Tennessee Wesleyan University celebrated its Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 9th. As part of the ceremony, several awards were given in recognition of the outstanding academic careers exhibited by members of the graduating class.

       At the annual Spring commencement, the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce Awards are given to the male and female graduates who have achieved the highest academic average. This year, there were two female winners, Carmen Morales and Emma Tuggle, and one male winner, Kennedy Moore.

      Carmen Morales majored in nursing and graduated with an impressive 4.0 GPA, the highest possible grade point average. Morales plans on working at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in their intensive care unit as a nurse.

      “I am incredibly grateful to have received this award,” Morales shared. “Both of my parents are immigrants, and I am the first person in my family to graduate from college, so this award means a great deal not only to me but to my family as well. Education is a privilege I have been blessed enough to receive, and it has motivated me to work hard and make the most of every opportunity I am given.”

      Emma Tuggle also graduated with a nursing degree and a perfect 4.0 GPA. Directly after graduation, Tuggle received a well-earned job in the intensive care unit at Fort Loudon Medical Center as a nurse.

       “As an alumni, I can say that TWU provided me with an outstanding education,” Tuggle reflected. “Winning this award means so much to me, and I am so thankful for the faculty and staff that led me to where I am today.”

       The male winner, Kennedy Moore, majored in Religion and Philosophy and graduated with a near-perfect GPA of 3.992. Moore was excited to share that later this summer, he will be getting married and also relocating to Durham, North Carolina, where he will attend Duke Divinity School to pursue seminary studies.

     “I am very thankful for the way that TWU has allowed me to be formed more fully as an individual,” Moore stated. “I am also proud of TWU and the goodness that can come from being engaged in its community. The ‘well-roundedness’ that has been cultivated at TWU is a very valuable thing and I am very thankful to everyone who has made it possible.”

       Tennessee Wesleyan wishes to congratulate each of these students on their impressive academic achievements and wishes them well as they pursue their future careers.