March 10, 2025
By BARTON HENLEY
Rutherford County Schools
RCS Career & Technical Education coordinator Tyra Pilgrim was recently awarded with Honorary Life Membership by Tennessee’s DECA chapter.
Honorary Life Membership is Tennessee DECA's highest award. The prestige and honor represent the ultimate service and dedication to Tennessee DECA and marketing education.
Candi Collier Senior Director of Career & Technical Education and Military Readiness at the Tennessee Department of Education nominated Pilgrim for the award.
“I met Tyra at a DECA State Career Development Conference in the early 2000s working at an event,” Collier said. “I quickly decided I wanted to be a DECA leader just like she was. She has dedicated countless hours to DECA. She did not because she loves the organization and understands the impact it has on student lives. She is incredibly deserving of this award.”
Honorary Life Membership nominees must be a marketing education professional who has added significantly to the development and progress of Tennessee DECA for a minimum of 15 years. Nominees do not have to be currently teaching. The Honorary Life Membership Award is presented at the Tennessee DECA State Career Development Conference.