The East Tennessee Historical Society’s (ETHS) annual Awards of Excellence were presented at the organization’s Annual Meeting in May. The ceremony was held at the Foundry on the World’s Fair Site in Knoxville. Since 1982, the Society has annually recognized individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the preservation, promotion, programming, and interpretation of the region’s history. Eight Knox County initiatives were among the 44 awards presented.

Keith McDaniel	Dean Harned	Rebecca Sardella
Jack Neely	Julia Barham	Mayor Ron Williams

• Keith McDaniel was awarded a History in the Media Award for his work writing and directing 12 films on various historical topics, ranging from Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project to his most recent feature, A History of Concord and Farragut. As the founder of the Knoxville Film Festival, McDaniel successfully draws public attention to the region’s history while promoting the documentation of this history through the popular event.

• Dean Harned, of Gibbs High School, was the recipient of a Teaching Excellence Award. Inspired by the dedication of his mother to her students, Dean Harned has taught history at Gibbs for almost two decades. Ranging from contemporary issues to ancient history, his classes impart to the students a better grasp of the relationship of the past on the world around them today. Dean has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including Cityview’s “Best of the Best” award and the Tennessee Lottery’s “Educator of the Month” in 2014.

• Rebecca Sardella, a Knox County homeschool teacher, was recognized with a Teaching Excellence Award. As a homeschool teacher, Rebecca strives to make the study of history an immersive experience. Areas of instruction include Tennessee history, World War II, and political intrigue and romances, detailing how relationships have influenced the actions of the people who shaped our history.

• Jessica Seaton, of Christenberry Elementary, was the recipient of a Teaching Excellence Award. Although making the U.S. Constitution interesting and relatable to third graders is no easy task, Jessica Seaton found a way to do just that. Experiencing the Constitution in action, her students learn about the three branches of government and the document’s impact on the country through creating a classroom “Bill of Rights” and an imaginary fourth branch of government before meeting with community law and government officials.

• Patrick Hollis, of the Mabry-Hazen House, was awarded an Award of Distinction. In addition to his leadership as executive director of the Mabry-Hazen House, Patrick Hollis has contributed to the culinary world with his edited publication, The Tennessee and Virginia Cookbook. Originally published in 1911, Patrick has edited, updated, and republished an early twentieth century volume of regional fare. All recipes have been updated with conversions for today’s cooks.

• Jack Neely, of the Knoxville History Project, was awarded an Award of Distinction. The Knoxville History Project is the only organization dedicated solely to the history of Knoxville. Under the leadership of executive director Jack Neely, the project has fostered a sense of community history and shares the unique stories of Knoxville through publications, presentations, podcasts, and events. A newly published guidebook, Historic Knoxville: The Curious Visitor’s Guide to Its Stories and Places, brings this history to life.

• An Award of Distinction was awarded to Mayor Ron Williams, Town of Farragut, & the Farragut Folklife Museum for A History of Concord and Farragut, a documentary produced through the efforts of the town of Farragut, the Farragut Folklife Museum, and Keith McDaniel. It features interviews from long-time residents of the area about such diverse topics as the early beginnings of Concord and Farragut, the Civil War and the Battle of Campbell Station, Admiral David Farragut, the marble industry and its impact, the introduction of railroads to the area, and the results of the TVA Fort Loudoun Dam project.

• The Farragut Folklife Museum & Julia Jones Barham were awarded a Community History Award. Chartered in 1987, the Farragut Folklife Museum shares the town’s history through artifacts and stories, including that of the town’s namesake, Admiral David Glasgow Farragut. Since 2008, Julia Barham, the Historic Resources Coordinator for the Town of Farragut, has worked tirelessly to engage the community with new exhibits and programs, including displays covering local veteran artwork, holiday traditions, and the Manhattan Project, as well as an annual celebration of Black History Month.

Established in 1834, the East Tennessee Historical Society has 2,000 members across the United States. The Society sponsors the Museum of East Tennessee History, East Tennessee National History Day, and the family heritage programs “First Families of Tennessee” and “Civil War Families of Tennessee.” Its active publications program includes the biannual genealogy magazine Tennessee Ancestors; the annual Journal of East Tennessee History; and Newsline, as well as other books pertaining to the region’s history. For more information on ETHS, exhibitions, or programs, call 865-215-8824 or visit www.EastTNHistory.org.