Tennessee Tech honors individuals with Celebration of Excellence
President Oldham speaks at the 2023 Celebration of Excellence.
Tennessee Tech University recently honored several students, faculty and staff at
the university’s annual Celebration of Excellence on April 25. This event paid tribute
to those individuals who have demonstrated hard work and dedication to always putting
students first this past year.
“Before we get started with awards, give yourselves a round of applause for a bold,
fearless, confident, kind and excellent year,” said Tech President Phil Oldham.
Students recognized at the beginning of the awards ceremony included: Savannah Griffin,
student member of the Tech Board of Trustees; 2022-2023 President’s Ambassadors, including
Emerald Randolph, Colin Martin, Faith Judkins, Barrett Streeter, Brynn Hagar, Lindsey
Taylor, Ellen Williamson and Sophia Foster; as well as the outgoing 2022-2023 Student
Government Association (SGA) Executive Officers, including Addison Dorris, Jacob Cherry,
Savannah Griffin and J.D. Rankin. Finally, the newly elected 2023-2024 SGA Executive
Officers were recognized, including Chance Hale as president, Claire Myers as vice
president, Jeb MacLennan as secretary and Lindsey Taylor as treasurer.
The Most Valuable Student Worker awards included the Most Valuable Federal Work Study
Student of the Year August Pitcher from the School of Music, as well as the Most Valuable
University Academic Scholarship Student of the Year Julia Martin from the Department
of History.
Excellence in Advising Awards were given to Amanda Miller from the College of Engineering
and Ashlee Kiser from the College of Emerging and Integrative Studies, as well as
an honorable mention for Robin Eberle from the College of Engineering.
On the nomination for Miller, her supporter said, “Amanda works to create a welcoming
and respectful environment making the student comfortable and fostering strong lines
of communication and encouragement. It is important to Amanda that students are not
just supported academically but holistically throughout their time at Tech.”
It was said on the nomination for Kiser, “Ashlee is a phenomenal advisor. She advises
the athletes in the interdisciplinary studies major. She is heavily relied on by the
academic athletic advisors for her expertise in not only degree programs at Tech but
also her knowledge of NCAA rules. Students love her. She has a firm hand in keeping
the students engaged in their program and caring about them personally.”
Another prestigious award given during the ceremony was the Outstanding Clerical and
Support Awards. Recipients of that award this year included: Amy Foster from the department
of History, Elizabeth Honeycutt from the Department of Counseling and Psychology and
Peggy Medlin from the Department of Geology.
The Outstanding Professional Award was given to Ben Clark from the Whitson-Hester
School of Nursing.
On Clark’s nomination form, it said, “Ben has always gone above and beyond his assigned
job duties. Not to mention being a leader in the school of nursing. He has a positive
attitude with students and treats his colleagues with the most respect. Working in
a team setting, he listens to others’ ideas and helps with issues that impact the
school academically and financially. He helps others think outside the box and is
excellent at solving problems while still being flexible.”
The university’s highest student honor, the Derryberry Award, was given to graduating
computer engineering student Kester Nucum from Paris, Tennessee. The award was established
in honor of the late Everett Derryberry who retired in 1974 after 34 years as president
of the university. The award recognizes scholastic attainment, moral and intellectual
integrity, campus participation, good citizenship, leadership and physical vigor.
One of his letters of nomination noted, “Kester is unique among the nearly 4,000 students
I have taught over the past 23 years. You could sense this young man was bright, positive,
articulate, thoughtful, motivated and full of energy. The energy and can-do attitude
he possesses and imparts to everyone around him is a sight to behold. But Kester is
not just some starry-eyed dreamer. He has the discipline, endurance, initiative and
talent to turn his vision into reality.”
During his time at Tech, Nucum has been active in the university honors program, university
Catholic ministry, university orchestra playing the violin, Tau Beta Pi TN Gamma chapter
and the Rural Reimagined Club. Kester will be furthering his education at Mississippi
State University's Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Program.
Recipients of the 2023 Wings of Kindness Awards.
Finally, the university recognized those individuals who have gone above and beyond
to demonstrate kindness on campus with the annual Wings of Kindness Awards. Established
in 2019 by Tech First Lady Kari Oldham, the Wings of Kindness initiative recognizes
the university’s values, work ethic and culture of kindness. The winners this year
included: Kandy Smith, Julia Gruber, Jonah Hall, John Lee, Amanda Ramsey, Kinsleah
Shelton, Barry Ferrell, Andy Reinard and Victor Kline.
More information about the Celebration of Excellence and this year’s awards can be
found at https://www.tntech.edu/president/celebration-of-excellence.php.