2025-2026 John C. Stophel Distinguished Students

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, 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.

 

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John Dempsey | Murfreesboro, TN

John is currently a junior in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business and plans to graduate in May 2027 with degrees in Management and HR Management. 

While at UTC John has held multiple leadership roles within Sigma Nu Fraternity, including President, where he focused on strengthening organizational structure, financial sustainability, and alumni engagement. John is an active member of the Rollins Scholars program. He also serves on the Dean’s Student Advisory Council for the Gary W. Rollins College of Business and was selected as a Chancellor’s Ambassador, representing the university at official events and engaging with alumni, donors, and community leaders on behalf of UTC. He has secured a Corporate Human Resources internship with the Tennessee Valley Authority this spring. Through these experiences, he has developed a strong interest in ethical leadership and workforce development.

After graduation, John plans to pursue a career in human resources with the

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Kestutis Dubininkas | Chattanooga, TN

Kestutis is currently a senior in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business and plans to graduate in May 2026 with a degree in Data Analytics. 

Throughout his time at UTC, Kestutis joined a diverse range of extracurriculars: Beyond the Classroom Challenge, MocLEAD, and Student Support Services. He has interned with UTC’s Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship working as an intern for Urban Vision Initiative, assisting local entrepreneurs with business development. He is the President of the Business Analytics Club. He is also the current Student Pastoral Council Chairman and Chancellor of the Knights of Columbus Council 17919 at the Catholic Student Center. Kestutis joined the Innovations in Honors Program at the UTC Honors College. His cohort assisted CARTA. He studied abroad with Business in the Balkans 2025 led by Dr. Beni Asllani and then solo- traveled for three months on pilgrimage. His time traveling taught him diverse business strategies and decision-making skills.

His professional experience during his time at UTC includes a year-long internship with Unum as a scholar intern under the Client Services department. He is a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council and the Honors College Dean Search Committee. He is currently interning at the CHATTfoundation as a development coordinator, working closely with the chief development officer to maintain donor relations.

Upon graduation, Kestutis will find a place in the workforce where he can apply his data-driven skills and leadership strategies to help those in the community with greatest need.

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Madison Goble | Chattanooga, TN

Madison is currently a senior in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business and is graduating in May 2026 with a degree in accounting. 

While at UTC, she has become involved in on and off campus organizations supporting the Chattanooga community. On campus she is a member of the UTC Student Honor and Conduct Board, a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council, community service chair of Beta Alpha Psi, president of the Institute of Management Accountants, and treasurer for FBLA. Madison is also a council member of Christian organization Vida Nueva of Southeast Tennessee and the UTC student influencer for the Tennessee Society of CPAs. 

Madison has gained real-world experience through her accounting internship at Unum Group for the past two years where she helps prepare financial statements, file premium and municipal tax returns, and participates in multiple community service events. 

Off campus Madison serves as a member of the production team at Silverdale Baptist Church. She also participates in community service projects through her internship and roles in Beta Alpha Psi and FBLA. 

After graduation, Madison will enter public accounting as an audit intern at LBMC. Following that, she will continue her education at UTC in the Master of Accountancy program along with starting her CPA journey.  

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Chandler Mason | Memphis, TN

Chandler is currently a senior in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business and plans to graduate in May 2026 with a degree in Finance: Investments and a minor in Professional Sales. 

While at UTC, Chandler has maintained a 4.0 GPA as a Rollins Scholar. He has been deeply involved in the SMILE Fund for three years, advancing through five roles to become vice president of Data and AI Integration. In this role, he leads the development of the fund's complete tech infrastructure. He also served as vice president for the Dean’s Student Advisory Council and treasurer for the Business Analytics Club.

Chandler gained extensive professional experience through internships at Southern Champion Trays, Unum's Reinsurance Modernization team, and TVA’s Enterprise Performance team. At Gumption, a venture capital backed startup, he worked as an SDR & Analytics Intern. He currently works as an analytics engineer and supply chain analyst at Coker Tires while completing his degree.

After graduation, Chandler plans to continue working as an analytics engineer in Chattanooga and pursue AWS certifications. Long-term, he aims to establish a logistics technology company focused on sustainable innovation and create a charitable foundation providing educational opportunities to underprivileged children.
 

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Ana Morris | Knoxville, TN

Ana is a senior at the Gary W. Rollins College of Business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, pursuing a degree in Entrepreneurship with a minor in Honors and Innovation.

She maintains a 3.9 GPA and plans to graduate in May 2026. Ana is a member of the Honors College, has earned Dean’s List recognition, is a member of Sigma Nu Tau, and is a recipient of the Phillips Scholar and Innovations scholarships.

Ana is deeply involved in community engagement through the South Chattanooga Community Center mentoring program, where she works weekly with elementary school children to strengthen foundational reading skills while fostering confidence and a love of learning. Through the UTC Honors College, she also organized a nonprofit water safety initiative and participated in a service-learning trip to Kenya, experiences that broadened her cultural awareness and reinforced her commitment to service.

Professionally, Ana has gained practical business experience through internships with the Urban Vision Initiative and Enterprise. These roles have allowed her to work alongside startup founders, learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, and develop leadership and problem-solving skills. She also brings sales and customer service experience from prior roles, strengthening her communication and teamwork abilities.

After graduation, Ana aspires to build a career centered on entrepreneurship and community impact. Her long-term goal is to open a community center focused on mentorship and learning through team-based environments, similar to sports, to empower youth, and promote lifelong growth.
 

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Paige Proseus | Memphis, TN

Paige is currently a senior in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business and plans to graduate in December 2026 with a degree in Marketing. 

During her time at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Paige has been highly involved in both the campus community and the Rollins College of Business. As a Rollins Scholar, she has been an active member of the American Marketing Association, worked for the Residence Hall Association, and served as a conference assistant for Housing. In addition to her campus involvement, Paige has held a part-time position in the Publix bakery since 2023. Most recently, she expanded her professional experience as a scholar intern at Unum, where she supports the Absence Operations department while further developing her professional skillset. Through her role at Unum, she has also participated in community volunteer initiatives, including service at the Chattanooga Public Library and the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.

Following graduation, Paige plans to continue her career at Unum, applying the knowledge and experience gained through her internship. She also aspires to pursue a future role within the Chattanooga tourism industry, where she hopes to fully immerse herself in the marketing field.

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Juliet Romines | McKenzie, TN

Juliet is a junior pursuing her BSBA in Economics in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business and plans to graduate in May 2027.

Throughout her time at UTC, Juliet has dedicated her college experience to making a meaningful difference in the campus community through leadership, community involvement and a commitment to excellence. She currently serves as the vice president of Communication for the Society for Advancement of Management (SAM), where she leads communication, marketing and outreach efforts in order to encourage students to get involved on campus. Her professional background includes five years of experience in the retail fashion industry, where she developed a strong skillset in customer service and social media marketing. She currently works as a sales associate at Madewell at Warehouse Row in Chattanooga, where she continues to gain valuable experience in the retail sales industry while deepening her knowledge of consumer behavior and business operations. 

After graduation, Juliet plans to pursue a career in business law, inspired by her passion for economics and extensive business experience. In her future career, she hopes to be able to use her skills to promote ethical business practices within the Chattanooga community.

Gary W. Rollins College of Business

Gary W. Rollins College of Business