The Emile Catignani Award for Active Living was established in 2017 to honor his promotion and passion for an active lifestyle. Emile devoted 38 years of service to the University of Tennessee serving in a variety of capacities culminating as the director of the Physical Education and Activity Program in the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, & Sport Studies. Emile not only was an advocate for physical activity but truly lived the lifestyle through his various athletic and recreational endeavors. The award recognizes Partners in Sports members who demonstrate these characteristics and display the same passion and devotion to active living.
The creation of the award was the idea of the Partners in Sports Student Board. The Board and faculty then consulted with students who had worked with Emile as PEAP graduate teaching associates. Input from Angie Taylor, Katie Wood, Kate Powell Wojciechowski, Josh Pate, and Tim Mirabito helped establish the award and the criteria for the award.
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2016-17 | Michelle Woods |
| 2017-18 | Scott Cousino |
| 2018-19 | Chris Cooksey |
| 2019-20 | Anthony Carson |
| 2020-21 | Anna Brock Hawkins Peyton Woods |
| 2021-22 | Maddie Horridge |
| 2022-23 | Emily Knight |
| 2023-24 | Ashley Moreira |