He may have recently shaved his trademark beard, but there was no mistaking him. CNN News anchor Wolf Blitzer was in the bar, surrounded by University students, faculty and alumni, at Athens’ Hilton Garden Inn Monday night.

Renowned CNN news anchor Wolf Blitzer speaks Monday night after receiving an award for Distinguished Achievement in Broadcasting at the professional broadcasting society DiGamma Kappa and Georgia Association of Broadcasters annual banquet. Photo by Wes Blakenship

DiGamma Kappa, the University’s student  professional broadcasting society, partnered with the Georgia Association of Broadcasters to honor the famed journalist with their award for Distinguished Achievement in Broadcasting at the organization’s annual banquet Monday night.

Blitzer is most renowned in the journalism world for his anchor work on the acclaimed CNN show, “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer,” and students were eager to ask questions and get their picture taken with the veteran broadcaster.

“I talked to him, and he’s a really good guy,” said Tammy Lay, a senior from Stevens majoring in broadcast news and Spanish. “He gave me some great advice.”

Lay, a previous member of the organization, is DiGamma Kappa’s 2010 Esther Award recipient for her excellence in internship work.

Blitzer offered simple advice to the other journalism students asking about the importance of internships to a professional broadcasting career.

“Don’t take no for an answer,” he said.

Lay said she believes Blitzer most deserves the award for his unbiased reporting.

“He gets the facts without bias,” she said. “It’s just hardnose journalism.”

Alesia Snell is a freshman broadcast news major from Jonesboro and a member of DiGamma Kappa. Snell said she attended the banquet because she is inspired by Blitzer’s commitment to excellence in his field.

“I came because I know Wolf Blitzer and his work,” she said. “That’s something to aspire to. It’s motivation to continue in this career path. My friend and I were just talking, looking at the names of past winners of this award, and it’s amazing.”

In his advice to aspiring journalists, Blitzer said a good reporter  — above all else — must be curious.

“You have to ask questions,” he said. “If you just want to know things, if you have that instinct and you want answers, that’s an important ingredient.”

Blitzer shared his experiences in journalism and the impetus behind his move into the field with the students, faculty and alumni present at the banquet.

“As soon as I got into it, I fell in love with it. I realized it was my passion. It was for me,” he said. “You may find out you love it. You may find out you hate it. But you have to try it. That’s my recommendation.”