Walters State Professor Wins Tennessee Communication Horizon Award
Belle Elliott, assistant professor of communication and debate at Walters State, received the Tennessee Communication Association's 2026 Horizon award.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Awards
The Tennessee Communication Association presented its 2026 Horizon award to Belle Elliott, assistant professor of communication and debate at Walters State, at the organization's annual conference. The honor recognizes an association member who demonstrates leadership and potential to positively impact the organization.
Why it matters
Walters State faculty have now received the association's top honor for the third straight year, following Bambi Pelham in 2024 and Kayla Huber in 2025. The recognition highlights the college's continued contributions to Tennessee's communication field.
The Horizon award is the Tennessee Communication Association's top honor, given at its annual conference to a member showing leadership and potential. Walters State has produced the recipient for three consecutive years.
The players
Tennessee Communication Association
A statewide professional organization of communication scholars and educators in Tennessee that presents an annual Horizon award at its conference.
Belle Elliott
An assistant professor of communication and debate at Walters State who received the association's 2026 Horizon award.
Walters State
A public community college in Tennessee whose faculty have received the association's top honor for three straight years.
The details
Elliott received the award at the association's annual conference. The Horizon award recognizes members who demonstrate leadership and potential to positively impact the organization.
Timeline
2024: Bambi Pelham, who served as association president for the past year, received the Horizon award.
2025: Kayla Huber received the Horizon award.
2026: Belle Elliott received the Horizon award at the annual conference.
Awards Trajectory
Elliott's 2026 Horizon award continues a pattern set by Bambi Pelham in 2024 and Kayla Huber in 2025, both Walters State faculty. Taken together, the three consecutive honors place the college among the association's most consistently recognized institutions.
Tennessee communication students and educators interested in the association's work can follow its annual conference and awards. The Horizon award is presented each year to a member showing leadership and potential.
The takeaway
Recognition for Walters State faculty across three consecutive years shows how regional professional associations can reward emerging leaders in communication. Members who build leadership and potential within their organizations can earn lasting professional recognition.
Further reading
For more recognition coverage, see the Awards section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Claiborne Progress.
