Tennessee’s community & technical colleges honor veterans, including recipients of the Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans

Tennessee’s community and technical colleges are honoring veterans on their campuses – students, faculty, and staff members – during Veterans Day activities across the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system.

As part of the ceremonies recognizing and honoring all who served and are still serving, one at each college is also being awarded the Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans, a special recognition launched in 2020 by TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings.

The Chancellor’s Commendation honorees are nominated by each college’s president. Nominees may be students, members of the faculty and staff, alumni of the college, or members of the broader community, who are veterans or active-service members and exemplify characteristics of service, honor, courage, commitment, and integrity as they pursue their education.

There are 35 Chancellor’s Commendation honorees for 2026. Listed below by college, they include 15 students, 11 faculty, and nine college staff members.  Nineteen are veterans of the U.S. Army, six of the U.S. Navy, four of the U.S. Air Force, four of the U.S. Marines, and two of the National Guard

The Commendation is represented by a specially designed challenge coin. Challenge coins have a long tradition in all military branches, where they are awarded by commanders and signify special achievement, excellence, hard work, unit pride, and respect.

“Our college communities are strengthened by all the veterans and active-duty personnel on campus. The unique experiences, perspectives, and leadership they bring are an important part of the broad diversity of people and backgrounds on our campuses that benefits everyone,” Dr. Tydings said.

The 2026 Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans honorees and their military branches are:

COMMUNITY COLLEGES:

• Chattanooga State: Jesse Barnes, Student, Marines
• Cleveland State: Luis Ruiz, Student, Army
• Columbia State:  Sherrell Summers, College Staff, Army
• Dyersburg State: Mike Samples, College Staff, National Guard
• Jackson State: Chris Hodges, College Staff, Air Force
• Motlow State: Larry Flatt, College Staff, Army
• Nashville State: Howard Anderson, College Staff, Army
• Northeast State: Allen Bowman, Faculty, Navy
• Pellissippi State: Paula Penson, Faculty, National Guard
• Roane State: Darrell Christmas, College Staff, Army
• Southwest Tennessee: Kenneth A. Woods, College Staff, Marines
• Volunteer State: Heather Brewer, College Staff, Navy
• Walters State: Dr. Terry Rawlinson, Faculty, Navy

TENNESSEE COLLEGES OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY:

• TCAT Athens: Michelle Riden, Student, Navy
• TCAT Crump: Tim Moore, Student, Army
• TCAT Dickson: William Herring, Student, Army
• TCAT Elizabethton: Johnny Murray, Student, Marines
• TCAT Harriman: Michael Lunnemann, Faculty, Army
• TCAT Hartsville: Nicholas Gilbert, Student, Navy
• TCAT Henry/Carroll: Shane Smith, Student, Army
• TCAT Hohenwald: Austin Drago, Student, Army
• TCAT Jacksboro: John Sibirtzeff, Student, Navy
• TCAT Jackson: Roy Naylor, Faculty, Army
• TCAT Knoxville: Miranda Bednar, Faculty, Army
• TCAT McMinnville: Dave McDonald, College Staff, Air Force
• TCAT Memphis: Christopher Leggett, Faculty, Army
• TCAT Morristown: Daphne Mikronis-LaCuesta, Student, Air Force
• TCAT Murfreesboro: Kyle Wix, Faculty, Army
• TCAT Nashville: Mark Thomas, Faculty, Army
• TCAT Northwest: Susan Payne, Student, Army
• TCAT Oneida/Huntsville: Tim Gibson, Faculty, Air Force
• TCAT Pulaski: Rob Mayo, Student, Army
• TCAT Shelbyville: Patrick Sanders, Student, Marines
• TCAT Upper Cumberland: Greg York, Faculty, Army
• TCAT Upper Cumberland/Livingston: Tyler Maples, Student, Army

“We are wholeheartedly committed to serving veterans and active-duty service members, their spouses and children. It’s a privilege to honor all those who served and are serving our nation, not only on Veterans Day but throughout the year,” the chancellor said.

That commitment includes a range of benefits and services for veterans and their families, including:

All 13 community colleges and 14 TCATs have achieved VETS Campus certification by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission – including the latest, TCAT Elizabethton in August – by meeting rigid criteria for excellence standards for services designed to help military affiliated students succeed in pursuit of their educations. In September, TCAT Upper Cumberland became only the second college campus in Tennessee and the first TBR institution to earn the higher-level VETS Bravo Campus designation. The remaining TCATs are working to earn VETS Campus certification.

All colleges within the system are approved for veterans educational benefits and work closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs and state approving agencies to ensure that student benefits are used appropriately.

Eligible military spouses may use the MyCAA (My Career Advancement Account) scholarship at all our TBR institutions. We participate in Skillbridge programs for transitioning service members.

Several colleges have Veterans Centers – places on campus where veterans can gather, relax, socialize, study, and meet with staff members.

For more information on services offered by the TBR system, including financial assistance, visit the Veterans and Military Families Support webpage (https://www.tbr.edu/student-success/veterans-and-military-families-support).

For more information on Tennessee Veterans Initiatives, VETS Campuses, and Veteran Initiatives Grant Information, visit the Tennessee Higher Education Commission webpage (https://www.tn.gov/thec/for-institutions/veteran-initiatives.html)