Six alums recognized at 2016 Nashville Emerging Leader Awards

Lacey Klotz  | 08/05/2016

Six Lipscomb alumni were named finalists of the 10th annual Nashville Emerging Leader Awards, sponsored by The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and YP Nashville, and held on Thursday, Aug. 4 in Lipscomb’s Collins Alumni Auditorium. Lipscomb alumna Jaclyn Mothupi (’12, ’14) was one of 15 winners at the awards. 

Among the finalists were Lipscomb alumni:

• James Sullivan, IV, (’14), with Bedford County Schools, nominated for the education category;
• Mothupi, with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, nominated for the environment and sustainability category;
• Walter Conyers (’07) and Katherine Murrie (’03), with Regions Bank, nominated for the financial services category;
• Heather Sczepczenski (’00, ’08), with the Tennessee Department of Treasury, nominated for the government and public affairs category; and
• Zach Evans (’99), with Hospital Corporation of America, nominated for the medical and health care services category.  

Lipscomb alumna Mothupi won the evening's environment and sustainability award. 

In her role as an energy consultant for Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Mothupi focuses her efforts on creating residential efficiency programs from design to implementation. She is LEED ID+C certified, and serves on the board of Urban Green Lab and Tennessee Women in Green. She is a graduate of the Nashville Emerging Leaders class of 2015 and completed a year of service in AmeriCorps. Mothupi received the Innovation in Action Award from the Center for Nonprofit Management and is a regular volunteer with Hands On Nashville.

Lipscomb’s College of Business was also a co-sponsor for the event and Ray Eldridge, dean of the college, participated in the evening’s program. 

Ralph Schulz, president and CEO of Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, shared the significance of recognizing young leaders who are making a difference in the Nashville community.   

“Nashville’s amazing growth and vitality has attracted people from across the country and around the world to our community,” said Schulz. “Our region faces incredible opportunities and challenges for the future, and we’re recognizing those young professionals whose commitment to both career and community service demonstrates a clear vision for the type of city we want to be.”

The NELA’s recognize five finalists in each of 15 industry classifications who are excelling in their careers and making a difference in the Nashville community.

Other classifications include: architecture, engineering and construction; arts, entertainment and music business; business services; community service and nonprofit; hospitality and tourism; human resources; legal services; public relations, advertising and marketing; real estate services; and technology.

For more information visit: www.ypnashville.org/events/nashville_emerging_leader_awards.aspx.