Town Talk

TOWN TALK

"You are eloquent enough if truth speaks through you."

--Publius Syrus

HEARD ON THE TOWN

KUDOS to 2006 McCallie graduate Tommy Tobin, who was part of a writing team of five postgraduate students from the University College Cork that won first-place in the International Graduate Competition at HEC Business School in Montreal, Canada. A 2010 graduate of Stanford University, Tobin, who studied international relations and history, earned the Deans' Award for Academic Accomplishment for his research in composition, American history and psychology while at Stanford.

"I plan to work as a lawyer, specializing in the area of law and policy," Tobin says. "I've just started at the Harvard Kennedy School. My third scholarly paper has also just been published -- this one was titled 'Succeeding in Presidential Succession.'

"My particular interest area relates to anti-hunger work and environmental sustainability. One way to tackle both of these issues is to look at the area of food waste in society: What can be done waste less, save money, and avoid squandering finite resources."

photo Girls Preparatory School alumna Keli Shipley and John Cole Kirksey of Greenville, Miss., were crowned homecoming queen and king at Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn.

Tobin spent a year studying for a master's degree in food business at the University College Cork as a George J. Mitchell Scholar, a program that sends 12 Americans each year to study in Ireland.

His interest in working with anti-hunger and environmental sustainability was sparked during his years at McCallie.

"Working with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank and the Campus Recycling Program were particularly formative in forging my current interest in anti-hunger work and my food waste focus," he says.

He also coordinated blood drives for Blood Assurance as part of Keo Kio, a Bible study group, ran the school's WBTR Internet radio station, and founded the Season of Giving campaign on campus with Dean Bob Bires.

A boarding student at McCallie, he says his experience at McCallie will have a lifelong effect on him.

"McCallie is truly a special place," says Tobin. "For me, choosing McCallie came down to choosing a place that I could grow and develop as a student, as a person and as a citizen. I loved my time there and still keep in touch with my teachers."

CONGRATULATIONS also go to Keli Shipley, who was recently crowned homecoming queen during Maryville College's homecoming festivities. Shipley is the daughter off Tom and Laurie Shipley of Chattanooga. A senior majoring in political science, Shipley was nominated for the honor by her classmates. She is a 2010 graduate of Girls Preparatory School.

Contact staff writer Karen Nazor Hill khill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396.

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