The Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award

History of Community Service Recognition in Tennessee
Community service recognition programs for higher education students and faculty/staff at the campus level were created in Tennessee through legislation enacted by the General Assembly in 1991. In 1997, the awards were named for the late Representative Harold Love, who was instrumental in passing the enabling legislation. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission was given the charge to develop rules and regulations by which to implement these programs for public and private two and four-year postsecondary institutions across the state. A selection committee of institutional and board representatives is convened each year to review each nomination submitted by the campuses and to select the five student and five faculty/staff recipients.
The individuals selected to receive recognition represent the many dimensions of community service/volunteer work, public service, charitable service, and leadership roles in community organizations. The award recipients serve as ambassadors for community service among the diverse higher education communities in Tennessee. Each recipient will receive a $1,000 cash prize.
Love is in the House
Elected to the General Assembly in 1968, Representative Harold Love, Sr., was known for his compassion and good humor. A prominent Nashville insurance salesman, Rep. Love also served on the board of directors for the South Street Center and the Eighteenth Avenue Community Center. He graduated from Tennessee State University and was awarded its Distinguished Alumnus Award.
With the welfare of his community as his primary concern, Rep. Love would go to any lengths to help a constituent in need, even if it meant giving from his own pocket. That is why, whenever he was present during a session of the House of Representatives, it was said, “Love is in the House.”


Student Winners
Sarah Bellete
Vanderbilt University
Sydney Y. K. Brown
Lipscomb University
Denee Stewart Freeman
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Jashna Timsina
Middle TN State University
Cynthia Torres
Middle TN State University
Staff/Faculty Winners
Courtney Crittenden
University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Richard Donnell
Lane College
Sekou Franklin
Middle TN State University
Carl Gombert
Maryville College
Anthony Rafalowski
Jackson State Community College
Student Winners
Bryan Crouser
Maryville College


Leigh Holdsambeck
Belmont University
Alexis Millsaps
University of Tennessee, Martin


Miura Rempis
Middle Tennessee State University
Deepesh Subedi
Austin Peay State University

Staff/Faculty Winners
Linda Darnell
Austin Peay State University


Misty Griffith
Motlow State Community College
Dr. Sarah Melton
East Tennessee State University


Elizabeth Smith
Middle Tennessee State University
Tim Stewart
Belmont University
