“Award/Recognition” Class Notes

Jerry Sparkman (Arch ’01) is a partner at Sweet Sparkman Architects in Sarasota, Florida, which received the Firm of the Year award from the Florida/Caribbean chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Melody Robertson Weigel (Col ’06) was named the 2017-18 Staff Member of the Year by the William H. Bowen School of Law Student Bar Association at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She also serves as the school of law’s staff senator, and she works in the admissions office.

Kristen Smith (Col ’07) received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, which is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 mathematics and science (including computer science) teaching. Established by Congress in 1983, the President may recognize up to 108 exemplary teachers each year. Smith, who lives and teaches in New York, New York, is the daughter of Eben Smith (Grad ’02).

Monica Dell’Osso (Grad ’89) was named a 2018 Northern California Super Lawyer.

Linda Fisher Thornton (Col ’83 L/M), author of 7 Lenses: Learning the Principles and Practices of Ethical Leadership, was named to the list of top 100 leadership speakers for 2018 by Inc. Thornton is the CEO of Leading in Context.

Kevin L. Mannix (Col ’71, Law ’74 L/M) was honored by Blanchet Catholic School in Salem, Oregon, for his role in founding the middle and high schools in 1995, and for his 23 years as chairman of the board. The school has established a scholarship fund in Mannix’s honor and has named its board room after him. Mannix stepped down as chairman of the board in June 2018 but will continue as a board member and as a member of the executive committee. Mannix is also president of the new Salem Area Catholic Schools Association, which will coordinate and advocate for the Salem area’s four catholic elementary schools and Blanchet Catholic School. He continues to practice law at the Salem firm he established in 1986.

Mark Feger (Educ ’12, ’15) was honored by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association for his dissertation research on ankle injury rehabilitation. Feger is in his fourth year of medical school at Virginia Commonwealth University. Read more here.

Patrick Sweeney (Darden ’98) was part of the four-person team that won the Race Across America, a non-stop bicycle race that started in Oceanside, California, and finished in Annapolis, Maryland. This year’s course, which crossed through 13 states, climbed more than 175,000 feet and had temperatures ranging from 102 degrees to nearly freezing, was considered to be the toughest in the iconic bicycle race’s 36-year history.

John R. “Jack” Bruggeman (Col ’75 L/M) was elected to a two-year term as chairman of the board of directors of Community Residences of Chantilly, Virginia. The organization provides residential and community supports for adults with intellectual disabilities and behavioral health challenges. Bruggeman also serves on the Virginia State Board for Behavioral Health & Developmental Services.

T. Maxfield Bahner (Law ’60) received the 2018 American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for the Sixth Circuit. He was presented with the award at the Sixth Circuit Annual Judicial Conference at the Nashville Music City Center in May 2018. Bahner is senior counsel with Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where his practice concentrates on complex litigation.

Chris Schulz (Col ’12) is a writer and director living in New York City. In May, his experimental comedy short “leftovers” was announced as an official selection of the Nashville Film Festival, selected from over 6,000 submissions. It premiered in Nashville on May 10, 2018.

Mike Laurenson (Col ’89 L/M) was elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates. Members are invited based on a trial lawyer’s experience, skill, civility and integrity. Laurenson is a partner at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, where he has practiced for over 20 years since serving in the U.S. Navy. He has been selected as one of the Top 75 Labor & Employment attorneys in California and has had two jury verdicts selected as Top 10 Defense Verdicts in California.

Kennedy Smith (Arch ’82) was recently named to the list of “The 100 Most Influential Urbanists” by Planetizen, a prominent urban planning website. The list, which includes entries from the past 2,500 years, also includes Thomas Jefferson. In 2009, Planetizen also included Smith in its list of “The Top 100 Urban Thinkers.”

Jennifer Hagen Robinson (Col ’86) has been named a co-chair of the hospitality industry group within Littler, an employment and labor law practice. Robinson has been a labor and employment litigator for more than 20 years and is the firm’s Nashville office managing shareholder.