The Joseph B. Tierney Award for Outstanding Freshman Journalist is awarded annually to the Torch staff member who shows the most success and promise in their first year working for the publication. The award recipient does not necessarily have to be a freshman academically.
1987 – Mari-Jo Noveskey
1988 – Heather Bomsta
1989 – Frank Eichenlaub
1990 – John Chambers
1991 – Jody Hamilton
1992 – Martin O’Neill
1993 – Jennifer Matusik
1994 – Keith Martin
1995 – Anne Dienthal
1996 – Mike Mumah
1997 – Sarah Eveland
1998 – John Karayanes
1999 – Carrie Ziegler
2000 – Steve Cook
2001 – (Not awarded)
2002 – Shannon Vesper
2003 – Adam Wiese
2004 – Eddie Bellamy and Kari Stevens
2005 – Kristin O’Brien
2006 – Mo McNeil and Neil Blake
2007 – Josh Wyzgoski
2008 – Kala Willette
2009 – Katie Kroll
2010 – Jessica Smith
2011 – Rachel Szucs
2012 – Jax Anger
2013 – Harrison Watt
2014 – Lindsey Hogan
2015 – Keith Salowich
2016 – Angela Graf
2017 – Alicia Jaimes
2018-Cora Hall
2019 – Madison Kettlewell