Tennessee Tech education scholarship honors lifelong educator and public servant Steve Bivens
On July 11, flags at the Tennessee State Capitol flew at half-staff – a quiet but powerful tribute to a man whose life was defined by service, integrity and an unwavering belief in the power of education.
Steve Bivens, a proud Tennessee Tech alumnus, began his career as an educator, before
entering politics as a legislator and ultimately establishing his own government affairs
firm. But sons Mike and Brian say Steve never stopped being an educator. Steve passed
away on June 22 after a courageous battle with cancer, but his legacy will live on
through a new scholarship created in his and his wife’s honor. The Steve Bivens and
Penny Styles Scholarship will support future educators, with preference given to students
from Bivens’ hometown of Bradley County, continuing the mission he and Penny shared:
empowering the next generation through education.
“Dad wanted to make a difference in his community,” Mike said. “He spent a lot of time in the legislature focusing on issues related to education. That’s why it’s so incredibly poetic to create a scholarship to educate future teachers. There is a lot of solace in knowing that we are going to help create more educators in his honor.”
The first in his family to earn a college degree, Bivens graduated from Tech in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in administration and supervision, followed by a master’s degree in 1970. He credited the university for providing the foundation to pursue a lifetime of service in education and public leadership.
Steve’s career began in the classroom, where he taught and served as a guidance counselor
in the Cleveland City School system. His passion for education led to a distinguished
political career in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1978 to 1992, where
he served as Speaker Pro Tempore and Chairman of the Select Committee on Education.
A strong advocate for Tennessee’s teachers and students, he championed education reforms
alongside then-Governor Lamar Alexander.
Despite his accomplishments, Steve never lost touch with his humble roots. Mike and Brian recall the constant respect and kindness he showed everyone – from interns to governors.
“There was a theme to every note, letter, email and text we received when Dad passed away,” Brian said. “He treated everyone the same, all the time.”
Mike added, “He was kind. I’ve said that word 1,000 times in the last month when talking about my dad. I just can’t think of any better word to describe him.”
That kindness extended most deeply to Steve’s family.
“He would drive home from Nashville to see Brian play baseball then drive back to Nashville, which is not an insignificant drive,” Mike said. “He called us every day when he was away in Nashville. He was always connected to us.”
Beyond public service, Steve also gave back in impactful ways. He served on the Bradley County School Board, where he helped oversee the construction of Walker Valley High School and Waterville Elementary, and was recognized with numerous civic honors, including the William Johnson United Way Service Award. Later, he founded Bivens & Associates, a family-run government affairs firm.
“Our dad didn’t come from anything at all,” Brian said. “But he created a future for me and Mike and for his grandkids. He couldn’t believe where he started and what all he accomplished.”
On August 20, 2024, Tech’s College of Education & Human Sciences hosted “Steve Bivens Day,” where more than 100 Tech students, faculty and staff gathered to honor Steve.
“The students really took to him,” recalled Lisa Zagumny, dean of the College of Education & Human Sciences. “They stood in line just to talk to him and take selfies with him. Steve Bivens embodied the very heart of what it means to be an educator – compassionate, committed and deeply connected to his community. The Steve Bivens and Penny Styles Scholarship is a profound tribute to his legacy, and we are honored that it will support future teachers in our College of Education. This scholarship reflects Steve’s unwavering belief in the power of education to change lives, just as he changed so many through his service. We are incredibly grateful to the Bivens family for ensuring that his impact will continue to be felt for generations to come.”
The new scholarship, which will be awarded to education majors with preference given to students from Bradley County, reflects the Bivens family’s enduring belief in the power of education to uplift individuals and communities. It joins other scholarships established by the Bivens family, including the Dinah P. Bivens Memorial Scholarship at Tech in memory of Steve’s late wife, and the John and Charlotte Bivens Scholarship at Cleveland State Community College in memory of Steve’s parents.
To make a gift to the Steve Bivens and Penny Styles Scholarship, visit www.tntech.edu/giving or mail a check to TTU, Box 1915, Cookeville, TN 38505.
“My dad was a giant of a man with a kind heart who was always a teacher,” Mike said. “Even when he worked with really powerful people, in the end he still thought of himself as a teacher from Bradley County. I remember one day we were in his office on the 26th floor of a building in downtown Nashville, and he said, ‘I just can’t believe a boy from South Bradley County is sitting in an office like this.’ He never stopped being himself – the boy from Bradley County. He never stopped educating people. And for an educator, can there be any higher honor than for other educators to earn their degrees with assistance from a scholarship in your memory? This scholarship makes every bit of sense in the world. My dad absolutely loved Tennessee Tech.”