Tennessee’s community and technical colleges honored veterans in their campus communities—including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and others—during Veterans Day activities across the state.

As part of the ceremonies recognizing and honoring all veterans, one at each college was also awarded the Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans, a special recognition launched in 2020 by Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings.

The Chancellor’s Commendation honorees are nominated by each college’s president. Nominees may be a student, member of the faculty and staff, an alumnus of the college or a member of the community, who are veterans or active-service members and who exemplify characteristics of service, honor, courage, commitment, and integrity.

There are 35 Chancellor’s Commendation honorees for 2025, one at each of the system’s 13 community colleges and 22 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT).

The Commendation is presented in the form of a specially designed challenge coin bearing the insignia of each military branch and the TBR logo. Challenge coins have a long tradition in all military branches, where they are awarded by commanders and signify special achievement, excellence, hard work, unit pride, and respect.

“Our college communities are strengthened by the veterans and active-duty personnel on campus. The experiences and perspectives they bring are an important part of our campuses that benefits everyone,” Dr. Tydings said. “We are wholeheartedly committed to serving our veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard members, reserve members, military spouses and children. It’s a privilege to honor them, not only on Veterans Day but all year.”

The 2025 Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans honorees and their military branches at ChattState are:

• Shaun Delaney, Student, Army
• Darrell Dolan, Student, National Guard

By Richard Locker, Tennessee Board of Regents.