ANNUAL TEAL AWARDS
The Purpose: Teal is the color that helps bring awareness to sexual assault survivors and the widespread occurrences of sexual violence. Thus, the name Teal Awards. The award aims to recognize those on and off the campus who are promoting the values of sexual integrity and working to eliminate sex discrimination and sexual harm in the Sewanee community. The "Teal Awards" were designed to celebrate at least nine honorees on an annual basis. These honorees make and have made contributions to our campus in ways that encourage our collective values while working to prevent sexual harm. It’s an award that pays tribute to the many hands that have truly made light work.
The Vision for the Teal Awards is similar to that of the Title IX Office: To recognize those who have helped to create a domain where sexual integrity lives among all.
ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE AWARD:
The award designs are special and each carries its own coded meaning. Affectionately known as the SAAMI, as in S. A. A. M. I, which stands for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (which occurs in April), while the “I” stands for Icon. Icon in this sense to mean “a person regarded as a representative symbol who is worthy of veneration.”
The SAMMI for AY ‘22 is designed in the shape of a teal ribbon. The award is 11 inches high to recognize the 2011 Dear Colleague Letter, which reshaped the landscape of Title IX. It is also 9 inches wide to represent its connection to Sewanee’s Title IX Office. It is 3 inches deep to acknowledge the 3 point framework of C.P.R. of the Title IX Office, which stands for compliance, prevention, and resources. It is a one of a kind custom award that you are unlikely to see again - a gentle reminder that while we reflect on the first 50 years of Title IX, the hope is also that we are unlikely to experience such times again.
The SAAMI for AY ’23 and for future years is designed in the shape of a flame, embossed with the teal ribbon symbol at its peak. It is 5 inches wide, which is a nod to the 50th anniversary. It is 9 inches high to acknowledge the connection to the Title IX Office, and the shape of the flame is to remind you that you all are indeed a light for others, but that it is the flame that is the visible part of fire. The flame lets others know that you’ve been ignited to spread, which might in turn, ignite others.
- Recipients were nominated and voted on by the campus community
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Integration Award
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The Integration Award is given to a faculty member that promotes and integrates the values of sexual integrity and mutual respect into their coursework or across the curriculum of their department. The nominee must present a strong dedication and commitment to increasing awareness around the prevention of sex discrimination/misconduct, both inside and outside of the classroom.
- 2021 - 2022 Recipient: Dr. Paige Schneider
- 2022 - 2023 Recipient: Dr. Terri Fisher
- 2023 -2024 Recipient: Dr. Aaron Elrod
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Impact Award
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The Impact Award is given to the best student program of the year where the intent is to promote sexual integrity, healthy relationships, and mutual respect. Programs that are eligible for this award include, but are not limited to, a focus on healthy relationships, bystander intervention, reporting incidents of sexual misconduct, engaging in various aspects of prevention, or engaging in socially responsible behavior.
- 2021 - 2022 Recipient: The Bairnwick Women's Center for their collaboration with the Title IX Office's Training and Prevention Programs
- 2022 - 2023 Recipient: Emily Weerasinghe for Plan B Programming
- 2023 -2024 Recipient: No Completed or Sufficient Nominations
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Innovator Award
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The Innovator Award acknowledges a new program by any student, employee, or organization within the University that exhibits ‘outside the box’ thinking in the campus-wide effort to prevent sexual misconduct. The organization or individual program nominee has created, with respect to sexual integrity, a new way to do an old thing or has developed a never-before-seen program that engages and resonates with the campus community in a positive way.
- 2021 - 2022 Recipient: Take Back The Night/Kaylei Goodine
- 2022 - 2023 Recipient: Pro-Choice Sewanee/Equity in Reproductive Healthcare
- 2023 -2024 Recipient: FeMENism Masculinity Panel/Bairnwick Women's Center
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InterSEXtional Award
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The InterSEXtional Award is given to any student, employee, or organization of the campus community that works to increase awareness of the intersectionality of various SOGI identities (sexual orientation and gender identity). The individual nominee shows a strong commitment to addressing issues of inequity among people with intersecting identities through service, practice, or research - particularly for persons of a minority sexuality and/or gender identity.
- 2021 - 2022 Recipient: The Queer and Ally House
- 2022 - 2023 Recipient: Milo Williams Thompson
- 2023 -2024 Recipient: No Completed or Sufficient Nominations
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- Interconnection Award
- The Interconnection Award is given to one staff person who has brought people together in unity to cultivate community relationships built on the respect of all persons’ equivalent humanity. The staff nominee must show a strong commitment toward engaging in community work that seeks to instill a social responsibility that all members of the community are leaders who are responsible in fostering an environment that is free from sexual misconduct.
- 2021 - 2022 Recipient: Dr. Rachel Fredericks
- 2022 - 2023 Recipient: No Completed or Sufficient Nominations
- 2023 -2024 Recipient: Peter Gray
- The Interconnection Award is given to one staff person who has brought people together in unity to cultivate community relationships built on the respect of all persons’ equivalent humanity. The staff nominee must show a strong commitment toward engaging in community work that seeks to instill a social responsibility that all members of the community are leaders who are responsible in fostering an environment that is free from sexual misconduct.
- Idealist Award for Sewanee Affiliated Individuals
- This idealist award calls us to reflect on the annual anniversary of Title IX. The nominee IS NOT a current student or employee. The nominee can be any alum, community member, parent, or other Sewanee affiliate who demonstrates a commitment to the spirit of Title IX in their day-to-day life and work. The nominee must also show a dedication toward building a better path forward for Sewanee through their support of survivors, their collaboration with the Title IX Office, other offices, or various orgs. In addition, the nominee supports any efforts to elevate the spirit of equity and equality among all genders and sexualities.
- 2021 - 2022 Recipient: Olivia Fox, C' 21
- 2022 - 2023 Recipient: No Completed or Sufficient Nominations
- 2023 -2024 Recipient: No Completed or Sufficient Nominations
- This idealist award calls us to reflect on the annual anniversary of Title IX. The nominee IS NOT a current student or employee. The nominee can be any alum, community member, parent, or other Sewanee affiliate who demonstrates a commitment to the spirit of Title IX in their day-to-day life and work. The nominee must also show a dedication toward building a better path forward for Sewanee through their support of survivors, their collaboration with the Title IX Office, other offices, or various orgs. In addition, the nominee supports any efforts to elevate the spirit of equity and equality among all genders and sexualities.
- Idealist Award for Students or Student Organizations
- This idealist award calls us to reflect on the annual anniversary of Title IX. The nominee can be any current student/student org who demonstrates a commitment to the spirit of Title IX in their day-to-day life and work. The nominee must also show a dedication toward building a better path forward for Sewanee through their support of survivors, their collaboration with the Title IX Office, other offices, or various orgs. In addition, the nominee supports any efforts to elevate the spirit of equity and equality among all genders and sexualities.
- 2021 - 2022 Recipient: Silas McClung
- 2022 - 2023 Recipient: Monae Scott
- 2023 -2024 Recipient: No Completed or Sufficient Nominations
- This idealist award calls us to reflect on the annual anniversary of Title IX. The nominee can be any current student/student org who demonstrates a commitment to the spirit of Title IX in their day-to-day life and work. The nominee must also show a dedication toward building a better path forward for Sewanee through their support of survivors, their collaboration with the Title IX Office, other offices, or various orgs. In addition, the nominee supports any efforts to elevate the spirit of equity and equality among all genders and sexualities.
- Idealist Award for an Employee or an Employee Department
- This idealist award calls us to reflect on the annual anniversary of Title IX. The nominee that can be a faculty or staff employee or a department who demonstrates a commitment to the spirit of Title IX in their day-to-day life and work. The nominee must also show a dedication toward building a better path forward for Sewanee through their support of survivors, their collaboration with the Title IX Office, other offices, or various orgs. In addition, the nominee supports any efforts to elevate the spirit of equity and equality among all genders and sexualities.
- 2021 - 2022 Recipient: The English & Creative Writing Department
- 2022 - 2023 Recipient: No Completed or Sufficient Nominations
- 2023 -2024 Recipient: No Completed or Sufficient Nominations
- This idealist award calls us to reflect on the annual anniversary of Title IX. The nominee that can be a faculty or staff employee or a department who demonstrates a commitment to the spirit of Title IX in their day-to-day life and work. The nominee must also show a dedication toward building a better path forward for Sewanee through their support of survivors, their collaboration with the Title IX Office, other offices, or various orgs. In addition, the nominee supports any efforts to elevate the spirit of equity and equality among all genders and sexualities.
- Integrity Award
- The integrity award is given to one student or employee who has consistently worked to create positive solutions for social and cultural change on campus that aim to foster an environment that is free from sex discrimination and misconduct. The nominee must embody a steadfast adherence to both a moral and ethical code, is respected by the campus community, works to educate and encourage others toward social change, and demonstrates a commitment to upholding the values of The University of the South.
- 2021 - 2022 Recipient: Dr. Sylvia Gray
- 2022 - 2023 Recipient: Peggy Owusu-Ansah
- 2023 -2024 Recipient: Dr. Lauryl Tucker
- The integrity award is given to one student or employee who has consistently worked to create positive solutions for social and cultural change on campus that aim to foster an environment that is free from sex discrimination and misconduct. The nominee must embody a steadfast adherence to both a moral and ethical code, is respected by the campus community, works to educate and encourage others toward social change, and demonstrates a commitment to upholding the values of The University of the South.
Speciality Bonus Awards selected by the Teal Award committee (TAC):
- ALLY AWARD:
- The Ally Award is given to the one individual or organization (student, employee, Sewanee affiliate, or group/ORG) who has dedicated their time, support, and/or resources, and has served as a thought partner to the staff/partners of the Title IX office. This includes those who are charged with the responsibIlity of responding to the challenges of title ix work. This individual or organization is more than just a “helper” in difficult times. They are a necessary support in the ongoing effort to maintain a campus that is free of sexual misconduct.
- 2021 - 2022 Recipient: Matt Brown
- 2022 - 2023 Recipient: Chip Schane
- 2023 -2024 Recipient: A Tie between students, Aiden Kennedy and Bella Francois
- The Ally Award is given to the one individual or organization (student, employee, Sewanee affiliate, or group/ORG) who has dedicated their time, support, and/or resources, and has served as a thought partner to the staff/partners of the Title IX office. This includes those who are charged with the responsibIlity of responding to the challenges of title ix work. This individual or organization is more than just a “helper” in difficult times. They are a necessary support in the ongoing effort to maintain a campus that is free of sexual misconduct.
- CHAMPION AWARD:
- The CHAMPION Award is given to the one individual or organization (student, employee, Sewanee affiliate, or group/ORG) who embodies an aspect of all the qualities of every teal category. They educate; support or create awareness; they think outside the box; they believe that all members of our community are leaders; they have integrity and demand it of others; and they are committed to building a better path forward for Sewanee through their work and the relationship they have built on this campus. They are respected, trusted, and needed. They champion this work.
- 2021 - 2022 Recipient: Dr. Nancy Berner
- 2022 - 2023 Recipient: Marquitte Starkey
- 2023 -2024 Recipient: Dr. Betsy Sandlin
- The CHAMPION Award is given to the one individual or organization (student, employee, Sewanee affiliate, or group/ORG) who embodies an aspect of all the qualities of every teal category. They educate; support or create awareness; they think outside the box; they believe that all members of our community are leaders; they have integrity and demand it of others; and they are committed to building a better path forward for Sewanee through their work and the relationship they have built on this campus. They are respected, trusted, and needed. They champion this work.
