On a cold January afternoon, Cpl. Gassim Abazid, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga police officer, was standing outside of his patrol car awaiting an interviewer about receiving a Chancellor’s Blue Ribbon Award when a woman frantically approached him.
She was lost, it was raining, and she could not find her Uber. Abazid focused all his attention on her and eventually told her to hop in his car, abandoning the interview for a moment.
He got the woman to her Uber just as the driver was departing.
It is no wonder that UTC Sgt. Kenneth Lloyd nominated Abazid for the award.
Chancellor Steven Angle recognized Abazid at the Chancellor’s Blue Ribbon Award luncheon on Monday, Jan. 29, honoring winners from the second half of 2023.
“He’s a go-getter,” Lloyd said. “He’s amazing. He just goes out and looks to protect the University and the kids; they all know him. He goes walking through the dorms and they all say ‘Hi.’”
Abazid, who graduated from UTC with a degree in criminal justice in 2022, has encountered some scary situations since becoming a UTC police officer in 2021.
When a serial burglar broke into cars on campus, Abazid was the one to make the arrest in the early morning hours.
“I waited for him,” Abazid recalled, “and he showed up one day on my shift. He ran and I chased him down.”
Abazid was the July 2023 recipient of the Chancellor’s Blue Ribbon Award, a recognition that he said brings him a sense of accomplishment and pride.
“As a police officer, it’s just part of the job,” he said, “but I did the best I can. It just feels really good to know that the people outside of the police community are involved and have eyes on what we’re doing and appreciating it.”
Stephanie Orr, the assistant director of Undergraduate Admissions, won the Blue Ribbon Award in August for her contributions to University High.
According to Vice Provost for Academic Outreach Shewanee Howard-Baptiste, Orr put in many extra hours on campus to interview high school students—all on her own time.
As a first-generation college graduate, Orr was drawn to University High because she felt the need to help students who may not have access to UTC’s campus or higher education.
“It was truly an honor to be recognized for the work that I do here at the University, especially in the admissions area,” Orr said. “Working with University High was just something extra I volunteered to do to represent our office.”
Angle thanked the recipients for their hard work and commitment to UTC.
“This is an event that is inspiring for me and to hear about all the great work our people have done,” Angle said.
Chancellor’s Blue Ribbon Luncheon, Monday, Jan. 29. From left: Stephanie Orr, Cpl. Gassim Abazid, Chancellor Angle, Shari Kappel, Emma Sampson and Brandalyn Shropshire (photo by Angela Foster).
July 2023: Cpl. Gassim Abazid, police officer, UTC Police Department
Abazid was nominated for his dedication to keeping campus safe for all who learn, work and visit our University by Sgt. Kenneth Lloyd, who shared several specific instances of Abazid demonstrating admirable bravery and decisive leadership.
August 2023: Stephanie Orr, assistant director, Undergraduate Admissions
Dr. Shewanee Howard-Baptiste nominated Orr for dedicating valuable time during a high-volume season in Admissions. “Stephanie was a critical piece in the success of University High, particularly in the areas of the application and interview process for students,” Howard-Baptiste said.
September 2023: Shari Kappel, administrative specialist, Management in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business
Rebecca Shortridge and Derron Bishop recognized Kappel for keeping her departments afloat and still finding time to welcome new and returning employees and students. They described her as a “huge asset to the Rollins College of Business.”
October 2023: Brandalyn Shropshire, associate director of engagement in Undergraduate Admissions
Shropshire was recognized by her colleague, Carrie Sherbesman. “Brandalyn has gone above and beyond in her role coordinating campus tours,” Sherbesman wrote in her nomination letter. “Recently, Brandalyn created a UTC Spanish-speaking campus tour, complete with a student and faculty panel in Spanish. Brandalyn created this program on her own accord because she saw that there was a need.”
November 2023: Lili Reynolds, registered nurse, University Health Services
Reynolds “has shown a true passion for the work she is doing and beams with pride over working at our wonderful University,” according to her colleagues, Dr. Chris Smith and Dr. Yasmine Key. Reynolds has received glowing reviews from her peers, said one colleague, and her monumental impact has not gone unnoticed.
December 2023: Emma Sampson, MPH program manager, Health and Human Performance
Dr. Melissa Powell, Dr. Marissa McElrone and Dr. Marisa Colston nominated Sampson for successfully navigating her program’s complex challenges for the University and having a tremendously positive impact on her coworkers and students. “It never ceases to amaze me that every day that I see her, she always asks if there is anything she can do to assist us,” they wrote in nominating Sampson—a 2020 graduate of the UTC MPH program.
Blue Ribbon Award luncheon photo gallery by Angela Foster
