Academic excellence, community service honored at Twin Pillars Banquet

^{Cutline for attached photo: Those honored at Carson-Newman University’s Twin Pillars Banquet included, from left to right in the front row: students Kathleen Mazza, Madison Allen and Macy Adkins, and Dr. Ross Brummett. In the back row, from left to right, are: The Windmill Way Men’s Homeless Shelter Director Marie Richmond and volunteer Carol Matanic, and students Sarah Spaulding, Bria Tate and Demi Agresta.}

(April 18, 2018) JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Carson-Newman University’s Bonner Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement honored community members, students and faculty alike April 5 during the 2018 Twin Pillars Banquet.

The event brings together students from the honors and Bonner programs, various academic and service honor societies, and other high-achieving students and the faculty who support them. It gives specific emphasis to the “twin pillars” of the University — academic excellence and a heart for service.

Senior students who exemplify excellence in both areas receive the Twin Pillars Student Award. Those students include:

• Macy Adkins, of Harrogate,
• Demi Agresta, of Clarksville,
• Madison Allen, of Powell,
• Kathleen Mazza, of Winchendon, Massachusetts,
• Damilola Oluwalana, of The Gambia,
• Sarah Spaulding, of Johnson City, and
• Bria Tate, of Murfreesboro

“As a school that works toward helping our students become ‘educated citizens and worldwide servant leaders,’ it’s important that we continue to honor the work of our students who both excel in the classroom and in the community,” said Bonner Center Director Matt Bryant Cheney. “The students and faculty honored at our annual Twin Pillars Banquet truly show how a spirit of service can unite a campus and offer students a sense of purpose in their academic work.”

The Twin Pillars Community Engagement Award is for outstanding community engagement in the classroom. The award honors collaborative efforts to use academic knowledge to effect positive change in the community. The Windmill Way Men’s Homeless Shelter and shelter Director Marie Richmond, of New Market, received the 2018 award.

“We were also thrilled to honor The Windmill Way Men’s Homeless Shelter for their efforts,” Cheney said. “When we listen to our community partners and are willing to learn from them, they make excellent co-teachers and offer our students the chance to build a sense of place in, and responsibility for, our Jefferson County community.”

Professor Julie Rabun nominated Richmond for working with her students to develop a logo, business card and brochure for the shelter.

The Twin Pillars Faculty Award for Service-Learning went to Dr. Ross Brummett for embodying service learning and creating meaningful service learning experiences in the classroom.

Founded in 1851, Carson-Newman is a Christian liberal arts university located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, among the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The University has over 2,500 students and offers 50 undergraduate majors, as well as associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.