Fall commencement slated at UT Martin

Posted: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 6:00 pm

The Messenger 12.05.12

Cheri Childress, an alumna of the University of Tennessee at Martin, will address graduates at the university’s fall commencement exercises Dec. 15 in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center on Mount Pelia Road in Martin.
The program will begin at 11 a.m. and is open to the public.
She received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and social work from UT Martin in 1972 and later earned a master of science degree in education in 1978. She has since served as director of social services at Milan General Hospital, taught in the Gibson County Special School District and evaluated Tennessee principals through the State of Tennessee Better Schools Program.
Ms. Childress has also served as director of student services at the West Tennessee School of the Deaf in Jackson and is currently the co-owner of 10 Subway Sandwich Restaurants throughout the West Tennessee area and the CandyLand Gift Shoppe in Milan.
In addition to her position as vice chairman of the College of Business and Global Affairs at UT Martin, Ms. Childress remains an active member of the West Tennessee community by serving on multiple boards across the region, including those for the Kirkland Cancer Center, Milan General Hospital, UT Martin WestStar Leadership Program and the Gibson County Sports Hall of Fame.
She has received many awards since her time at UT Martin, including the Tennessee Economic for Women Excellence Award in 2007 and the Sterling Award in 2011, which named her one of the 20 most influential women in West Tennessee.
Her Subway Sandwich Restaurant franchises have also been recognized for their excellence.
She is also the co-founder of the Living the Dream, Champions of Hope program and the Childress Foundation, which assists cancer survivors with expenses.

,