The University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics recognized five Outstanding Seniors and announced two Dean’s Award for Excellence winners during a ceremony held in Woodward Hall on April 8, 2026.
This year’s Dean’s Award for Excellence winners, chosen by a selection committee comprised of faculty, staff and the dean of the college, are Jenna Utterback and Teague Howell.
The Dean’s Award for Excellence is the college’s highest undergraduate honor, recognizing students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership, service and impact during their time at Gatton.
Utterback, a first-generation college student from rural Kentucky, built a nontraditional path at Gatton by combining leadership roles with entrepreneurship. She served as president of the registered student organization the American Marketing Association, worked as a Gatton Ambassador and grew her small business, Utterback Creations, while completing her degree.
“Gatton challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone and trust my potential,” said Utterback. “It gave me the confidence to create my own path and build something of my own.”
Howell’s time at Gatton was shaped by leadership, experiential learning and mentorship. He said a personal selling course sparked his interest in sales and connected him with mentor Michael Johnston, who helped shape his professional goals. Howell served in leadership roles across campus, competed in multiple sales competitions and completed a sales internship with McLane before accepting a full-time role as a strategic operations analyst.
“My experience at Gatton has prepared me for what comes next by giving me both the technical knowledge and the real-world experiences needed to solve problems, communicate effectively, and build meaningful relationships,” said Howell. “Through leadership roles, competitions, and internships, I’ve developed the confidence and resilience to adapt, keep learning, and pursue opportunities with purpose.”
In addition to the Dean’s Award for Excellence winners, Gatton recognized this year’s Outstanding Seniors from each academic department:
Anthony Howard (Accounting) Howard, who will join PwC as an external audit associate after graduation, said Gatton’s accounting curriculum gave him both the discipline and confidence to pursue the CPA exam and a career in the profession. As president of the registered student organization the Accounting Club, he helped connect students with recruiters and professional opportunities while developing his own leadership and communication skills.
Jakeb Hurley (Economics) Hurley plans to attend law school after graduation and said his economics education prepared him to think critically about policy, incentives and decision-making. He highlighted the Economics of Altruism course as a defining experience, where students developed a consulting-style report for a local nonprofit and helped direct funding to support its work.
Elizabeth King (Finance) King, who accepted a full-time role with PNC Private Bank and Institutional Asset Management, credited Gatton with helping her build both technical and leadership skills. Through coursework, internships and student leadership roles, she gained experience in financial analysis, event planning and mentoring while also advancing financial literacy through her “Mind Your Money” initiative.
Each of the students recognized this year reflects a different path through Gatton, but all share a commitment to personal and professional growth. Their achievements highlight the range of opportunities available across the college — from student organizations and competitions to internships, research and entrepreneurship.
Gatton congratulates all of this year’s Outstanding Seniors and the Dean’s Award for Excellence winners.
Other award winners recognized at Student Awards Day include:
Michael Johnston, 2026 Faculty of the Year (student-nominated)
Reva Schottenstein-Reed, 2026 Staff of the Year (student-nominated)
Brooklyn Pickens, 2026 Student Organization Member of the Year (student-nominated)
Sales Club, 2026 Student Organization of the Year (student-nominated)
