Derrick Bailey (BS, Aerospace ’24) has been named a 2024 Tau Beta Pi Laureate. Bailey and his class join an exclusive group of only 121 others to win the award since the program started in 1982.
The Tau Beta Pi Laureate Program annually recognizes up to five Tau Beta Pi student members who outstandingly exemplify the “spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges” and have excelled in areas beyond their technical majors. Award categories include arts, athletics, diverse achievements, and service.
Winners receive a $2,500 cash award and plaque, which will be presented at the annual Convention from October 24-26 in Rapid City, South Dakota.
“I am very blessed to have received this award,” Bailey, who recently moved to California to work for Northrup Grumman as an associate aerospace engineer. “I was completely shocked when I found out because I wasn’t sure if I had all of the qualifications. I am really happy that I was encouraged to apply.”
Bailey joined Tau Beta Pi as a sophomore and was president of the UT chapter. He helped host the national convention in Knoxville in 2022, which was the first in-person convention post-Covid.
Bailey held many other leadership positions at UT, including vice president of the VEXU Robotics Team YNOT. The team visited robotic and STEM groups at local high schools and middle schools. Bailey also started the Society of Automotive Engineers chapter on campus.
Bailey, who graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, worked three years in the lab of Matthew Mench, the Wayne T. Davis Dean’s Chair of the college and a Chancellor’s Professor.
“Dr. Mench and Dr. Doug Aaron were so supportive of me throughout my college experience,” Bailey said. “They helped me a lot and were two of my biggest supporters. I am very grateful for their mentorship and how much they have helped me get to where I am today.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey (865-974-0683, rpotkey@utk.edu)