Meet the finalists of the YWCA Tribute to Women Awards

Knoxville

The YWCA of Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley has announced the finalists for its 35th annual Tribute to Women Awards.

The awards honor women of East Tennessee across industries for their accomplishments and talents.

All nominations are scored using a four-question rubric by four out-of-state judges who are all leaders at YWCAs across the country. One honoree from each category will be announced at the Sept. 18 ceremony.

The event will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. at Club LeConte, located on the 27th floor of the First Tennessee Building. The awards ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. at the Historic Bijou Theatre.

Tickets are $85 and can be purchased at ywcaknox.com. Proceeds go to YWCA services in East Tennessee.

Arts and Culture finalists

Jean Burkhart, director of choral activities and vocal-music teacher, Seymour High School, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Arts in the Arts and Culture category.

Jean Burkhart is the director of choral activities and a vocal-music teacher at Seymour High School. She serves as a mentor to student teachers from UT and Carson-Newman College.

Kathy Hart, Conductor-Manager, Teacher, Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Association, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Arts and Culture category.

Kathy Hart is conductor-manager and teacher for the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Association. She has been teaching string methods at the UT School of Music for 19 years.

Ellie Kittrell, executive director of Muse Knoxville. She is a finalist for the 2019 YWCA Tribute to Women awards and the arts and culture category.

Ellie Kittrell is the executive director of Muse Knoxville. Kittrell is an advocate for helping children find creative and educational outlets.

Business and Industry

Monique Anderson, Associate Dean and University Registrar, University of Tennessee, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Business and Industry category.

Monique Anderson is the associate dean and university registrar for the University of Tennessee. She is responsible for academic records, catalog and other registration services.

Jennifer Ladd Lively, Senior R&D Staff, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Business and Industry category.

Dr. Jennifer Ladd-Lively is a senior research and development staffer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She leads the electrical systems engineering and integration group.

Janet Testerman, CEO, Young-Williams Animal Center, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Business and Industry category.

Janet Testerman is the CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center. Testerman was formerly manager of internal communication for Scripps Networks Interactive and executive editor of E.W. Scripps' custom publications.

Community Enhancement

PJ Alexander is a mental health therapist with East Tennessee Children's Hospital. She established the Knoxville Suicide Grievers Support Group and chairs Out of Darkness Community Walks.

Joshalyn Hundley, Vice President of Community Development, First Tennessee Bank,
is a finalist for the YWCA's Tribute to Women Community Enhancement category.

Joshalyn Hundley is vice president of community development at First Tennessee Bank. She embodies "system thinking" and emphasizes collaboration and a servant heart.

Katharine Pearson Criss, Senior Fellow, Center for Rural Strategies, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women awards in the Community Enhancement category.

Katharine Pearson Criss is a senior fellow at the Center for Rural Strategies. She is the founding executive director of the East Tennessee Foundation and served as representative for the Ford Foundation in Eastern Africa.

Education

Joan Heminway, Rick Rose Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Education category.

Joan Heminway serves as Rick Rose Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee College of Law. She joined the faculty in 2000 after 15 years of business law practice.

Melissa Parker, Director, Arts and Sciences Advising Services, University of Tennessee, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Education category.

Missy Parker is the director of arts and sciences advising services at the University of Tennessee. She has spent 35 years providing advising to UT undergraduates and is director of the largest advising center at UT.

Joy Radice, Associate Professor of Law and Director of Clinical Programs, University of Tennessee College of Law, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Education category.

Joy Radice is an associate professor of law and director of clinical programs at the University of Tennessee College of Law. She was formerly a Skadden Fellow and public defender and has done legal advocacy.

Emerging Leader

Elle Benson is the director of capacity building for the Alliance for Better Nonprofits. She trains, consults, volunteers and advocates across the state in the nonprofit community.

Claudia Caballero, executive director, Centro Hispano, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Emerging Leader category.

Claudia Caballero is the executive director for Centro Hispano. She works to show the diversity, intersectionality and economic contributions of the Latino community in East Tennessee.

Erin Gill, Director of Sustainability, City of Knoxville, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Emerging Leader category.

Erin Gill is the director of sustainability for the City of Knoxville. She has championed major initiatives like the City's LED streetlight retrofit and the Knoxville Extreme Energy Makeover.

Racial and Social Justice

Meghan Conley, Director of Community Partnerships, University of Tennessee,
is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Racial and Social Justice category.

Meghan Conley is the director of community partnerships and sociology instructor at the University of Tennessee. She is co-founder and a steering committee member of Allies of Knoxville's Immigrant Neighbors.

Jacqueline Kittrell, Executive Director, Community Mediation Center, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Racial and Social Justice category.

Jacqueline Kittrell is the executive director of the Community Mediation Center, which serves Knox County courts, neighborhoods and individuals, mediating more than 700 disputes a year for people of limited means.

Shigeko Uppuluri, Community Volunteer, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Racial and Social Justice category.

Shigeko Uppuluri is a community volunteer. She is an ambassador for peace and co-chairs the committee that completed the Peace Pavilion in Bissell Park, where the International Friendship and Peace Bell resides.

Science, Technology and Environment

Brenda Pracheil, Aquatic Ecologist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Science, Technology and Environment category.

Dr. Brenda Pracheil is an aquatic ecologist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She conducts research on increasing the environmental sustainability of hydropower production and mentors graduate students in scientific research.

Kinga Unocic, Research Staff Scientist, UT-Battelle, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Science, Technology and Environment category.

Kinga Unocic is a research staff scientist at UT-Battelle. She has been a staff member in the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at ORNL since 2009.

Katatra Vasquez, Environmental Scientist, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Office, is a finalist in the YWCA's Tribute to Women Science, Technology and Environment category.

Katatra Vasquez is an environmental scientist with the U.S. Department of Energy at Oak Ridge. She is the first African American woman to serve as compliance officer for the National Environmental Policy Act.