The College of Arts and Sciences held its annual alumni and philanthropy awards ceremony last week to honor alumni and friends who have achieved noteworthy accomplishments in their careers and made significant contributions to advance UT and the college.
The celebration was held in conjunction with the spring meeting of the Dean’s Advisory Board. Theresa Lee, dean of the college, presented nine awards in six categories:
Divisional Achievement Awards recognize alumni who have achieved significant levels of accomplishment in the early to middle stages of their careers. George Demacopoulos (’92) received the Humanities Achievement Award. He is founding director of Fordham University’s Orthodox Christian Studies Center, which is now a major research institute devoted to the history and culture of Orthodox Christianity. Cortney Piper (’03) received the Social Sciences Achievement Award. She has served as president and founder of the Knoxville-based firm, Piper Communications, which specializes in clean energy communications consulting in the private and public sectors.
The Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes exceptional service or long-term, continuing service or leadership to the college or to a department or program within the college, went to John Turley (’74). Turley has served on the board of the McClung Museum of Natural History for several years. He currently serves as chair of the Advisory Committee for the Department of History.
Scholarly and Creative Achievement Awards recognize alumni who have achieved a high degree of success in their chosen field in a scholarly or creative endeavor. John McManus (’96) received the Scholarly Achievement Award. He is an internationally recognized authority on US military history. His research focuses on the human element of the history of conflict. Paige Braddock (’85) received the Creative Achievement Award. She is executive vice-president and creative director of Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates and oversees the editorial and art direction of the “Peanuts” license world-wide. She designed the Snoopy US postage stamp issued in 2001.
The Professional Achievement Award, which recognizes alumni who have achieved a high degree of success in their chosen field of endeavor, went to Ashley Capps (’79). Capps founded AC Entertainment, which creates and produces music festivals and books and promotes artists from coast to coast. He has put East Tennessee on the music map with the Bonnaroo Music Festival and the Big Ears Festival.
The College Philanthropist Award recognizes the exceptional generosity and impact of a philanthropist on the College of Arts and Sciences. Edward J. Boling (’48, ’50) received the award posthumously. He served as vice president for development and administration under UT president Andy Holt. He later became UT president and served from 1970 to 1988. He continued to serve the university as president emeritus and was tasked with maintaining and building relationships among UT supporters. Bill Ross (’60) also received the award. He joined the US Geological Survey after college and worked on the research staff for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. He also was an inspector and consultant for the Virginia Department of Transportation, from which he retired.
The Dean’s Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award, which recognizes an outstanding alumnus/alumna who has attained extraordinary distinction through a lifetime record of achievement and service, went to Tim Townes (’73, ’75, ’80). Townes joined the faculty of the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Medical School in 1984. He is professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. He also is co-director of UAB’s Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center and director of UAB’s Stem Cell Institute. He serves as the president of the Board of Visitors for the UT Department of Microbiology.
Visit the College of Arts and Sciences website to learn more about the award winners and the awards.