No one was keeping score of award totals, but Knox County natives made a colossal showing at the Maryville College Celebration of Student Achievement on April 10, at the Clayton Center for the Arts on the MC campus.

The event uplifts those who distinguish themselves in scholarship, service, campus involvement and future potential — embodying the Maryville College commitment to doing good on the largest possible scale.

“It is with great pride and joy that I stand before you today to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the individuals who embody the spirit of excellence that defines Maryville College,” MC President Dr. Bryan Coker said to those in attendance

Dr. Liz Perry-Sizemore, vice president and dean of the College, followed Coker and heralded the dedication of those faculty members who helped each award winner earn the plaques, trophies and certificates that awaited them at a table positioned at the front of the stage.

“As we begin this ceremony, let us honor those who have not only excelled academically but have also embodied the spirit of intellectual inquiry and critical thinking that defines our institution.”

Thirteen students from the Knox County area claimed a smorgasbord of honors at the ceremony, including:

Behavioral Sciences

Ella Reyes of Knoxville, Tennessee, was presented the Developmental Psychology Award, which goes to a senior Developmental Psychology major who has achieved outstanding academic performance in the major and within their field.

Clayton Tuggle of Knoxville received the Lori A. Schmied Neuroscience Award, which acknowledges a senior Neuroscience major with the best academic performance in neuroscience as judged by classroom performance, overall scholarship and grade point average.

Humanities

The Otto P. Pflanze Prize for Excellence in History, named for historian Otto Paul Pflanze ’40, whose biography of Otto Von Bismarck is considered a definitive classic on the subject, is presented annually to an outstanding senior History major, and this year’s recipient was Kayana Donegan of Knoxville.

Languages & Literature

Impressions, MC’s campus literary magazine, presented awards to magazine contributors. The award for Best Poetry went to Marlee Giles, a senior Management and Writing Communication double major from Knoxville.

Two students from Knox were recognized for outstanding achievement in foreign language study:

  • Leslie Lambdin, a junior Design major from Knoxville, was recognized for outstanding achievement in German.
  • Logan Ozias, a first-year Marketing major from Knoxville, was recognized for outstanding achievement in Spanish.

Mathematics & Computer Science

Jorge Estrada Martinez, a senior Mathematics major from Knoxville, received the John Nichols Statistics Award, given to the most outstanding student in the advanced study of statistics.

Natural Sciences

The Elizabeth Hillman Award, which recognizes a woman in the junior class who shows excellence in the study of chemistry, went to Emma Grace Patterson, a junior Chemistry major from Knoxville.

Social Sciences

Sophomores Sharay Patrick from Knoxville was a co-winner of the Agnes Thornton Bird Endowed Memorial Award, which is given to a locally residing sophomore or junior woman interested in pursuing a career in the legal profession.

Hannah Eddleman of Knoxville was the winner of the Outstanding Senior in Sociology Award, given annually to a senior Sociology major who demonstrates excellence in the senior thesis and comprehensive exam, holds a high GPA and contributes to the classroom, College and community.

Leadership, Campus Life and Individual Awards

Dr. Ben Stubbs, vice president and dean of students, then shifted the evening’s focus to recognizing student leadership.

Knox Countians recognized during the leadership and campus organization awards segment of the ceremony include:

From the MC Office of Admissions, student Ambassador Grace Seal, a sophomore Neuroscience major from Knoxville, was given the Closer Award for their service in helping the office meet enrollment goals. Megan Cooper, a senior English major from Knoxville, was named Ambassador of the Year, given in recognition of “an individual who did an exceptional job of representing the College in a positive and professional manner and who goes above and beyond in their involvement as an Ambassador.”

The Outstanding First-Year Leader Award went to Theatre Education major Lee Hobbs from Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. The award is given annually to a rising sophomore who has “shown outstanding performance as a campus and community leader in their first year, and who shows excellent potential of continuing in leadership roles at Maryville College.”

Maryville College is a nationally ranked institution of higher learning and one of America’s oldest colleges, located in Maryville, Tennessee, between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the city of Knoxville. Maryville College offers more than 60 majors, seven pre-professional programs and career preparation from their first day on campus to their last, in the words of our Presbyterian founder, to “do good on the largest possible scale.”

Karen Eldridge, Executive Director of Communications: karen.eldridge@maryvillecollege.edu.

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