Southwest Students Shine at TBR's 2025 SOAR Awards
The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) - The College System of Tennessee's SOAR (Statewide Outstanding Achievement and Recognition Awards) event was held in Nashville, where Southwest celebrated some incredible achievements!
Two of our outstanding Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society scholars, Ryan Harrison and , were recognized as PTK All-Tennessee Academic Team award winners. This prestigious award honors students for their academic excellence and service to their colleges and communities. Each year, the president of every college with a Phi Theta Kappa chapter in Tennessee nominates two students for this award, making it a significant recognition of their hard work and dedication.
Viviana Hernandez, a Fall 2024 Southwest graduate with a 3.93 GPA, is excited to take the next step
toward her goal of becoming a labor and delivery nurse. She will transfer to the University
of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing in the fall. An avid reader and first-generation
college student, she values the friendships she made at Southwest, many through her
involvement in Phi Theta Kappa and the Tau Psi chapter of the adult honor society
Alpha Sigma Lambda.
Ryan Harrison, who aspires to become a commercial pilot, is actively pursuing his dream. With a
current GPA of 3.75, he will graduate in Spring 2025. A few weeks after graduation,
he will begin his Air Force basic training and then work as an airplane mechanic while
in the service. After his military stint, he plans to attend Middle Tennessee State
University to complete his aviation training. At Southwest, Ryan has served as the
Vice-President of Service for Phi Theta Kappa and has been active in the National
Society of Leadership and Success and the Student Leadership Institute. One of his
favorite Southwest memories was his study abroad experience in Berlin, Amsterdam,
and Paris, where he studied European literature.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to PTK Co-Faculty Advisors, Dr. Melanie Jones and Douglas Branch, for their dedicated work with the students.
Additionally, we are proud to share that Christopher Camp, an instructor from our Emergency Medical Services program, was a finalist for the Faculty Excellence Award!