Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Griffin Hammond ’07, M.S. ’09
Documentary filmmaker at Recount Media; New York City

Griffin Hammond is a documentary filmmaker, covering the 2020 presidential race for Recount Media.

Based in New York City, he chronicled the 2016 campaign trail for Bloomberg News, filming interviews across the country with Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and every major presidential candidate.

Hammond is known for his DIY filmmaking tutorials on YouTube, and his award-winning documentary "Sriracha" about the popular hot sauce. The San Francisco Chronicle called his film "Gorgeously shot."

He’s taught filmmaking workshops in 13 countries as a global brand ambassador for Panasonic cameras. The State Department has sent him on film diplomacy missions to the Middle East and Central Asia, where his filmmaking workshops accomplish diplomatic goals for the United States.

As an undergrad, Hammond got his start in journalism at TV-10. He also learned the art of teaching at Illinois State as a graduate assistant in the School of Communication. He’s since worked at Millikin University, State Farm Insurance, and YouTube Next Lab.