Tennessee Tech Computer Science major Harrison Simpson named the recipient of the Derryberry Award, the institution’s highest student honor.
Tennessee Tech President Phil Oldham announced the recognition for the graduating senior from Martin. The award is named for former President Everett Derryberry and recognizes a student who exemplifies scholarship, leadership and citizenship.
“Harrison embodies the spirit of Tennessee Tech,” Oldham said. “Through his leadership, integrity and dedication to serving others, he has made a lasting impact on our campus community and elevated the student experience for those around him.”
Simpson served as the student body vice president for the Student Government Association, where he led a Senate of more than 30 members. He also served on the Academic Council and Information Technology Committee to bring student perspectives to institutional decisions, the press release said.
“When I first came to Tech, I didn’t know anything about leadership or even how meetings worked,” Simpson said. “But I was given opportunities to step in, learn and grow. Over time, I realized that what might seem impossible at first really isn’t – you just have to be willing to put yourself out there.”
During his time in student government, Simpson organized bill-writing workshops and mentored fellow senators to increase student-led initiatives. He also worked on a campus parking and accessibility initiative to bridge communication between students and administrators.
“My professors challenged me to think beyond the technical side of my field and consider the broader impact of my work,” Simpson said. “That perspective, combining technical skill with responsibility and ethics, has been incredibly valuable.”
As a research assistant, Simpson contributed to work examining the safety and security of large language models. He will complete a summer internship as a cyber-physical systems security engineer to focus on identifying vulnerabilities in advanced technologies.
“At the start, I doubted myself,” Simpson said. “But Tech gave me the environment and support to grow. If I could tell new students anything, it’s this: what feels impossible today can absolutely become reality if you’re willing to try.”
Simpson plans to continue his education in graduate school and pursue a career in cybersecurity research.