David Schumann, Taylor Professor in Business, and Fred Pierce, director of undergraduate programs, have received the inaugural Global Leadership Scholars North Star Award.
The North Star Award is the highest recognition and honor given by the Global Leadership Scholars (GLS) honors program in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Business Administration. Recipients of the North Star Award demonstrate extraordinary leadership, commitment, and service to the GLS program.
Schumann and Pierce co-developed the college’s Global Leadership Scholars Honors program and launched it in 2008.
“Schumann and Pierce have no idea how much of an impact they have made in each of our lives,” said Jonathan Emkes, GLS in the May 2011 graduating class. “They invested countless hours in each of us, helped us reach our full potential, and prepared us for our futures. Because of them, we are better students, better leaders, but, most importantly, better human beings. The foundation and legacy they established will continue to influence future Global Leadership Scholars classes for many years to come.”
The name “North Star” was selected for this award because of the North Star’s unique characteristics and qualities that are easily transferable to “leadership within a global context.” For example, the North Star’s light is very bright and highly visible among other stars. Recipients of the GLS North Star Award demonstrate unquestionable leadership that distinguishes them as a “leader among leaders.”
The North Star’s position has long been relied upon for global and celestial navigation. Similarly, leaders have been relied upon to steer groups of people, projects, and operations. Effective and successful leaders have the highest of aspirations and will stretch and strain to reach the apex of their goals. They are not satisfied with the status quo or being second best. Instead, North Star leaders carefully craft an action plan that will strategically and efficiently lead them on their leadership journey to their chosen destination.
Recipients of the GLS North Star Award provide incredible leadership role models of self-reflection and direction.