Honor’s Day 2026
April 21, 2026 2026-04-21 22:13Honor’s Day 2026
Honor’s Day 2026
Tennessee Wesleyan celebrated the 2025-2026 academic year with Honors Day on Tuesday, April 21. The hard work and dedication of many students and employees was recognized in the annual event.
Awards and recognitions are grouped by academic or administrative unit.
Fine Arts
The William P. Miller Award
Initiated by the 1963-1964 Tennessee Wesleyan University Student Government Association in memory of Bill Miller, this award is presented annually to an upper-class choir member, selected by the choir, who has made the most outstanding contribution to the choir.
Kennedy Moore
The Harrilyn C. Sallis Award
This award is presented annually to a deserving member in the music theory class who has made the most progress in theory during the academic year.
William McCormick
The Mrs. Sue Carter Sherman Award
This award is given annually for outstanding work in music.
Riley Hammel
The Standing Ovation for Career Achievement in Theatre
This award goes to an outstanding theatre student who has shown the most involvement and skill during their time at TWU.
Daisy Cranfill
Communication Studies
The Communication Studies Award
This award is given annually to the senior who has been an outstanding student in the areas of Media Development, Journalism and Public Relations.
Dakota Caldwell
Religion & Philosophy
The Tennessee Wesleyan University Biblical Studies Award
This award is presented for outstanding achievement in Biblical Studies.
Kennedy Moore
The Naff Award in Religion and Philosophy
This award is given annually to the student who exhibits outstanding scholarship and leadership in religious and philosophical studies.
Brooklyn Ingram Nelson & Major Frerichs
History & Political Science
The Harry Russell Caldwell Award
This award is given to the graduating senior History major who has achieved the greatest merit in History.
Kate Buchanan
Education
Athens Educational Association Award
Members of the Athens Education Association have established an annual program of support for an outstanding senior in the Tennessee Wesleyan University education program. The recipient of this prize must have shown outstanding qualifications and be certainly headed for a career in teaching.
Cheyenne Newman
McMinn County Retired Teachers Association Award
Members of the McMinn County Retired Association choose a recipient each year that the TWU Education faculty considered to be an accomplished teacher.
Sarah Anderson
McMinn County Teachers Association Award
Members of the McMinn County Teachers Association honor a recipient each year selected by the TWU Education Department faculty and based on overall performance at Tennessee Wesleyan University.
Emily Malick
Sherry B. Godsey Award
Sherry B. Godsey was a beloved English teacher at McMinn High School. The TWU Education Department chooses a student that will be sure to continue their teaching career and will influence education in their community.
Briley Waters
Pi Lambda Theta-Educational Honorary Society
This award is given to students who qualify to join based on their GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Sarah Anderson, Autumn Bowen, Hannah O’Daniel, Hannah Bredwell, Emily Malick, Briley Waters
Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Society
Members of the Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Society choose the recipient of this award based on their student teaching performance.
Lexi Shadden
Natural Sciences
The Edmond R. Cox Award for Excellence in Biology
This award is presented annually to the Natural Sciences major who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement of General Biology.
Cadence Patton & Katie Pennington
The Joyce R. Baker Award for Excellence in Chemistry
Named in honor of Dr. Joyce R. Baker’s career as an educator, this award is conferred upon students who perform at the highest level in General Chemistry.
Kenley Petrosino
The Carl B. Honaker and the Bud L. Duncan Senior Award in Chemistry
This award is given to the outstanding senior chemistry major.
Elise Kile
The Richard M. Johnson Award
This award is presented annually to the senior Biology major who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement of scientific tradition and philosophy.
Alyssa Bridges
Business Administration
The Bill Hutson Award for the Most Outstanding Business Student
This award is presented to the student who has the most outstanding work in the Business Department.
Cierra Hurst
The Pascarella Aspiring Accountant Award
This award given by Mr. Lou Pascarella to an outstanding student who is progressing towards becoming an accountant.
Madison Bishop
Business Administration Award in Memory of Allen H. Carter
In memory of Allen H. Carter, this award is given to a rising business major in the sophomore or junior class. Recipient must hold a 3.0 GPA, reside in McMinn County and exhibit high character, integrity and community involvement.
Locke Harris
Business Administration Award in Honor of Valerie Carter Tipps
In honor of Valerie Carter Tipps, this award is given to a rising business major in the sophomore and junior class. Recipient must hold a 3.0 GPA, reside in McMinn County and exhibit high character, integrity and community involvement.
Austyn Frederick
Business Administration Award in Memory of Dan Fisher
This award is given in memory of Mr. Dan Fisher to an outstanding business major.
Lesly Corona
Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice Excellence Award
This award is given annually to a graduating senior who has demonstrated the highest academic excellence in Criminal Justice.
Justin Daniel
Social Sciences
The “Mr. T” Thompson Award
In honor of his 35 years of loyal service to Tennessee Wesleyan University, this award is given to an outstanding Social Science student who goes “above and beyond” in commitment to education and in service to others.
Bethany Spangler
The Jane Addams Award
In honor of Jane Addams – Social Worker, Humanitarian, Social Activist, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 1931 who studied social problems in a scientific manner. This award is presented to an outstanding student in Sociology and Social Work.
Emily Henry
The Horizon Award
This award is given to a rising social science student who has exhibited academic excellence.
Jada Edwards, Jameson Koch, McKenna Kee, Baylee Thomas
The William James Psychology Award
This award is given to the outstanding student in Psychology. The selection is based upon academic achievement and the judgement of the psychology family.
Brooklyn Ingram-Nelson
The W.E.S. Team Leadership Award
This award is conferred upon a member of the W.E.S. Team who has exhibited both outstanding leadership and commitment to promoting the mental wellness of the TWU student body.
Angelica Paula
Phi Alpha Honor Society
The Phi Alpha Honor Society is an Honor Society at Tennessee Wesleyan University for social work students dedicated to excellence in scholarship and high professional standards. Cords are presented to graduating members.
Maisie Hassall, Emily Henry, Brooke Russell, Bethany Spangler
Phi Chi Honor Society
The Psi Chi Honor Society at Tennessee Wesleyan University for psychology students dedicated to excelling in scholarship and high professional standards. Cords are presented to graduating members
Brooklyn Ingram-Nelson
Mathematics
The Mr. & Mrs. George Yates Award
This award is given annually to the student making the best record as a freshman in Mathematics.
Carley Stewart
The L & M Motors Mathematics Award
This award is given annually to the senior Mathematics major that has done outstanding work in Mathematics.
Asier Pascual de Zulueta
Health & Human Performance
The Health and Human Performance Award
This award goes to the outstanding junior or senior majoring in Exercise Science, Physical Education, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Public Health or Sport Management who exemplifies the highest standards in academics, service to the community, community involvement and leadership qualities.
Jozlyn Long
The Service to Health and Human Performance Award
This award is bestowed upon one student who has most consistently delivered significant service to the Department of Health and Human Performance.
Lezli Ledesma-Lemer
English & Modern Languages
Springs of Helicon Award
The university’s literary magazine awards for outstanding creative work in the areas of poetry, prose and art.
Poetry – Cassandra Love; Prose – William McCormick; Art – Olivia Rush
The Outstanding English Major Award
This award is given annually to the senior English major who has done outstanding work in English.
Jadyn Jones
The Lynne Gylani Language Award
This award is given to a senior student who has done outstanding work in the study of a foreign language
Alyssa Morris
Student Government Association Awards
The Jim Thompson Service Awards
These awards are presented annually by the Student Government Association to a deserving member of the faculty and staff.
Faculty: William Murray
Staff: Scott “Dean” Mashburn
The Ann Vaught Dougherty Award
This award is presented by the Student Government in memory of Ann Vaught Dougherty to a member of the SGA, elected by SGA, for outstanding service to the TWC student body.
Michael Fuchs
The Dr. Floyd “Jack” Bowling Award
This award is presented by the student body for modeling the qualities of Dr. Bowling through Leadership, Academic Success, Exemplary Service, and Loyalty to Tennessee Wesleyan University.
Brooklyn Ingram-Nelson
The Raymond A. Grant Civic Scholarship Award
To honor a community leader, friend, educator, and mentor of local youth, the Raymond A. Grant Civic Scholarship was established by Allen Carter, a member of the university’s Board of Trustees. Ray Grant has selflessly and quietly impacted the lives of many youth in our region for many years, including that of Mr. Carter’s. The recipient of this scholarship must demonstrate exemplary leadership and service at the university and in the community while maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Brittney Bowman
Center for Servant Leadership
The TWU Volunteer of the Year Award
These awards will be presented to a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior students involved in the Servant Leadership program who tracks the most volunteer/service-learning hours during the academic year.
Freshman: Nyla Griffith
Sophomore: Bobby Heatherly
Junior: Kylie Buchanan
Senior: Caroline Tindell
Faculty Awards
New Faculty Incentive Award
This award recognizes excellence in teaching for a first-year faculty member.
Dr. Tryphena Yeboah
Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship Award
This award goes to the faculty member exhibiting excellence in teaching as well as Scholarly pursuits.
Dr. Anne Montgomery
The Alton L. Smith Award for Academic Advising
This award is presented annually to the faculty who has done an outstanding job of advising students academically during the year.
Dr. Randa Colbert
The Deane G. Hall Award
This award goes to a full-time teacher who has been on the Tennessee Wesleyan University faculty for a minimum of three years. The selection is made by a vote of the faculty based on performance of the teacher as to effectiveness with students, intellectual integrity, imagination in presentation of subject matter, and enthusiasm in the general learning process.
Dr. Jack Seitz
The Lockmiller Teacher of the Year Award
The Lockmiller Teacher of the Year award was established by the Lockmiller family. This award is based on effective teaching, student counseling, research and publications, and campus leadership. The Teacher of the Year is selected by the faculty.
Dr. Sean Hayden
Staff Awards
The Aramark/TWU Staff Member of the Year
This award is presented annually to an Aramark staff member working at the university who is considered, by vote of TWU Aramark staff members, to have made essential contributions to the efficiency and/or effectiveness of their department through their initiatives or ideas which have helped improve the overall image of the university.
Day-Day Evans
James Sherman Facilities Award
This award is presented annually to a national staff member working at the university who is considered, by vote of TWU National staff members, to have made essential contributions to the efficiency and/or effectiveness of their department through their initiatives or ideas which have helped improve the overall image of the university.
Bayli Beason
New Staff Member Innovation Award
This award is presented annually to a member new to the university staff who is considered, by vote of TWU staff members, to have made essential contributions to the efficiency and/or effectiveness of their department through their new initiatives or ideas which have helped improve the overall image of the university.
Dr. Angie Watts
President’s Cabinet Award
This award is presented annually to a member of the TWU staff who is considered, by vote of the President’s Cabinet to have displayed extraordinary commitment, dedication, hard work, loyalty and dependability to the University.
Matt Sullivan
The Flame Award
This award is presented annually to a member of the TWU staff who is considered, by vote of his or her peers, as having done an outstanding job in supporting and promoting Tennessee Wesleyan University.
Courtney Hart
Presentation of SGA Awards
Outgoing SGA Officers
These awards are for the outstanding services by the outgoing SGA Officers.
President – Brooklyn Ingram-Nelson
Vice President – Yenifer Martinez Secretary/Treasurer – Brittney Bowman
Incoming SGA Officers
President – Kyleigh Hickerson
Vice President – Kennya Carillo Secretary/Treasurer – Ingrid Jaimes-Trejo
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