Some of the most driven students at the Gary W. Rollins College of Business are united by a shared belief: that free markets, individual liberty and personal responsibility are the foundations of a prosperous society. A select group of business students is recognized each year for embodying those values through the Phillips Scholarship in Free Enterprise. The scholarship is a competitive, $3,000 merit award administered through the Probasco Chair and made possible by the generosity of John and Carolyn Phillips.
Recipients aren’t just strong students. They’re emerging leaders who bring entrepreneurial thinking, community involvement and a genuine passion for economics and business into everything they do. This year’s newest class of Phillips Scholars is no exception.
Ethan Arango | Junior, Economics with a minor in Statistics
Ethan is interested in something most economists care deeply about but not everyone talks about: how economic decisions shape communities. The Franklin, Tennessee native focuses on urban economics and public policy, applying data-driven methods to understand market behavior at the local level.
His experience as an apartment locator at Nashville Apartment Locators gave him direct, practical insight into consumer choice, housing markets and the real trade-offs people make every day. Ethan currently serves as vice president of the Economics Club at UTC, working to grow economic discourse and engagement among students.
After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in public policy and consulting, using economic and statistical analysis to support better decision-making in his community. In his free time, Ethan collects records and attends live music events.
Amber Briggs | Senior, Marketing
Amber is a Marketing major from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, with a minor in Brock Scholars. She serves as an academic peer coach and social media coordinator for the SMILE Fund, and was a finalist in the Spring 2025 Fly Pitch Competition. She hopes to build a career in digital marketing and branding before one day opening her own bookshop café. Outside the classroom, she’s a former mixed martial arts trainee and enjoys line dancing.
Dawson Cicora | Sophomore, Business Management and Spanish
Dawson brings a unique combination of business acumen and community service to the Phillips Scholars program. The Franklin, Tennessee native is double majoring in Business Management and Spanish, and his work reflects both.
He held a role at La Paz, where he managed a food pantry and gained hands-on experience in logistics, community engagement, data management and administrative operations. He also volunteers as an interpreter at parent-teacher conferences for Spanish-speaking families and serves as treasurer of UTC’s Spanish Club. In addition to the Phillips Scholarship, Dawson holds the UTC Provost’s Scholarship.
Looking ahead, he hopes to build a career in international business and entrepreneurship — one that brings together his love for operations, language and people. Catch him on a bike ride or behind a film camera when he’s not in class.
George Edwards | Senior, Finance with a Minor in Innovation in Honors
George is a studying finance at UTC with a minor in Innovation in Honors. He’s a Chattanooga native with broad interests spanning investing, real estate, AI and quantum computing. As a lead analyst in the SMILE Fund, he focuses on technology-sector equity research and valuation. He works as a growth ambassador with Harmony AI, gaining hands-on exposure to venture capital and early-stage company growth. Through the Innovation in Honors program, he is helping launch a Junior Shark Tank–style entrepreneurship program for middle schoolers at the Community Haven Center. He is also a Phillips Scholar in Free Enterprise, applying free-market principles to real-world challenges. After graduation, George hopes to build a career at the intersection of finance, entrepreneurship and technology. Outside of academics, he enjoys tennis, pickleball, following markets and the outdoors.
Greenley Floyd | Junior, Accounting and Finance
Greenley is on a mission to empower the next generation of women in business — and she’s doing it while building an impressive career of her own. The double major in Accounting and Finance is originally from Columbia, Tennessee. She is already applying her skills in the professional world as an accounting clerk intern at Lighthouse CFO Group, as well as a position at Baird Wealth Management.
On campus, Greenley founded and leads Women in Business, a student organization dedicated to supporting young women pursuing careers in business. She also serves as a lead analyst for the SMILE Fund and as a member of the Budget Committee for Kappa Delta sorority. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in financial consulting or wealth management. In her free time, she channels her creativity through painting and drawing.
Dylan O’Connell | Senior, Marketing: Professional Sales
Dylan is set to graduate in May 2027 as a Rollins Business Scholar. He co-founded the Christian Business Network to help students integrate faith and work while building connections between students and business professionals. Dylan serves on the Leadership Team for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, leading a weekly small group focused on spiritual growth and community. Outside the classroom, he’s an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys rock climbing and backpacking. After graduation, Dylan plans to pursue an MBA and a career in sales.
Xavier Pardo | Junior, Finance
Xavier isn’t waiting until graduation to put his business education to work. The Mount Juliet, Tennessee native has spent the past year and a half owning and operating a growing door-to-door service company. His business offers window washing and pressure washing services across Nashville, Chattanooga, and surrounding areas. He personally manages sales, paid advertising and business operations.
Xavier serves as a junior analyst for the SMILE Fund, where he develops skills in equity valuation, financial modeling and market research. His academic interests include financial analysis, valuation, equity research and the financial structures that support scalable small businesses — a passion that mirrors his own experience as a business owner.
Jackson Vatter | Junior, Economics
Jackson came to UTC from Lakesite, Tennessee, with a clear focus: the energy sector. His academic and professional interests center on grid modernization, renewable transitions, and power infrastructure — industries that sit at the intersection of economics and the future of American enterprise.
Jackson serves as the chief analyst for the SMILE Fund power team, where he applies real-world analytical skills to energy-related investment research. Jackson has been a consistent honoree of the Dean’s List. He plans to graduate in May 2028 and pursue a career in asset management or economic forecasting and analysis.
When he’s not studying market trends, you might find him lifting weights, practicing archery or exploring the outdoors.
Thaddeus Weiss | Senior, Financial Economics with a Minor in Professional Sales
Thaddeus is from Lakesite, Tennessee. He serves as an IT Help Desk technician, junior securities analyst for the SMILE Fund, secretary of the Economics Club and member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. He brings a diverse professional background spanning landscaping, commission sales and gameday operations with the Chattanooga Football Club. Passionate about both finance and economics, Thaddeus plans to pursue a career in financial services, fintech or financial planning and analysis, or continue his studies with an advanced degree in Economics.
Kira Vassilev
About the Phillips Scholarship in Free Enterprise
The Phillips Scholarship in Free Enterprise is a competitive, one-year award providing $3,000 in financial assistance to sophomore, junior and senior business majors at UTC who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and a genuine interest in free market principles.
Recipients engage with the broader community through the Probasco Chair’s lecture series, reading groups and events focused on economic freedom and entrepreneurship. The scholarship is made possible through the generosity of John and Carolyn Phillips.
To learn more or apply, visit the Phillips Scholarship page.
