Maryville College Celebration of Student Achievement spotlights the best and brightest among academics and student leadership
April 10, 2026
As another academic year draws to a close, faculty, staff and administrators at Maryville College took time out on Friday to recognize the dedication, leadership and scholastic aptitude that define the student experience.
Inside the Clayton Center for the Arts, nearly 100 students were honored during the annual Celebration of Student Achievement, a gathering that brings together the College’s highest academic and leadership awards in a single ceremony. Held in the Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre, the event highlights those who distinguish themselves in scholarship, service, campus involvement and future promise — embodying the Maryville College commitment to doing good on the largest possible scale.
“It is with great pride and joy that I stand before you today to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the individuals who embody the spirit of excellence that defines Maryville College,” MC President Dr. Bryan Coker said to those in attendance. “As we reflect on the journey that has brought us here, let us acknowledge the countless hours of study, the late nights of preparation and the unwavering support of friends and mentors. Each student being celebrated today has embraced challenges with courage and determination, enriching our campus community through their innovative thinking and their collaborative spirit.”
Led by mace-bearer Dr. Jeff Bay, professor of mathematics and chair of the Division of Mathematics and Computer Science, as well as winner of the Outstanding Teacher of the Year presented during the 2025 Commencement, professors and campus organization advisors filed onto the Nutt stage behind the student award nominees. The audience was a mix of their peers and family members who showed up to cheer on their loved ones, offering boisterous applause as each name was read aloud during the ceremony.
Dr. Liz Perry-Sizemore, vice president and dean of the College, followed Coker and heralded the dedication of those faculty members who helped each award winner earn the plaques, trophies and certificates that awaited them at a table positioned at the front of the stage.
“All of us at the College take great satisfaction for the accomplishments of these students, as we recognize them for their special commitment to learning, their passion for understanding, their sensitivity to nuance, their appreciation for community and belonging, and their willingness to use their growing wisdom for the common good,” she said. “As we begin this ceremony, let us honor those who have not only excelled academically but have also embodied the spirit of intellectual inquiry and critical thinking that defines our institution.”
Below is a list of awards given and students recognized in all nine academic divisions, Core Curriculum and other departments. Additionally, the ceremony included the recognition of eight honor societies.
Core Curriculum
Three students received the Dr. Dean A. Boldon Liberal Arts Core Award. Formerly known as the Liberal Arts Award and newly renamed thanks to the Parks Cowan Initiative for the Liberal Arts, the prize is given to the graduating seniors who have earned the highest grade point averages in all core courses taken at Maryville College and named in honor of Dr. Dean A. Boldon, a former sociology professor who taught at MC for several decades and served as both dean of the faculty and chief academic officer from 1986 through 1998.
Winners included Samantha Swann, a senior English major from Walland, Tennessee; Rebecca Johnson, a senior American Sign Language-English Interpreting major from Maryville; and senior Laura Stewart, a Biochemistry major from South Pittsburg, Tennessee.
Both Swann and Johnson received additional awards over the course of the afternoon. Swann was named winner of the Alexander English Prize, given to the senior student who achieved the best academic record in the study of English; and Johnson received both the Irma Young Outstanding Senior Award in Interpreting, awarded to the student who has shown exemplary potential for the interpreting profession, and the other Core Curriculum prize given on Friday: the Glenn Hewitt Award in Ethics, given to a student demonstrating the most outstanding work in the class Ethics 490.
Behavioral Sciences
The David H. Briggs Award recognizes the senior Psychology major with the best academic performance in psychology as judged by classroom performance, overall scholarship and grade point average. This year, Annie Melhorn of Ten Mile, Tennessee, was honored. Melhorn was also one of the five nominees for the Carl ’63 and Jean McDonald Outstanding Senior Award. During presentation of the Student Leadership Awards later on in the ceremony, Melhorn was also named Resident Assistant of the Year, selected for her “undeniable and substantial impact” on student residents and for being “constantly uplifting (and) demonstrating a strong role model for fellow RAs.”
Steve Cope, a senior double-majoring in Counseling and Philosophy, was presented with the Counseling Psychology Award, which acknowledges a senior Psychology-Counseling major with the best academic performance in counseling as judged by classroom performance, overall scholarship and grade point average.
During the presentation for awards given by the Division of Humanities, Cope was also presented with the T.T. Alexander Award, given to the student with the best paper on a subject relating to the intersection of philosophy or theological inquiry and social, political or economic issues. Finally, when Community Engagement awards were handed out by Director of Community Engagement Chris Freeman, Cope was named winner of the Student Volunteer of the Year Award, given to an outstanding individual who has shown exceptional commitment, leadership and impact in their service to the community.
Ella Reyes of Knoxville, Tennessee, was presented the Developmental Psychology Award, which goes to a senior Developmental Psychology major who has achieved outstanding academic performance in the major and within their field.
Clayton Tuggle of Knoxville received the Lori A. Schmied Neuroscience Award, which acknowledges a senior Neuroscience major with the best academic performance in neuroscience as judged by classroom performance, overall scholarship and grade point average.
The ASL (American Sign Language) Outstanding Senior Award was given to Kaliyah Washington, an ASL-Deaf Studies major from Alcoa, Tennessee.
Education
Three students were recognized for exemplifying the knowledge, skills and contributions of professional educators: Allyson Cogdill, a senior Elementary Education major from Maryville, was awarded the Outstanding Preservice Teacher in the Elementary Grades Award; Stan Pennington Jr., a senior History (with licensure) major from Sevierville, Tennessee, received the Outstanding Preservice Teacher in the Secondary Grades Award; and Meredith Wynn, a senior Theatre Studies (with licensure) major from Maryville, was honored with the Outstanding Preservice Teacher in P/K-12 Award.
Wynn was also the recipient of the Outstanding Senior Theatre Student Award, given to the graduating senior Theatre Studies major who has demonstrated the most outstanding achievement in the major.
The Kyle and Roberta Myers Petree Endowed Award, given to an outstanding student majoring in Business or Education and endowed by Roberta Myers Petree ’56 and the late Kyle Petree ’55, who devoted their professional lives to service in Blount County, was awarded to Elementary Education major Emma Ernsberger, a first-year student from Maryville.
Fine Arts
The Clark Family Prize recognizes rising juniors or seniors in art who have demonstrated outstanding academic and artistic achievement. This year, the award went to two students: Allyson Parker, a first-year Art major from Louisville, Tennessee; and Sam Armour, a senior Art major from Tellico Plains, Tennessee.
For outstanding achievement in art history, Anna Price, a senior Art major from Walland, was recognized with the Sarah Hardrath Kramer Art History Award. When Impressions, MC’s campus literary magazine, presented awards to its magazine contributors, Price was also honored for Best Art or Photography.
The Outstanding Senior Design Student Award, which is awarded to the graduating senior Design major who has demonstrated the most outstanding achievement in the major field, went to Lauren Huffstetler of Maryville.
The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts scholarships are awarded annually to two junior or senior students majoring in Art or Design, and covers tuition, room and board, and art supplies for a weeklong intensive workshop at that prestigious school in Gatlinburg. This year’s recipients are Manderley Swain, a senior Art major from Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Mac McKeel, a sophomore Design major from Friendsville, Tennessee.
Dana Patterson, a Music Education (vocal) with teacher licensure major from Greenback, Tennessee, and Jackie Manning, a Music major from Chattanooga, Tennessee, were co-recipients the Barraclough Choir Award, which is given to a senior who has been a Maryville College Concert Choir member for at least two years, who is judged to have been outstanding in service to the choir, and who has been a successful student.
Eden Carnes, a junior Business Analytics and Theatre Studies double major from Friendsville, received the Evelyn Seedorf Prize in Dramatic Arts, which goes annually to the most deserving student majoring in Theatre.
Sasha Hoenie, a senior Theatre Studies (Performance) major from Maryville, received the Bates Forensics Drama Award, which is awarded to the most outstanding senior in drama.
Health Sciences & Outdoor Studies
Yanaira Camacho, an Exercise Science major from Puerto Rico, was awarded the Health Sciences & Outdoor Studies Outstanding Junior Award. The award goes to a rising senior in Health Sciences & Outdoor Studies who has at least a 3.0 GPA and has exhibited leadership in campus and departmental activities and in professional organizations.
The Health Sciences and Outdoor Studies Outstanding Senior Award, given to a graduating senior in the division who has at least a 3.5 GPA, serves as a role model in the classroom and community, and is involved in professional organizations, went to Aili King, a Health and Wellness Promotion major from Saint Gabriel, Louisiana.
Humanities
The Verton M. Queener Award for History, which recognizes outstanding study of American and English history by a junior, was given to Edie Laboube, a junior History major from Lebanon, Tennessee.
Junior Alden Sundstrom, a History major from Chattanooga, was the recipient of the Frank A. Kramer Student Award, which is given to a History major who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, exceptional service to the College and significant involvement in extracurricular activities.
The Otto P. Pflanze Prize for Excellence in History, named for historian Otto Paul Pflanze ’40, whose biography of Otto Von Bismarck is considered a definitive classic on the subject, is presented annually to an outstanding senior History major, and this year’s recipient was Kayana Donegan of Knoxville.
Languages & Literature
Addison Doornhaag, a sophomore Writing Communication major from Maryville, received the Charlotta Cook Hensley Memorial Award for outstanding academic achievement and significant involvement on the staff of The Highland Echo campus newspaper.
The Ruth Lloyd Kramer Memorial Award is given to a junior who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, exceptional service to the College and significant involvement in extracurricular activities. The 2026 recipient is Eva Blankenship of Louisville, majoring in English (with licensure).
Senior Trevor Morency, an English major from Sevierville, received the Edwin R. Hunter Award for Excellence in Research in English or American Literature, named for a legendary English professor and dean of the College and given each year to the senior judged to have produced the most outstanding Senior Study in the two award fields.
Impressions, MC’s campus literary magazine, presented awards to magazine contributors. The award for Best Poetry went to Marlee Giles, a senior Management and Writing Communication double major from Knoxville; and the award for Best Prose went to sophomore Carrie Jones, a Writing Communication major from Friendsville.
Six students were recognized for outstanding achievement in foreign language study:
- Rhiannon White, a first-year student from Kingsport, Tennessee, was honored for outstanding achievement in French.
- The award for outstanding achievement in Italian went to Jessica McBrayer, a first-year Environmental Science major from Alcoa.
- Recognition for outstanding achievement in Latin went to Clara Lindsay, a first-year student from Savannah, Tennessee.
- Leslie Lambdin, a junior Design major from Knoxville, was recognized for outstanding achievement in German.
- The award for outstanding achievement in Japanese went to Carter Cannon, a first-year student from Maryville.
- Logan Ozias, a first-year Marketing major from Knoxville, was recognized for outstanding achievement in Spanish.
Mathematics & Computer Science
Senior Mathematics major Christian Goethert of Oak Ridge was the recipient of the Russell N. and Frances Lane Edwards and Troy Bell Lane Waggoner Award. The award is presented to the most outstanding junior or senior in the Division of Mathematics and Computer Science.
Senior Mathematics major Kylind Reagan of Sevierville was presented with the Jerry L. Pietenpol Computer Science Award, which recognizes the most outstanding and most promising junior or senior student majoring in Computer Science.
Jorge Estrada Martinez, a senior Mathematics major from Knoxville, received the John Nichols Statistics Award, given to the most outstanding student in the advanced study of statistics.
The William H. Dent Calculus Award, given to the student with the most outstanding performance in calculus, was bestowed upon Elaina Beckwith, a sophomore Exercise Science major from Sevierville.
Senior Mathematics major Chance Loveday of Sevierville was named winner of the George A. Knapp Mathematics Award, which goes to the most outstanding and most promising junior or senior student majoring in Mathematics. Loveday was also one of five nominees for the Carl ’63 and Jean McDonald Outstanding Senior Award.
The West Chevrolet Academic Award recognizes a student who scores in the top 10 in the TMTA mathematics competition conducted by Maryville College’s Division of Mathematics & Computer Science or to an outstanding freshman or sophomore from Blount, Loudon or Sevier County majoring in the division. Two students were recognized: Victoria Wright, a sophomore Mathematics major from Walland; and Drew Henry, a sophomore Engineering major from Loudon, Tennessee.
Natural Sciences
Katie Ray, a first-year student from Lexington, Kentucky, received the Robert K. Godfrey Freshman Biology Award for demonstrated excellence in the study of biology in the first year.
Biomedical Sciences major Macy Hunt of Loudon received the Sophomore Biology Award, given to the second-year Biology (or Biology-related) major who demonstrates outstanding ability and promise in the biological sciences.
The Susan Allen Green Award is annually presented to the most outstanding Biology major in the junior or senior class. This year’s award was given to Madina Myrzakerova, a junior from Kazakhstan.
Landen Parker, a junior Biochemistry major from Winter Haven, Florida, received the Outstanding Performance in Organic Chemistry Award, which recognizes outstanding ability in the study of organic chemistry and structural analysis.
The Elizabeth Hillman Award, which recognizes a woman in the junior class who shows excellence in the study of chemistry, went to Emma Grace Patterson, a junior Chemistry major from Knoxville.
The A. Randolf Shields Award, which recognizes the graduating senior who has the most outstanding four-year record in Biology, went to Emily Miller from Niota, Tennessee. Miller was also named winner of the prestigious LeQuire Award by Maryville College President Dr. Bryan Coker. Named for Granville Dexter LeQuire, a Maryville physician, and his wife, Ellen Brickey LeQuire, the award was created in 1987 to help defray the expenses of applying to medical school, so preference is shown to a student who has chosen medicine as a career goal.
The award for Outstanding Performance in General Chemistry was given to Regan Boyd, a first-year student from Huntsville, Alabama.
Recognized as the graduating senior who has demonstrated the most outstanding accomplishments in chemistry, Lily Petree, a Biochemistry major from Chattanooga, was awarded the Distinguished Achievement in Chemistry Award.
Social Sciences
The Judson B. Murphy Endowed Business Award, which is presented annually to a senior who demonstrates outstanding work in business and organization management with outstanding character and well-rounded achievement and career promise, went to two students: Rukhshona Isomova, an International Studies and Finance/Accounting double major from Uzbekistan, and Owen Sacks, a Finance/Accounting major from Franklin, Tennessee.
In addition to being named one of the five nominees for the Carl ’63 and Jean McDonald Outstanding Senior Award, Isomova was also the winner of the Jackson Outstanding International Student Award, given annually to a senior non-native English speaker who has been a student at MC for at least one academic year, has a minimum GPA of 3.5 and has shown leadership inside and outside of the classroom.
Sophomores Sharay Patrick from Knoxville and Camilia Gomez Charry of Seymour, Tennessee, were the co-winners of the Agnes Thornton Bird Endowed Memorial Award, which is given to a locally residing sophomore or junior woman interested in pursuing a career in the legal profession.
The Kyle and Roberta Myers Petree Endowed Award is given to an outstanding local student majoring in business or education. The 2026 recipient is Tori Lipinski, a junior Finance/Accounting major from Loudon.
Hannah Eddleman of Knoxville was the winner of the Outstanding Senior in Sociology Award, given annually to a senior Sociology major who demonstrates excellence in the senior thesis and comprehensive exam, holds a high GPA and contributes to the classroom, College and community.
Senior Josh Cornell of Chattanooga was the winner of the Outstanding Student in Environmental Studies Award, given to the student who demonstrates outstanding work in the Environmental Studies major, has strong character, and a commitment to environmental sustainability.
Cornell, who is double-majoring in Political Science, was also the second-place winner of the Hall Ethical Thinking Award, which recognizes a member of the senior class whose creative or practical essay on ethical thinking on a particular theme from a variety of perspectives, including historical, literary, theological, psychological and sociological analyses, could be published in a journal or magazine. The other two winners were Psychology and Computer Science double major Charlie Anderson in first place, and Esmerelda Arreaga, a Psychology major from Chattanooga, in third place.
In addition, Cornell was one of five nominees for the Carl ’63 and Jean McDonald Outstanding Senior Award.
Senior Clara Webster, a Political Science major from Church Hill, Tennessee, was the winner of the John W. Burgess Award for meritorious achievement in the field of Political Science.
Michelle Bobo of Maryville was named winner of the Gina Benedict Outstanding Senior in Criminal Justice Award, named in honor of the late Dr. Regina Benedict, the first coordinator of Maryville College’s major in Criminal Justice. The award is given to a senior student demonstrating superior work in the field of criminal justice and who possesses outstanding character, well-rounded achievement and career promise.
Leadership and Campus Life Awards
Dr. Ben Stubbs, vice president and dean of students, then shifted the evening’s focus toward a recognition of student leadership.
“I have the honor and privilege to announce the winners of our Leadership Awards, recognizing students who have gone above and beyond outside of the classroom as ambassadors, resident assistants, community volunteers, student organization leaders and more,” he said.
Students, faculty and organizations recognized during the ceremony include:
Community and Belonging Awards
Michel Gonzalez Lara, a junior Political Science major from Lenoir City, Tennessee, was honored with the Warren Xavier Sales Award, which recognizes a student who demonstrates moral courage, fosters meaningful dialogue within the Maryville College community and exemplifies the College’s commitment to “do good on the largest possible scale.” New for 2026, the award is named in memory of Sales, a Maryville College senior who died unexpectedly a few weeks before completion of his senior year in 2017.
The Maryville College Pom Squad was presented with the Nancy Smith Wright Unity Award, named after one of the first students to reintegrate Maryville College in the 1950s who became the first African-American student in 62 years to earn a bachelor’s degree at MC. Vanessa LaGuerre, a senior Developmental Psychology (Relationship and Sexual Health track) major from Birmingham, Alabama, and Alec Segur, a senior Mathematics major from Maryville, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
Global+, Community Engagement, Admissions Awards
Haad Faisal, a junior Biochemistry major from Pakistan, received the International Student Leader of the Year Award, given to an international student or leader in the campus international community who exhibits leadership.
The College also recognized Lillian Patty, a first-year Psychology major from Clinton, Tennessee, for being selected as a nominee for the 2026 Newman Civic Fellowship. The fellowship recognizes students committed to finding solutions for challenges that communities face locally, nationally and internationally.
From the MC Office of Admissions, student Ambassador Grace Seal, a sophomore Neuroscience major from Knoxville, was given the Closer Award for their service in helping the office meet enrollment goals. Megan Cooper, a senior English major from Knoxville, was named Ambassador of the Year, given in recognition of “an individual who did an exceptional job of representing the College in a positive and professional manner and who goes above and beyond in their involvement as an Ambassador.”
Residence Life and Student Involvement
The Residence Life Distinguished Service Award, given annually to a returning RA (resident assistant) “who has displayed significant contributions to the program throughout the entire course of their service to the RA position,” was presented to Liz Harvey-Ayers, a senior Psychology (Counseling) major from Williamson, Georgia.
Maryville College’s MC3D club was named Student 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. The Maryville College 3-D Printing Club, according to the program, “has transformed creativity into connection by bringing together students, faculty and the broader community through innovative, hands-on experiences.” George Knapp Mathematics Award winner and Outstanding Senior finalist Chance Loveday accepted on behalf of the group.
Di Bei, assistant professor of Writing/Communication and faculty advisor to the Maryville College literary magazine Impressions, 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.
Individual Awards
Two Scots were named winners of the Ryan Newhouse Award, given to juniors or seniors who, in the judgment of the business, fine arts and humanities faculty, typifies the finest characteristics of the liberal arts by uniting the fields of business and the humanities or fine arts in his or her academic life, personal growth and values. Winners included Brady Odom, a junior Finance/Accounting major, and Rayna Welsch, a sophomore Marketing major, both from Maryville.
Gianna Mantegna, a junior Computational Environmental Science (Individualized) major from Lakeland, Florida, 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.
The Outstanding First-Year Leader Award went to Theatre Education major Lee Hobbs from Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. The award is given annually to a rising sophomore who has “shown outstanding performance as a campus and community leader in their first year, and who shows excellent potential of continuing in leadership roles at Maryville College.”
Savannah Latham, a History major from Maryville, was awarded the Outstanding Sophomore Leader Award.
Lily Little, a Biochemistry major from Lincoln, Nebraska, received the Outstanding Junior Leader Award.
Carl ’63 and Jean McDonald Outstanding Senior Award
Endowed in 2021 by Carl ’63 and Jean McDonald, the Outstanding Senior Award is one of the most prestigious honors given to a student and recognizes a senior who has been active in a broad range of activities, who most exemplifies the “ideal” Maryville College graduate and who has the potential to be an outstanding alumnus.
Josh Cornell, an Environmental Studies major from Chattanooga (and winner of the Outstanding Student in Environmental Studies Award, as well as the second-place winner in the Hall Ethical Thinking Contest), was named the 2025-26 Carl ’63 and Jean McDonald Outstanding Senior.
“Josh not only studies politics and the environment; he lives it,” said Dr. Mark O’Gorman, professor of political science and coordinator of the Environmental Studies major, after listing Cornell’s many accomplishments. “I am happy to sing about Josh’s many accomplishments, as he achieves his goal of making government be a positive force for environmental sustainability — a journey that has just begun.”
Finalists for the award included Madison Smith, a Psychology major from Sevierville; as well as Chance Loveday, Annie Melhorn and Rukhshona Isomova, who were all honored with additional awards on Friday.
As the ceremony came to a close, Coker pointed out that the event served as something of a kickoff of observations and activities leading up to the College’s May 9 Commencement, which takes place at 10 a.m. on Humphreys Court, located between Fayerweather and Anderson Halls. Many of those milestones, he said, will include the families and friends of seniors who “have been instrumental in their success.”
“Although this academic year is drawing to a close, there are still many achievements to be celebrated,” Coker said. “With your continued support, these exceptional students, along with many others, will continue to impress, surprise, and delight us each day.”
