UT Institute of Agriculture Presents Top Faculty and Staff Awards for 2020
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture recognized extraordinary service from members of the faculty and staff across the state at its annual awards and promotions event, held this year on August 21, 2020. Honorees were recognized virtually during a Zoom presentation rather than a fun, in-person luncheon. This change in venue did not minimize the amazing accomplishments for 2020. Many of the awards are gifts made possible by past faculty, alumni and friends of the Institute.
Susie Nicholson, administrative support assistant with the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, is the winner of the E. J. Chapman Outstanding Service Award. This honor was established by the late E.J. Chapman, who served the university in a wide range of capacities from agronomist to assistant vice president for agriculture.
“I enjoy helping others and am honored to be selected as this year’s recipient of the E.J. Chapman Award for Outstanding Service,” Nicholson says. “My coworkers here at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center and in our Western Region county Extension offices know I am always happy to help, whether it be with the UT Gardens plant sales, making simplified help sheets for navigating extension reporting systems, answering computer technology questions or representing our non-exempt employees by being on the Employee Relations Committee. This award is greatly appreciated, but I most appreciate that my years with UT Extension have allowed me to be of service to my colleagues and my community.”
Nicholson has served with UT Extension for 19 years and is known for her creative posters, flyers, and brochures. Coworkers say Nicholson is also a whiz with Excel, using computer programs to complete tasks with ease and in condensed formats, and she previously won an award for excellence in software programming. Nicholson is active teaching kids at her church, enjoys reading and country and ballroom dancing.
UT Institute of Agriculture Senior Vice President Tim Cross hosted the Zoom session for the award winners and praised them for their work. “Now more than ever, it’s critical that we take time to acknowledge the award-winning work that our faculty and staff carry out, even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic,” Cross says. “Tennesseans can count on the real-life solutions that the UT Institute of Agriculture provides to students and stakeholders from communities throughout Tennessee and beyond to enhance the economy, conserve the environment, and develop leaders for the future.”
Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. utia.tennessee.edu.