Two UTC students have received prestigious awards. Simone Edwards, who graduates in May with a degree in political science, has received a Fulbright Award, one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world. It will pay for her year-long stay in Guatemala as an English Teaching Assistant. Olivia George, who graduates next month with a bachelor’s in chemical engineering, has received a Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation. With three years of NSF funding for her graduate studies, she will attend Georgia Tech in the fall to start her Ph.D. program in materials science. Congratulations to both of them for their outstanding work and dedication. Everyone at UTC is proud of you!
Our School of Nursing accomplished an amazing feat in December when its graduating bachelor of nursing students achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination. The test must be passed to practice nursing in Tennessee. Congratulations to our students, faculty and staff in the School of Nursing whose hard work and dedication led to the achievement. WOW, 100%!!!!
In recognition of our Smoke-Free campus initiative, which began January 1, UTC is receiving the “Cleared the Air” Award from Tobacco Free Chattanooga. The award will be presented on Wednesday, May 8, at Orchard Knob Baptist Church. Carrying out the campus-wide ban on cigarettes, cigars, pipes and vaping was a campus-wide effort, and I’m grateful to our faculty, staff and students who have made this possible.
Congratulations to faculty who were recognized at the annual faculty awards dinner on Tuesday, April 16. The Outstanding University Service Award was presented to Hunter Holzhauer in Finance and Economics; the Outstanding Faculty Advising Award was given to Jessica Hackathorne, Occupational Therapy; the Outstanding Faculty Research and Creative Achievement Award went to Ethan Mills, Philosophy & Religion; the Lifetime Research and Creative Achievement Award was posthumously presented to Paul Watson, Psychology; the Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award was given to Lisa Burke-Smalley, Management; the Outstanding Lecturer or Adjunct Teaching Award went to Nicholas Lambert, Nursing; and the Carolyn Thompson and Roger Brown Community Engagement Award recipient was Chris Smith, Nursing. Congratulations to all of the award recipients.
Commencement is fast approaching. Graduate student commencement is Friday, May 3, at 2 p.m. in McKenzie Arena. Undergraduate commencement is Saturday, May 4, at 9 a.m. in the McKenzie Arena for the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering and Computer Science; commencement for the Gary W. Rollins College of Business and the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies is at 1 p.m. Former Chattanooga mayor and U.S. Senator Bob Corker will speak at both undergraduate ceremonies. Kino Becton, vice president for corporate affairs for Fontem Blu, will speak at the graduate ceremony. Congratulations to our graduates who have worked so hard to complete their degree. Everyone at UTC wishes you good luck and great success!