Tennessee Tech produces award-winning coin for computer science grads
For the third consecutive year, Tennessee Tech’s Department of Computer Science has been recognized by the Tennessee College Public Relations Association with a communication award.
The department took third place in the specialty item category for its custom computer science challenge coin at the 2026 TCPRA conference in Chattanooga. The annual competition, held in May, included 462 entries in 42 categories from 20 public and private universities and community colleges from across the state. The Department of Computer Science’s award was one of 12 honors earned by Tennessee Tech this year and brings the department’s total to six TCPRA awards since 2024.
“While the university has used challenge coins for several years, we have sought to use department coins to focus on building long-term relationships beyond graduation,” Gerald Gannod, Ph.D., department chair, said. “The use of the coins is not just about the ritual – it’s about gratitude, connection and impact.
“I am pleased to see our team gain recognition for the excellence of this design as it is an affirmation of one of the values we stress as a department, notably collaboration. It is satisfying to see ideas that we develop together become a reality.”
The award-winning submission was a double-sided silver and purple metal coin with graphic elements representing the department’s academic majors in computer science and artificial intelligence, as well as concentrations in cybersecurity and high-performance computing. The design also commemorates the department’s 40th anniversary with the inscriptions “Est. 1986” and “40 Years of CS.” The reverse side displays Tennessee Tech’s official computer science seal.
The coins were presented to computer science graduates during the 2025–26 academic year. Each student received two coins — one to keep and one to give, along with a hand-written note of thanks, to the faculty or staff member who made the biggest impact on their academic journey at Tech.
“There is a joy that we get to participate in with students when we are awarded a challenge coin,” Gannod said. “Seeing students make that statement that a professor mattered in their lives helps ground us in the things that really matter.”
Along with Gannod, the department’s creative team includes Rebecca Hahnert, graphic designer, and Amy Davis, communications and marketing specialist.
“Designing the challenge coin was an exciting opportunity to commemorate the graduating students’ time with the Department of Computer Science,” Hahnert said. “Developing a keepsake for them and their mentors is a very special project to be a part of."
Previous TCPRA communications awards earned by Tennessee Tech’s Department of Computer Science are as follows:
2025
• Illustration (second place): “A Word from the Chair” portrait in the department’s
Eagle Drive magazine
• Illustration (third place): HPC-themed Eagle Drive magazine cover
2024
• Illustration (second place): AI-themed Eagle Drive magazine cover
• Poster (second place): Grace Hopper design
• Postcard (third place): “Meet Our New Faculty”
Tennessee Tech’s Office of Communications and Marketing also picked up awards at TCPRA’s 2026 conference. Read more at this link: