Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award

The Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Awards honor students, faculty, and staff across Tennessee’s colleges and universities who demonstrate exceptional commitment to volunteerism, public service, and community leadership. These awards recognize those who deserve a community service award.

Created by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1991, these prestigious awards recognize individuals who make a meaningful impact beyond campus. In 1997, the program honored Representative Harold Love, Jr. by renaming the award in his memory. He played a pivotal role in passing the legislation that created this recognition program to showcase deserving community service recipients.

Each year, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) coordinates the statewide program for both public and private two- and four-year institutions. A selection committee—comprised of representatives from higher education institutions and governing boards—reviews campus-nominated candidates and selects 5 students and 5 faculty/staff members for this high honor, announcing the community service award honorees.

What Makes a Harold Love Award Winner?

Award recipients embody the spirit of service through:

• Volunteerism and charitable outreach
• Public service and civic engagement
• Leadership in nonprofit or community-based organizations
• Lasting contributions to local and statewide communities

Winners serve as ambassadors of service and role models across Tennessee’s diverse higher education landscape, earning them the community service award for their dedication.

Award Details

Eligibility: Nominees must be affiliated with a Tennessee postsecondary institution

Number of Awards: 10 annually (5 students, 5 faculty/staff)

Prize: Each recipient receives a $1,000 cash award

Year	Student	Major
2025	Cox-Wingo, Violet	Lecturer in MTSU’s Department of Social Work
2025	Rust, Dianna	Coordinator for the Integrated Studies and Professional Studies programs
2025	Prescott, Nancy	History
2024	Maxwell, Brian	Video and Film Production
2024	Certain, Elliot	Social Work
2023	Little, Dimend	International Relations
2022	Torres, Cynthia	Psychology
2021	Rempis, Miura	History and Political Science
2020	Morin, Gabriella	Biology and Foreign Language
2019	Laffely, Gareth	Marketing
2018	Owen, Robert	Biology
2016	Madigan, Chloe	English
2015	Paul, Erin	Interdiscplinary Studies
2014	Martin, Tandra	International Relations