Published: 5/20/2022

ON MAY 7, 2022, THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE SOUTHERN CELEBRATED ITS INAUGURAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY–THOUGH ITS 152ND AS AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, CONFERRING 151 DEGREES TO THE FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF THE NEWEST UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTION WITHIN THE UT SYSTEM. FOLLOWING ANNUAL TRADITION, THREE AWARDS WERE PRESENTED DURING THE CEREMONY. ESTABLISHED IN 2018 IN HONOR OF GAIL NEWTON, THE GAIL M. NEWTON DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY TO A STAFF MEMBER WHOSE SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THE INSTITUTION AS WELL AS TO COLLEAGUES EXCELS BEYOND MEASURE. THE 2022 RECIPIENT OF THE AWARD WAS MRS. KIM HARRISON, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHANCELLOR. FOR HIS EXPERTISE AND DEDICATION WHEN THE CAMPUS SHIFTED TO VIRTUAL LEARNING AT THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AS WELL AS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AS CHAIR OF THE FACULTY SENATE DURING THE TRANSITION YEAR FROM MARTIN METHODIST COLLEGE TO UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE SOUTHERN, DR. MICHAEL CATHEY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HUMAN PERFORMANCE AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION, WAS PRESENTED WITH THE FRED E. FORD EXEMPLARY TEACHER AWARD, AN HONOR GIVEN TO A MEMBER OF THE FACULTY FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. EACH YEAR, THE CHANCELLOR’S AWARD IS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE WITH THE HIGHEST CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE; THE 2022 RECIPIENT WAS MS. MARY TAYLOR LEE, AN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MAJOR FROM GILES COUNTY. UTS WILL CONCLUDE ITS FIRST, OFFICIAL YEAR WITH THE UT SYSTEM ON JULY 1, 2022. THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR WILL BEGIN ON AUGUST 24, 2022.