The Cliffys Return To Walters State
May 23, 2022
Matthew Lawson, associate professor of communications, and Sherri Jacobs, associate
professor of English, welcomed students and faculty to the 2022 Cliffys.
The Cliffy Awards returned to Walters State this spring after a two-year absence.
Winners were announced following a one-day film festival recognizing the best in film
production among Walters State students.
The award is named in honor of Dr. Larry Clifton, retired associate professor of communications.
Clifton also taught a popular elective on film studies and served as a consultant
on many motion picture productions, including “The Bell Witch.”
Four students swept two categories. John Marsolek of Greeneville, Jordan Lawson of
Johnson City, Xander Conley of Pigeon Forge, and David Bowlin of Chuckey won top
honors in both the documentary and the music video categories.
Connor Ramsey and Dallas Young, both of Morristown, won the fictional film category.
The Cliffys began as class assignment and soon grew into a collegewide competition.
Matthew Lawson, associate professor of communications, organizes the event each spring.
In the photo: Matthew Lawson, associate professor of communications, and Sherri Jacobs,
associate professor of English, welcomed students and faculty to the 2022 Cliffys.