Institute Alumni Recognized in 16 “Best of Nashville” Awards
Last week The Nashville Scene released their 33rd annual “Best in Nashville” awards. Institute alumni manage SIXTEEN different award winners, including fields like education, nonprofit, arts, construction, food service, medical, and media.
We are very proud to watch our graduates live out The Institute’s mission: spiritually mature, competent professionals, for global impact. As Institute President Gregg Garner teaches, a lasting global impact begins with a strong local presence. These honors are awarded through a public vote, open to anyone who lives in Nashville.
Take a look at the winners!
3rd Place, Best Nonprofit: Global Outreach Developments International
All senior leadership at Global Outreach Developments International, The Institute’s parent organization, are graduates of The Institute for G.O.D. All of our college students do some degree of community service with G.O.D. International as they train for ministry. This spans facilitating youth service opportunities around the city, visiting the elderly, teaching English to immigrants and refugees, tutoring kids after school, youth job initiatives, and more. G.O.D.’s ranking is next to Hands On Nashville (a nonprofit that joins volunteers from all over the city to help in disasters like the Nashville tornado) and the Nashville Humane Society.
Among its senior leadership are alumni Rosemary Sherrod (Director of Social Services) and Michael Johnson (Senior Accountant). Several program managers are also alumni: Tori Webb (Parents Day Out manager), Rachel Hartnell (Youth Summer Jobs Initiative manager), Benjamin Reese (Director of CASE after-school program), as well as Leafa Vagatai and John Nyago (community coordinators for Language in Action, an English language learning program).
Amelia Harrison, Institute student, is one of several Institute students who spend their summers investing into kids at Nashville’s (2nd) Best Summer Camp: Camp Skillz!
2nd Place, Best Summer Camp: Camp Skillz
Runner up only to Camp Widjiwagon (featured in the new film A Week Away), Camp Skillz was voted the second-best summer camp in all of Nashville! Camp Skillz has been managed by Institute grads Craig Duffy, Stephen Ownby, and the late Robert Muñoz.
2nd Place, Best Private School: Academy for G.O.D.
3rd Place, Best Elementary School (Public or Private): Academy for G.O.D.
Institute alumni Alison Sherrod and Academy Principal Alex Castro enjoying the Best of Nashville Party last week!
Institute graduates have been largely responsible for pioneering and developing The Academy under the direction of Headmaster Gregg Garner, since its inception in 2013, as both teachers and administrative staff. Dozens of graduates teach, coach, or volunteer regularly at the school. Serving the school at large are Institute alumni Alison Sherrod (Lead Administrator), Stephen Ownby (Athletic Director), Jason Roufs (Director of Coaches), and Elizabeth Kagay (School Social Worker).
2nd Place, Best Middle School (Public or Private): Academy for G.O.D.
3rd Place, Best High School (Public or Private): Academy for G.O.D.
The middle school and high school Vice Principal is Meg Mathews, another Institute alumni. Meg Mathews and Stephen Ownby have been the lead teachers for high school for the last several years.
Watch: Video Interview with Alumni Meg Mathews, Junior High and High School Vice Principal at The Academy for G.O.D., talk about her Institute education.
2nd Place, Best Teacher: Robert Muñoz
The late Robert Muñoz facilitating an Academy field trip to the Nashville Zoo. Everything was an adventure for Rob which made learning fun for his students.
Our brother Robert Muñoz was a beloved teacher both at The Academy for G.O.D. and a faculty member at The Institute for G.O.D. He was a favorite teacher at every level, kindergarten through high school, for his passionate, dramatic performances and love for worship and public health.
Academy for G.O.D. core teachers and administrative staff celebrated their many awards of recognition at a special breakfast together, a surprise for the staff! The Academy is home to many Institute alumni, and also a host to student teaching opportunities for Institute students pursuing a career in education.
2nd Place, Best Theater Company: Center Street Theater Company
2nd Place, Best Place to See a Play: The Arts at Center Street
BREATHE: A New Musical performed by The Center Street Theater Company at The Arts at Center Street.
The Arts at Center Street is a second nonprofit launched and directed by Institute President Gregg Garner. The Center Street Theater Company is its premier acting group. The Center Street Theater Company has been featured in ALIEN: The Musical, which was featured in Vanderbilt University’s Chancellor’s Lecture Series, as well as BREATHE: A New Musical, and plays HOMELESS and MENTAL. Sara Davis, an Institute graduate, serves as the Assistant to Creative Director and Manager of Center Street Dance Academy at The Arts at Center Street.
2nd Place, Best Electrician: MCH Nashville
2nd Place, Best Plumber: MCH Nashville
2nd Place, Best General Contractor: MCH Nashville
MCH Nashville provides electrical, plumbing, new construction, underground utilities, and HVAC under one roof. MCH gave generously towards our new Institute building and offers jobs in the construction sector to our students.
MCH Nashville is the only company in the state which offers new home construction, HVAC, underground utilities, electrical and plumbing services under one roof. Each of those sub-sections was pioneered by Institute alumni. MCH Nashville won three different awards in the Best of Nashville competition, a notable achievement for a company that celebrated its ten-year anniversary.
MCH Electrical is managed by Institute alumni Nick Sherrod.
MCH Plumbing is managed by Institute alumni (and valedictorian) Stephen Carver.
MCH Builders is managed by Institute alumni Rylan Aaseby.
3rd Place, Best Food Truck: Califarmia
Califarmia, a farm-to-truck food truck, has won several ‘best of’ lists in recent years.
Califarmia is Unforgettable - Vanderbilt Hustler
Five Best Food Trucks in Nashville, TN - Kev’s Best
Califarmia runs the Institute meal program for our on-campus students, connecting them to farm-fresh, chef-prepared meals 10-15 times a week! Califarmia is managed by Zach Hartnell, Institute adult learner, and Mitch Buchanan, Institute graduate.
3rd Place, Best Photographer: Details Nashville
Photo by Canaan Kagay of Details Nashvile.
Details Nashville is a go-to in Nashville’s hospitality industry and offers photography and videography for weddings and events. Details Nashville has won multiple awards for photography including the cover photo of Pink Bride magazine. Their photos have been featured in Ruffled Bride, Southern Bride, 100 Layer Cake, Brentwood, and Belle Meade Lifestyle magazines, as well as international publications for Indian and destination weddings. Details Nashville’s Managing Director is Institute alumni Adam Loeffler.
3rd Place, Best Printmaker/Poster Maker: Genovations Media
Poster by Joel Olson of Genovations Media.
Genovations Media provides graphic design, film, photo, and website services. Genovations is to thank for The Institute’s lecture videos featured in its hybrid format. Genovations Media is managed by Institute alumni Josie Milliron.
3rd Place, Best Place to Have a Baby: NOVA Birth Services
Institute graduate Megan (Fleeman) Ssekabira completed her Childbirth Education Certification at The Institute and served as a doula and childbirth educator in Uganda and Nashville and continues to work in health care.
NOVA Birth Services has won several awards in “Nashville’s Best” contests, notably Nashville Parent magazine. NOVA offers childbirth education, doula services, prenatal massage, midwifery services, birth photography, and midwifery services to families in Middle Tennessee. NOVA was founded by Institute President Gregg Garner and his wife Tara and is managed by Institute alumni Cannon Cameron. The Institute has carried out a maternal health emphasis (now maternal health minor) since 2008. It has provided NOVA with 15 doulas and childbirth educators, two of whom have become Certified Professional Midwives.
Congratulations to all of the Best of Nashville winners, especially to our Institute alumni!
As a college, we are so proud to see alumni not only placed in jobs, but thriving in them in such a way that the city of Nashville is taking notice. One of the unique aspects of The Institute displayed here, is that our graduates enter a variety of fields, carrying with them the ethics of biblical education and a desire to serve children, families, audience members, or clients, with excellence. All of the managers listed above, busy as they are, continue to serve both locally and globally through ministry and mission efforts. Like we said, living proof of our mission!