Two Lipscomb Alumni Earn 2026 Top Honors

Nashville, TN, Nov. 9, 2026. Two former students of Lipscomb University received the university’s highest alumni honors during a chapel service held as part of Bisons Weekend. Brooklyn Chalfant, who graduated in 2018, was named the 2026 Young Alumna of the Year. Dr. Gary Jerkins, a class of 1974 graduate, received the 2026 Alumnus of the Year award.

The Young Alumni of the Year award recognizes leaders in the early to mid-stages of their careers who show dedication to service. Chalfant earned a bachelor’s degree in theater education from Lipscomb. She has worked as the director of theater arts at Floyd Central High School in Indiana since 2020.

Under Chalfant’s leadership, the school’s theater program gained state and national attention. The program won the 2023 Outstanding School Award and the 2025 Theatre in Our Schools Advocacy Award. Chalfant also received the 2024 Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship. She studied Shakespeare Off-Broadway and worked with the Jimmy Awards in New York City. For 2026, she was chosen to direct the youth pilot production of SUFFS for the Indiana All-State Musical.

The Alumnus of the Year award is the university’s top distinction. It honors individuals whose professional success and service reflect the impact of a Lipscomb education. Jerkins attended Lipscomb Academy as a first grader before earning his bachelor’s degree in biology. He later attended medical school and became an ophthalmologist.

Jerkins currently leads Advancing Vision Research, LLC. He remains active at Lipscomb through support for athletics and mentorship of pre-health students via The J.S. Ward Society. Since 1996, he has coordinated medical mission trips to Ukraine. These efforts involved surgical teams providing care to underserved communities.

Jerkins also founded SeaStar Kids, a nonprofit organization. The group supports children experiencing trauma related to the war in Ukraine. Both recipients were acknowledged for their commitment to the university’s values during the weekend events.