Kara Lawson Barling
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ALUMNI PROMISE AWARD Kara Lawson Barling 2003 GRADUATE of the College of Business Admin- istration, Kara has already been extremely successful as a profes- sional athlete, basketball analyst and reporter. She came to Tennessee to play for the iconic Pat Summitt and to this day still epitomizes Summitt’s philosophy of being successful at all she undertakes. During her time on “the Hill”, Kara excelled in finance despite her demanding schedule. On the court, she led the Lady Vols to three NCAA Women’s Final Four appearances in 2000, 2002 and 2003 all while earning the honors of Academic All-American and Torchbearer. After leaving Tennessee in 2004 she joined the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs as a point guard, leading them to a WNBA title in 2005, and took on the role of women’s college basketball analyst for ESPN. Since the 2004-05 NBA season, Kara has worked as a studio analyst on the Sacramento Kings’ local broadcasts. In 2006, she added NBA courtside reporter to her duties and became the first woman analyst to call a nationally televised NBA game in January 2007. She was also a member of the 2008 women’s basketball Olympic team, which won a gold medal in Beijing. In her spare time, Kara is active with Race for the Cure and the American Cancer Society. 8 • A l u m n i A w A r d s d i n n e r 2 0 1 2 Stefan Duma TEFAN DUMA completed his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1995 before earning his PhD from the University of Virginia. Today, he serves as professor and department head of the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences. Duma also is the founding director of the Center for Injury Biomechanics—an interdisciplinary research center that combines the Virginia Tech College of Engineering with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. The center performs research that investigates human tolerance to impact loading as it relates to automobile safety, military restraints, and sports biomechanics. Duma’s research has established the former Torchbearer into an expert and pioneer in his field and has attracted national attention for his research on impact biomechanics. The New York Times, ABC News, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, CNN, Time, and U.S. News & World Report have cov- ered his research. Under his leadership, the Vir- ginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Science received the 2011 Brain Trauma Foundation Award. Duma is a frequent speaker for local civic groups, grade schools, and high school football teams. He also coaches first- and second-grade basketball and baseball in the Blacksburg, Virginia, community. 2 0 1 2 A l u m n i A w A r d s d i n n e r • 9 ALUMNI PROMISE AWARD Darris James NATIVE OF LAKE CITY, TENNESSEE, Darris James earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of Architecture in 1999. Since then, he has worked on projects around the world ranging in scale and diversity from corporate interiors to airport terminals. James began his career as a junior designer for corporate interiors at Gensler and quickly worked his way up the ranks. Currently serving as a senior associate, global account manager, and design strategist, he has been involved with high-profile projects like the JetBlue Airways Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport and the Dubai International Finance Center Gate Building. His award-winning projects have appeared in numerous publications including Interior Design, Contract Design, Architectural Record, World Architecture, and multiple international design publications. James currently specializes in developing alternative workplace concepts for companies interested in improving organizational performance. In addition to his professional success, James has made significant and innovative contributions to his community. He shares his passion for design-thinking as a mentor for the ACE Mentoring Program, as an advisor to several design high schools, and as an educator at the New York School of Interior Design. He frequently gives lectures and leads panels on the topic of design education. 1 0 • A l u m n i A w A r d s d i n n e r 2 0 1 2 Kristen Qualls 2003 GRADUATE of the College of Engineering, Kristin has already demonstrated distinctive achievement in the field of civil engineering. Going to work with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) immediately after graduation, Kristin has quickly worked her way up the ranks of the Region One Construction Division. During her career she has led some of TDOT’s most daunting projects like SmartFIX40, a $275 million project that included a total closure of I-40 in downtown Knoxville for 13 months to widen the interstate from four to six lanes. Kristin is currently the project engineer for the Henley Street Bridge Rehabilitation project, a $25 million project that includes dismantling the 82- year old bridge to the arches and rebuilding the bridge to create an additional lane. In addition to her professional achievements, Kristin has been quick to get involved with her alma mater, serving as the keynote speaker for hundreds of potential engineering students from high schools across the region during UT’s Engineers Day. She also serves as the High School Girls Community Group Teacher at Corryton Baptist Church and volunteers for Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries and Serenity Shelter. 2 0 1 2 A l u m n i A w A r d s d i n n e r • 1 1 ALUMNI PROMISE AWARD ChAd speCk HAD SPECK graduated with honors from the College of Law in 2004. Since that time, he has dedicated his professional career to serving as a counselor and friend to some of the National Football League’s (NFL) top talents. The president and owner of Allegiant Athletic Agency (A3), Speck is a certified contract advisor with the NFL and Major League Baseball (MLB). During his career, he has negotiated more than a quarter of a billion dollars in NFL contracts—includ- ing the largest guaranteed package in NFL history—and he is ranked in the top 15 percent of all NFL Players Association certi- fied contract advisors. He currently represents several former UT athletes to ensure they receive the best deal as they begin their new career. In addition to his role as a sports agent, he has assisted several of his clients in the formation of their charitable foundations. In the community, Speck is an active supporter of Young Life, the Boys & Girls Club, Compassion International, Athletes in Action, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Campus Crusade for Christ. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the UT College of Law, teaching sports & entertainment law. Speck was recently nominated for Knoxville’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. 1 2 • A l u m n i A w A r d s d i n n e r 2 0 1 2.