Two Motlow McMinnville employees have been nominated for one of the most prestigious community college awards in the state.

Motlow biology professor Gregg Garrison and Motlow librarian Sharon Kay Edwards are nominees for the 2019 Tennessee Board of Regents SOAR award, which stands for Statewide Outstanding Achievement and Recognition.

The SOAR Award’s foremost criterion is overall excellence in the responsibilities of professional activity. Service is also recognized on many levels including service to the department, school, college, profession and community. 

Candidates should be able to demonstrate distinction beyond normal job responsibilities, reflecting excellence in those areas.

Edwards, who has served as the McMinnville branch librarian since 2018, is a leading advocate for Tennessee libraries and is in her third year of service as the Tennessee Library Association’s legislative monitor and chair of the Legislative Committee. 

This past spring, she received TLA’s Making a Difference Award at the 2019 TLA annual conference. The award recognizes her efforts to increase awareness of the importance of libraries, especially within state and federal legislative infrastructures.

Garrison has served as a Motlow biology professor for 14 years and is consistently recognized for his teaching expertise, and his extensive involvement with the Motlow chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. He is the recipient of the prestigious Motlow Faculty Excellence Award for 2014-2015. 

Always focusing on student engagement and development, Garrison serves as PTK regional coordinator and Motlow chapter advisor and has received multiple chapter and state PTK recognition awards through the years.