Fall 2007 Graduates

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Aaron Steit-Cox and Abigail Eggerton

Amber Houston, Chad Ruter (Summa Cum Laude), Ebony Washingon

Erik Arendt, Kyle Dierking, Pat Spry

Tikiyah Overstreet, Brian O'connell - Alumni Achievement Award Winner. Class of 1988

Broadcasters getting their degrees, Brian getting his award

Group shot 1, Group shot 2

Broadcasters receiving degrees not pictured: Randy Artis, DJ Nozar, Angelo Sanders

 

Fall 2007 Alumni Achievement Award Recipient - Brian O'Connell

O'Connell, a member of the 1988 mass communications class, began his career in Chicago, putting together sponsorship packages for such artists as the Beach Boys, Moody Blues, Paula Abdul and The Judds. In 1993 he joined Cellar Door Productions in Florida as a marketing director and starting booking country acts at local clubs.

 

Three years later he moved to Washington, D.C. and became the first country music talent buyer for that market. In 2001 he moved to Nashville to assume the role of president of Clear Channel Entertainment and president of Live Nation - Country Touring/Nashville.

He received the Academy of Country Music Award in 2001 and 2004 as the Talent Buyer/Promoter of the Year and was also nominated in 1998, 2000 and 2003. In 2006, he was named Promoter of the Year by both Pollstar, the most prominent trade publication in the concert industry, and the International Event Buyers Association (IEBA).

 

He is a member of the board of directors of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, and serves as a director of the IEBA. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, O'Connell promoted and produced The Country Freedom Concert in Nashville to raise funds for the Salvation Army's 9-11 relief efforts. He also works with the United Service Organization (USO) to take many of the acts he promotes on USO tour overseas. Artists that Brian currently promotes and produces on a National basis are Rascal Flatts, Toby Keith, Brooks and Dunn, Brad Paisley, and Tim McGraw.