skip to main content
Search

Stay current with updates on our cyber incident page.

Southwest faculty, staff and student reach new heights as finalists in TBR’s Soar Awards

By Communications and Marketing Staff

(L-R) Dr. Jennifer Townes, President Dr. Tracy D. Hall, Raquel Adams and Mitchell Grimm at TBR’s 2022 SOAR Awards Marcy 29, 2022.
(L-R) Dr. Jennifer Townes, Southwest President Dr. Tracy D.
Hall, Raquel Adams and Mitchell Grimm at TBR’s
2022 SOAR Awards Marcy 29, 2022.

Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Townes, Raquel Adams and Mitchell Grimm on their recognition as finalists at this year’s Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Statewide Outstanding Achievement (SOAR) Awards celebration!
 
Dr. Townes, assistant vice president of Professional Development & Employee Engagement, was honored for her work in the category of Staff Member of the Year; Raquel Adams, assistant professor in the Department of Communications, Graphic and Fine Arts, for Faculty Member of the Year; and Mitchell Grimm, Student of the Year. Each of the finalists received plaques commemorating their achievements at a Finalists Dinner March 29, 2022 at the Double Tree Hotel in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. 
 
"I am truly proud of our team members,” said Southwest Tennessee President Dr. Tracy Hall. “They are deserving of this esteemed recognition and represented Southwest and West Tennessee in excellent fashion."
 
This is the fourth year for the awards which recognize outstanding faculty, staff and students from across TBR’s system of 40 colleges. Finalists are selected from each of the colleges’ nominees that compete regionally before advancing to the state level.  Other categories include major accomplishments of the colleges, benefactors, volunteers and partners of the year.

Adams began her illustrious career with Southwest in 2013 less than a year after graduating with her master’s degree from Memphis College of Art and quickly immersed herself as an integral member to the College. “I feel so very lucky to have a job that I am so passionate about and I feel honored to receive recognition for something that brings me so much fulfillment,” Adams said. “I had never received any recognition or awards in my career before this point. I truly believe that this is what I'm meant to do and I'm so thankful to Southwest for giving me this opportunity.” 

Since joining Southwest in 2013, Townes work has been unstoppable. She has forged several initiatives for faculty and staff to hone their professional development skills and assists faculty in creating modern and effective strategies to garner student success in the classroom. “I  am grateful to be a part of a College that sincerely recognizes the potential in everyone,” Townes said. “When our employees and students are successful, our communities thrive.” 

Grimm completed his A.A.S. in paralegal studies in December 2021, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 grade-point average. He is now enrolled in his junior year at Mississippi State University working toward a bachelor's degree. He also serves as a full-time senior legal associate for a Southaven-based Google operations center.  “To be selected to represent Southwest as the TBR Student of the Year Award is very personal and meaningful to me,” Grimm said. “I have been working full-time while working on my degree. It took me three years plus a semester to finish, and that meant three and a half years of long days, extra busy weekends and shortened vacations planned around breaks between semesters.”

TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings welcomed the finalists and congratulated them for their achievements.  “You are why we are gathered here tonight. Students are why we exist, why we do what we do every day,” she said. “I’m proud to be part of a public higher education system that is open to everyone who wants to study, work hard and learn. Whether your goal is to train for a career in a year or to continue your studies at a university, we are here for to help you achieve your dream.”

To view a list of all SOAR winners and finalists, and photos from the awards ceremony, click here.