Students, groups honored during 2022 Leadership Awards Ceremony
More than 30 Maryville College students, faculty, staff and student organizations were honored for outstanding campus and community leadership during the institution’s annual Leadership Awards Ceremony held April 12 in the Clayton Center for the Arts’ William Baxter Lee III Grand Foyer.
“Each year, I am humbled by our students’ stories and successes. Whether through our Academic Awards, the Undergraduate Research Symposium, notable Senior Studies or uplifting the out-of-class experiences, celebrating our students is one of the highlights of the academic year for me – each and every spring!” said Dr. Melanie V. Tucker, Maryville College’s vice president and dean of students and chief diversity officer. “Taking time to celebrate provides us the opportunity to reflect on how our commitment to prepare students for lives of citizenship and leadership – as we challenge each student to search for truth, grow in wisdom, work for justice and live a life full of creativity and services to the world – is reflected in the ever-evolving experiences of our campus community and beyond.
“Our award recipients tonight are living proof of the Maryville College mission,” she continued. “In and out of the classroom, on and off campus, our honorees exemplify what it means to be a Scot, and why we study everything to prepare for anything.”
Students, faculty and organizations recognized during the April 12 ceremony are listed below.
Diversity Awards
Alexa Maqueo-Toledo, a senior sociology major from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was honored with the Sojourner Truth Award, given to an outstanding female student who exemplifies the spirit and courage of Sojourner Truth, a former slave who became an outspoken leader in the American fight for human rights in the 19th century.
Daniel Jackson, a junior health and wellness promotion major from Nashville, Tennessee, accepted the College’s W.E.B. DuBois Award, given to the male student who best captures the character and spirit of W.E.B. DuBois, the founder of the NAACP and a respected spokesperson for the rights of African Americans in the early 20th century.
The Nancy Smith Wright Unity Award, named for the first African-American to graduate from Maryville College following reintegration, recognizes an individual or organization that consistently demonstrates unity through diversity within the Maryville College community and beyond. The 2022 honor went to the Global Citizenship Organization, which strives to promote inter-cultural exchange between multi-cultural students, faculty and staff on Maryville College campus and raise cultural tradition awareness amongst the Maryville College community.
Nélida Djassi, a sophomore international studies major from Praia, Cape Verde, received the International Student Leader of the Year Award.
The Spirit of the Tartan Award, which recognizes campus partners whose work positively reflects inclusive excellence and impacts student success on campus, went to Larry Ervin ’97, director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, who is retiring in May after 31 years of service at the College.
Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance recognized the following students who received the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential: Ian Campbell, a senior finance/accounting major from Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Haley Davis, a senior political science major from College Grove, Tennessee; Kaitlyn Foust, a senior developmental psychology major from Knoxville, Tennessee; Albert Johnson, a senior management major from Hartford, Tennessee; Iyana Macon, a 2021 graduate in management from Odenville, Alabama; Reagan Monday, a junior political science major from Knoxville, Tennessee; J. Nelson Smith, a senior finance/accounting major from Goodlettsville, Tennessee; and Maleah Wooten, a 2021 graduate in outdoor studies and tourism major from Roscommon, Michigan.
Community Engagement Awards
The Community Engaged Faculty Member of the Year award went to Dr. Carl Gombert, Maryville College professor of art.
Family Promise of Blount County, led by executive director Caroline Lamar, was recognized as the Community Agency Partner of the Year.
Kristopher Seiber, a junior elementary education major from Maryville, Tennessee, received the Student Volunteer of the Year award.
The Student Activist of the Year award went to Kelton Bloxham, a junior American Sign Language and Deaf Studies and Developmental Psychology double-major from Fort Mill, South Carolina.
The Progressive Christian Community student organization was recognized with the Building and Strengthening the Human Community Award. The primary purpose of the Progressive Christian Community is to come together and share about faith. It is intentionally inclusive of all people, and it seeks to place Christian faith and values into the context of the twenty-first century and beyond.
The Charles and Mary Ensign Scholarship Award, which recognizes students’ contributions to the religious life of the campus, was presented to two seniors: Jason Nix, a senior philosophy major from Memphis, Tennessee; and Caston Weeks, a senior political science major from Greenback, Tennessee.
The College also recognized four individuals who have received recognition for community service from external organizations.
Nicholas Clifton, a senior elementary education major from Sylvania, Georgia, and Dr. Carl Gombert, Maryville College professor of art, were recognized as nominees for the Harold Love Award for Outstanding Community Service. The state-wide award, established by the Tennessee State General Assembly, recognizes students, faculty and staff across the state who have engaged in exemplary community service.
Amiana Grady, a sophomore health and wellness promotion major from Knoxville, Tennessee, was recognized for her selection as a 2022 Newman Civic Fellowship. The fellowship recognizes students committed to finding solutions for challenges that communities face locally, nationally and internationally.
The Tennessee Volunteer Star Award seeks to recognize outstanding volunteers from each of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Each year, one youth and one adult are selected for the award, and Nicholas “Nico” Starcher, a senior management major from Indian Land, South Carolina, was selected for this honor.
Spirit of the Covenant Award
Seven members of the campus community were named recipients of the College’s Spirit of the Covenant Award, which recognizes individuals who embody the spirit of the principles of scholarship, respect and integrity as outlined in the College’s Covenant.
Student recipients were Kristopher Seiber, a junior elementary education major from Maryville, Tennessee; Jace Brittain, a junior business analytics major from Cherryville, North Carolina; Kalli Knight, a junior health and wellness promotion major from Maryville, Tennessee; and Haley Davis, a senior political science major from College Grove, Tennessee. Employees recognized were Dr. Jesse Smith ’08, lecturer in mathematics; Kirsten Sheppard, director of global engagement; and Dr. Lori Schmied, professor of psychology and coordinator of neuroscience, who is retiring in May after 33 years at the College.
Student Development Awards
The Outstanding First-Year Leader Award went to two students: Natalie Lay, a management and history double-major from Knoxville, Tennessee; and Sonya “Song” Jones, an international business major from Louisville, Tennessee.
Catelee “Crow” Crow, an outdoor studies and tourism major from Clinton, Tennessee, was awarded the Outstanding Sophomore Leader Award.
Sarah Rackley, a sociology major from Rydal, Georgia, received the Outstanding Junior Leader Award.
Connor Goins, a sophomore theatre major from Cleveland, Tennessee, earned the Sharon A. Murphy Crane Award, which recognizes a rising junior or senior who is an active participant in the College theatre and/or student programming activities, and who deeply loves the College and is willing to raise issues intended to benefit the entire campus community.
MC’s PRIDE was named Student Development’s Organization of the Year. The award is presented to the student organization that has extraordinarily served its student members, as well as positively impacted the entire college community with vibrant programming and service.
Kristin Gourley, MC assistant dean of students and a nearly 17-year employee of the College, was named Student Organization Advisor of the Year. The award recognizes the advisor who has enabled his or her organization to reach its goals and make a significant contribution to student activities at Maryville College.
