2018-2019 Stophel Distinguished Students

John C. Stophel Distinguished Student Award
2018-2019

The Rollins 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 Rollins 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 Rollins 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.

 

Bailey Coppedge

Bailey Coppedge is a passionate and driven student majoring in Entrepreneurship. After three years of being a Division 1 goalkeeper in soccer, two of them with the Lady Mocs, she dedicated her remaining semesters to taking on a more active role in the UTC community. She became an Assistant Editor for UReCa: The NCHC Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, a contributing writer to the University Echo with work concerning athletes and mental health, the President of the Entrepreneurship Club (E-Club), and an executive board member for the UTC Women's Rugby team, where she plays as a back. Since June of 2017, she has also been an intern for Unum, a Fortune 500 company, where she designs online training modules using tools such as the Adobe Suite and Articulate Storyline 3.

Bailey was awarded the Dean's Advisory Board scholarship for both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 academic years. She has made the Dean's list every semester, with a cumulative GPA of 3.94.

Looking to the future, Bailey plans on working with local startups in the Chattanooga area after graduating in May 2019, or assisting her family in launching a medical device company by managing the company's branding and online presence.

 

Andrew Cox 

Andrew is currently a senior in the Rollins College of Business and will be graduating in May 2019 with a dual degree in Economics and Entrepreneurship. Andrew was born and raised in Nashville, TN.

During his time at UTC, Andrew has strived to involve himself in anything UTC has to offer. As a result, he has been exposed to a diverse set of experiences through the university. As a sophomore, he was a Steffner Intern with Nektur Marketing. He has also held a sales/marketing internship with Five Star Foods and was part of Chattanooga's City Internship Program with the Public Works Department. Currently, he is a business analyst intern with Freightwaves. He spent time on the Honors College Council at UTC and is an Omicron Delta Epsilon Honors Economic Society member. Andrew has remained on the Dean's List during his time at UTC and will graduate Magna Cum Laude. He has been involved with various clubs and organizations, including holding officer positions with the SMILE Fund and the Economics Club. In addition, he was a member of the 2018 Regional Champion CFA Research Institute Challenge team. Andrew was also the 2018 Hatch-It Pitch Competition runner-up. He was able to spend a semester at the Universiteit van Amsterdam in the Netherlands, as well as a month in Kenya working with entrepreneurs to prevent HIV.

Andrew plans to work in a start-up environment after graduation while researching and preparing to launch the company he pitched at the Hatch-It Pitch Competition. 

 

Nathan Goza 

A Chattanooga native, Nathan is currently a senior in the Rollins College of Business. He will graduate in May 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management. During his time at UTC, Nathan has been heavily involved in UTC's Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). He has served as the Recruiter, Communications Director, Vice President and now currently as chapter President. Nathan has enjoyed being able to lead projects that will have a lasting impact on the chapter; projects such as rewriting the chapter's communications policy and the rewriting of the chapter's by-laws.

Nathan has also been active in the community. During his tenure as a college student he has lead a college and young adult small group at his church, Silverdale Baptist Church. As an Eagle Scout, Nathan has given back to the local scouting community by serving on staff at Skymont Scout Reservation, where he has held roles including Business Manager and Program Director. He has also served as an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 254.

Nathan is currently a Scholars Program Intern at Unum, working in the payroll department. Nathan intends to work in an environment where he can help to lead his colleagues by example. He also plans on pursuing his MBA after a few years of work experience.

  

Luke Hutchins 

Luke is a senior in the Rollins College of Business and plans to graduate in May 2019 with a degree in Finance: Investments. Luke was born and raised in Chattanooga and attended Baylor School before choosing to pursue an undergraduate degree at UTC.

At UTC, Luke is a Chancellor's scholarship recipient and a selected participant in the Dean's Advisory Board Scholar Program. As a former member of the UTC football team, he has remained dedicated to representing Chattanooga with a heightened focus on his studies as well as giving back to the community. In the past, Luke has volunteered at summer camps at Baylor School and more recently, he has extensively volunteered for the Kidney Foundation of Chattanooga. Currently, he serves as a Chief Analyst for the SMILE Fund at UTC.

Upon graduation, Luke plans on pursuing a career in the financial services field. An entrepreneurial spirit has given him opportunities to grow and learn what it takes to build a small business. Luke's ultimate goals include building his own financial services firm and being able to contribute to the improvement of the Chattanooga community. He believes that his experiences in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business at UTC have given him the foundation he needs to succeed in the professional world and to achieve his goals.

 

Katie Maxwell

Katie is from Chattanooga, TN. She is a senior in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business and plans to graduate in May 2019 with a dual degree in Accounting and Finance.

In her time at UTC, Katie has been involved in several academic organizations on campus. She is currently the Vice President of Beta Alpha Psi and coordinates all volunteer activities for the organization. She has also been an active member in the Institute of Management Accountants on campus as the Communications Officer. She is currently an Assistant Staff Accountant for the Vincit Group. She was awarded the King Foundation Scholarship from TSCPA, UTC Accounting Department Scholarship, and the Joe and Rachel Decosimo Scholarship.

Katie is starting the MAcc 4+1 program at UTC Spring 2019 and plans to sit for the CMA and CPA exam before graduating with her Masters of Accountancy in 2020.

 

 

Caroline Waldron 

Caroline is currently a senior in the Rollins College of Business. She plans to graduate in May 2019 with a degree in Marketing with a minor in Communications. She is from Maryville, TN.

While at UTC, she has made Chattanooga her home through getting involved on and off campus. Within the Rollins College of Business, Caroline has been an active member of the Dean's Student Advisory Council. Currently, Caroline serves as a Freshman Senate advisor for the Student Government Association. In that role, for which she has served in for two years, Caroline advises 50+ freshman UTC students in training for leadership development, event planning, and student advocacy. Throughout her time at UTC she has been involved in numerous student organizations, including but not limited to Homecoming Student Steering Committee, Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority, St. Jude Up 'til Dawn, and the Resident Hall Association. She has also served as a resident Advisor for UTC Housing and as a Chancellor's Ambassador for the UTC Chancellor's Office. While at UTC, she has attended numerous leadership conferences such as LeaderShape, TARH, LeadUTC, SAACURH, and the Women's Leadership Academy. Caroline is also an active Girl Scout volunteer.

Caroline currently works as an analyst at The Johnson Group, an advertising agency located in downtown Chattanooga. Throughout her time in college, Caroline has had a variety of different internships with companies such as Handup Gloves and the Chattanooga Zoo. After graduation, Caroline hopes to work in data analytics full time and to pursue a data focused MBA program.