2026 Character Banquet

Values Matter. Character Counts.

About The Character Banquet

The 5th annual Character Banquet took place on April 11, 2026, at the Cumberland County Community Complex in Crossville, Tennessee. The event was hosted by the City of Crossville/Leisure Services and made possible through the generous support of many local sponsors, including First National Bank of Tennessee, First Bank, City of Crossville/Leisure Services, Camp Nakanawa, Cumberland Vital Care, Peterson Wealth Advisory, Shelter Insurance/Wright Agency LLC, Eye Centers of Tennessee, Covenant Medical Group/Cumberland Orthopedics, Cumberland Components, The Y, Good Folks Marketing, Print N Ship, Scot & Julie Shanks, Wyeth & Ed Burgess, and Scott Hartema.

Thanks to their contributions, 45 honorees along with over 300 parents, families, guests, local officials, coaches, and administrators, were able to attend the banquet by invitation and free of charge. Ann and Pepe Perron sponsored the event’s guest speaker. Each sponsor was recognized during the banquet for their valued support.

Our Purpose

This event is dedicated to honoring student-athletes from both high schools who have been nominated by their coaches for exemplifying outstanding leadership, values, and character.

Guided by the theme “Values Matter – Character Counts,” the event highlights the importance of character in athletics and serves as the foundation for selecting our honorees.

The Sports Council Awards $6,000 in Support of Local Student Athletes

The Sports Council proudly awarded a total of $3,000 in scholarships to student athletes for their outstanding achievements. In addition, each team represented by these athletes received $3,000 in support to continue building strong, successful programs.

In total, $6,000 was given in recognition of the hard work, dedication, and impact of student athletes in our community.

We’re proud to invest in the future of sports and the incredible youth who make it thrive.

The Character Banquet is quickly becoming one of the most prestigious events in the State of Tennessee. -The Crossville Chronicle

Cumberland County High School Scholarship Winners & Honorees

Rys Davenport / Basketball

Molly Neal / Soccer & Tennis

Ivy Watson / Track & Field

Stone Memorial High School Scholarship Winners & Honorees

Addison Machic / Soccer

Mia Jones / Flag Football

Jack Cordell / Basketball

Chris Lofton Delivers Engaging & Effective Keynote

As you know, Chris Lofton served as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Character Banquet. Rather than delivering a traditional formal speech, Chris participated in a question-and-answer conversation with his friend, Mel Clemmons. Although it was a different format, it proved to be highly engaging and effective.

Chris delivered a clear and powerful message to our student-athletes: through hard work, perseverance, and dedication, success is attainable. He shared his personal journey of overcoming significant challenges throughout his basketball career. Not only did he have to overcome concerns about his height, but during his senior year at the University of Tennessee, he was also diagnosed with cancer.

Chris explained how he approached both challenges with determination. He viewed every basketball practice and training session as an opportunity to learn and improve. Likewise, he relied on discipline, patience, and perseverance throughout his cancer treatments. His commitment to these principles allowed him to overcome adversity and achieve success both on and off the court.

The audience was highly engaged and asked many thoughtful questions, which Chris answered with honesty and insight. He was extremely well received by everyone in attendance. Following his successful cancer treatment, Chris went on to enjoy a remarkable 15-year professional basketball career overseas.

His story served as an inspiring example of resilience, character, and determination for all of our student-athletes.

Danielle Rosser Provides Inspiring Entertainment

The Character Banquet was honored to feature Danielle Rosser as our musical entertainment. A classically trained violinist, Danielle has been playing since the age of eight and brings both passion and precision to every performance.

She is a 2024 graduate of Tennessee Tech University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Psychology. Danielle is currently employed with the State of Tennessee and continues to share her musical talent with the community.

Her performance added a beautiful and inspiring touch to the evening’s celebration.

2026 Character Banquet Highlights

All New Gallery

Character Banquet financial support provided by Character Counts level sponsors

First National Bank of Tennessee, First Bank, Camp Nakanawa and the City of Crossville are proud to be associated with this wonderful event. A special thank you to the event photographer, Dale Darling.