Marlena Alexander’s 95-year-old grandfather saw a familiar face on his television screen while watching the local news earlier this month. WATE6 was doing a story about the University of Tennessee Torchbearer Award winners and his granddaughter appeared as a recipient.
“My uncle actually sent me a text message telling me my grandpa said, ‘There’s Marlena,’ with a big smile on his face,” Alexander said. “They were all very proud, and I really couldn’t have done this without such a supportive family.”
Alexander was one of two students from the Tickle College of Engineering this year to be named a Torchbearer — the university’s highest undergraduate student honor — in recognition of her leadership, service, and Volunteer spirit.
The Torchbearer designation shines a spotlight on those who bring the university’s Volunteer Creed to life: “One that beareth a torch shadoweth oneself to give light to others.”
Alexander, a Kingston, Tennessee native, will graduate in May with a degree in materials science and engineering. A member of the 1794 Scholars honors program, she is a Goldwater Scholar and a Fulbright Scholarship semifinalist. Alexander has received numerous awards from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, where she is an academic ambassador, and has served as programming chair for the professional student organization Material Advantage. For her leadership in that group, she was named Outstanding Executive Board Member at UT’s 2024 Student Engagement Awards. She also serves as student board member and publicity chair for the Oak Ridge chapter of ASM International, an association for raw materials engineers and scientists.
Alexander has balanced her academic and volunteer efforts at UT while serving as a staff sergeant in the Air National Guard. She spends one weekend each month and two weeks each year reporting for drills.
“It feels really good to be recognized for the hard work accomplished at UT,” Alexander said. “I was dumbfounded that out of all the people at UT I was selected as a Torchbearer. But I also felt grateful thinking about my support system, including all the professors who wrote me recommendation letters. I couldn’t have dreamed to do the things I did without those people.”
Alexander was informed about her award from university leaders during a surprise celebration among friends, classmates, professors, and mentors. She told her father about the honor as soon as the festivities ended. Alexander’s mother died during her sophomore year of college.
“One of the most powerful things I have learned in my journey is the importance of leaning on your community,” Alexander said. “You can’t expect to do everything by yourself, and I know there would have been no chance of me being named Torchbearer without my own support system who helped me get there.”
Alexander plans to pursue her PhD in materials science and potentially work at a national lab. Throughout all of her experiences at UT, Alexander never lost sight of making a positive impact on others.
“Being a Torchbearer isn’t just about you standing out yourself but shining the light for others and remembering all the people that came before you,” she said. “It’s about being intentional in creating spaces where the next generation can thrive. I hope I was able to accomplish that while I was here.”
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Rhiannon Potkey ([email protected])