Photo Highlights from the 2017 Chancellor's Honors Banquet

Here is a gallery of photos from the 2017 Chancellor’s Honors Banquet, which honored accomplished faculty, staff, and students. The annual gathering is the university’s largest recognition event of the year.

The table setting from the 2017 Chancellor’s Honors Banquet held at the Knoxville Convention Center.

The Knoxville Convention Center, site of the 2017 Chancellor’s Honors Banquet.

UT Knoxville Chancellor Beverly Davenport welcomes honorees and guests to the 2017 Chancellor’s Honors Banquet.

Macebearer Award – Distinguished Professor of Humanities Michael Handelsman and Chancellor Davenport.

Alexander Award – Chancellor Davenport, Professor Ben Blalock and Interim Provost John Zomchick.

Jefferson Award – Chancellor Davenport, Associate Professor Michelle Brown and Interim Provost John Zomchick.

L.R. Hesler Award – Chancellor Davenport, Professor Chris Craig and Interim Provost John Zomchick.

Excellence in Academic Outreach Award – Chancellor Davenport, Professor Robert Kronick and Interim Provost John Zomchick.

Ready for the World Citation – Chancellor Davenport, Professor John McRae and Interim Provost John Zomchick.

Excellence in Teaching – Chancellor Davenport, Associate Professor Beth Schussler, Professor Rupy Sawhney, Professor Dean Rivkin and Interim Provost John Zomchick. Not pictured is Senior Instructor Erin Smith.

Excellence in Advising – Chancellor Davenport, Ashleigh Powers, Laura Trainer, Professor George Kuney, Professor Barbara Thayer-Bacon and Interim Provost John Zomchick.

Jimmy and Ileen Cheek Graduate Student Medal of Excellence – Chancellor Davenport, Caroline Black and Interim Provost John Zomchick.

Graduate Student Teaching Award – Chancellor Davenport, Brittany Stephenson, Carrie Dresser, Mark Bly and Interim Provost John Zomchick.

Research and Creative Achievement – Chancellor Davenport, Professor Hairong Qi, Professor Robert Grzywacz, Professor Todd Freeberg, and Professor Mark DeKay.

Research and Creative Achievement – Professional Promise – Chancellor Davenport, Associate Professor David Jenkins, Assistant Professor Wei Gao and Associate Professor Margaret Lazarus Dean. Not pictured is Assistant Professor Karen Lloyd.

Success in Multidisciplinary Research – Chancellor Davenport, Assistant Professor Jon Hathaway, Assistant Professor Lisa Reyes Mason and Assistant Professor Kelsey Ellis.

Undergraduate Research Awards – Chancellor Davenport, Professor Gladys Alexandre, winner of the Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year award, and Louis Varriano, winner of the Undergraduate Researcher of the Year award.

Alumni Outstanding Teacher Award – Lecturer Jennifer Retherford, Distinguished Lecturer Malissa Peery and Chancellor Davenport. Not pictured is Assistant Professor Jeffrey Ringer.

Alumni Public Service Award – Karen Armsey and Chancellor Davenport.

Angie Warren Perkins Award – Professor Veerle Keppens.

Gene Mitchell Gray Pioneer Award – Michael Oliver and Chancellor Davenport.

Hardy Liston Symbol of Hope Award – Professor Carolyn Hodges and Chancellor Davenport.

LGBT Student Leadership Award – Sarah Swinford and Chancellor Davenport.

LGBT Advocate Award – Assistant Professor Patrick Grzanka and Chancellor Davenport.

Dr. Marva Rudolph Diversity Award – Department Head Jon Shefner, representing the Department of Sociology, and Chancellor Davenport.

Chancellor’s Citation for Extraordinary Service to the University – Dr. Sidney Wayne Mulkey and Chancellor Davenport.

Chancellor’s Citation for Extraordinary Community Service – Assistant Professor Laura Shannon Wheat and Chancellor Davenport.

Chancellor’s Citation for Extraordinary Customer Service – Wanda Davis and Chancellor Davenport.

Chancellor’s Citation for Extraordinary Customer Service – Glenda Hurst and Chancellor Davenport.

Chancellor’s Citations for Extraordinary Campus Leadership and Service – Chancellor Davenport and students Shalini Yerukala, Enkeshi Thom, Sophia Rubio, McKinsey Patterson, Alina Kathryn Clay, and Alexandra Brito. Not pictured is Guru Venkatesan.

Charles R. Burchett Extraordinary Contributions to Campus Life Award – Audrey Parker, representing Pride Ambassadors, Heqian Kuang, representing the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, and Chancellor Davenport.

Extraordinary Community Service Award – Students Michelle Harding, Caitlin Mize, Hayley Pennesi and Chancellor Davenport.

Extraordinary Service to the Campus – Student Payton Miller and Chancellor Davenport.

2017 Torchbearers – Savannah Clay, Josh Dobbs, Carson Hollingsworth, Elisabeth Logan, Monil Mehta, Louis Varriano and Chancellor Davenport. (Not pictured Natalie Bennett)