On July 11, 2025, flags at the Tennessee State Capitol were lowered to half-staff in honor of Steve Bivens, a Tennessee Tech alumnus whose life exemplified service, integrity, and a deep commitment to education. Bivens, who passed away on June 22 after a valiant fight against cancer, began his career as an educator in the Cleveland City School system, later serving as a Tennessee House Representative from 1978 to 1992, where he championed education reforms.

A first-generation college graduate, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tennessee Tech, crediting the university for shaping his path in education and public leadership. Known for his kindness and humility, Bivens treated everyone with respect, from interns to governors, and remained deeply connected to his family and Bradley County roots. His legacy continues through the Steve Bivens and Penny Styles Scholarship, established to support future educators, particularly from his hometown, reflecting his and his wife’s shared passion for empowering others through education.

On August 20, 2024, Tennessee Tech’s College of Education & Human Sciences celebrated “Steve Bivens Day,” honoring his impact as a compassionate educator and community leader. The scholarship, alongside others created by the Bivens family, ensures his commitment to education endures, embodying the spirit of a man who never stopped seeing himself as a teacher from Bradley County.