At the 2026 University of Notre Dame Alumni Leadership Conference, held on the campus in April, the Notre Dame Club of Chattanooga was named the 2026 Outstanding Club of the Year in its size classification.
Though the club was nominated a number of times before, this was the first time it has received this award in its 75-plus years of existence.
In order to qualify for this accomplishment, the group must show that it has excelled above all others both in support of Notre Dame’s mission and in service to its local constituents. In addition, the club must have been named a Program of Excellence, the criteria for which is based on programming in the Alumni Association’s six C’s: camaraderie, career connections, Catholic/Christian spirituality, community service, continuing education, and current students.
The Chattanooga club has social events (game watches), student support events (a summer send-off, gift cards before finals), and spiritual events (a group Mass/Communion breakfast). Regular service days are scheduled with Habitat for Humanity and the Chattanooga Food Bank. In the last few years, the club has sponsored a Christmas drive for gifts and coats for children entering the country through Bridge Refugee Services; in 2025, gift-wrapped packages were delivered to 52 children through the generosity of club members and a grant from the university.
John Poinsatte, club president, and Mary Anne Poinsatte, Notre Dame admissions volunteer and Chattanooga club board member, accepted the Outstanding Club of the Year award on behalf of the club members.
Anyone who supports Notre Dame is welcome to join the group, whether or not you attended the university. Contact John Poinsatte at jpp23@aol.com for more information.