Picture: Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek, Awardee Captain Teresa Kennard, and Dean Victoria Niederhauser Captain Teresa “Tess” Kennard was presented with our first DAISY award in May 2013 during convocation. She has been a faculty member since 1998, teaching across a variety of undergraduate nursing courses such as leadership, research, transitions, and clinical rotations. In addition to her responsibilities to our College, she serves as Captain in the Navy Reserves. Comments from two of her nominations are included below: Ms. Kennard is an excellent clinical faculty and has spent many years training UTK students to be good cardiac nurses. This past school year she has given even more in service to our country...serving in Afghanistan. I am certain her leadership and caring spirit has meant much to many in her care (the locals and soldiers). We are grateful for the sacrifice both she and her family have made during this time. She has been missed by the faculty and students and we look forward to her return soon. Nursing faculty influence and “teach” their students in many ways and in diverse venues. One of the most powerful teaching strategies is personal example, and Teresa Kennard has demonstrated great personal strength and commitment throughout her nursing career. In addition to her excellent classroom presentations and sharing of her clinical knowledge with students, she has continued to serve in the US Navy Nurse Corps, in both reserve and active duty missions. Most recently, she answered the call to active duty in Afghanistan, exemplifying both her nursing expertise and her outstanding leadership skills while serving and protecting our troops. She is respected and admired by her students and her faculty colleagues, and well deserving of the DAISY award for her contributions.