Rocky Top Business Award Winners and Current Vols Converge
While another graduating class crossed the commencement stage, more than 60 alumni recently stepped across another stage as winners of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Rocky Top Business Awards. On May 2, presented by PYA, these awards honored the fastest-growing businesses owned or led by alumni—but before the evening’s festivities, award winners met with current Vols at a roundtable exchange.
Kim Marden (’95) serves as CEO of Watauga Orthopaedics, which was recognized among the award winners and provides comprehensive orthopedic care across four clinics in the Tennessee Tri-City area. Marden’s daughter, Kyra Powell (Class of 2028), joined her mom at the student-alumni event.
What did you love about the exchange between alumni and students?
Powell: The best part was honestly just seeing how excited and open the alumni were to connect with us. It felt like they genuinely wanted to be there—not just to talk about their accomplishments, but to really share what they’ve learned and help us navigate the same path. There was something grounding and inspiring about hearing from people who once stood exactly where we are now.
Kim Marden (‘95) and her daughter, Kyra Powell (Class of 2028)
And that means a lot—it shows that UT isn’t just a place you graduate from and leave behind. It’s a community that stays connected. When alumni come back and make time for students, it turns what we learn in class into something real and lived. Hearing their stories adds so much perspective to my education. It helps me picture what’s possible and reminds me that success doesn’t follow one specific path.
Marden: The best part was seeing how engaged and curious the students were. I expected polite small talk and maybe a few vague career questions, but they came ready with thoughtful, direct questions. It was refreshing and fun!
Engaging with students as alumni is a two-way street. Sure, you get to share what you’ve learned, but you also get to see how the next generation is thinking and approaching challenges. It sharpens your perspective. Plus, there’s something energizing about talking to someone who’s just getting started—they remind you of the “why” behind all the hard work.
Share about the advice you gave or received. What was most interesting or most useful?
Powell: One piece of advice that really stuck with me was: “Don’t wait until you feel ready—just start.” That mindset helped me rethink how I approach new opportunities. I used to feel like I needed to have everything perfectly figured out, but a lot of the alumni reminded us that no one really does at the beginning.
I heard so many great lessons from voices beyond my mom’s—and it was impactful. Talking to so many different people helped me realize that even though everyone’s path looks different, the most successful people all seem to say the same things about showing up, being resilient, and staying curious.
Marden: I told them to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Growth usually starts where your comfort zone ends. I also emphasized building relationships—not just networking for the sake of a job, but actually learning from people, listening, and staying curious. The thing that seemed to hit hardest was when I said, “No one expects you to have it all figured out. Just keep showing up and doing the work.” You could almost see the relief on some faces.
And I was so glad Kyra came to this event. Sometimes, hearing similar advice from highly successful strangers can reinforce lessons she’s heard from me for years—just in a different voice. This networking event was a chance for her to practice making professional connections in a safe but dynamic environment. Watching her step into that space and start to find her own voice was a proud moment for me as both a mom and a professional.
Powell and Marden during a 2017 Tennessee football game
Marden and Powell at Powell’s UT student orientation
After learning about the student experience then and now, what is always true about Rocky Top and being a Volunteer, and what has changed?
Powell: What’s stayed the same is the pride and energy that come with being a Vol. That sense of community and school spirit—it’s still very real. I learned that even though campus has changed a lot (specifically the Strip!), some things about being a Vol stay the same. Alumni still light up when they talk about game days, favorite classes, or late nights on campus.
But alumni also talked about how college life today is faster and more connected—everything’s digital. There’s more pressure to have a clear plan early on. What’s changed is the pace of everything. Students today juggle a lot more, from internships to side hustles, and the campus itself has definitely gotten sleeker and more high-tech. But the heart of UT is still the same.
Marden: Some things never change: the energy on campus, the pride in wearing orange, and the lifelong connection Vols feel with each other. The campus is bigger and sleeker, but it still has the same spirit. You can’t walk across it without feeling like you’re part of something.
The student experience is faster, more digital, and more intense. Today’s students are smart, driven, and a lot more intentional than we were. They’re asking deeper questions earlier in life—about purpose, mental health, work-life integration.
What did a Rocky Top Business Award mean to you both?
Powell: It meant the world to me. I’ve watched my mom work incredibly hard and pour herself into her work, so seeing her recognized in that way—by the very place that helped shape her—was powerful. It felt full circle. That moment reminded me how far passion and persistence can go, and it made me feel even more connected to UT, knowing that this community celebrates people who invest in others and lead with purpose.
Marden: I’ve always loved UT—it’s where I grew up in so many ways. To be recognized by a place that shaped me personally and professionally was incredibly special. UT gave me confidence and the foundation to lead—how to speak up, navigate complexity, and own decisions. It taught me that success isn’t about knowing everything; it’s about staying curious, surrounding yourself with smart people, and having the courage to steer through uncertainty.
I didn’t build the business I lead, but I’ve poured myself into it, and this award felt like validation not just of my work, but of the journey that started right there on campus. Go Vols!
