Past Awards
University of Memphis Awards
The Eleanor O’Neill Scholarship
For over forty years, the Thomas W. Briggs Foundation supported the University of Memphis in various ways starting with establishing the Eleanor O’Neill Scholarship.
Named in memory of Ms. Eleanor O’Neill, a long standing Welcome Wagon employee and University of Memphis Foundation Trustee, this academic merit scholarship assisted deserving students with their educational goals.
Each year we selected a student in the University of Memphis Department of Journalism & Strategic Media who was concentrating in public relations and a student in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics studying marketing.

Excellence in Teaching Awards
In 1995 the foundation established the Thomas W. Briggs Foundation Excellence in Teaching Awards to recognize excellence in undergraduate teaching. The awards were given from 1997 through 2018.
Past Teaching Award Recipients
1997
Mr. Kevin Hagopian, English
Dr. Phillip Kolbe, Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
1998
Dr. Ruthbeth Finerman, Anthropology
Dr. Thomas R. Caplinger, Mathematical Sciences
1999
Dr. Jack Grubaugh, Biology
Dr. Mark Timmons, Philosophy
2000
Dr. Julia Heath, Economics
Dr. David Mason Political Science
2001
Ms. Candace Justice, Journalism
Dr. Robert Marcini, Physics
2002
Dr. Melvin Beck, Biology
Dr. Charles Camp, Civil Engineering
2003
Dr. Kantaylieniere Hill-Clark, Education
Dr. Nele Hemple, Foreign Languages/German
2004
Stephen W. Hancock, Theatre and Dance
Dr. Charles J. Biggers, Biology
2005
Dr. John Hanneken, Physics
Dr. William Jerman, Electrical and Computer Engineering
2006
Dr. Robert Frankle, History
Dr. Lawrette Axley, Nursing
2007
Dr. Dennis Laumann, History
Ms. Margaret Quinn, Family and Consumer Sciences
2008
Dr. Joe Hayden, Journalism
Dr. Nancy Mardis, Accountancy
2009
Dr. Anna Bess Sorin, Biology
Dr. Fred Albertson, Art
2010
Dr. Phillip Franceschetti, Physics
Dr. Irvin Tankersley, Accounting
2011
Ms. Charlotte Spiceland, Accounting
Dr. John Haddock, Mathematics
2012
Dr. Mark Freilich, Chemistry
Mr. Kriangsiri Milasri, Computer Science
2013
Dr. Angela Grant, Mathematics
Leonard Jackson, Hospitality and Resort Management
2014
Ms. Nataliya Doroshenko, Mathematics
Jacob Allen, Communication & Fine Arts
2015
Dr. Douglas Campbell, Economics
Dr. Shirleatha Lee, Nursing
2016
Denis Grele, French
JoAnne Rhodes, Physics
2017
Dr. Scott Marler, History
2018
Phillip Babin, Accounting
Thomas W. Briggs Foundation Equity Statement
At the Briggs Foundation, we are committed to supporting a diverse group of grantees; creating greater innovation, greater inclusivity and greater equity, and honoring the legacy of Thomas W. Briggs to achieve our mission of serving our community of Memphis, Tennessee.
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