The Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award

Students planting a tree

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.”

harold love award poster 2023

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

Bryan Crouser
Leigh Holdsambeck

Leigh Holdsambeck

Belmont University

Alexis Millsaps

University of Tennessee, Martin

Alexis Milsaps
Miura Rempis

Miura Rempis

Middle Tennessee State University

Deepesh Subedi

Austin Peay State University

Depeesh Subedi

Staff/Faculty Winners

Linda Darnell

Austin Peay State University

103835783_thumbnail_linda_darnell_head_shot_
Misty Griffith

Misty Griffith

Motlow State Community College

Dr. Sarah Melton

East Tennessee State University

Sarah Melton
Elizabeth Smith

Elizabeth Smith

Middle Tennessee State University

Tim Stewart

Belmont University

Tim Stewart