Mary Dorothea Denman

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“I realize that my passion is not just for recycling, but for the environment as a whole. The environment includes everything: land, water, air and life itself. The relationships within our world are complex, and every niche must be cared for in order to sustain balance among them.”

  • Program: 2010 Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Recipient
  • Resides: Knoxville, TN
  • Hometown: Knoxville, TN
  • Age: 24

Biography

 

PROFILE: Mary Denman has a wide range of interests, passions, and extracurricular activities. An honor student heavily involved in the environmental movement, volunteer activities as well as a peer tutor at her college, Mary also found the time to delve into many activities. When asked about her favorite pastimes, Mary recited a long list and volunteered: “Basically [these are] all of the things I don't have time for.” Mary’s years at Pellissippi State Community College in her hometown of Knoxville, were exceptional. If there was something happening on campus, or if If a student needed a helping hand from a tutor, she was there. The young Tennessean knows we have limited resources on this planet, and almost single-handedly got an on-campus recycling program into full gear.

INSPIRATION: Mary’s Phi Theta Kappa advisor, Dr. Ann Kronk, encouraged her to direct the recycling efforts on campus. “She handed me the wheel and said ‘take over,’” Mary said, and she did. “Dr. Kronk has helped me find every opportunity since then to flourish and grow as a confident human being.”

ASPIRATION: Her ultimate goal is to work as an administrator for the EPA and to conduct alternative energy research for the NASA. Her short term goal is to keep recycling and make it second-nature for those with whom she comes in contact, as well as to lead the campaign for Green Fees in community colleges across Tennessee.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE:   Mary coordinated her college’s participation in RecycleMania, a nationwide competition to promote waste reduction. Thanks to Mary, more than  12,000 pounds of recyclable materials  were collected at Pellissippi State.

ACCOLADES: Mary was named a 2010 Coca-Cola Silver Scholar, and was named to the All-USA Academic Team. In addition she was honored as Pellissippi State's Outstanding Graduate in Mathematics and Natural Science, 2009-2010.

INTERESTING FACT: She was asked why she wants to transfer to a four-year institution, and Mary responded: “I want to know what I don’t (know).”

 
 

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