The award dinner will take place Friday, Oct. 23, at Pulaski Mule Co Event Center (114 E. Jefferson St.). A reception will run from 5-6 p.m., with dinner and awards to follow beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person, with 100% of profits going to �������’s alumni programs.

The Distinguished Alumni Award honors alumni who have achieved excellence in their profession, demonstrated outstanding leadership and service, or made a meaningful impact in their communities while exemplifying the values of �������. 

The Distinguished Alumni Award recipients are:

• Sarah D. Suddarth, Ph.D., ������� ‘07
• Stanton Belford, Ph.D., ������� ‘00
• Charles D. Haney, Ph.D., ������� ‘74, UT Knoxville ‘75, UT Health Sciences ‘79

Recognized by the ������� Alumni Board for their extraordinary service to ������� and the greater Giles County community, three recipients were recognized for the Alumni Service Award.

The Alumni Service Award recipients are:

• Sharon Harwell, ������� ‘78
• Brenda Speer, UT Knoxville ‘78
• Carol Wade, ������� ’06

“We’re excited to welcome these distinguished alumni back to campus and recognize their accomplishments,” said Kyle Hensley, vice chancellor of advancement. “These alumni have had a positive impact on their communities and we are proud to have them as part of the ������� Alumni family.”

The 2026 ������� Athletic Hall of Fame Class honors an outstanding group of former student-athletes, coaches, teams and national championship teams whose accomplishments helped shape the proud tradition of Martin Methodist and ������� athletics, elevating the institution’s tradition of excellence.

The 2026 Hall of Fame Class includes:

• James Justice, men’s basketball, ������� ‘12
• 2016 Clay Target team
• Travis Garcia, baseball, ������� ‘11
• Karen Hargrove, softball, ������� ‘06
• Milene Cabral, women’s soccer, ������� ‘19

In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, ������� Athletics will honor the memory of former softball student-athlete Sydney Watson, ������� ‘19, whose legacy of service, courage and sacrifice continues to inspire the Firehawk family.

“There is a renewed energy across our athletic department right now, and what better way to celebrate our future than by honoring the foundation of our past,” said Brandie Paul, vice chancellor and director of athletics. “The return of the Hall of Fame represents a major milestone for �������. It gives our alumni a reason to come home, gives our fans a chance to celebrate the greats, and shows our current student-athletes the height of what is possible in a Firehawk uniform.”

Registration deadline for the event is Sep. 30, with more information .

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The ������� provides an exceptional educational experience that empowers students to discover their potential, serve their communities and lead meaningful lives. Located in Pulaski, Tennessee, ������� offers personalized learning, hands-on experiences and a close-knit campus community while serving southern Middle Tennessee and preparing students for success.

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The five ������� students receiving scholarships are:

• Reese Clayton, senior accounting major – $1,500 scholarship
• Dan Gervais, senior accounting major – $1,500 scholarship
• Danny Patterson, senior accounting major – $1,000 scholarship
• Jessica Howell, junior accounting major – $500 scholarship
• MaeLee Willamson, junior accounting major – $500 scholarship

“I am incredibly proud of our ������� accounting students who received TSCPA scholarships,” said Sherry Philpot, ������� accounting instructor. “Their hard work in the classroom and dedication to their accounting courses have earned them this well-deserved recognition. They represent ������� exceptionally well, and I am excited to watch them continue to achieve great things.”

In addition to receiving the 2026 TSCPA Education & Memorial Foundation scholarship award, (major) Clayton has been chosen as a TSCPA Student Influencer for the 2026-2027 academic year. As a TSCPA Student Influencer, Clayton will serve as a liaison between TSCPA, accounting students and key contacts, such as professors or administrators of the campus community. Through social media platforms, Clayton will also promote the free TSCPA student membership and accounting careers to campus.

The TSCPA is the state professional organization for certified public accountants in Tennessee. With more than 100 years of service to the accounting profession, TSCPA acts on behalf of its members and provides support, enabling its members to perform quality professional services while serving the public interest.

With aid of TSCPA member donations, the TSCPA Educational & Memorial Foundation awards more than $250,000 in scholarships annually. Scholarships are available to TSCPA student members who have completed introductory accounting courses and are planning to sit for the CPA Exam.
For more information about accounting programs at �������, visit ������� Accounting.

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The ������� provides an exceptional educational experience that empowers students to discover their potential, serve their communities and lead meaningful lives. Located in Pulaski, Tennessee, ������� offers personalized learning, hands-on experiences and a close-knit campus community while serving southern Middle Tennessee and preparing students for success.

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“These awards reflect the very best of what we value at �������: excellence in teaching, meaningful scholarship and service and a commitment to making a difference beyond the classroom,” Chandler said. “Paul Cockson, Stanton Belford and Claire Paul each represent those values in distinct and important ways. We are proud to recognize their accomplishments and grateful for the impact they continue to have on our students, our university and the communities we serve.”

Three bi-annual awards were presented during the address:

Rising Faculty Award: Paul Cockson, assistant professor of biology

This award recognizes a full-time faculty member, whether tenure-track or non-tenure-track, in the first five years of building a strong record of teaching, scholarship, or creative activity and service, who demonstrates exceptional promise and momentum. Cockson combines student-centered research with experiential learning, including research on Dionaea muscipula (Venus fly traps), giving students opportunities to apply classroom concepts through hands-on scientific research.

External Impact Award: Stanton Belford, associate professor of biology

This award recognizes a full-time faculty member whose work advances �������’s external presence through community partnership, public-facing impact and regional or professional engagement. Notably, Belford leads coral reef monitoring and conservation efforts in Trinidad and Tobago that bring together research, education and community outreach while engaging students in efforts to address environmental challenges.

Fred E. Ford Exemplary Educator Award: Claire Paul, assistant professor and special education program coordinator

This award recognizes a ������� full-time faculty member whose teaching demonstrates sustained excellence, student engagement and meaningful contribution to student learning and success during the academic year. Paul consistently supports �������’s Teacher Education and Grow Your Own programs, helping prepare future educators and expand opportunities for students pursuing careers in education.

The recognition of Cockson, Belford and Paul highlights the breadth of contributions made by ������� faculty through teaching, scholarship, service and engagement. Their accomplishments reflect the university’s commitment to academic excellence and student success and the meaningful impact of faculty work across the university.

������� the �������
The ������� provides an exceptional educational experience that empowers students to discover their potential, serve their communities and lead meaningful lives. Located in Pulaski, Tennessee, ������� offers personalized learning, hands-on experiences and a close-knit campus community while serving southern Middle Tennessee and preparing students for success.

Media Contact
Kyley Wolf, kwolf@utsouthern.edu
931-424-2015 ext. 3078

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Established in 1966, the UTAA awards program honors outstanding faculty across the University of Tennessee System. ������� began participating in the program in 2023.

Faculty are nominated by students, with final selection determined by campus leadership. In nominations, students consistently highlighted Young’s dedication, accessibility and impact on their academic and professional development.

Students described Young as “kind, patient, respectful, resourceful” and credited her with providing consistent support throughout their academic careers. Several noted her guidance during Praxis exam preparation and clinical experiences, emphasizing her role in helping them build confidence as future educators.

Young reflected on the recognition and the impact of her work with students.

“I am deeply humbled and honored to receive the ������� Teacher of the Year award,” Young said. “I am grateful to be part of such an incredible community of educators. Most importantly, I am thankful for my students as they are my ‘why.’ They inspire and challenge me every day to grow and do this work with purpose.”

“What truly sets her apart is her accessibility and compassion,” one student wrote. “She is consistently willing to go above and beyond to support her students, ensuring that no one feels overlooked or unsupported.”

Young is a dedicated educator, having spent 29 years in K-12 education before joining ������� full-time in March 2023 as the Grow Your Own Coordinator. During her tenure in K-12, Young taught kindergarten, served in leadership roles in Giles and Fayetteville City Schools and led partnerships with local industry. Young has served as an adjunct faculty member in the Grissom School of Education since 2017.

Young will be recognized at the UTAA Board of Governors meeting in June in Knoxville. As part of the award, she will receive a $1,000 stipend, along with travel and event accommodations. The recognition reflects �������’s continued emphasis on high-quality instruction and student-centered learning.

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Kenneth W. Vickers, Ph.D., professor of history and chair of the School of Social Sciences, opened the ceremony with welcome remarks, followed by greetings from Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Prentice Chandler. Faculty members from across the school presented awards to students who demonstrated exceptional performance in their respective disciplines:

The William E. Rutherford History Award was presented to Emma Grace Eubank by W. Cochran Pruett, instructor of history.

Richard Schoeberl, Ph.D., program chair and director of graduate studies for criminology and homeland security, presented the Stanley E. Newton Award for Academic Excellence to Kacey Lee Torrence. He also presented the Shelton-Roberts Award for Moral Courage in Criminal Justice to Avery Faith Keenon.

The Dr. James Cooper Award for the Advancement of Social Work was presented to Elijah Reese Mashburn by Alicia Webb, Ph.D., associate professor of behavioral science. Webb also presented the Behavioral Sciences Award in Human Services to Holli Brooke Loveless and the Behavioral Sciences Award in Psychology to Emily Grace Hovis.

The ceremony also included an Alpha Chi presentation led by Jennifer Aust, Ph.D., recognizing academic excellence among top students. The annual event is held each spring to recognize student achievement and celebrate academic excellence. The School of Social Sciences prepares students for careers in fields including criminal justice, social work, behavioral science and related disciplines, with a focus on academic rigor and real-world application.

Photo gallery
The School of Social Sciences hosted its annual Awards Day ceremony April 17 in Gault Auditorium, recognizing students for academic excellence across multiple disciplines.

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PULASKI, Tenn. — The ������� recognized outstanding student achievement on April 6 during its 2026 Awards Day ceremony in the Gault Fine Arts Center Auditorium. Hosted by the D.W. Johnston School of Business, the ceremony brought together students, faculty and staff to celebrate academic excellence, leadership and professional achievement across business disciplines.

Nan Wakefield, chair of the D.W. Johnston School of Business, welcomed attendees and reflected on the impact of student success across the school’s programs. Dr. Prentice Chandler, provost and executive vice chancellor, followed with remarks highlighting the role of academic achievement in preparing students for careers and continued growth.

The ceremony honored students across multiple disciplines, recognizing both academic performance and contributions within their fields of study. In accounting, Stephanie Margaret Hodgson and James Bryce Woodard were each recognized with the D.W. Johnston School of Business Accounting Major Award. Truman Jason Carroll received the Academic Excellence Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Graduate Studies for the MBA program.

“Truman Carroll is exceedingly deserving of the 2026 MBA Academic Excellence Award,” said Dr. Lorie Pettus Jones, associate professor and director of the Master of Business Administration program. “While working full time, he completed his MBA with perfect attendance and a perfect GPA, mentored fellow students and demonstrated a strong commitment to building community within the program.”

Additional honors included the Management Award, presented to Callie G. Garland, and the Sport Management Award, presented to Tyson Lee Ries. The program also featured a presentation from Alpha Chi, the national honor society that recognizes academic excellence across disciplines, led by Dr. Jennifer Aust, program coordinator and associate professor of mathematics.

The ceremony concluded with the induction of new members into Sigma Beta Delta, the international honor society for students in business, management and administration. Membership is reserved for students in the top 20 percent of their class who have completed at least half of their degree program and demonstrated strong academic performance and character. The annual Awards Day serves as an opportunity to recognize student achievement and highlight the impact of academic programs at �������, reinforcing the university’s commitment to preparing graduates for success in their careers and communities.

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������� employees (faculty, staff and instructors) are invited to nominate eligible colleagues. Employees, please check your inbox for more details including the nomination form links. All questions should be directed to utsawards@utsouthern.edu.

Nominations are open now and will close on March 30. 

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