Phillips Scholars

Amber Briggs is a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga pursuing a BSBA with a major in Marketing and a minor in Brock Scholars. Originally from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, she is a member of the Honors College, an Academic Peer Coach, Social Media Coordinator for the Smile Fund, and a former Junior Analyst. Amber was also a finalist in the Spring 2025 Fly Pitch Competition. She plans to work in digital marketing and branding before eventually opening her own bookshop café. Fun fact: she used to train in mixed martial arts and enjoys line dancing.

George Edwards is a junior Finance major with a minor in Innovation in Honors at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is interested in investing, applied finance, real estate, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing. George serves as a Lead Analyst in UTC’s SMILE Fund, where he focuses on technology-sector equity research and valuation. Through the Innovation in Honors program, he is helping launch a Junior Shark Tank–style entrepreneurship program for middle-school students at the Community Haven Center. He also works as a Growth Ambassador with Harmony AI, gaining exposure to founder-led growth and how venture capital firms evaluate and scale early-stage companies. George is a Phillips Scholar in Free Enterprise, a program that applies free-market principles and applied economics to real-world challenges. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a career at the intersection of finance, entrepreneurship, and technology. Born and raised in Chattanooga, George enjoys tennis, pickleball, following markets, and spending time outdoors. He can often be found coaching or playing tennis at the Manker Patten Tennis Club.

Makayla Garrett is a senior from Memphis, Tennessee. She is currently pursuing a degree in International Public Policy Economics with a minor in Spanish and Computer Science. Since her time at UTC, Makayla has been an active participant in campus life, joining clubs such as the International Students Club, Math Club, Lacrosse Club, and currently serves as one of the co-presidents of the UTC Spanish Club. Her inquisitive nature and interest in International Relations have allotted her the opportunity to study abroad through UTC twice. First, to Panama where she completed service learning and cultural exchange. Most recently, she worked as an intern at the University of Economics and Finance in Vietnam where she served as a research assistant for the Department of International Relations and a teaching assistant for a Global Politics class. She looks forward to being a Phillips Scholar and learning what it means to be a conduit of the free market enterprise in her last year of college.

Chandler Mason, from Memphis, TN, is a senior working towards a degree in investment finance with a minor in sales. He went to college in an effort to learn something he didn’t understand rather than pursuing a specific job title. Since his freshman year, he has been involved in internships and worked his way within the SMILE FUND to eventually lead a taskforce of data analysts and scientists tasked with helping the fund step into a data-centric future. His main passion is delivering value to others and watching things grow. With this in mind, he plans to start a business within the logistical technology space. In his off time, you can probably catch him reading, coding, driving, or playing one of the 4 instruments he has.

Diana Melendez is a senior graduating in December 2025 with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Economics. Diana was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. Before attending UTC Diana used to sing at Disney’s Candlelight Christmas show at Epcot and Disney campgrounds. She has also managed Planet Fitness in Murfreesboro for two years. Since attending UTC, she has joined in activities with the Center for Women and Gender Equity, Society for the Advancement of Management, and the Financial Management Association while also balancing work at Publix. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family and friends, doing yoga, line dancing and cuddling with her cat. Diana plans on taking the LSAT’s this coming June and is hoping to get accepted to law school in the fall of 2026.

Ana Morris is from Knoxville, Tennessee, and is earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Entrepreneurship with a minor in Innovation in Honors from the UTC Honors College. She works as a Student Intern Consultant for the Urban Vision Initiative, working with local entrepreneurs and community leaders to support business development in underserved areas. She has competed in the FLY pitch competition and is involved in the South Chattanooga mentorship program. Fun fact: After graduation, Ana plans to travel and pursue a career focused on community impact.

Ryan Rinker is from Franklin, Tennessee, and is studying Finance. He has spent a lot of his time in college involved in Business and Ministry. He’s competed and won for the State of Tennessee and the Southeast for the CFA Research Challenge, Redeveloped the curriculum for a finance class as the TA, Served as the VP of Analyst Development for the SMILE Fund, been a Phillips Scholars since 2024, and Visited Vermont as a Capitaf Scholar. In Ministry he has served on the student leadership team with his campus ministry Chi Alpha since 2023, has led and gone on several mission trips, and finished and helped develop a student internship offering. He also recently in the Fall of 2025 started a student organization called the Faith and Work Initiative that teaches and equips college students how to integrate their faith and work. Upon Graduation in May Ryan plans for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries at UTC.

Dylan O’Connell is a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he is pursuing a BSBA in Marketing with a concentration in Professional Sales. He plans on graduating in May 2027 as a Rollins Business Scholar. He cofounded the Christian Business Network to help equip students to integrate work and faith, as well as build new networks among business professionals and students. He is also a member of the Leadership Team for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and helps lead a weekly small group focused on spiritual growth and deeper community. In his free time, he enjoys all things outdoors and can often be found rock climbing and backpacking. In the future, he plans on pursuing an MBA and a career in Sales.