’s bureau called DREAM Team, where UT student-athletes she selected talked to area youth about abstaining from alcohol, drugs, tobacco and violence.

Chelsea Knotts’ Deeds Lead To Torchbearer Award

Along with her service as a track and field team member, Chelsea Knotts was a Haslam Scholar whose community service projects included putting on a road race and giving the proceeds to a homeless ministry.

Lady Vol Ashley Yeager Named Prestigious Tennessee Torchbearer

Long-distance swimmer Ashley Yeager was a College Scholar and recipient of the Helen B. Watson Student-Athlete Class Academic Excellence Award in 2006 and 2007. Her community participation included the Diabetes Walk, Race Against Racism, Adopt-A-Stream, Boo at the Zoo!, and the Angel Tree.

Senior Guard Kara Lawson Selected as UT Torchbearer

Lady Vols basketball guard Kara Lawson, a two-time Southeastern Conference “Good Works” team member, consistently achieved a goal of 100 career service projects ranging from public speaking engagements to stints reading to elementary school children.