2017-2018 Stophel Distinguished Students

The College of Business John C. Stophel Distinguished Student Award is presented annually to recognize high potential business students who have made significant and meaningful civic contributions to UTC and the College of Business while maintaining a strong academic record.

Students must provide evidence of exceptional extracurricular leadership and community service. Community engagement evidenced by a pattern of strong contributions to the College of Business, UTC, or civic organizations is highly valued, as well as activities resulting in lasting impact and quantifiable results. Award recipients must be an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Business and must have a minimum GPA of 3.2.

Below are the 2017-2018 John C. Stophel Distinguished Students.

• Benjamin Cheatham
• Emily McAndrew
• Noble Langley Orie
• Colter Parker
• Savannah Roder
• Megan Woods

Benjamin Cheatham

Benjamin is currently a senior in the College of Business and plans to graduate in May with a dual degree in both Accounting and Finance. He is from Mount Juliet, TN.

In his time at UTC, Benjamin has been extensively involved in various on and off campus activities. He was a member of UTC's CFA Institute Research Challenge team - this team is the first in UTC's history to advance to the Challenge's International competition. He has worked as a tutor of Macroeconomics and Calculus through the UTC Library, a management intern at Enterprise Rent-a-Car, a tax intern at Crowe-Horwath, and a Financial Services intern at Tennessee Valley Authority. He has served as the treasurer of the UTC Men's Rugby team, the president of the Institute of Management Accountants, the secretary of Beta Alpha Psi, and a Lead Analyst within the UTC SMILE Fund. He is currently a student organizer for the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. In the past, he has volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House, the Mount Juliet Senior Center, and the Chattanooga Food Bank. Additionally, he has been honored as an AICPA Legacy Scholar and a Becker Campus Ambassador.

Benjamin has enjoyed his experiences at UTC and believes the College of Business has surrounded him with an abundance of opportunity. After graduation, he plans to begin sitting for his CPA exam. Furthermore, he will look to acquire the CMA and CFP professional designations. 

Emily McAndrew

Emily is currently a junior double major in the College of Business and College of Arts and Sciences. She plans to graduate in May 2019 with a degree in General Management and Spanish. She is from Gallatin, TN. 

While at UTC, she has been an active member in the Honors College as a Brock scholar, additionally serving on the Honors College Council for 3 years as treasurer and most recently as President. She has also been involved in multiple academic departments through being the VP of Marketing for the SMILE Fund, Spanish Club President, research assistant for the Spanish Department Head, member of the National Spanish Honors Society Sigma Delta Pi, and member of the National Business society Beta Gamma Sigma. Additionally, she has been involved in the larger Chattanooga community through her recent internship with TVA's forecasting department and her membership in the Chattanooga Women's Leadership Institute. All the while, she has maintained a 3.9 GPA and presented her academic work at national conferences.

After graduation, Emily intends to work in an environment where she is able to facilitate positive community change using her strong ethics and personal drive. She will pursue her MBA after working for a few years. 

Noble Langley Orie

Noble Langley Orie is currently a senior, from Long Island, NY, in the College of Business and plans to graduate in December with a dual degree in Finance: Investments and Communications.

During his time at UTC, Noble has made it one of his top priorities to be actively involved on campus. He has participated in numerous organizations such as: Freshman Senate, Student Government Association, The Perch, Orientation Leader, and First Year Experience. Furthermore, he has been actively involved in the College of Business serving as a Moc Mentor, a member of the Financial Management Association, Trading Investments Club, and the Vice President of Operations for the SMILE Fund. He has also made it a focus to be actively involved not only on campus, but in the city of Chattanooga. He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Iron Man Chattanooga, Food Drives, Secret Angel, and many others. This active involvement in leadership led him to become the 2017 Top Moc.

Noble currently works as an Intramural supervisor for Campus Recreation and is also a scholar intern at Erlanger Health Systems working in their Patient Financial Services division. After graduation, Noble plans on finding a position at an investment or hedge fund firm and hopes to do stock research. He will also begin pursuing the CFA distinction. He has ultimate goals of opening and running his own hedge fund firm. He believes his time here at UTC and the College of Business has set him up perfectly to achieve these goals.  

Colter Parker

Colter is currently a senior double major in the College of Business. He plans to graduate in May 2018 with a degree in Finance and Economics. He is from Chattanooga, TN. 

Since joining UTC, Colter became involved in Chattanooga's Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru), a missions' organization designed to connect college students to Christ and each other. Through Cru, he leads a weekly bible study, mentors younger men, and is a member of the worship leadership team. During his freshman year, he began working at Southport Capital, an investment firm headquartered in Chattanooga. His roles at the firm have included the creation of model portfolios, technology integration, and product research - offering him real world applications for the principles he has been learning at UTC. The College of Business has recognized his passion for academics with several awards, including the Ziad Keilany Economics Scholarship, the Fred Armstrong Award in Economics, and the Barbara McLain Walker Scholarship in Finance.

Colter plans to attend law school in the fall, and focus his studies on Financial Law. He intends to return to Chattanooga and pursue his legal career.

Savannah Roder

Savannah is currently a senior from Memphis, TN with plans to graduate in May 2018 with her Bachelor's in Business Marketing.

While at UTC, she has spent her time involved with various organizations on and off campus. Currently, Savannah serves as the President of the Campus Activities Board. She is also involved with St. Jude Up 'til Dawn, where she was the Cultivation Chair and Event and Logistics Director. Savannah is also a charter member of the Nu Beta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta, and served as their first Vice President of New Member Development. She is involved with the College of Business as a member of the Dean's Student Advisory Council. Savannah has attended the Women's Leadership Academy, and regional and national conferences for the Campus Activities Board and St. Jude Up 'til Dawn. Recently, Savannah worked as the Program Coordinator for the Study of the U.S. Institutes US Department of State Grant, which allowed her to connect 22 European Student Leaders to the Social Entrepreneurship community of Chattanooga. She has also volunteered with the American Red Cross of Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Food Bank, and the University's Day of Service which benefitted the Humane Society and Salvation Army.

Savannah hopes to continue her education with a Master's in Public Administration, and work for a global company that is changing the world. She is specifically interested in working in health care or consulting. Even though Savannah plans on leaving Chattanogoa after graduation to continue her education, it will always be home.

Megan Woods

Megan is a second semester Senior in the College of Business. She plans to graduate this May with a degree in both Accounting and Finance. She is from San Antonio, TX.

Throughout her years here at UTC, she has developed a love for her school and the Chattanooga community through her involvement in clubs and organizations. She represents the University as a four-year, varsity member of the Women's golf team. She is a member of Beta Alpha Psi. She is the head representative for Women's golf on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She is employed by the Athletic Department as an academic tutor in business classes for other athletes. She also tutors students in the College of Business in Principles of Accounting I and II through Beta Alpha Psi. She is one of the first eight to kick off the "Mentoring Mocs" Program where she mentors a student from Clifton Hills Elementary once a week. She is a member of the Dean's Advisory Board Scholar Program, and was awarded the Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough Award for this school year. Megan interned at the Patten Group last summer as an Equity Researcher. 

After graduation, Megan has accepted an internship with Elliott Davis for this summer as an audit intern. She plans to start the MAcc Program next year as she studies for the CPA, and hopes to pass all four parts by the following fall when she will start a full-time position in Auditing and Assurance for an Accounting Firm.