Walking with pride: Pellissippi students collect honors

Sherri Gardner HowellFarragut

 

Gulsah Onar made five trips across the stage of Clayton Performing Arts Center at Pellissippi State Community College during the Academic Awards ceremony. At evening’s end, her arms were loaded with plaques and certificates, and the applause was still ringing in her ears.

She wasn’t alone. As the college wound down the semester and prepared for graduation ceremonies, it was time to honor the best of the best. More than 160 students – some graduating and others still pursuing their dreams – received accolades honoring everything from “best of” to “who’s who” to leadership and service awards.

Always behind the camera! Jessie Tipton with Pellissippi’s marketing department takes photos of the award winners.

Onar, 34, is one of the college’s non-traditional students. A fashion designer who moved to the West Knoxville area with her husband’s new job at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Onar is from Istanbul, Turkey. She says she has found new purpose as a Pellissippi student. “I took my first class to try to improve my English and make friends. Now I am on track to be a doctor. I may be 40 when I get my medical degree, but I’ll be a doctor.”

Onar also learned new concepts at the college. “I didn’t know ‘service learning’ or what volunteering meant, other than a dictionary definition,” she says. “Now I find such joy in helping others and being part of the community of volunteer service.”

Onar’s awards included being named outstanding graduate in Allied Health, Biology, Service Leadership Excellence, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and Outstanding Service Learning Students.

Pellissippi State President Dr. L. Anthony Wise presented the students and one faculty member with the awards. Jonathan Lamb, math professor, was the 2017 Faculty Member of the Year.

Fiddle player Jenna Walters with Hardin Valley Thunders awaits her cue for the next song.

In Fine Arts, Nathan Armistead won Outstanding Student for his oil painting “Presley.” As is tradition, the college purchased Armistead’s painting, and it now hangs in Wise’s office. Awards were given in disciplines that included business, computer technology, engineering, math, English, arts, foreign language, sciences, nursing, speech, service and leadership.

There were 49 students honored for grade point averages that put them on the Dean’s List every semester of their college careers.

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