Carrying on a new tradition: Maryville College Celebration of Student Achievement honors almost 100 MC Scots
April 4, 2025
As spring unfurls through blossoming buds and warmer temperatures, the approaching sunset of another academic year brings with it traditions old and new … and for the newest winners of Maryville College student awards, a whole lot of plaques and certificates.
In 2024, the long-running Academic Awards and Leadership Awards ceremonies were combined into a single affair, an afternoon of exalting Maryville College’s best and brightest. On Friday, the new event again honored Scots who exemplify academic excellence, campus leadership, career potential and the MC ideal of doing good on the largest possible scale, and almost 100 of them were recognized at the second annual Celebration of Student Achievement, held in the Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre of the Clayton Center for the Arts.
“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,” MC President Dr. Bryan Coker told the assembled guests. “Each student being celebrated today has embraced challenges with courage and determination, enriching our campus community through their innovative thinking and their collaborative spirit. Enjoy this time of celebration, for it is a testament to your hard work, dedication, and the incredible potential that resides within each one of you.
“And remember, as you continue your education here at the College — or in the case of our seniors, as you embark on the next chapter of your journey — the entire Maryville College community stands behind you, cheering you on every step of the way.”
As the finalists for this year’s Maryville College student awards filled seats on the Nutt Theatre stage, their peers, parents and family members claimed spots in the auditorium to bear witness to their success. Led by mace-bearer Dr. Gabie Kerr, assistant professor of management and runner-up for the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award presented at the 2024 Commencement, faculty members and administrators processed onto the stage as well, and many of them went on to present the numerous awards and prizes given out over the next two hours.
Dr. Liz Perry-Sizemore, vice president and dean of the College, noted that the professors who teach the afternoon’s honorees are just as proud of the afternoon’s award winners as loved ones sitting in the audience.
“All of us at the College take great satisfaction in 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 Liberal Arts Award, given to the graduating seniors who have earned the highest grade point averages in all core courses taken at Maryville College. Winners included Anna McCormick, a senior Finance/Accounting major from Knoxville, Tennessee; Gabbie Noonan, a senior Health and Wellness Promotion major from St. Louis, Missouri; and Elizabeth Shwaiko, a senior American Sign Language (ASL)-English Interpreting major from Salinas, California. Noonan also received the Health Sciences and Outdoor Studies Outstanding Senior Award, which recognizes a graduating senior in Health Sciences & Outdoor Studies who has at least a 3.5 GPA, serves as role model in the classroom and community and is involved in professional organizations. Shwaiko was also the recipient of the Irma Young Outstanding Senior Award in Interpreting, which is presented to the student who has shown exemplary potential for interpreting by performance and scholarship.
Meredith Howell, a Writing/Communication senior from Birmingham, Alabama, was honored with 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, Elise Acuff of Mascot, Tennessee, was honored.
Two students — senior Sharon Melton of Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, and Emily Large, a senior from Powell, Tennessee — were 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.
Sarah Jacobs of Lebanon, Ohio, 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.
Michael Bailey of St. Thomas, Jamaica, 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 Emmett Roden, an ASL-Deaf Studies major from Church Hill, Tennessee.
Education
Three students were recognized for exemplifying the knowledge, skills and contributions of professional educators: Macey Harbin, a senior Elementary Education major from Maryville, was awarded the Outstanding Preservice Teacher in the Elementary Grades Award; Ryley Huskey, a senior History (with licensure) major from Maryville, received the Outstanding Preservice Teacher in the Secondary Grades Award; and Kade Beeler, a senior Physical Education/Health (with licensure) major from Tazewell, Tennessee, was honored with the Outstanding Preservice Teacher in P/K-12 Award.
The Kyle and Roberta Myers Petree Endowed Award, given to an outstanding student majoring in Business or Education and endowed by MC alumni the Petrees, who have devoted their professional lives to service in Blount County, was awarded to Elementary Education major Laura Diamond, a junior 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: Abby Diggs, a senior Design major from Knoxville; and Brant Jones, a senior Design major from Maryville.
For outstanding achievement in art history, Tona Guerrero Juarez, a senior Design major from Knoxville, was recognized with the Sarah Hardrath Kramer Art History Award.
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 Jamarcus Dunn of Pinson, Alabama.
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 Katie Hale, a junior Art major, and Avery Shellist, a senior Art major, both from Knoxville.
Claire Pinkston, a Music Education (vocal) with teacher licensure senior from Loudon, Tennessee, and Colin Hood, a Theatre Studies major from Maryville, 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. Hood also received the Evelyn Seedorf Prize in Dramatic Arts, which goes annually to the most deserving student majoring in Theatre.
Aaliyah Bowman, a junior Theatre Studies major from Maryville, received the Bates Forensics Drama Award, which is awarded to the most outstanding senior in drama.
Olivia Cameron, a Theatre Studies major from Maryville, took home the Outstanding Senior Theatre Student Award, which is presented to the graduating senior Theatre major who has demonstrated the most outstanding achievement in the major field.
Health Sciences & Outdoor Studies
Montina Jones, a Health and Wellness Promotion major from Knoxville, was awarded the Health Sciences and 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. Gabbie Noonan, recognized with one of the Liberal Arts awards (see above), was named as the division’s Outstanding Senior.
Humanities
Grace Rubel, a senior Philosophy major from Friendsville, Tennessee, received the T.T. Alexander Award, which is given to a student with the best paper on a subject from one of the following areas: the relationship of philosophical or theological inquiry to social issues; the application of such inquiry to social issues; the consequences of social, theological or philosophical problems on religious doctrine; the consequences of religious doctrine upon social, political or economic thinking or social science method; or the consequence of religious doctrine upon social, political or economic issues and conflicts.
The Verton M. Queener Award for History, which recognizes outstanding study of American and English history by a junior, was given to two honorees: Stan Pennington, a History (with licensure) major from Sevierville, Tennessee; and Sam Goins of Maryville.
The Bates Bible Award, established in 1919 by the Rev. William and Mrs. Nellie Bates and presented annually to the graduating senior who has demonstrated the most ability in the study of religion and philosophy, was given to Adrian Pierce of Oregon, Illinois, pursuing an individualized major focused on the intersectionality of psychology and philosophy.
Junior Dante Roddy, a History (with licensure) major from Maryville, 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 of the MC class of 1940 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 Wade Mathews, a Political Science and History double major from Lebanon, Tennessee.
Languages & Literature
Marlee Giles, a sophomore Writing/Communication and Management double major from Knoxville, 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 2025 recipient is Samantha Swann of Walland, Tennessee, majoring in English.
Senior Julia Jeffress, an English major from Johnson City, Tennessee, received the Alexander English Prize, awarded for the best four-year record in the study of English. Jeffress also 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 Kayana Donegan, a sophomore History major from Knoxville; the award for Best Art or Photography was given to Ansley Sizemore, a first-year student from Chattanooga, Tennessee; and the award for Best Prose went to senior Karla Garcia-Martinez, a Sociology major from Knoxville.
Six students were recognized for outstanding achievement in foreign language study:
- Madison Crabtree, a first-year student from Maryville, was honored for outstanding achievement in French.
- The award for outstanding achievement in Italian went to Ella Morse, a sophomore Music major from Knoxville.
- Recognition for outstanding achievement in Latin went to Madeline Spraul, a first-year Business major from Hoover, Alabama.
- Christian Goethert, a junior Mathematics major from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was recognized for outstanding achievement in German.
- The award for outstanding achievement in Japanese went to Conner Beddingfield, a senior Finance/Accounting major from Maryville.
- Emma Hamby, a first-year student from Harriman, Tennessee, was recognized for outstanding achievement in Spanish.
Mathematics & Computer Science
Junior Computer Science and Mathematics double major Chance Loveday of Sevierville 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.
Junior Computer Science major Matthew Hurst of Friendsville, Tennessee, 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.
Meghan Kimbirl, a senior Psychology major from Belmont, North Carolina, 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 Kylind Reagan, a junior Computer Science major from Sevierville.
Two Mathematics majors — Kyla Pressnell, a senior from Maynardville, Tennessee, and Chapel Shortt of Chattanooga — were named winners of the George A. Knapp Mathematics Award, which goes to the most outstanding and most promising junior or senior student majoring in Mathematics.
The West Chevrolet Academic Award recognizes a student who scores in a top 10 on the 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: Eden Carnes, a sophomore Business Analytics and Theatre Studies double major from Friendsville; and Alyssa Hummel, a sophomore Computer Science major from Maryville.
Natural Sciences
Mackenzie Pope of Maryville received the Sophomore Biology Award, given to the second-year Biology major who demonstrates outstanding ability and promise in the biological sciences.
Zöe Lotters, a first-year student from Maryville, received the Robert K. Godfrey Freshman Biology Award for demonstrated excellence in the study of biology in the first year.
Emma Grace Patterson, a sophomore Biochemistry major from Knoxville, received the Outstanding Performance in Organic Chemistry Award, which recognizes outstanding ability in the study of organic chemistry and structural analysis.
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 Diya Patel, a junior from Greeneville, Tennessee.
The Elizabeth Hillman Award, which recognizes a woman in the junior class who shows excellence in the study of chemistry, went to Lily Petree, a junior Biochemistry major from Chattanooga. Petree also received the Outstanding Spanish Minor Award, which also recognizes those minoring in Spanish who demonstrate the best academic performance in the minor field.
The A. Randolf Shields Award, which recognizes the graduating senior who has the most outstanding four-year record in Biology, went to Kaitlin Koster from Hendersonville, Tennessee.
The award for Outstanding Performance in General Chemistry was given to Elaina Beckwith, a first-year student from Mount Clare, West Virginia.
Recognized as the graduating senior who has demonstrated the most outstanding accomplishments in chemistry, Reese Bailey, a Biochemistry major from Brentwood, Tennessee, 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: Sydney Mahr, a Finance/Accounting major from Fort Myers, Florida; and Devon White, a Management major from Gray, Tennessee.
Clara Webster, a junior Political Science major from Loudon, was presented 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. The 2025 recipient is Ashley Nolazco, a sophomore from Lenoir City, Tennessee.
Seniors Jewell West of Maryville and Eli Preswood of Elk Park, North Carolina, were the co-recipients 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.
Senior Ava Beggs, 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. Beggs was also selected as winner of the Outstanding Senior Award in Sociology, given to a senior with high achievement in the sociology field.
Kaylee Savell 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.
The Hall Ethical Thinking Award recognizes a member of the junior 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. Three students were recognized with this award: First-place winner Macey Harbin, recognized previously as an Outstanding Preservice Teacher; second-place winner Bridget Requejo, also an Elementary Education senior, from Knoxville; and third-place winner Sarah Bauknight, a senior Writing/Communication major from Powell.
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
Vanessa Laguerre, a junior Developmental Psychology (Relationship and Sexual Health track) major from Birmingham, Alabama, 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.
Montina Jones, presented earlier in the evening with an academic honor, accepted the College’s W.E.B. DuBois Award, given to the 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.
Community and Admissions Awards
Valerie Gako, a sophomore Biology major from The Republic of the Philippines, received the International Student Leader of the Year Award, given to an international student or leader in the campus international community who exhibits leadership.
K.B. Burke, a senior Management major from Nebo, North Carolina, received the Student Volunteer of the Year award.
The College also recognized Abhilasha Ghosh, a sophomore Political Science major from India, for being selected as a 2025 Newman Civic Fellow. 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 Meghan Kimbirl, an academics award winner, was given the Closer Award for their service in helping the office meet enrollment goals. Kaylee Savell, also an academic award winner, 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 RA (resident assistant) of the Year Award was given to Katie Parnell, a sophomore from Chattanooga; and the Distinguished Service Award went to Kaylee Savell.
The Outstanding First-Year Leader Award went to Savannah Latham from Maryville. 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.”
Romina Aranda Reyes, an Elementary Education major from Covington, Georgia, was awarded the Outstanding Sophomore Leader Award.
Rukhshona Ismova, an International Studies major from Uzbekistan, received the Outstanding Junior Leader Award.
Sasha Hoenie, a junior Theatre Studies (with licensure) major from Maryville, 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.
Maryville College’s Black Student Alliance 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 BSA’s mission, according to the group’s Instagram account, is “to celebrate Black culture and share the variety of the Black experience with Maryville College and the community.”
Aja Rodriguez ’04, MC’s director of Community and Belonging and staff advisor to the Black Student Alliance, 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.
Additional Awards
Lauren Huffstetler, a junior from Maryville triple majoring in Design, Outdoor Studies and Tourism, and Hospitality and Regional Identity, received the Ryan Newhouse Award. The recognition goes to the junior or senior student 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.
Jared Willis-Schoeman, a senior Elementary Education major from South Africa, was presented the Jackson Outstanding International Student Award, which goes to a senior who has been a student at the College for one academic year, has a minimum GPA of 3.5 and has shown leadership inside and outside the classroom.
Grace McDonald, a senior Biology major from Athens, Tennessee, was presented the prestigious LeQuire Award by Maryville College President Dr. Bryan F. 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.
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.
Jewell West, an Environmental Studies major from Maryville (and winner of the Outstanding Student in Environmental Studies Award), was named the 2024-25 Carl ’63 and Jean McDonald Outstanding Senior.
“Jewell’s graceful energy will be missed at MC in the days ahead,” said Dr. Mark O’Gorman, professor of political science and coordinator of the Environmental Studies major, after listing West’s many accomplishments. “Jewell’s future may include working in Tennessee State Parks. Whatever Tennessee state park Jewell works at in the days ahead — that will be the best park to visit in Tennessee.”
Finalists for the award included Hannah Phillips, a Biology major from Maryville; as well as Michael Bailey, Abby Diggs and Kaylee Savell, 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 3 Commencement, which takes place at 10 a.m. on Humphreys Court, located between Fayerweather and Anderson Halls.
“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.”
The celebration’s program, as well as a downloadable list of the winners, can be found on the Maryville College website.
