Nashville State Community College Foundation Hosts The Falcon Awards

The Nashville State Community College Foundation held The Falcon Awards on October 24, 2023, to highlight outstanding Nashville State alumni in recognition of significant professional achievement and service to their community and partners for their steadfast support of student success. The first annual event held at 14Tenn, in The Nation’s neighborhood of Nashville, brought together around 150 attendees for the celebration.

With Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Cleaning Systems and Nashville State Foundation Board Trustee Robert Sherrill serving as master of ceremonies, several awards were presented in the following categories:

The Falcon Award

This lifetime achievement award celebrates the culmination of a career, one that has impacted the profession, community, society, and dedication to Nashville State Community College through demonstrated leadership, ingenuity, and service.

Joey Hatch
Retired construction executive and current Nashville State Foundation Board chair

Distinguished Alumni of the Year

Presented to a Nashville State alum who has set the standard of excellence in their career and demonstrated exemplary volunteerism leadership, and serve as a positive example to their community.

Kathleen Growden, Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education, 2011
Kathleen works as Tennessee State Manager for Save the Children Action Network.

Lindsay Hager, Associate of Science in Political Science, 2016
Lindsay is the Assistant Director of the Student Success Center at Nashville State Community College.

Bradley A. Martin, III, Associate of Science in Architectural Engineering Technology, 1983
Brad is the president and principal of Lyle. Cook. Martin Architects.

Outstanding Young Alumni of the Year Award

Presented to an alum who has set the standard of excellence in their career and demonstrate exemplary volunteerism leadership, and serve as a positive example to their community. Alumni in this category have graduated from Nashville State within the last 10 years.

Christiana Afotey, Associate of Science in Business Administration, 2015
Christiana is the Founder and CEO of Threads by Dreads.

Nadia Elchaer, Technical Certificate in Central Sterile Processing Technology, 2019
Nadia works for Innophos as a Quality Control Technician.

Molly Jensen, Associate of Science in Pre-Nursing, 2019
Molly works as a Nashville State Community College Pediatric Nurse instructor.

Outstanding Service Award

Presented to an individual in appreciation of their service to Nashville State Foundation, Nashville State Community College, and their community.

Nancy Eisenbrandt
Nancy enjoyed a career with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. After retiring, she has served in a consultant role for the Chamber on the New Skills Ready Nashville Initiative. As an active community leader, Nancy is the Vice Chair of the Nashville State Community College Foundation. In 2021, Eisenbrandt was recognized by the Tennessee Board of Regents with the highest honor of Excellence in Philanthropy. Nancy was also instrumental in Nashville State Technical Institute in becoming Nashville State Community College.

Partners in Philanthropy

Recognizes outstanding partners who provide dedicated, sustained support have made contributions that significantly impacts the mission of Nashville State Foundation and Nashville State Community College.

Amazon
Support of Tennessee Flavors and the Nashville GRAD program.

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
Support of campus improvements, Beyond Financial Aid Programs, and the Nashville GRAD program.

The Odom Family Foundation
Support of Nashville State students with an emphasis on the North Davidson campus.

PNC Bank
Support of an Early College partnership program at Whites Creek High School.

Nashville State Associate of Fine Arts in Music students and graduates, with the support of Associate Professor of Music David Edington, performed throughout the event.