Chattanooga, TN --- Each year in April, the Hats Off to Excellence program recognizes excellence and leadership in academics, service, clubs, and organizations. The Humanities Auditorium was filled to capacity with award recipients, guests, students, faculty and staff. Hats Off recognized 198 award recipients; 26 of the recipients received multiple awards for a grand total of 229 awards.

Soon to be retiring Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Fannie Hewlett, recognized the academic achievements of 69 students who have completed at least 40 hours at Chattanooga State, maintained a Summa Cum Laude average, and are candidates for graduation during commencement exercises on May 10. They included: Mutiu Olamide Adenekan, Lubna Khamis Al-Zeer, Robert P Barber, Christopher Patrick Barry, Susan L. Bartmess, Linda Braun, Summer Rae Burris, Gabriel S. Cannon, Erica Shayne Casseday, Stephanie Deanna Cilley, Christopher James Coffey, Katharine Lindsay Cooper, Lindsay E. Cooper, Matthew Corven, Levi Michael Crowell, Kristin Brooke Dagnan, Joseph Allen Doughty, Jackie L Gardner, Duncan, Craig Goins, Jessica Yvonne Hacker, Regina W. Hale, Pascale Haug, Julie K Hawks, Constance W. Haynes, Brittany Marie Hennessee, Janet Ruth Hodge, Susan Michelle Johnson, Melisa Jenae Jones, April Marie Kelley, Daniel Krieger, Lauren Christine Lefever, Julie Ann Lepeak, Stephanie Lee Ann Loggans, Sean R. Lolmaugh, Diana Lynn Long, Mary Nicole Lucas, Michael David Maddox, Margaret J. Marsh, Kavita Mathur, Katherine Elizabeth Mccall, Lori A. Mcnabb, Bart Mcpherson, Andrew Thomas Mcwilliams, Jason Ladd Mitchell, Wendi Lynn Morrison, Joanna L. Moyes, Matthew Christopher Mulcahy, Mallary M. Netterville, Carmen Maria O'Hagan, Karen Yvonne Patrick, Jamie Renee Patterson, Scott Frederick Patterson, Michelle Pih, Amanda, Christine Power, Sarah Joanne Rauch, Bryon T. Rogers, Hannah Christus Rose, Joshua Stephen Safford, Samuel, Timothy Shipley, Carley V. Slack, Sarah G. Smedley, Casey D. Smith, Sotheavy Sou, Meagan Shea Swatzell, Randall W. Walker, Kristin Warren, Brandon Haden Whetzell, Jaimie Lynn Wilson, and Karlee Ann Winkelman.

Presidential Awards were bestowed upon Calvin Robinson and Darrius J. Cole, both of Hixson. This award is the most prestigious award on campus. Nominees are personally reviewed and selected by Dr. James L. Catanzaro, president of Chattanooga State.

Aubrey Gardin, Hisxon, was recognized as 2014 Class Valedictorian for Middle College High School. Aubrey began Middle College in the fall of her junior year. She has been accepted into the nursing program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Chattanooga State is made up of six academic divisions. Each division chooses a student who is a true leader and names them as a student of excellence. Receiving awards were Susan Bartmess, Business & Information Technologies; Samantha Travis, Engineering Technology; Joseph Doughty, Humanities & Fine Arts; Mason Galanto, Math & Sciences; Carla Totty, Nursing & Allied Health; and Jessica Hacker, Social & Behavioral Sciences.

In addition to numerous other departmental awards, top awards presented through the student life department included Outstanding Club Advisor of the Year to Angie Maida, an associate professor of dental hygiene and advisor to the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association, while Caitlin Moffitt, advisor to the Associated General Contractors Student Chapter accepted the award for the Outstanding Club of the Year.

Debbie Waggoner, a former counselor who passed away in 1995 from cancer at age 43, left an indelible impression upon the campus because of her commitment to students. So much so that an award, the “Debbie Waggoner Above and Beyond Award,” was named after her. This year’s awardees included Dr. Scott Douglass, Professor of English and Humanities; Ms. Suzanne Myatt, Student Coordinator, Tennessee College of Applied Technology; and Aleta Lenyard, Math Center Director.

Eye of the Tiger Awards are presented to students for outstanding contributions to the student life of Chattanooga State and/or to the community, or to students who have achieved academic success against seemingly insurmountable odds. This year’s recipients included Xavier Miller, Teresa Curtis, and Rahima Sellimovic.

Community Awards are given in special recognition to individuals or entities within the community that have performed a special service for Chattanooga State. 2014 awards were presented to the Hamilton County Sherriff’s Office, Narcotics and Special Operations Divisions and Ms. Sarah Holloway.