Oct. 02, 2025
Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians will honor University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman at the 2025 Trefoil Society Luncheon, an annual event recognizing a distinguished woman in each region who exemplifies the spirit of Girl Scouting.
Plowman credits her lifelong interest in learning and achievement to all the hours she spent earning badges as a Girl Scout in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, an experience that the chancellor said sparked her interest in education and led to a lifetime of learning.
The luncheon celebrating Plowman will be held at The Press Room, 730 N. Broadway, on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $75 and available for purchase at TrefoilSociety.org.
“We’re pleased to pay tribute to Chancellor Plowman, who demonstrates the ideals of Girl Scouting through her commitment to ethical and servant leadership,” said Lynne Fugate, CEO of the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians (GSCSA). “The chancellor is a great example of a Girl Scout who has grown into a leader of courage, confidence and character.”
Since Plowman was appointed chancellor in 2019, the University of Tennessee has strategically grown its enrollment, increased retention of first-year students and improved the four-year graduation rate. Under her leadership, UT has developed innovative partnerships with industry leaders and increased investment in research.
Plowman is credited with providing decisive leadership as part of her oversight of Tennessee Athletics and is known as an advocate for student-athletes.
Before she was named chancellor, Plowman served as dean of the College of Business and then executive vice chancellor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Trefoil Society luncheons are named after the trefoil-shaped pin that Girl Scouts receive to symbolize the acceptance of ethical leadership values and are held in the council’s Appalachian Highlands, East Tennessee and Tennessee Valley & North Georgia regions each year.
Bella Mason, a 2025 Gold Award Girl Scout, will speak at the luncheon about how Girl Scouts has impacted her life.
SmartBank is the Gold Sponsor for the Trefoil Society Luncheon in Knoxville. Additional event sponsors include McCarty Holsaple McCarty, Partners Development, Graphic Creations, Spaces in the City, Home Federal Bank, Stowers Machinery, Cope Architecture, Truist, Pinnacle Financial Partners, RM Koella Moore, Elmore Stone & Caffey, Knoxville Pediatric Associates, Tamara Boyer & Taylor Boyer Redmond and Betsey Creekmore. Other companies or individuals seeking to honor Plowman with a sponsorship should email [email protected] or call Alicia White Price at 865-244-4188. All donation checks should be sent to Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians, Attn: Development, 1567 Downtown West Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37919.
About Girl Scout Council of Southern Appalachians
Girl Scouts is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, offering programs that give every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of entrepreneurship, adventure, and success—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for community causes, or make their first best friends. The Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians serves members in 46 counties from southwest Virginia, through eastern Tennessee, and northern Georgia. Membership is open to all girls from kindergarten through their senior year in high school. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors and millions of alums, Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. To join us, volunteer, reconnect or donate, visit girlscoutcsa.org or call 800-474-1912.
