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Tullahoma High School senior Claire Fogarty and Bel-Aire Elementary PTO President Samantha Zimmerman each received an award during last week’s Tennessee School Board Association’s (TSBA) South Central Fall District Meeting.

Each year, TSBA honors one student from each of its nine districts who has achieved distinction in academics, community leadership, and engagement as part of its Student Recognition Award program. One of those nine students will win the statewide Student Recognition Award to be presented at the TSBA Annual Convention in November, including a $2,000 scholarship. After being nominated by Tullahoma City Schools, Fogarty was selected as this year’s South Central District winner and will attend the November convention.

As a senior, Fogarty has maintained a 4.0 GPA while playing three sports throughout the year – soccer, swimming and track. She also volunteers to help teach goalkeeping to a recreational soccer team. Fogarty is a member of the National Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society and serves in the student council as senior vice president. She attended the 78th session of Volunteer Girls State and plans to start a Youth in Government club at her school. 

“I am very excited and grateful that I was selected for the TSBA South Central Student Achievement Award,” Fogarty said. “Throughout my high school years, I have worked very hard to excel in sports and the classroom. I am thankful to everyone who has supported me along the way and to Dr. Stephens for seeing something in me and providing me with this opportunity.”

TSBA additionally honors one school volunteer from each of its nine districts who have distinguished themselves by demonstrating exceptional commitment to volunteerism in a local school district. The district winner has exhibited exemplary leadership, creativity, cooperation and hard work in their service to a school. One of those nine volunteers will win the statewide School Volunteer Recognition Award to be presented at the TSBA Annual Convention in November, including a $1,000 grant to the school of their choice. The 2024 South Central District Volunteer Recognition Award winner is Samantha Zimmerman.

While serving as PTO President at Bel-Aire, she also spends countless hours volunteering at the elementary school, including coordinating the school-wide book fair. Over the summer, she researched, designed and collaborated with various stakeholders to paint and update Bel-Aire’s cafeteria. She also designed a website to properly communicate opportunities related to the annual walk-a-thon. The event was a huge success, with over $50,000 raised toward the school. 

“This award from the TSBA South Central District is so humbling,” Zimmerman said. “I really just love being involved in what my kids are doing, so volunteering was just the natural solution. It has been so amazing to be involved with all the things that are happening at Bel-Aire. To be selected not only as the TCS Volunteer of the Year but also as the South Central Volunteer is such an honor. I know there are so many parents and volunteers who are doing amazing work within their community, so to receive this award is such an honor for me, Bel-Aire and TCS! I hope to continue bringing awareness to the PTO, school and district. We have an amazing program, and I am just glad we are bringing visibility to all being done.”

TCS Director of Schools Catherine Stephens was on hand for the fall meeting. She expressed her congratulations to both Fogarty and Zimmerman for their honors.

“Having two individuals recognized by the South Central District is truly special and speaks volumes about the amazing students and families that are a part of Tullahoma City Schools,” said TCS Director of Schools, Dr. Catherine Stephens. “I have been able to get to know both Claire and Samantha since joining TCS, and both are perfect representatives for TCS and the South Central District. I am extremely proud of both of them, as they deserve this honor, and I cannot wait to see what November holds for them.”

The evening’s celebration continued as a Tullahoma Board of Education member earned the TSBA Boardmanship Awards this year. These awards are presented to individual board members who have achieved one of five levels of boardsmanship standards over the past year. The program is designed to recognize school board members for participation in board activities beyond the local level through a commitment to training, willingness to participate in workshops and a volunteer spirit. The Boardsmanship Award honors not only the quantity but also the quality of participation. Levels I-IV are given at Fall District Meetings, while Level V Boardsmanship is awarded at the association’s annual convention in November. TCS Board Member Andy Whitt received Level III honors.

“I truly admire the work of our Board of Education,” Dr. Stephens said. “The seven individuals on our school board are completely dedicated to ensuring that TCS students, faculty and staff thrive. Our board members want to make sure that they have the tools needed to create positive learning environments, and this award for Andy further highlights their selfless dedication.”