The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has announced the recipients of its highest annual honors for 2026, recognizing three individuals whose leadership, service and professional achievement have made a lasting impact on the University and beyond.
Gary W. Rollins will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, the University’s highest recognition presented to an alumnus. Movita Steiner has been selected for the Outstanding Service Award, which recognizes extraordinary service to UTC. Dr. Alexis Rollins Bennett will receive the GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Excellence Award, honoring exceptional achievement by a recent graduate.
The recipients will be recognized during UTC Homecoming and celebrated at additional University events and engagements throughout the year.
“Our honorees exemplify the very best of UTC through their leadership, generosity, innovation and service,” Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce said. “Gary Rollins, Movita Steiner and Dr. Alexis Bennett have each transformed lives in unique ways while strengthening our University and our community. Their accomplishments reflect the enduring impact of a UTC education and the many ways our community continues to lead and serve. We are proud to celebrate their remarkable achievements.”
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Distinguished Alumni Award: Gary W. Rollins
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the University’s highest honor presented to an alumnus whose accomplishments have brought distinction to UTC through exceptional professional achievement, leadership and service.
Rollins, a 1967 UTC graduate, has spent more than five decades helping build Rollins Inc. into one of the world’s leading consumer services companies, serving as chief executive officer from 2001 to 2022 and now as executive chairman emeritus. Under his leadership, the company experienced significant growth while expanding its global footprint. His business accomplishments have earned numerous honors, including being named one of Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs and receiving the prestigious Crown Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the pest control industry.
His commitment to giving back has been equally transformative. Alongside his wife, Kathleen, Rollins established the Gary W. Rollins College of Business through a historic $40 million gift in 2018 and followed with a $30 million investment to expand Fletcher Hall, creating opportunities that will benefit UTC students for generations.
“Success is most meaningful when it creates opportunities for others. UTC helped shape my journey and has helped me create those opportunities for the business leaders of the future.”
Outstanding Service Award: Movita Steiner
The Outstanding Service Award recognizes an individual whose sustained leadership, generosity and dedication have significantly advanced the mission of UTC.
Steiner’s philanthropy and steadfast support have made a lasting impact across the University of Tennessee system and particularly at UTC. A longtime Chattanooga business and community leader, she and her late husband Jack Steiner have significantly invested in the University through support of scholarships, athletics, academic programs and student opportunities.
Among her many contributions are a transformational gift supporting a future Women’s Athletics Complex, the establishment of endowed scholarships for students and sustained annual support that enhances the student-athlete experience. Her generosity, volunteer spirit and unwavering belief in students continue to strengthen UTC and create opportunities that extend far beyond campus.
“I’m honored by this recognition, but the real reward has always been seeing students thrive and creating opportunities that change lives.”
GOLD Excellence Award: Dr. Alexis Rollins Bennett
The GOLD Excellence Award recognizes alumni who have graduated within the past decade and have distinguished themselves through exceptional professional achievement, leadership and service early in their careers.
A 2016 graduate of UTC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Bennett quickly established herself as a leader in healthcare, education and alumni engagement. She serves as physical therapy manager at Erlanger, where she leads clinical teams while helping develop the region’s first advanced acute care physical therapy residency program. Her expertise in neurological rehabilitation and brain injury care has distinguished her as a respected clinician and educator.
Bennett remains deeply connected to her alma mater as president of the UTC Physical Therapy Alumni Board, a member of the UTC Alumni Board of Directors and an adjunct faculty member in UTC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
“UTC gave me the foundation to build a career I love. Returning to mentor students and serve the university is my way of investing in those who will care for the next generation.”
The University’s annual awards celebrate individuals whose accomplishments and service exemplify UTC’s mission while strengthening communities across Tennessee and beyond. Together, the Distinguished Alumni Award, Outstanding Service Award and GOLD Excellence Award recognize individuals whose leadership, generosity and commitment continue to elevate the University and inspire future generations of Mocs.
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About the Division of Advancement: The mission of the Division of Advancement at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the University of Chattanooga Foundation is to build meaningful connections for all Mocs and inspire generosity for Chattanooga’s university. By fostering relationships and investment, we strategically bring together alumni, donors and friends of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for the collective betterment of our campus and city.
