(3117,6,'2021-03-22 09:34:14','2021-03-22 14:34:14','The University of Tennessee at Martin will host the seventh annual “I Heart UTM” week April 5 - 11 to celebrate Skyhawk pride and community support. The 2021 “I Heart UTM” week will feature in-person and virtual events for students, faculty, staff and alumni.\r\n<blockquote>“I Heart UTM week encourages students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community to show and display campus pride,” said Jackie Johnson, assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations and annual giving. “Through unique T-shirts, events, and social media fun, the UTM family is encourage to join in on the fun and display their Skyhawk spirit!”</blockquote>\r\n“I Heart UTM” week was planned by the Student Alumni Council and Bethany Hart, assistant director for alumni relations and annual giving. The week’s schedule is as follows:\r\n\r\nMonday, April 5, Philanthropy Day:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>SAC Canned Goods Drive: 10 a.m. – noon, Dunagan Alumni Center. The first 150 students who donate at least five canned goods to Captain’s Pantry will receive a complimentary “I Heart UTM” tank top.</li>\r\n 	<li>Flight Crew Pop-up: 11 a.m., Boling University Center. The UT Martin Flight Crew will give away UT Martin baseball caps while supplies last.</li>\r\n 	<li>Thank-a-Hawk: Members of the UT Martin community are encouraged to share who has made a lasting impact in their life on social media using the hashtags #hawkup and #iheartutm.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nTuesday, April 6, Thankful Tuesday:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Donuts for Donors: 10 a.m. – noon, Boling University Center. Students who write a thank-you card to a UT Martin donor can receive a donut or fruit, as well as “I Heart UTM” swag.</li>\r\n 	<li>Props for Profs: Students and alumni are encouraged to share photos with their favorite faculty members on social media using the hashtags #propsforprofs. Students can also stop by the Boling University Center from 10 a.m. – noon to write a note to their favorite faculty members, which will be delivered with muffins.</li>\r\n 	<li>Movie Night at Cine: 9:45 p.m., Cine movie theatre. The UT Martin Flight Crew is hosting a free viewing of “Godzilla vs. Kong” for students.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nWednesday, April 7, Hump Day:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Petting Zoo for Students: noon – 3 p.m., the Quadrangle. UT Martin campus community members can ride camels and visit the petting zoo hosted in the quad.</li>\r\n 	<li>Virtual Petting Zoo: Students, alumni, faculty and staff are all encouraged to submit photos of their pets on social media using the hashtag #skyhawkpets to be entered in a cutest pet competition.</li>\r\n 	<li>SGA Softball Game: 7 p.m., Skyhawk Softball Field. The Student Government Association will host a Faculty/Staff vs. Students softball game.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThursday, April 8, Senior Day:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Senior Drive-Thru: 8 – 10 a.m., Dunagan Alumni Center. Seniors planning to graduate in both May and December can pick up blueberry muffins and Orange Crush sodas. Seniors who donate $20.21 to the Senior Gift Campaign will receive a green giving cord to wear during commencement.</li>\r\n 	<li>Seniors of Social: Graduating seniors are encouraged to share their favorite UT Martin memories with the hashtag #utmseniorday to show their Skyhawk pride.</li>\r\n 	<li>and Miss UTM Election: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. The Student Government Association is sponsoring an election to crown Mr. and Miss UTM, which will be held online at utm.edu/election.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nFriday, April 9, Community Day:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Skyhawk Creed Celebration: Noon, Boling University Center North Patio. Students are invited to celebrate the Skyhawk Creed with food, music and free T-shirt giveaways.</li>\r\n 	<li>Skyhawks Got Talent: 7 p.m. The Office of Student Life and Multicultural Affairs and Flight Crew are hosting a virtual variety talent show.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nSunday, April 11, I Heart UTM Finale:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>SAC Tailgating: 1:30 p.m., Hardy Graham Stadium. Students are invited to stop by the Student Alumni Council tent at the UT Martin vs. Tennessee Tech football game for fun swag.</li>\r\n 	<li>and Miss UTM: Mr. and Miss UTM will be crowned during halftime at the UT Martin vs. Tennessee Tech football game.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n“I Heart UTM” T-shirts, which showcase the most iconic UT Martin features, are also available for purchase at <a href=\"http://www.alumni.utm.edu/iheartutm\">alumni.utm.edu/iheartutm</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information about the seventh-annual “I Heart UTM” week, visit <a href=\"http://www.utmforever.com\">utmforever.com</a> or contact Hart at <a href=\"mailto:bhart5@utm.edu\">bhart5@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin hosts seventh annual \'I Heart UTM\' week April 5-11','The University of Tennessee at Martin will host the seventh annual “I Heart UTM” week April 5 - 11 to celebrate Skyhawk pride and community support. ','inherit','closed','closed','','3109-autosave-v1','','','2021-03-22 09:34:14','2021-03-22 14:34:14','',3109,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/22/3109-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3118,6,'2021-03-22 09:34:57','2021-03-22 14:34:57','The University of Tennessee at Martin will host the seventh annual “I Heart UTM” week April 5 - 11 to celebrate Skyhawk pride and community support. The 2021 “I Heart UTM” week will feature in-person and virtual events for students, faculty, staff and alumni.\r\n<blockquote>“I Heart UTM week encourages students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community to show and display campus pride,” said Jackie Johnson, assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations and annual giving. “Through unique T-shirts, events, and social media fun, the UTM family is encouraged to join in on the fun and display their Skyhawk spirit!”</blockquote>\r\n“I Heart UTM” week was planned by the Student Alumni Council and Bethany Hart, assistant director for alumni relations and annual giving. The week’s schedule is as follows:\r\n\r\nMonday, April 5, Philanthropy Day:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>SAC Canned Goods Drive: 10 a.m. – noon, Dunagan Alumni Center. The first 150 students who donate at least five canned goods to Captain’s Pantry will receive a complimentary “I Heart UTM” tank top.</li>\r\n 	<li>Flight Crew Pop-up: 11 a.m., Boling University Center. The UT Martin Flight Crew will give away UT Martin baseball caps while supplies last.</li>\r\n 	<li>Thank-a-Hawk: Members of the UT Martin community are encouraged to share who has made a lasting impact in their life on social media using the hashtags #hawkup and #iheartutm.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nTuesday, April 6, Thankful Tuesday:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Donuts for Donors: 10 a.m. – noon, Boling University Center. Students who write a thank-you card to a UT Martin donor can receive a donut or fruit, as well as “I Heart UTM” swag.</li>\r\n 	<li>Props for Profs: Students and alumni are encouraged to share photos with their favorite faculty members on social media using the hashtags #propsforprofs. Students can also stop by the Boling University Center from 10 a.m. – noon to write a note to their favorite faculty members, which will be delivered with muffins.</li>\r\n 	<li>Movie Night at Cine: 9:45 p.m., Cine movie theatre. The UT Martin Flight Crew is hosting a free viewing of “Godzilla vs. Kong” for students.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nWednesday, April 7, Hump Day:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Petting Zoo for Students: noon – 3 p.m., the Quadrangle. UT Martin campus community members can ride camels and visit the petting zoo hosted in the quad.</li>\r\n 	<li>Virtual Petting Zoo: Students, alumni, faculty and staff are all encouraged to submit photos of their pets on social media using the hashtag #skyhawkpets to be entered in a cutest pet competition.</li>\r\n 	<li>SGA Softball Game: 7 p.m., Skyhawk Softball Field. The Student Government Association will host a Faculty/Staff vs. Students softball game.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThursday, April 8, Senior Day:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Senior Drive-Thru: 8 – 10 a.m., Dunagan Alumni Center. Seniors planning to graduate in both May and December can pick up blueberry muffins and Orange Crush sodas. Seniors who donate $20.21 to the Senior Gift Campaign will receive a green giving cord to wear during commencement.</li>\r\n 	<li>Seniors of Social: Graduating seniors are encouraged to share their favorite UT Martin memories with the hashtag #utmseniorday to show their Skyhawk pride.</li>\r\n 	<li>and Miss UTM Election: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. The Student Government Association is sponsoring an election to crown Mr. and Miss UTM, which will be held online at utm.edu/election.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nFriday, April 9, Community Day:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Skyhawk Creed Celebration: Noon, Boling University Center North Patio. Students are invited to celebrate the Skyhawk Creed with food, music and free T-shirt giveaways.</li>\r\n 	<li>Skyhawks Got Talent: 7 p.m. The Office of Student Life and Multicultural Affairs and Flight Crew are hosting a virtual variety talent show.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nSunday, April 11, I Heart UTM Finale:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>SAC Tailgating: 1:30 p.m., Hardy Graham Stadium. Students are invited to stop by the Student Alumni Council tent at the UT Martin vs. Tennessee Tech football game for fun swag.</li>\r\n 	<li>and Miss UTM: Mr. and Miss UTM will be crowned during halftime at the UT Martin vs. Tennessee Tech football game.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n“I Heart UTM” T-shirts, which showcase the most iconic UT Martin features, are also available for purchase at <a href=\"http://www.alumni.utm.edu/iheartutm\">alumni.utm.edu/iheartutm</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information about the seventh-annual “I Heart UTM” week, visit <a href=\"http://www.utmforever.com\">utmforever.com</a> or contact Hart at <a href=\"mailto:bhart5@utm.edu\">bhart5@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin hosts seventh annual \'I Heart UTM\' week April 5-11','The University of Tennessee at Martin will host the seventh annual “I Heart UTM” week April 5 - 11 to celebrate Skyhawk pride and community support. ','inherit','closed','closed','','3109-revision-v1','','','2021-03-22 09:34:57','2021-03-22 14:34:57','',3109,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/22/3109-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3119,6,'2021-03-22 15:22:28','2021-03-22 20:22:28','University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd will deliver his annual State of the University address virtually on Friday, March 26.\r\n\r\nBoyd’s speech will be webcast beginning at 9 a.m. EDT/ 8 a.m. CDT. Campus leaders, UT System staff, elected officials, business leaders and members of the public are invited to watch.\r\n\r\nBoyd’s remarks will highlight key accomplishments from the previous year, as well as outline initiatives that will help solidify UT’s greatest decade in history.\r\n\r\nThis State of the University address is Boyd’s third since joining UT in November 2018.\r\n\r\nThe webcast will be available at <a href=\"http://www.tennessee.edu/state-of-ut/\">tennessee.edu/state-of-ut/</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT President Randy Boyd to deliver State of the University address March 26','University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd will deliver his annual State of the University address virtually on Friday, March 26.','publish','closed','closed','','ut-president-randy-boyd-to-deliver-state-of-the-university-address-march-26','','','2021-03-29 09:28:11','2021-03-29 14:28:11','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3119',0,'post','',0),(3120,6,'2021-03-22 15:22:28','2021-03-22 20:22:28','University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd will deliver his annual State of the University address virtually on Friday, March 26.\r\n\r\nBoyd’s speech will be webcast beginning at 9 a.m. EDT/ 8 a.m. CDT. Campus leaders, UT System staff, elected officials, business leaders and members of the public are invited to watch.\r\n\r\nBoyd’s remarks will highlight key accomplishments from the previous year, as well as outline initiatives that will help solidify UT’s greatest decade in history.\r\n\r\nThis State of the University address is Boyd’s third since joining UT in November 2018.\r\n\r\nThe webcast will be available at <a href=\"http://www.tennessee.edu/state-of-ut/\">tennessee.edu/state-of-ut/</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT President Randy Boyd to deliver State of the University address March 26','University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd will deliver his annual State of the University address virtually on Friday, March 26.','inherit','closed','closed','','3119-revision-v1','','','2021-03-22 15:22:28','2021-03-22 20:22:28','',3119,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/22/3119-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3122,6,'2021-03-23 09:07:27','2021-03-23 14:07:27','','10312019_ClericalCoffeeEmployeeAwards022','UT President Randy Boyd visited campus for an employee award recognition ceremony in 2019.','inherit','closed','closed','','10312019_clericalcoffeeemployeeawards022-2','','','2021-03-23 09:09:17','2021-03-23 14:09:17','',3119,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/10312019_ClericalCoffeeEmployeeAwards022-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3123,6,'2021-03-23 09:09:20','2021-03-23 14:09:20','University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd will deliver his annual State of the University address virtually on Friday, March 26.\r\n\r\nBoyd’s speech will be webcast beginning at 9 a.m. EDT/ 8 a.m. CDT. Campus leaders, UT System staff, elected officials, business leaders and members of the public are invited to watch.\r\n\r\nBoyd’s remarks will highlight key accomplishments from the previous year, as well as outline initiatives that will help solidify UT’s greatest decade in history.\r\n\r\nThis State of the University address is Boyd’s third since joining UT in November 2018.\r\n\r\nThe webcast will be available at <a href=\"http://www.tennessee.edu/state-of-ut/\">tennessee.edu/state-of-ut/</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT President Randy Boyd to deliver State of the University address March 26','University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd will deliver his annual State of the University address virtually on Friday, March 26.','inherit','closed','closed','','3119-autosave-v1','','','2021-03-23 09:09:20','2021-03-23 14:09:20','',3119,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/23/3119-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3124,6,'2021-03-24 09:50:08','2021-03-24 14:50:08','The University of Tennessee at Martin Office of Undergraduate Admissions is hosting an in-person Spring Preview Day on April 10 for high school juniors and seniors interested in UT Martin. The event will be held from 9 a.m. – noon in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.\r\n\r\nEach student can have only one guest attend the event in compliance with CDC guidelines. Masks are required to be worn at all times, and social distancing will be practiced. There is no charge to attend preview day, but students are required to register at <a href=\"http://www.utm.edu/previewday\">utm.edu/previewday</a>.\r\n<blockquote>“We look forward to hosting Spring Preview Day in our Elam Center that allows plenty of room to adhere to social distancing guidelines,” Destin Tucker, director of admissions, said. “While we have been conducting small-group tours since June, we know that a weekend preview day program provides an opportunity for more students to see what UT Martin has to offer.”</blockquote>\r\nCheck-in begins at 9 a.m. in the Elam Center, during which there will be an open-information fair featuring representatives from offices across campus. The students will then receive an official welcome from UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver and the admissions staff at 9:45 a.m.\r\n\r\nAt 10:15 a.m., students will attend a question-and-answer panel with current students to learn more about college life until 11 a.m., when students will be able to tour the campus in small groups.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 731-881-7020 or <a href=\"mailto:admitme@utm.edu\">admitme@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin hosts in-person Spring Preview Day April 10','The University of Tennessee at Martin Office of Undergraduate Admissions is hosting an in-person Spring Preview Day on April 10 for high school juniors and seniors interested in UT Martin.','publish','closed','closed','','ut-martin-hosts-in-person-spring-preview-day-april-10','','','2021-03-29 09:28:15','2021-03-29 14:28:15','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3124',0,'post','',0),(3125,6,'2021-03-24 09:44:51','2021-03-24 14:44:51','','10062020_NancySanchez010','','inherit','closed','closed','','10062020_nancysanchez010','','','2021-03-24 09:44:51','2021-03-24 14:44:51','',3124,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/10062020_NancySanchez010.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3126,6,'2021-03-24 09:45:51','2021-03-24 14:45:51','','10062020_NancySanchez010','','inherit','closed','closed','','10062020_nancysanchez010-2','','','2021-03-24 09:45:51','2021-03-24 14:45:51','',3124,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/10062020_NancySanchez010-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3127,6,'2021-03-24 09:46:50','2021-03-24 14:46:50','','10062020_NancySanchez010','Nancy Sanchez, bilingual admissions coordinator, leads a campus tour. ','inherit','closed','closed','','10062020_nancysanchez010-3','','','2021-03-24 09:47:55','2021-03-24 14:47:55','',3124,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/10062020_NancySanchez010-2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3128,6,'2021-03-24 09:50:08','2021-03-24 14:50:08','The University of Tennessee at Martin Office of Undergraduate Admissions is hosting an in-person Spring Preview Day on April 10 for high school juniors and seniors interested in UT Martin. The event will be held from 9 a.m. – noon in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.\r\n\r\nEach student can have only one guest attend the event in compliance with CDC guidelines. Masks are required to be worn at all times, and social distancing will be practiced. There is no charge to attend preview day, but students are required to register at utm.edu/previewday.\r\n\r\n“We look forward to hosting Spring Preview Day in our Elam Center that allows plenty of room to adhere to social distancing guidelines,” Destin Tucker, director of admissions, said. “While we have been conducting small-group tours since June, we know that a weekend preview day program provides an opportunity for more students to see what UT Martin has to offer.”\r\n\r\nCheck-in begins at 9 a.m. in the Elam Center, during which there will be an open-information fair featuring representatives from offices across campus. The students will then receive an official welcome from UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver and the admissions staff at 9:45 a.m.\r\n\r\nAt 10:15 a.m., students will attend a question-and-answer panel with current students to learn more about college life until 11 a.m., when students will be able to tour the campus in small groups.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 731-881-7020 or admitme@utm.edu.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin hosts in-person Spring Preview Day April 10','The University of Tennessee at Martin Office of Undergraduate Admissions is hosting an in-person Spring Preview Day on April 10 for high school juniors and seniors interested in UT Martin.','inherit','closed','closed','','3124-revision-v1','','','2021-03-24 09:50:08','2021-03-24 14:50:08','',3124,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/24/3124-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3129,6,'2021-03-24 09:51:12','2021-03-24 14:51:12','The University of Tennessee at Martin Office of Undergraduate Admissions is hosting an in-person Spring Preview Day on April 10 for high school juniors and seniors interested in UT Martin. The event will be held from 9 a.m. – noon in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.\r\n\r\nEach student can have only one guest attend the event in compliance with CDC guidelines. Masks are required to be worn at all times, and social distancing will be practiced. There is no charge to attend preview day, but students are required to register at <a href=\"http://www.utm.edu/previewday\">utm.edu/previewday</a>.\r\n<blockquote>“We look forward to hosting Spring Preview Day in our Elam Center that allows plenty of room to adhere to social distancing guidelines,” Destin Tucker, director of admissions, said. “While we have been conducting small-group tours since June, we know that a weekend preview day program provides an opportunity for more students to see what UT Martin has to offer.”</blockquote>\r\nCheck-in begins at 9 a.m. in the Elam Center, during which there will be an open-information fair featuring representatives from offices across campus. The students will then receive an official welcome from UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver and the admissions staff at 9:45 a.m.\r\n\r\nAt 10:15 a.m., students will attend a question-and-answer panel with current students to learn more about college life until 11 a.m., when students will be able to tour the campus in small groups.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 731-881-7020 or <a href=\"mailto:admitme@utm.edu\">admitme@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin hosts in-person Spring Preview Day April 10','The University of Tennessee at Martin Office of Undergraduate Admissions is hosting an in-person Spring Preview Day on April 10 for high school juniors and seniors interested in UT Martin.','inherit','closed','closed','','3124-autosave-v1','','','2021-03-24 09:51:12','2021-03-24 14:51:12','',3124,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/24/3124-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3130,6,'2021-03-24 09:51:20','2021-03-24 14:51:20','The University of Tennessee at Martin Office of Undergraduate Admissions is hosting an in-person Spring Preview Day on April 10 for high school juniors and seniors interested in UT Martin. The event will be held from 9 a.m. – noon in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.\r\n\r\nEach student can have only one guest attend the event in compliance with CDC guidelines. Masks are required to be worn at all times, and social distancing will be practiced. There is no charge to attend preview day, but students are required to register at <a href=\"http://www.utm.edu/previewday\">utm.edu/previewday</a>.\r\n<blockquote>“We look forward to hosting Spring Preview Day in our Elam Center that allows plenty of room to adhere to social distancing guidelines,” Destin Tucker, director of admissions, said. “While we have been conducting small-group tours since June, we know that a weekend preview day program provides an opportunity for more students to see what UT Martin has to offer.”</blockquote>\r\nCheck-in begins at 9 a.m. in the Elam Center, during which there will be an open-information fair featuring representatives from offices across campus. The students will then receive an official welcome from UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver and the admissions staff at 9:45 a.m.\r\n\r\nAt 10:15 a.m., students will attend a question-and-answer panel with current students to learn more about college life until 11 a.m., when students will be able to tour the campus in small groups.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 731-881-7020 or <a href=\"mailto:admitme@utm.edu\">admitme@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin hosts in-person Spring Preview Day April 10','The University of Tennessee at Martin Office of Undergraduate Admissions is hosting an in-person Spring Preview Day on April 10 for high school juniors and seniors interested in UT Martin.','inherit','closed','closed','','3124-revision-v1','','','2021-03-24 09:51:20','2021-03-24 14:51:20','',3124,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/24/3124-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3131,6,'2021-03-25 11:36:32','2021-03-25 16:36:32','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Music, in partnership with the Weakley County Schools and Weakley Arts Can, is hosting the Northwest Tennessee Arts Festival from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, April 10 at the tent near Pacer Pond.\r\n\r\nThe outdoor event was created to promote K-12 and higher education performances and visual arts throughout Northwest Tennessee. The festival will feature live performances in music, theatre and dance, as well as visual art exhibitions and the Weakley County Art Show Competition.\r\n<blockquote>“The UTM Department of Music is very proud to partner with the Weakley County Schools and local arts organization Weakley Arts Can, whose leaders all recognize the significance of supporting the arts, in hosting the inaugural Northwest Tennessee Arts Festival,” said Dr. Julie Hill, Department of Music chair. “This is truly a collaborative effort with a mission to celebrate talented artists in our region while providing a safe and fun opportunity for arts enthusiasts to come out and support them.”</blockquote>\r\nThe festival is free and open to the public. Masks are required. Sodexo will have food and drinks available for purchase for $10 with cash or checks.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Department of Music at 731-881-7402.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin co-hosts Northwest Tennessee Arts Festival','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Music, in partnership with the Weakley County Schools and Weakley Arts Can, is hosting the Northwest Tennessee Arts Festival from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, April 10 at the tent near Pacer Pond.','publish','closed','closed','','ut-martin-co-hosts-northwest-tennessee-arts-festival','','','2021-03-25 11:36:44','2021-03-25 16:36:44','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3131',0,'post','',0),(3132,6,'2021-03-25 11:34:27','2021-03-25 16:34:27','','09292020_LiveFromTent023','Live from the Tent','inherit','closed','closed','','09292020_livefromtent023','','','2021-03-25 11:35:00','2021-03-25 16:35:00','',3131,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/09292020_LiveFromTent023.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3133,6,'2021-03-25 11:36:32','2021-03-25 16:36:32','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Music, in partnership with the Weakley County Schools and Weakley Arts Can, is hosting the Northwest Tennessee Arts Festival from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, April 10 at the tent near Pacer Pond.\r\n\r\nThe outdoor event was created to promote K-12 and higher education performances and visual arts throughout Northwest Tennessee. The festival will feature live performances in music, theatre and dance, as well as visual art exhibitions and the Weakley County Art Show Competition.\r\n<blockquote>“The UTM Department of Music is very proud to partner with the Weakley County Schools and local arts organization Weakley Arts Can, whose leaders all recognize the significance of supporting the arts, in hosting the inaugural Northwest Tennessee Arts Festival,” said Dr. Julie Hill, Department of Music chair. “This is truly a collaborative effort with a mission to celebrate talented artists in our region while providing a safe and fun opportunity for arts enthusiasts to come out and support them.”</blockquote>\r\nThe festival is free and open to the public. Masks are required. Sodexo will have food and drinks available for purchase for $10 with cash or checks.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Department of Music at 731-881-7402.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin co-hosts Northwest Tennessee Arts Festival','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Music, in partnership with the Weakley County Schools and Weakley Arts Can, is hosting the Northwest Tennessee Arts Festival from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, April 10 at the tent near Pacer Pond.','inherit','closed','closed','','3131-revision-v1','','','2021-03-25 11:36:32','2021-03-25 16:36:32','',3131,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/25/3131-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3134,6,'2021-03-26 11:28:59','2021-03-26 16:28:59','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Visual and Theatre Arts Dance Ensemble will perform the 2021 spring showcase “Deliver us Peace” at 7 p.m., April 8-9, in the Harriet Fulton Theatre with limited reserved seating. The April 8 show will also be livestreamed on the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts YouTube account.\r\n\r\nThe 2021 spring showcase will feature student performances by Morgan Abston, a junior nursing major; Hunter Burton, a senior fine and performing arts major; Alaina Harvey, a sophomore interdisciplinary studies major; Brianna Stephens, a senior fine and performing arts major; and Kimani Subber, a senior communications major, as well as a performance by Sarah McCormick, professor of dance, director of ensemble and coordinator of the K-12 dance education licensure program. The dances were choreographed by McCormick, as well as Burton, Harvey, Stephens and Subber.\r\n\r\nTo reserve tickets, call 731-881-7400. For more information about the ensemble, contact McCormick at <a href=\"mailto:smccorm6@utm.edu\">smccorm6@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin Dance Ensemble to perform spring showcase April 8-9','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Visual and Theatre Arts Dance Ensemble will perform the 2021 spring showcase “Deliver us Peace” at 7 p.m., April 8-9, in the Harriet Fulton Theatre with limited reserved seating.','publish','closed','closed','','ut-martin-dance-ensemble-to-perform-spring-showcase-april-8-9','','','2021-03-26 11:29:36','2021-03-26 16:29:36','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3134',0,'post','',0),(3135,6,'2021-03-26 11:25:38','2021-03-26 16:25:38','','04102019_DanceDressRehearsal033','A member of the UT Martin 2019 spring dance ensemble performs her routine. ','inherit','closed','closed','','04102019_dancedressrehearsal033','','','2021-03-26 11:27:15','2021-03-26 16:27:15','',3134,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/04102019_DanceDressRehearsal033.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3136,6,'2021-03-26 11:28:59','2021-03-26 16:28:59','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Visual and Theatre Arts Dance Ensemble will perform the 2021 spring showcase “Deliver us Peace” at 7 p.m., April 8-9, in the Harriet Fulton Theatre with limited reserved seating. The April 8 show will also be livestreamed on the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts YouTube account.\r\n\r\nThe 2021 spring showcase will feature student performances by Morgan Abston, a junior nursing major; Hunter Burton, a senior fine and performing arts major; Alaina Harvey, a sophomore interdisciplinary studies major; Brianna Stephens, a senior fine and performing arts major; and Kimani Subber, a senior communications major, as well as a performance by Sarah McCormick, professor of dance, director of ensemble and coordinator of the K-12 dance education licensure program. The dances were choreographed by McCormick, as well as Burton, Harvey, Stephens and Subber.\r\n\r\nTo reserve tickets, call 731-881-7400. For more information about the ensemble, contact McCormick at smccorm6@utm.edu.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin Dance Ensemble to perform spring showcase April 8-9','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Visual and Theatre Arts Dance Ensemble will perform the 2021 spring showcase “Deliver us Peace” at 7 p.m., April 8-9, in the Harriet Fulton Theatre with limited reserved seating.','inherit','closed','closed','','3134-revision-v1','','','2021-03-26 11:28:59','2021-03-26 16:28:59','',3134,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/26/3134-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3137,6,'2021-03-26 11:29:20','2021-03-26 16:29:20','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Visual and Theatre Arts Dance Ensemble will perform the 2021 spring showcase “Deliver us Peace” at 7 p.m., April 8-9, in the Harriet Fulton Theatre with limited reserved seating. The April 8 show will also be livestreamed on the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts YouTube account.\n\nThe 2021 spring showcase will feature student performances by Morgan Abston, a junior nursing major; Hunter Burton, a senior fine and performing arts major; Alaina Harvey, a sophomore interdisciplinary studies major; Brianna Stephens, a senior fine and performing arts major; and Kimani Subber, a senior communications major, as well as a performance by Sarah McCormick, professor of dance, director of ensemble and coordinator of the K-12 dance education licensure program. The dances were choreographed by McCormick, as well as Burton, Harvey, Stephens and Subber.\n\nTo reserve tickets, call 731-881-7400. For more information about the ensemble, contact McCormick at <a href=\"mailto:smccorm6@utm.edu\">smccorm6@utm.edu</a>.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin Dance Ensemble to perform spring showcase April 8-9','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Visual and Theatre Arts Dance Ensemble will perform the 2021 spring showcase “Deliver us Peace” at 7 p.m., April 8-9, in the Harriet Fulton Theatre with limited reserved seating.','inherit','closed','closed','','3134-autosave-v1','','','2021-03-26 11:29:20','2021-03-26 16:29:20','',3134,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/26/3134-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3138,6,'2021-03-26 11:29:36','2021-03-26 16:29:36','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Visual and Theatre Arts Dance Ensemble will perform the 2021 spring showcase “Deliver us Peace” at 7 p.m., April 8-9, in the Harriet Fulton Theatre with limited reserved seating. The April 8 show will also be livestreamed on the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts YouTube account.\r\n\r\nThe 2021 spring showcase will feature student performances by Morgan Abston, a junior nursing major; Hunter Burton, a senior fine and performing arts major; Alaina Harvey, a sophomore interdisciplinary studies major; Brianna Stephens, a senior fine and performing arts major; and Kimani Subber, a senior communications major, as well as a performance by Sarah McCormick, professor of dance, director of ensemble and coordinator of the K-12 dance education licensure program. The dances were choreographed by McCormick, as well as Burton, Harvey, Stephens and Subber.\r\n\r\nTo reserve tickets, call 731-881-7400. For more information about the ensemble, contact McCormick at <a href=\"mailto:smccorm6@utm.edu\">smccorm6@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin Dance Ensemble to perform spring showcase April 8-9','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Visual and Theatre Arts Dance Ensemble will perform the 2021 spring showcase “Deliver us Peace” at 7 p.m., April 8-9, in the Harriet Fulton Theatre with limited reserved seating.','inherit','closed','closed','','3134-revision-v1','','','2021-03-26 11:29:36','2021-03-26 16:29:36','',3134,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/26/3134-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3142,6,'2021-03-29 14:45:21','2021-03-29 19:45:21','','NSF_Noyce Scholars_photo 2021','Dr. Genessa Smith, UT Martin associate professor of chemistry; Mychaela Kerbersky, a senior chemistry major from Rockvale; and Andre Orr, a senior chemistry major from Savannah, conduct a chemistry experiment in lab. ','inherit','closed','closed','','nsf_noyce-scholars_photo-2021','','','2021-03-29 16:44:49','2021-03-29 21:44:49','',3141,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NSF_Noyce-Scholars_photo-2021.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3143,6,'2021-03-29 14:46:32','2021-03-29 19:46:32','Help is on the way to increase the number of qualified science and math teachers in West Tennessee. The University of Tennessee at Martin has received a National Science Foundation award totaling $1.2 million over five years to recruit 25 individuals who have science, math or engineering degrees to complete master’s degrees and teach STEM subjects. Lauderdale County Schools, Obion County Schools and the Gibson County Special School District are partners that will help select the new teachers and assist with their training as part of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.\r\n\r\nThe partner schools will play a key role in the project that could eventually impact STEM education across most of West Tennessee. “These counties are considered high need, and they’re seeking quality educators in the areas of math and science,” said Dr. Terry Silver, a UT Martin associate professor of educational studies. “These counties are excited to help their students become engaged learners in math and science.”\r\n\r\nDr. Steve Elliott, professor of mathematics and statistics and UT Martin STEM Center director, led university efforts to secure the grant along with Silver and Dr. Adam Bruner, assistant professor of chemistry. Elliott has a simple message for prospective Noyce Scholars Program applicants: “Teaching is a rewarding profession. You can succeed as a teacher.”\r\n\r\nAs a mathematics educator, Elliott knows firsthand the need to support STEM education in West Tennessee and beyond.\r\n<blockquote>“A national shortage of STEM teachers results both from too few teachers entering the profession and too many leaving,” Elliott wrote in a project abstract. “Because of the shortage, fewer students receive high-quality STEM instruction.”</blockquote>\r\nThrough the grant, STEM bachelor’s degree holders will receive the training and mentorship at UT Martin needed for success in the classroom.\r\n\r\nApplicants accepted into the program will receive a $29,000 one-year stipend and will complete the Master of Science in Initial Licensure degree, as well as obtain an educator license. Each teacher who completes the program commits to teaching a minimum of two years in a high-need school and will be supported by a mentor who receives a $2,000 stipend. The mentorship program is designed to address teachers leaving the profession.\r\n\r\n“It’s a significant accomplishment anytime you are awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation,” said Dr. Shadow Robinson, professor and dean, UT Martin College of Engineering and Natural Sciences. “Through the focus on our K-12 community, the grant lives out UT Martin’s commitment to our core value of advocacy for service to our home region.”\r\n\r\nApplications are now being accepted, and additional information about the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program is available at <a href=\"http://www.utm.edu/noyce\">www.utm.edu/noyce</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>\r\n&nbsp;','NSF grant will increase number of science, math teachers','The University of Tennessee at Martin has received a National Science Foundation award totaling $1.2 million over five years to recruit 25 individuals who have science, math or engineering degrees to complete master’s degrees and teach STEM subjects.','inherit','closed','closed','','3141-revision-v1','','','2021-03-29 14:46:32','2021-03-29 19:46:32','',3141,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/29/3141-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3144,6,'2021-03-29 16:44:52','2021-03-29 21:44:52','Help is on the way to increase the number of qualified science and math teachers in West Tennessee. The University of Tennessee at Martin has received a National Science Foundation award totaling $1.2 million over five years to recruit 25 individuals who have science, math or engineering degrees to complete master’s degrees and teach STEM subjects. Lauderdale County Schools, Obion County Schools and the Gibson County Special School District are partners that will help select the new teachers and assist with their training as part of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.\r\n\r\nThe partner schools will play a key role in the project that could eventually impact STEM education across most of West Tennessee. “These counties are considered high need, and they’re seeking quality educators in the areas of math and science,” said Dr. Terry Silver, a UT Martin associate professor of educational studies. “These counties are excited to help their students become engaged learners in math and science.”\r\n\r\nDr. Steve Elliott, professor of mathematics and statistics and UT Martin STEM Center director, led university efforts to secure the grant along with Silver and Dr. Adam Bruner, assistant professor of chemistry. Elliott has a simple message for prospective Noyce Scholars Program applicants: “Teaching is a rewarding profession. You can succeed as a teacher.”\r\n\r\nAs a mathematics educator, Elliott knows firsthand the need to support STEM education in West Tennessee and beyond.\r\n<blockquote>“A national shortage of STEM teachers results both from too few teachers entering the profession and too many leaving,” Elliott wrote in a project abstract. “Because of the shortage, fewer students receive high-quality STEM instruction.”</blockquote>\r\nThrough the grant, STEM bachelor’s degree holders will receive the training and mentorship at UT Martin needed for success in the classroom.\r\n\r\nApplicants accepted into the program will receive a $29,000 one-year stipend and will complete the Master of Science in Initial Licensure degree, as well as obtain an educator license. Each teacher who completes the program commits to teaching a minimum of two years in a high-need school and will be supported by a mentor who receives a $2,000 stipend. The mentorship program is designed to address teachers leaving the profession.\r\n\r\n“It’s a significant accomplishment anytime you are awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation,” said Dr. Shadow Robinson, professor and dean, UT Martin College of Engineering and Natural Sciences. “Through the focus on our K-12 community, the grant lives out UT Martin’s commitment to our core value of advocacy for service to our home region.”\r\n\r\nApplications are now being accepted, and additional information about the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program is available at <a href=\"http://www.utm.edu/noyce\">www.utm.edu/noyce</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>\r\n&nbsp;','NSF grant will increase number of science, math teachers','The University of Tennessee at Martin has received a National Science Foundation award totaling $1.2 million over five years to recruit 25 individuals who have science, math or engineering degrees to complete master’s degrees and teach STEM subjects.','inherit','closed','closed','','3141-autosave-v1','','','2021-03-29 16:44:52','2021-03-29 21:44:52','',3141,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/29/3141-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3146,6,'2021-03-30 13:07:37','2021-03-30 18:07:37','Athletic director Kurt McGuffin has announced the hiring of Ryan Ridder as the University of Tennessee at Martin head men’s basketball coach.\r\n\r\nA formal meet-and-greet event with Ridder, his wife Jen and daughters Brixton and Remi will be held on campus next week with more details to follow.\r\n<blockquote>“I am beyond thrilled to welcome Ryan, Jen and their young family to Martin,” McGuffin said. “Ryan is the son of a highly successful coach and has grown up in the business. I am confident that he has the game plan to take our program to another level. He has shown to be a builder of programs and does this with the highest integrity – getting all he can out of his players in every situation his career has led him. I believe the Skyhawk fan base will enjoy his energy and passion – he is simply a winner.”</blockquote>\r\n“Ryan’s track record as a proven winner speaks volumes,” UT Martin Chancellor Dr. Keith Carver said. “He is a basketball lifer who has vast experience in building up programs. I am impressed by his vision he has set for UT Martin and we are confident that he is a great fit for not just the Skyhawk athletic department but for the entire community.”\r\n\r\nRidder joins the Skyhawks after four successful seasons as head coach at Bethune-Cookman University, a NCAA Division I member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. During his tenure in Daytona Beach, Fla., Ridder set numerous school records, posted a .646 winning percentage in league play and won the 2017-18 MEAC regular season championship.\r\n\r\nA Lexington, Ky. native, Ridder owns a 143-73 record as a collegiate head coach, which also includes four seasons at Daytona State College. He boasted the most wins (48) in the first three years in Bethune-Cookman history before the school opted out of all sports for the 2020-21 campaign. From 2017-20, Ridder’s Wildcat squads posted a winning MEAC record for three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history, going 31-17 during that span.\r\n<blockquote>“First, I would like to thank our Chancellor, Dr. Keith Carver and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Kurt McGuffin for their trust in me and the opportunity to lead the men’s basketball program at UT Martin,” Ridder said. “Our family is excited and looking forward to building relationships with the campus and community. We are fired up to work together to build a program that reflects the special people of Martin and the university.”</blockquote>\r\nRidder’s debut season as a Division I head coach was historical as he helped guide Bethune-Cookman to just the second MEAC regular season championship in its 38-year history. For his efforts, he was named the Joe B. Hall Award winner, defeating candidates from schools such as Miami, Louisville, Oklahoma State and Washington for the honor that recognizes the top first-year head coach in the Division I ranks.\r\n\r\nOverall, Ridder tutored five All-MEAC players, one MEAC Player of the Year, two MEAC Defensive Players of the Year and one MEAC All-Rookie team member at Bethune-Cookman. He led the Wildcats to their first-ever win over a Conference USA opponent (FAU) and increased the school’s NCAA RPI rating by over 60 points while in charge of the program.\r\n\r\nRidder, 36, began his head coaching career in 2013-14 at Daytona State College – accumulating a 95-28 overall record at the NJCAA level. He brought home Mid-Florida Conference championships in each of his four seasons after inheriting a program that went 6-25 during the previous season.\r\n\r\nThe Falcons were consistently ranked regionally and nationally under Ridder as he earned four consecutive conference Coach of the Year accolades. He mentored 25 all-conference performers, 16 players who advanced to play at four-year institutions and two NJCAA All-Americans while boasting a 96 percent graduation rate amongst his student-athletes.\r\n\r\nRidder got his start at the Division I level with three seasons as an assistant working under head coach Robbie Laing at Campbell University, located in Buies Creek, NC. He was an integral part of a Fighting Camels staff that signed the highest ranked recruiting class (64<sup>th</sup> nationally) in the ASUN Conference in 2013-14.\r\n\r\nBy the time Ridder departed to accept his first head coaching gig, Campbell was tabbed as the Big South Conference preseason favorite and had defeated Power 5 opponents such as Iowa and Auburn. The Fighting Camels got off to their best start in school history in 2011-12 and produced the Big South Freshman of the Year.\r\n\r\nRidder’s first collegiate job came at Embry-Riddle University, where he was a volunteer assistant under his father Steve Ridder in 2009-10. The Eagles collected a 30-6 overall record and continued its tradition as a national college basketball powerhouse at the NAIA Division II level. Steve is still the head coach at Embry-Riddle and has tallied 716 career victories to go along with a .708 winning percentage (ninth-best amongst active head collegiate coaches with at least 600 career wins).\r\n\r\nRidder began his collegiate playing career at the College of Wooster in 2003-05 before finishing up under his father at Embry-Riddle. After graduating with a degree in aerospace studies in 2008, he moved to North Carolina to embark on a coaching career. He was an assistant at North Raleigh Christian, trained youth players while working for the Hoop City U basketball training academy and additionally was the head coach for numerous teams engaged in international competition with 365 Sports for the 2008-09 academic year. He earned his Master’s degree in sport management with a concentration in intercollegiate athletic administration from California University of Pennsylvania in 2009.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Ridder named 12th head coach in men\'s basketball history','Athletic director Kurt McGuffin has announced the hiring of Ryan Ridder as the University of Tennessee at Martin head men’s basketball coach.','publish','closed','closed','','ridder-named-12th-head-coach-in-mens-basketball-history','','','2021-03-31 14:15:41','2021-03-31 19:15:41','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3146',0,'post','',0),(3147,6,'2021-03-30 13:02:23','2021-03-30 18:02:23','','UTM_Ridder_Web','Ryan Ridder is the 12th UT Martin head men\'s basketball coach.','inherit','closed','closed','','utm_ridder_web','','','2021-03-30 13:03:11','2021-03-30 18:03:11','',3146,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/UTM_Ridder_Web.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3148,6,'2021-03-30 13:07:37','2021-03-30 18:07:37','Athletic director Kurt McGuffin has announced the hiring of Ryan Ridder as the University of Tennessee at Martin head men’s basketball coach.\r\n\r\nA formal meet-and-greet event with Ridder, his wife Jen and daughters Brixton and Remi will be held on campus next week with more details to follow.\r\n<blockquote>“I am beyond thrilled to welcome Ryan, Jen and their young family to Martin,” McGuffin said. “Ryan is the son of a highly successful coach and has grown up in the business. I am confident that he has the game plan to take our program to another level. He has shown to be a builder of programs and does this with the highest integrity – getting all he can out of his players in every situation his career has led him. I believe the Skyhawk fan base will enjoy his energy and passion – he is simply a winner.”</blockquote>\r\n“Ryan’s track record as a proven winner speaks volumes,” UT Martin Chancellor Dr. Keith Carver said. “He is a basketball lifer who has vast experience in building up programs. I am impressed by his vision he has set for UT Martin and we are confident that he is a great fit for not just the Skyhawk athletic department but for the entire community.”\r\n\r\nRidder joins the Skyhawks after four successful seasons as head coach at Bethune-Cookman University, a NCAA Division I member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. During his tenure in Daytona Beach, Fla., Ridder set numerous school records, posted a .646 winning percentage in league play and won the 2017-18 MEAC regular season championship.\r\n\r\nA Lexington, Ky. native, Ridder owns a 143-73 record as a collegiate head coach, which also includes four seasons at Daytona State College. He boasted the most wins (48) in the first three years in Bethune-Cookman history before the school opted out of all sports for the 2020-21 campaign. From 2017-20, Ridder’s Wildcat squads posted a winning MEAC record for three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history, going 31-17 during that span.\r\n<blockquote>“First, I would like to thank our Chancellor, Dr. Keith Carver and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Kurt McGuffin for their trust in me and the opportunity to lead the men’s basketball program at UT Martin,” Ridder said. “Our family is excited and looking forward to building relationships with the campus and community. We are fired up to work together to build a program that reflects the special people of Martin and the university.”</blockquote>\r\nRidder’s debut season as a Division I head coach was historical as he helped guide Bethune-Cookman to just the second MEAC regular season championship in its 38-year history. For his efforts, he was named the Joe B. Hall Award winner, defeating candidates from schools such as Miami, Louisville, Oklahoma State and Washington for the honor that recognizes the top first-year head coach in the Division I ranks.\r\n\r\nOverall, Ridder tutored five All-MEAC players, one MEAC Player of the Year, two MEAC Defensive Players of the Year and one MEAC All-Rookie team member at Bethune-Cookman. He led the Wildcats to their first-ever win over a Conference USA opponent (FAU) and increased the school’s NCAA RPI rating by over 60 points while in charge of the program.\r\n\r\nRidder, 36, began his head coaching career in 2013-14 at Daytona State College – accumulating a 95-28 overall record at the NJCAA level. He brought home Mid-Florida Conference championships in each of his four seasons after inheriting a program that went 6-25 during the previous season.\r\n\r\nThe Falcons were consistently ranked regionally and nationally under Ridder as he earned four consecutive conference Coach of the Year accolades. He mentored 25 all-conference performers, 16 players who advanced to play at four-year institutions and two NJCAA All-Americans while boasting a 96 percent graduation rate amongst his student-athletes.\r\n\r\nRidder got his start at the Division I level with three seasons as an assistant working under head coach Robbie Laing at Campbell University, located in Buies Creek, NC. He was an integral part of a Fighting Camels staff that signed the highest ranked recruiting class (64<sup>th</sup> nationally) in the ASUN Conference in 2013-14.\r\n\r\nBy the time Ridder departed to accept his first head coaching gig, Campbell was tabbed as the Big South Conference preseason favorite and had defeated Power 5 opponents such as Iowa and Auburn. The Fighting Camels got off to their best start in school history in 2011-12 and produced the Big South Freshman of the Year.\r\n\r\nRidder’s first collegiate job came at Embry-Riddle University, where he was a volunteer assistant under his father Steve Ridder in 2009-10. The Eagles collected a 30-6 overall record and continued its tradition as a national college basketball powerhouse at the NAIA Division II level. Steve is still the head coach at Embry-Riddle and has tallied 716 career victories to go along with a .708 winning percentage (ninth-best amongst active head collegiate coaches with at least 600 career wins).\r\n\r\nRidder began his collegiate playing career at the College of Wooster in 2003-05 before finishing up under his father at Embry-Riddle. After graduating with a degree in aerospace studies in 2008, he moved to North Carolina to embark on a coaching career. He was an assistant at North Raleigh Christian, trained youth players while working for the Hoop City U basketball training academy and additionally was the head coach for numerous teams engaged in international competition with 365 Sports for the 2008-09 academic year. He earned his Master’s degree in sport management with a concentration in intercollegiate athletic administration from California University of Pennsylvania in 2009.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Ridder named 12th head coach in men\'s basketball history','Athletic director Kurt McGuffin has announced the hiring of Ryan Ridder as the University of Tennessee at Martin head men’s basketball coach.','inherit','closed','closed','','3146-revision-v1','','','2021-03-30 13:07:37','2021-03-30 18:07:37','',3146,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/30/3146-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3149,6,'2021-03-30 13:08:44','2021-03-30 18:08:44','Athletic director Kurt McGuffin has announced the hiring of Ryan Ridder as the University of Tennessee at Martin head men’s basketball coach.\r\n\r\nA formal meet-and-greet event with Ridder, his wife Jen and daughters Brixton and Remi will be held on campus next week with more details to follow.\r\n<blockquote>“I am beyond thrilled to welcome Ryan, Jen and their young family to Martin,” McGuffin said. “Ryan is the son of a highly successful coach and has grown up in the business. I am confident that he has the game plan to take our program to another level. He has shown to be a builder of programs and does this with the highest integrity – getting all he can out of his players in every situation his career has led him. I believe the Skyhawk fan base will enjoy his energy and passion – he is simply a winner.”</blockquote>\r\n“Ryan’s track record as a proven winner speaks volumes,” UT Martin Chancellor Dr. Keith Carver said. “He is a basketball lifer who has vast experience in building up programs. I am impressed by his vision he has set for UT Martin and we are confident that he is a great fit for not just the Skyhawk athletic department but for the entire community.”\r\n\r\nRidder joins the Skyhawks after four successful seasons as head coach at Bethune-Cookman University, a NCAA Division I member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. During his tenure in Daytona Beach, Fla., Ridder set numerous school records, posted a .646 winning percentage in league play and won the 2017-18 MEAC regular season championship.\r\n\r\nA Lexington, Ky. native, Ridder owns a 143-73 record as a collegiate head coach, which also includes four seasons at Daytona State College. He boasted the most wins (48) in the first three years in Bethune-Cookman history before the school opted out of all sports for the 2020-21 campaign. From 2017-20, Ridder’s Wildcat squads posted a winning MEAC record for three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history, going 31-17 during that span.\r\n<blockquote>“First, I would like to thank our Chancellor, Dr. Keith Carver and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Kurt McGuffin for their trust in me and the opportunity to lead the men’s basketball program at UT Martin,” Ridder said. “Our family is excited and looking forward to building relationships with the campus and community. We are fired up to work together to build a program that reflects the special people of Martin and the university.”</blockquote>\r\nRidder’s debut season as a Division I head coach was historical as he helped guide Bethune-Cookman to just the second MEAC regular season championship in its 38-year history. For his efforts, he was named the Joe B. Hall Award winner, defeating candidates from schools such as Miami, Louisville, Oklahoma State and Washington for the honor that recognizes the top first-year head coach in the Division I ranks.\r\n\r\nOverall, Ridder tutored five All-MEAC players, one MEAC Player of the Year, two MEAC Defensive Players of the Year and one MEAC All-Rookie team member at Bethune-Cookman. He led the Wildcats to their first-ever win over a Conference USA opponent (FAU) and increased the school’s NCAA RPI rating by over 60 points while in charge of the program.\r\n\r\nRidder, 36, began his head coaching career in 2013-14 at Daytona State College – accumulating a 95-28 overall record at the NJCAA level. He brought home Mid-Florida Conference championships in each of his four seasons after inheriting a program that went 6-25 during the previous season.\r\n\r\nThe Falcons were consistently ranked regionally and nationally under Ridder as he earned four consecutive conference Coach of the Year accolades. He mentored 25 all-conference performers, 16 players who advanced to play at four-year institutions and two NJCAA All-Americans while boasting a 96 percent graduation rate amongst his student-athletes.\r\n\r\nRidder got his start at the Division I level with three seasons as an assistant working under head coach Robbie Laing at Campbell University, located in Buies Creek, NC. He was an integral part of a Fighting Camels staff that signed the highest ranked recruiting class (64<sup>th</sup> nationally) in the ASUN Conference in 2013-14.\r\n\r\nBy the time Ridder departed to accept his first head coaching gig, Campbell was tabbed as the Big South Conference preseason favorite and had defeated Power 5 opponents such as Iowa and Auburn. The Fighting Camels got off to their best start in school history in 2011-12 and produced the Big South Freshman of the Year.\r\n\r\nRidder’s first collegiate job came at Embry-Riddle University, where he was a volunteer assistant under his father Steve Ridder in 2009-10. The Eagles collected a 30-6 overall record and continued its tradition as a national college basketball powerhouse at the NAIA Division II level. Steve is still the head coach at Embry-Riddle and has tallied 716 career victories to go along with a .708 winning percentage (ninth-best amongst active head collegiate coaches with at least 600 career wins).\r\n\r\nRidder began his collegiate playing career at the College of Wooster in 2003-05 before finishing up under his father at Embry-Riddle. After graduating with a degree in aerospace studies in 2008, he moved to North Carolina to embark on a coaching career. He was an assistant at North Raleigh Christian, trained youth players while working for the Hoop City U basketball training academy and additionally was the head coach for numerous teams engaged in international competition with 365 Sports for the 2008-09 academic year. He earned his Master’s degree in sport management with a concentration in intercollegiate athletic administration from California University of Pennsylvania in 2009.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Ridder named 12th head coach in men\'s basketball history','Athletic director Kurt McGuffin has announced the hiring of Ryan Ridder as the University of Tennessee at Martin head men’s basketball coach.','inherit','closed','closed','','3146-autosave-v1','','','2021-03-30 13:08:44','2021-03-30 18:08:44','',3146,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/30/3146-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3178,6,'2021-04-09 11:29:50','2021-04-09 16:29:50','WUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk,” the University of Tennessee at Martin student-run campus radio station, won 14 awards from the 2021 virtual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Annual Conference.\r\n\r\nFor the 11<sup>th</sup> consecutive year, WUTM won the Platinum Award, which is the highest peer-reviewed award given by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System.\r\n\r\nWUTM won one first-place award, as well as 12 top-five finalist awards at the conference, including the designation as one of the top-five best college radio stations with under 10,000 students enrolled. WUTM has earned a position in the top five for this category nine of the past 10 years.\r\n<blockquote>“Once again, the students of WUTM under the direction of Dr. Richard Robinson immensely impressed our judges,” said Chris Thomas, IBS president. “Year after year, when they see entries from 90.3 The Hawk, they know they will not be disappointed.  Congratulations to the students and staff of WUTM on these accomplishments. They should be very proud of their work.”</blockquote>\r\nThe station’s finalist awards also include best newscast, best spot news coverage, and best live broadcast promotional event by the WUTM staff, as well as two best underwriting spots.\r\n\r\nKayla Brooks, a senior communications major from Dickson, won first place in community news coverage for her newscasts of the protests in Martin, and received finalist awards in best on-air personality, as well as best station blog and best news promotion in partnership with the WUTM staff.\r\n\r\nDylan Ingram, a junior communications major from Martin, won finalist awards for best use of social media and best celebrity/artist interview. In partnership with Ingram, Davis Gregory, a sophomore communications major from Knoxville, won finalist awards for best football play-by-play and best women’s basketball play-by-play.\r\n<blockquote>“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and given the fact that our broadcast students were working remotely much of this academic year, our students and WUTM did very well in this competition,” Dr. Richard Robinson, WUTM faculty adviser, said. “I think that speaks well for our students and their commitment to broadcast excellence for ‘The Hawk.’”</blockquote>\r\nWUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk” is produced by the Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communications. For more information, contact Robinson at 731-881-7555 or <a href=\"mailto:rrobins@utm.edu\">rrobins@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','\'The Hawk\' wins 14 national awards amid pandemic restrictions','WUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk,” the University of Tennessee at Martin student-run campus radio station, won 14 awards from the 2021 virtual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Annual Conference.','publish','closed','closed','','the-hawk-wins-14-national-awards-amid-pandemic-restrictions','','','2021-04-09 11:30:21','2021-04-09 16:30:21','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3178',0,'post','',0),(3151,2,'2021-04-01 10:00:58','2021-04-01 15:00:58','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources has established a Bachelor of Science degree in Obedience Studies that will begin accepting students in the fall 2021 semester. This is the first degree of its kind in the world.\r\n\r\nDr. Jason Roberts, professor of animal science, says the new degree program was a result of pet owners who have expressed a need for more formal obedience training for their precocious pups. While there are some classes that offer basic skills for animals, a formal designation of a degree is more widely recognized by pet owners worldwide.\r\n\r\n“We’re proud to be the first educational institution in the world to offer a degree for your dog. With the demand for educated canines growing, what better way to serve the state of Tennessee, and the world,” said Roberts. “And to believe it’s all happening right here at UT Martin.”\r\n<blockquote>“We’re proud to be the first educational institution in the world to offer a degree for your dog. With the demand for educated canines growing, what better way to serve the state of Tennessee, and the world.”</blockquote>\r\nUniversity of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd also expressed his support of this newest degree offering at UT Martin. Boyd, a proud dog owner and founder of the world\'s leading dog and cat product supplier, Radio Systems Corporation, said animal welfare and making our communities more pet friendly is part of the core mission of the University of Tennessee. “I want this to be the greatest decade in UT history, and part of making it great includes educating man’s best friend,” said Boyd.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, recent studies have shown that smarter dogs live longer.\r\n\r\n“When dogs learn to stop using fire hydrants as restrooms, and begin using piddle pads instead, there’s a clear change in their life expectancy,” said Roberts.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3155\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/03302021_CanineDegree006.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\r\nSi Belew, an incoming freshman Labrador retriever from Henry County, is excited about the new degree and how it can help him in the future. While Belew is well behaved most days, he knows what pet owners are looking for, and it’s a University of Tennessee degree.\r\n\r\n“It’s a private school education at a public school price,” said Belew, who was somewhat distracted by a passing squirrel. “What was I saying? Oh yeah, I couldn’t be happier that this opportunity is available right here in my own back yard.”\r\n\r\nClasses that first-year students can expect include: Introduction to Jumping Through Hoops; The History of Animal Fashion; Basic Catching Things with Your Mouth; Frisbee 101; Sit, Heel, Stay; Techniques for Overcoming Your Embarrassing Name; Napping Science; Beyond Dog Obedience; Secret Sniffing in Public; and How to Stay Out of the Road.\r\n\r\nFor more information about this April Fools’ joke, contact April at <a href=\"mailto:aprilfools@utm.edu\">aprilfools@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Department of Agriculture, Geosciences & Natural Resources to offer college credit for canines','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources has established a Bachelor of Science degree in Obedience Studies that will begin accepting students in the fall 2021 semester. This is the first degree of its kind in the world.','publish','closed','closed','','department-of-agriculture-geosciences-natural-resources-to-offer-college-credit-for-canines','','','2021-04-02 19:16:03','2021-04-03 00:16:03','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3151',0,'post','',0),(3152,2,'2021-03-31 17:50:46','2021-03-31 22:50:46','','03302021_CanineDegree015','','inherit','closed','closed','','03302021_caninedegree015','','','2021-03-31 17:50:46','2021-03-31 22:50:46','',3151,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/03302021_CanineDegree015.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3153,2,'2021-03-31 17:57:02','2021-03-31 22:57:02','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources has established a Bachelor of Science degree in Obedience Studies that will begin accepting students in the fall 2021 semester. This is the first degree of its kind in the world.\r\n\r\nDr. Jason Roberts, professor of animal science, says the new degree program was a result of pet owners who have expressed a need for more formal obedience training for their precocious pups. While there are some classes that offer basic skills for animals, a formal designation of a degree is more widely recognized by pet owners worldwide.\r\n\r\n“We’re proud to be the first educational institution in the world to offer a degree for your dog. With the demand for educated canines growing, what better way to serve the state of Tennessee, and the world,” said Roberts. “And to believe it’s all happening right here at UT Martin.”\r\n\r\nUniversity of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd also expressed his support of this newest degree offering at UT Martin. Boyd, a proud dog owner and founder of the world\'s leading dog and cat product supplier, Radio Systems Corporation, said animal welfare and making our communities more pet friendly is part of the core mission of the University of Tennessee. “I want this to be the greatest decade in UT history, and part of making it great includes educating man’s best friend,” said Boyd.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, recent studies have shown that smarter dogs live longer.\r\n\r\n“When dogs learn to stop using fire hydrants as restrooms, and begin using piddle pads instead, there’s a clear change in their life expectancy,” said Roberts.\r\n\r\nSi Belew, an incoming freshman Labrador retriever from Henry County, is excited about the new degree and how it can help him in the future. While Cy is well behaved most days, he knows what pet owners are looking for, and it’s a University of Tennessee degree.\r\n\r\n“It’s a private school education at a public school price,” said Belew, who was somewhat distracted by a passing squirrel. “What was I saying? Oh yeah, I couldn’t be happier that this opportunity is available right here in my own back yard.”\r\n\r\nClasses that first-year students can expect include: Introduction to Jumping Through Hoops; The History of Animal Fashion; Basic Catching Things with Your Mouth; Frisbee 101; Sit, Heel, Stay; Techniques for Overcoming Your Embarrassing Name; Napping Science; Beyond Dog Obedience; Secret Sniffing in Public; and How to Stay Out of the Road.\r\n\r\nFor more information about this April Fools’ joke, contact April at <a href=\"mailto:aprilfools@utm.edu\">aprilfools@utm.edu</a>.\r\n\r\n###','Department of Agriculture, Geosciences & Natural Resources to offer college credit for canines','','inherit','closed','closed','','3151-revision-v1','','','2021-03-31 17:57:02','2021-03-31 22:57:02','',3151,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/31/3151-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3154,2,'2021-04-01 07:34:12','2021-04-01 12:34:12','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources has established a Bachelor of Science degree in Obedience Studies that will begin accepting students in the fall 2021 semester. This is the first degree of its kind in the world.\r\n\r\nDr. Jason Roberts, professor of animal science, says the new degree program was a result of pet owners who have expressed a need for more formal obedience training for their precocious pups. While there are some classes that offer basic skills for animals, a formal designation of a degree is more widely recognized by pet owners worldwide.\r\n\r\n“We’re proud to be the first educational institution in the world to offer a degree for your dog. With the demand for educated canines growing, what better way to serve the state of Tennessee, and the world,” said Roberts. “And to believe it’s all happening right here at UT Martin.”\r\n<blockquote>“We’re proud to be the first educational institution in the world to offer a degree for your dog. With the demand for educated canines growing, what better way to serve the state of Tennessee, and the world.”</blockquote>\r\nUniversity of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd also expressed his support of this newest degree offering at UT Martin. Boyd, a proud dog owner and founder of the world\'s leading dog and cat product supplier, Radio Systems Corporation, said animal welfare and making our communities more pet friendly is part of the core mission of the University of Tennessee. “I want this to be the greatest decade in UT history, and part of making it great includes educating man’s best friend,” said Boyd.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, recent studies have shown that smarter dogs live longer.\r\n\r\n“When dogs learn to stop using fire hydrants as restrooms, and begin using piddle pads instead, there’s a clear change in their life expectancy,” said Roberts.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3155\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/03302021_CanineDegree006.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\r\nSi Belew, an incoming freshman Labrador retriever from Henry County, is excited about the new degree and how it can help him in the future. While Cy is well behaved most days, he knows what pet owners are looking for, and it’s a University of Tennessee degree.\r\n\r\n“It’s a private school education at a public school price,” said Belew, who was somewhat distracted by a passing squirrel. “What was I saying? Oh yeah, I couldn’t be happier that this opportunity is available right here in my own back yard.”\r\n\r\nClasses that first-year students can expect include: Introduction to Jumping Through Hoops; The History of Animal Fashion; Basic Catching Things with Your Mouth; Frisbee 101; Sit, Heel, Stay; Techniques for Overcoming Your Embarrassing Name; Napping Science; Beyond Dog Obedience; Secret Sniffing in Public; and How to Stay Out of the Road.\r\n\r\nFor more information about this April Fools’ joke, contact April at <a href=\"mailto:aprilfools@utm.edu\">aprilfools@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Department of Agriculture, Geosciences & Natural Resources to offer college credit for canines','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources has established a Bachelor of Science degree in Obedience Studies that will begin accepting students in the fall 2021 semester. This is the first degree of its kind in the world.','inherit','closed','closed','','3151-autosave-v1','','','2021-04-01 07:34:12','2021-04-01 12:34:12','',3151,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/31/3151-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3155,2,'2021-03-31 17:59:35','2021-03-31 22:59:35','','03302021_CanineDegree006','','inherit','closed','closed','','03302021_caninedegree006','','','2021-03-31 17:59:35','2021-03-31 22:59:35','',3151,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/03302021_CanineDegree006.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3156,2,'2021-03-31 18:02:21','2021-03-31 23:02:21','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources has established a Bachelor of Science degree in Obedience Studies that will begin accepting students in the fall 2021 semester. This is the first degree of its kind in the world.\r\n\r\nDr. Jason Roberts, professor of animal science, says the new degree program was a result of pet owners who have expressed a need for more formal obedience training for their precocious pups. While there are some classes that offer basic skills for animals, a formal designation of a degree is more widely recognized by pet owners worldwide.\r\n\r\n“We’re proud to be the first educational institution in the world to offer a degree for your dog. With the demand for educated canines growing, what better way to serve the state of Tennessee, and the world,” said Roberts. “And to believe it’s all happening right here at UT Martin.”\r\n<blockquote>“We’re proud to be the first educational institution in the world to offer a degree for your dog. With the demand for educated canines growing, what better way to serve the state of Tennessee, and the world.”</blockquote>\r\nUniversity of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd also expressed his support of this newest degree offering at UT Martin. Boyd, a proud dog owner and founder of the world\'s leading dog and cat product supplier, Radio Systems Corporation, said animal welfare and making our communities more pet friendly is part of the core mission of the University of Tennessee. “I want this to be the greatest decade in UT history, and part of making it great includes educating man’s best friend,” said Boyd.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, recent studies have shown that smarter dogs live longer.\r\n\r\n“When dogs learn to stop using fire hydrants as restrooms, and begin using piddle pads instead, there’s a clear change in their life expectancy,” said Roberts.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3155\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/03302021_CanineDegree006.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\r\nSi Belew, an incoming freshman Labrador retriever from Henry County, is excited about the new degree and how it can help him in the future. While Cy is well behaved most days, he knows what pet owners are looking for, and it’s a University of Tennessee degree.\r\n\r\n“It’s a private school education at a public school price,” said Belew, who was somewhat distracted by a passing squirrel. “What was I saying? Oh yeah, I couldn’t be happier that this opportunity is available right here in my own back yard.”\r\n\r\nClasses that first-year students can expect include: Introduction to Jumping Through Hoops; The History of Animal Fashion; Basic Catching Things with Your Mouth; Frisbee 101; Sit, Heel, Stay; Techniques for Overcoming Your Embarrassing Name; Napping Science; Beyond Dog Obedience; Secret Sniffing in Public; and How to Stay Out of the Road.\r\n\r\nFor more information about this April Fools’ joke, contact April at <a href=\"mailto:aprilfools@utm.edu\">aprilfools@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Department of Agriculture, Geosciences & Natural Resources to offer college credit for canines','','inherit','closed','closed','','3151-revision-v1','','','2021-03-31 18:02:21','2021-03-31 23:02:21','',3151,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/31/3151-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3157,2,'2021-03-31 18:02:35','2021-03-31 23:02:35','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources has established a Bachelor of Science degree in Obedience Studies that will begin accepting students in the fall 2021 semester. This is the first degree of its kind in the world.\r\n\r\nDr. Jason Roberts, professor of animal science, says the new degree program was a result of pet owners who have expressed a need for more formal obedience training for their precocious pups. While there are some classes that offer basic skills for animals, a formal designation of a degree is more widely recognized by pet owners worldwide.\r\n\r\n“We’re proud to be the first educational institution in the world to offer a degree for your dog. With the demand for educated canines growing, what better way to serve the state of Tennessee, and the world,” said Roberts. “And to believe it’s all happening right here at UT Martin.”\r\n<blockquote>“We’re proud to be the first educational institution in the world to offer a degree for your dog. With the demand for educated canines growing, what better way to serve the state of Tennessee, and the world.”</blockquote>\r\nUniversity of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd also expressed his support of this newest degree offering at UT Martin. Boyd, a proud dog owner and founder of the world\'s leading dog and cat product supplier, Radio Systems Corporation, said animal welfare and making our communities more pet friendly is part of the core mission of the University of Tennessee. “I want this to be the greatest decade in UT history, and part of making it great includes educating man’s best friend,” said Boyd.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, recent studies have shown that smarter dogs live longer.\r\n\r\n“When dogs learn to stop using fire hydrants as restrooms, and begin using piddle pads instead, there’s a clear change in their life expectancy,” said Roberts.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3155\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/03302021_CanineDegree006.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\r\nSi Belew, an incoming freshman Labrador retriever from Henry County, is excited about the new degree and how it can help him in the future. While Cy is well behaved most days, he knows what pet owners are looking for, and it’s a University of Tennessee degree.\r\n\r\n“It’s a private school education at a public school price,” said Belew, who was somewhat distracted by a passing squirrel. “What was I saying? Oh yeah, I couldn’t be happier that this opportunity is available right here in my own back yard.”\r\n\r\nClasses that first-year students can expect include: Introduction to Jumping Through Hoops; The History of Animal Fashion; Basic Catching Things with Your Mouth; Frisbee 101; Sit, Heel, Stay; Techniques for Overcoming Your Embarrassing Name; Napping Science; Beyond Dog Obedience; Secret Sniffing in Public; and How to Stay Out of the Road.\r\n\r\nFor more information about this April Fools’ joke, contact April at <a href=\"mailto:aprilfools@utm.edu\">aprilfools@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Department of Agriculture, Geosciences & Natural Resources to offer college credit for canines','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources has established a Bachelor of Science degree in Obedience Studies that will begin accepting students in the fall 2021 semester. This is the first degree of its kind in the world.','inherit','closed','closed','','3151-revision-v1','','','2021-03-31 18:02:35','2021-03-31 23:02:35','',3151,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/03/31/3151-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3158,6,'2021-04-01 08:59:27','2021-04-01 13:59:27','The University of Tennessee at Martin is hosting its seventh-annual Captain’s Challenge fundraising event April 14, with a goal to raise $350,000 in 24 hours. This year’s theme is “Captain’s Challenge – Jeopardy! Edition,” and UT Martin community members can follow along as Captain competes in the trivia competition for a chance to help the university achieve its fundraising goal.\r\n\r\nContributors can direct their donations toward any campus office, department, athletic organization, regional center, scholarship fund, special program or another fundraiser at challenge.utm.edu. Each college will have a meter to track its real-time fundraising progress on the donation website.\r\n\r\nDonors are asked to consider the Student Assistance fund, the Athletics-Victory fund, the Northwest Tennessee Arts Center fund, the Innovation and Product Realization Building fund, or the Ned Ray McWherter Institute fund if unsure of which program to donate to specifically.\r\n\r\nLast year, with the goal of $325,000, UT Martin raised over $401,000 in 24 hours.\r\n\r\nJackie Johnson, assistant vice chancellor of the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, encourages all alumni to donate during Captain’s Challenge no matter the size of their gift.\r\n<blockquote>“Many times, alumni think the size of their donation isn’t enough to help make a difference,” Johnson said. “But we’ve seen how small gifts can make a huge impact. We started off the first year with a $25,000 goal, and last year, we raised over $400,000. So as you can see, any donation can make an impact on a student’s life here at UT Martin.”</blockquote>\r\nThose interested in helping to promote the event on social media and through other channels are encouraged to register as “Captain’s Challenge Pilots” at alumni.utm.edu/pilot.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the UT Martin Office of Alumni Relations at 731-881-7610 or alumni@utm.edu.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Seventh-annual Captain\'s Challenge fundraiser set for April 14','The University of Tennessee at Martin is hosting its seventh-annual Captain’s Challenge fundraising event April 14, with a goal to raise $350,000 in 24 hours.','publish','closed','closed','','seventh-annual-captains-challenge-fundraiser-set-for-april-14','','','2021-04-08 12:55:58','2021-04-08 17:55:58','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3158',0,'post','',0),(3159,6,'2021-04-01 08:53:14','2021-04-01 13:53:14','','02232021_CarverJeopardyVanguardPlayRehearsal017','Follow along during Captain\'s Challenge on April 14 to see if Captain can make it to Final Jeopardy and win $350,000 for UT Martin! ','inherit','closed','closed','','02232021_carverjeopardyvanguardplayrehearsal017','','','2021-04-01 08:55:17','2021-04-01 13:55:17','',3158,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/02232021_CarverJeopardyVanguardPlayRehearsal017.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3160,6,'2021-04-01 08:59:27','2021-04-01 13:59:27','The University of Tennessee at Martin is hosting its seventh-annual Captain’s Challenge fundraising event April 14, with a goal to raise $350,000 in 24 hours. This year’s theme is “Captain’s Challenge – Jeopardy! Edition,” and UT Martin community members can follow along as Captain competes in the trivia competition for a chance to help the university achieve its fundraising goal.\r\n\r\nContributors can direct their donations toward any campus office, department, athletic organization, regional center, scholarship fund, special program or another fundraiser at challenge.utm.edu. Each college will have a meter to track its real-time fundraising progress on the donation website.\r\n\r\nDonors are asked to consider the Student Assistance fund, the Athletics-Victory fund, the Northwest Tennessee Arts Center fund, the Innovation and Product Realization Building fund, or the Ned Ray McWherter Institute fund if unsure of which program to donate to specifically.\r\n\r\nLast year, with the goal of $325,000, UT Martin raised over $401,000 in 24 hours.\r\n\r\nJackie Johnson, assistant vice chancellor of the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, encourages all alumni to donate during Captain’s Challenge no matter the size of their gift.\r\n<blockquote>“Many times, alumni think the size of their donation isn’t enough to help make a difference,” Johnson said. “But we’ve seen how small gifts can make a huge impact. We started off the first year with a $25,000 goal, and last year, we raised over $400,000. So as you can see, any donation can make an impact on a student’s life here at UT Martin.”</blockquote>\r\nThose interested in helping to promote the event on social media and through other channels are encouraged to register as “Captain’s Challenge Pilots” at alumni.utm.edu/pilot.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the UT Martin Office of Alumni Relations at 731-881-7610 or alumni@utm.edu.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Seventh-annual Captain\'s Challenge planned for April 14','The University of Tennessee at Martin is hosting its seventh-annual Captain’s Challenge fundraising event April 14, with a goal to raise $350,000 in 24 hours.','inherit','closed','closed','','3158-revision-v1','','','2021-04-01 08:59:27','2021-04-01 13:59:27','',3158,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/01/3158-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3161,6,'2021-04-01 09:00:00','2021-04-01 14:00:00','The University of Tennessee at Martin is hosting its seventh-annual Captain’s Challenge fundraising event April 14, with a goal to raise $350,000 in 24 hours. This year’s theme is “Captain’s Challenge – Jeopardy! Edition,” and UT Martin community members can follow along as Captain competes in the trivia competition for a chance to help the university achieve its fundraising goal.\r\n\r\nContributors can direct their donations toward any campus office, department, athletic organization, regional center, scholarship fund, special program or another fundraiser at challenge.utm.edu. Each college will have a meter to track its real-time fundraising progress on the donation website.\r\n\r\nDonors are asked to consider the Student Assistance fund, the Athletics-Victory fund, the Northwest Tennessee Arts Center fund, the Innovation and Product Realization Building fund, or the Ned Ray McWherter Institute fund if unsure of which program to donate to specifically.\r\n\r\nLast year, with the goal of $325,000, UT Martin raised over $401,000 in 24 hours.\r\n\r\nJackie Johnson, assistant vice chancellor of the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, encourages all alumni to donate during Captain’s Challenge no matter the size of their gift.\r\n<blockquote>“Many times, alumni think the size of their donation isn’t enough to help make a difference,” Johnson said. “But we’ve seen how small gifts can make a huge impact. We started off the first year with a $25,000 goal, and last year, we raised over $400,000. So as you can see, any donation can make an impact on a student’s life here at UT Martin.”</blockquote>\r\nThose interested in helping to promote the event on social media and through other channels are encouraged to register as “Captain’s Challenge Pilots” at alumni.utm.edu/pilot.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the UT Martin Office of Alumni Relations at 731-881-7610 or alumni@utm.edu.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Seventh-annual Captain\'s Challenge fundraiser set for April 14','The University of Tennessee at Martin is hosting its seventh-annual Captain’s Challenge fundraising event April 14, with a goal to raise $350,000 in 24 hours.','inherit','closed','closed','','3158-revision-v1','','','2021-04-01 09:00:00','2021-04-01 14:00:00','',3158,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/01/3158-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3162,6,'2021-04-01 09:50:22','2021-04-01 14:50:22','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources has established a Bachelor of Science degree in Obedience Studies that will begin accepting students in the fall 2021 semester. This is the first degree of its kind in the world.\r\n\r\nDr. Jason Roberts, professor of animal science, says the new degree program was a result of pet owners who have expressed a need for more formal obedience training for their precocious pups. While there are some classes that offer basic skills for animals, a formal designation of a degree is more widely recognized by pet owners worldwide.\r\n\r\n“We’re proud to be the first educational institution in the world to offer a degree for your dog. With the demand for educated canines growing, what better way to serve the state of Tennessee, and the world,” said Roberts. “And to believe it’s all happening right here at UT Martin.”\r\n<blockquote>“We’re proud to be the first educational institution in the world to offer a degree for your dog. With the demand for educated canines growing, what better way to serve the state of Tennessee, and the world.”</blockquote>\r\nUniversity of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd also expressed his support of this newest degree offering at UT Martin. Boyd, a proud dog owner and founder of the world\'s leading dog and cat product supplier, Radio Systems Corporation, said animal welfare and making our communities more pet friendly is part of the core mission of the University of Tennessee. “I want this to be the greatest decade in UT history, and part of making it great includes educating man’s best friend,” said Boyd.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, recent studies have shown that smarter dogs live longer.\r\n\r\n“When dogs learn to stop using fire hydrants as restrooms, and begin using piddle pads instead, there’s a clear change in their life expectancy,” said Roberts.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3155\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/03302021_CanineDegree006.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\r\nSi Belew, an incoming freshman Labrador retriever from Henry County, is excited about the new degree and how it can help him in the future. While Belew is well behaved most days, he knows what pet owners are looking for, and it’s a University of Tennessee degree.\r\n\r\n“It’s a private school education at a public school price,” said Belew, who was somewhat distracted by a passing squirrel. “What was I saying? Oh yeah, I couldn’t be happier that this opportunity is available right here in my own back yard.”\r\n\r\nClasses that first-year students can expect include: Introduction to Jumping Through Hoops; The History of Animal Fashion; Basic Catching Things with Your Mouth; Frisbee 101; Sit, Heel, Stay; Techniques for Overcoming Your Embarrassing Name; Napping Science; Beyond Dog Obedience; Secret Sniffing in Public; and How to Stay Out of the Road.\r\n\r\nFor more information about this April Fools’ joke, contact April at <a href=\"mailto:aprilfools@utm.edu\">aprilfools@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Department of Agriculture, Geosciences & Natural Resources to offer college credit for canines','The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources has established a Bachelor of Science degree in Obedience Studies that will begin accepting students in the fall 2021 semester. This is the first degree of its kind in the world.','inherit','closed','closed','','3151-revision-v1','','','2021-04-01 09:50:22','2021-04-01 14:50:22','',3151,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/01/3151-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3163,6,'2021-04-01 15:04:17','2021-04-01 20:04:17','The University of Tennessee at Martin WestStar Leadership Program is hosting the 22<sup>nd</sup>-annual African American Leadership Conference, themed “Challenges and Opportunities,” virtually from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., April 20.\r\n\r\nCost of attendance for this year’s conference is $10 per person, and the deadline to register is Monday, April 12.\r\n\r\nMatt Marshall, president and CEO of United Way of West Tennessee, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. He currently serves as the chair of the Anti-Poverty Task Force for the City of Jackson, the chair of the Jackson-Madison County Equity Project, as well as a team member of the City of Jackson Recovery Court and the Jackson-Madison County School System Parent Council. He also serves as the Young Adult Pastor at the Historic First Baptist Church.\r\n\r\nMarshall is the former executive director and head of school at Hands Up! Preschool, and spent eight years at Union University as the director for the Center for Racial Reconciliation, as well as student success, and service and diversity initiatives.\r\n\r\nThe African American Leadership Conference will also feature presentations by Dr. Marlon King, Jackson-Madison County School System superintendent; Dr. Doris Battle, National Institute for School Leadership Tennessee and Alabama state coordinator; Tennessee Senator Raumesh Akbari, District 29; J.C. Shelley, First Horizon Bank in Jackson; Derick Tisdale, Jackson Police Department deputy chief; Tennessee Senator Katrina Robinson, District 33; Evelyn Lake-Harris, adult-care nurse practitioner; and Clayton Phillips, West Tennessee Healthcare director of information technology security and networking.\r\n\r\nThe African American Leadership Conference is sponsored by the WestStar Leadership Program, the City of Brownsville, Simmons Bank-Brownsville, West Tennessee Healthcare, Hardin County, Conner Real Estate, WestStar graduate Mark Heaston and the UT Institute for Public Service.\r\n\r\nTo register for the African American Leadership Conference, visit <a href=\"http://www.utm.edu/weststarevents\">utm.edu/weststarevents</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information or registration assistance, contact Virginia Grimes, WestStar program coordinator, at 731-881-7298 or <a href=\"mailto:vgrimes@utm.edu\">vgrimes@utm.edu</a>.\r\n\r\n###','WestStar Leadership Program hosts 22nd-annual African American Leadership Conference April 20','The University of Tennessee at Martin WestStar Leadership Program is hosting the 22nd-annual African American Leadership Conference, themed “Challenges and Opportunities,” virtually from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., April 20.','publish','closed','closed','','weststar-leadership-program-hosts-22nd-annual-african-american-leadership-conference-april-20','','','2021-04-06 16:12:54','2021-04-06 21:12:54','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3163',0,'post','',0),(3164,6,'2021-04-01 15:04:17','2021-04-01 20:04:17','The University of Tennessee at Martin WestStar Leadership Program is hosting the 22<sup>nd</sup>-annual African American Leadership Conference, themed “Challenges and Opportunities,” virtually from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., April 20.\r\n\r\nCost of attendance for this year’s conference is $10 per person, and the deadline to register is Monday, April 12.\r\n\r\nMatt Marshall, president and CEO of United Way of West Tennessee, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. He currently serves as the chair of the Anti-Poverty Task Force for the City of Jackson, the chair of the Jackson-Madison County Equity Project, as well as a team member of the City of Jackson Recovery Court and the Jackson-Madison County School System Parent Council. He also serves as the Young Adult Pastor at the Historic First Baptist Church.\r\n\r\nMarshall is the former executive director and head of school at Hands Up! Preschool, and spent eight years at Union University as the director for the Center for Racial Reconciliation, as well as student success, and service and diversity initiatives.\r\n\r\nThe African American Leadership Conference will also feature presentations by Dr. Marlon King, Jackson-Madison County School System superintendent; Dr. Doris Battle, National Institute for School Leadership Tennessee and Alabama state coordinator; Tennessee Senator Raumesh Akbari, District 29; J.C. Shelley, First Horizon Bank in Jackson; Derick Tisdale, Jackson Police Department deputy chief; Tennessee Senator Katrina Robinson, District 33; Evelyn Lake-Harris, adult-care nurse practitioner; and Clayton Phillips, West Tennessee Healthcare director of information technology security and networking.\r\n\r\nThe African American Leadership Conference is sponsored by the WestStar Leadership Program, the City of Brownsville, Simmons Bank-Brownsville, West Tennessee Healthcare, Hardin County, Conner Real Estate, WestStar graduate Mark Heaston and the UT Institute for Public Service.\r\n\r\nTo register for the African American Leadership Conference, visit <a href=\"http://www.utm.edu/weststarevents\">utm.edu/weststarevents</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information or registration assistance, contact Virginia Grimes, WestStar program coordinator, at 731-881-7298 or <a href=\"mailto:vgrimes@utm.edu\">vgrimes@utm.edu</a>.\r\n\r\n###','Weststar Leadership Program hosts 22nd-annual African American Leadership Conference April 20','The University of Tennessee at Martin WestStar Leadership Program is hosting the 22nd-annual African American Leadership Conference, themed “Challenges and Opportunities,” virtually from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., April 20.','inherit','closed','closed','','3163-revision-v1','','','2021-04-01 15:04:17','2021-04-01 20:04:17','',3163,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/01/3163-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3165,6,'2021-04-01 15:04:43','2021-04-01 20:04:43','The University of Tennessee at Martin WestStar Leadership Program is hosting the 22<sup>nd</sup>-annual African American Leadership Conference, themed “Challenges and Opportunities,” virtually from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., April 20.\r\n\r\nCost of attendance for this year’s conference is $10 per person, and the deadline to register is Monday, April 12.\r\n\r\nMatt Marshall, president and CEO of United Way of West Tennessee, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. He currently serves as the chair of the Anti-Poverty Task Force for the City of Jackson, the chair of the Jackson-Madison County Equity Project, as well as a team member of the City of Jackson Recovery Court and the Jackson-Madison County School System Parent Council. He also serves as the Young Adult Pastor at the Historic First Baptist Church.\r\n\r\nMarshall is the former executive director and head of school at Hands Up! Preschool, and spent eight years at Union University as the director for the Center for Racial Reconciliation, as well as student success, and service and diversity initiatives.\r\n\r\nThe African American Leadership Conference will also feature presentations by Dr. Marlon King, Jackson-Madison County School System superintendent; Dr. Doris Battle, National Institute for School Leadership Tennessee and Alabama state coordinator; Tennessee Senator Raumesh Akbari, District 29; J.C. Shelley, First Horizon Bank in Jackson; Derick Tisdale, Jackson Police Department deputy chief; Tennessee Senator Katrina Robinson, District 33; Evelyn Lake-Harris, adult-care nurse practitioner; and Clayton Phillips, West Tennessee Healthcare director of information technology security and networking.\r\n\r\nThe African American Leadership Conference is sponsored by the WestStar Leadership Program, the City of Brownsville, Simmons Bank-Brownsville, West Tennessee Healthcare, Hardin County, Conner Real Estate, WestStar graduate Mark Heaston and the UT Institute for Public Service.\r\n\r\nTo register for the African American Leadership Conference, visit <a href=\"http://www.utm.edu/weststarevents\">utm.edu/weststarevents</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information or registration assistance, contact Virginia Grimes, WestStar program coordinator, at 731-881-7298 or <a href=\"mailto:vgrimes@utm.edu\">vgrimes@utm.edu</a>.\r\n\r\n###','WestStar Leadership Program hosts 22nd-annual African American Leadership Conference April 20','The University of Tennessee at Martin WestStar Leadership Program is hosting the 22nd-annual African American Leadership Conference, themed “Challenges and Opportunities,” virtually from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., April 20.','inherit','closed','closed','','3163-revision-v1','','','2021-04-01 15:04:43','2021-04-01 20:04:43','',3163,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/01/3163-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3166,6,'2021-04-05 08:47:12','2021-04-05 13:47:12','','WEST_STAR_AALC_WEB','','inherit','closed','closed','','west_star_aalc_web','','','2021-04-05 08:47:12','2021-04-05 13:47:12','',3163,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WEST_STAR_AALC_WEB.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3167,6,'2021-04-05 08:48:12','2021-04-05 13:48:12','','WEST_STAR_AALC_WEB','','inherit','closed','closed','','west_star_aalc_web-2','','','2021-04-05 08:48:12','2021-04-05 13:48:12','',3163,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WEST_STAR_AALC_WEB-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3168,6,'2021-04-05 08:49:12','2021-04-05 13:49:12','','WEST_STAR_AALC_WEB','','inherit','closed','closed','','west_star_aalc_web-3','','','2021-04-05 08:49:12','2021-04-05 13:49:12','',3163,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WEST_STAR_AALC_WEB-2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3169,6,'2021-04-05 08:50:12','2021-04-05 13:50:12','','WEST_STAR_AALC_WEB','','inherit','closed','closed','','west_star_aalc_web-4','','','2021-04-05 08:50:12','2021-04-05 13:50:12','',3163,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WEST_STAR_AALC_WEB-3.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3170,6,'2021-04-05 08:53:21','2021-04-05 13:53:21','The University of Tennessee at Martin WestStar Leadership Program is hosting the 22<sup>nd</sup>-annual African American Leadership Conference, themed “Challenges and Opportunities,” virtually from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., April 20.\r\n\r\nCost of attendance for this year’s conference is $10 per person, and the deadline to register is Monday, April 12.\r\n\r\nMatt Marshall, president and CEO of United Way of West Tennessee, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. He currently serves as the chair of the Anti-Poverty Task Force for the City of Jackson, the chair of the Jackson-Madison County Equity Project, as well as a team member of the City of Jackson Recovery Court and the Jackson-Madison County School System Parent Council. He also serves as the Young Adult Pastor at the Historic First Baptist Church.\r\n\r\nMarshall is the former executive director and head of school at Hands Up! Preschool, and spent eight years at Union University as the director for the Center for Racial Reconciliation, as well as student success, and service and diversity initiatives.\r\n\r\nThe African American Leadership Conference will also feature presentations by Dr. Marlon King, Jackson-Madison County School System superintendent; Dr. Doris Battle, National Institute for School Leadership Tennessee and Alabama state coordinator; Tennessee Senator Raumesh Akbari, District 29; J.C. Shelley, First Horizon Bank in Jackson; Derick Tisdale, Jackson Police Department deputy chief; Tennessee Senator Katrina Robinson, District 33; Evelyn Lake-Harris, adult-care nurse practitioner; and Clayton Phillips, West Tennessee Healthcare director of information technology security and networking.\r\n\r\nThe African American Leadership Conference is sponsored by the WestStar Leadership Program, the City of Brownsville, Simmons Bank-Brownsville, West Tennessee Healthcare, Hardin County, Conner Real Estate, WestStar graduate Mark Heaston and the UT Institute for Public Service.\r\n\r\nTo register for the African American Leadership Conference, visit <a href=\"http://www.utm.edu/weststarevents\">utm.edu/weststarevents</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information or registration assistance, contact Virginia Grimes, WestStar program coordinator, at 731-881-7298 or <a href=\"mailto:vgrimes@utm.edu\">vgrimes@utm.edu</a>.\r\n\r\n###','WestStar Leadership Program hosts 22nd-annual African American Leadership Conference April 20','The University of Tennessee at Martin WestStar Leadership Program is hosting the 22nd-annual African American Leadership Conference, themed “Challenges and Opportunities,” virtually from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., April 20.','inherit','closed','closed','','3163-autosave-v1','','','2021-04-05 08:53:21','2021-04-05 13:53:21','',3163,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/05/3163-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3174,6,'2021-04-06 16:11:45','2021-04-06 21:11:45','Now over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the phrase “the new normal” has inspired innovation and creativity in everyday life, which is evident in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Music’s spring opera titled “The New Normal.” The opera will broadcast on the department’s Facebook and YouTube accounts at 8 p.m., April 16-17, for public viewing as a part of the CulturEd Online series.\r\n\r\n“The New Normal” was written and composed by UT Martin professors of music Dr. Roberto Mancusi and Dr. Mark Simmons and features the struggles students and teachers had to overcome during the pandemic in a Zoom-style classroom. The opera uses real-world experiences to connect with audience members, such as internet connectivity issues and decisions based on morality in a virtual learning environment.\r\n<blockquote>“I just hope people have fun and enjoy something that is different, that students have worked hard for even in trying times,” said Mancusi. “I tried to walk a fine line with the story and the music because there is a message in it. … If nothing else, everyone is feeling the same thing (during the pandemic). It has been cliché this whole time because we are all in this together, and as soon as we realize that, the easier things will be, even a little bit.”</blockquote>\r\nThe opera will be archived for later viewing.\r\n\r\nFor more information about the opera, contact Mancusi at <a href=\"mailto:rmancusi@utm.edu\">rmancusi@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','\'The New Normal\' spring opera to debut April 16','Now over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the phrase “the new normal” has inspired innovation and creativity in everyday life, which is evident in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Music’s spring opera titled “The New Normal.”','inherit','closed','closed','','3172-revision-v1','','','2021-04-06 16:11:45','2021-04-06 21:11:45','',3172,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/06/3172-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3179,6,'2021-04-09 11:25:09','2021-04-09 16:25:09','','02092021_WUTMGroup015','','inherit','closed','closed','','02092021_wutmgroup015','','','2021-04-09 11:25:09','2021-04-09 16:25:09','',3178,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/02092021_WUTMGroup015.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3180,6,'2021-04-09 11:26:10','2021-04-09 16:26:10','','02092021_WUTMGroup015','','inherit','closed','closed','','02092021_wutmgroup015-2','','','2021-04-09 11:26:10','2021-04-09 16:26:10','',3178,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/02092021_WUTMGroup015-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3181,6,'2021-04-09 11:26:48','2021-04-09 16:26:48','','02092021_WUTMGroup015','The 2020-21 WUTM 90.3 FM \"The Hawk\" executive staff','inherit','closed','closed','','02092021_wutmgroup015-3','','','2021-04-09 11:28:14','2021-04-09 16:28:14','',3178,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/02092021_WUTMGroup015-2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3182,6,'2021-04-09 11:29:50','2021-04-09 16:29:50','WUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk,” the University of Tennessee at Martin student-run campus radio station, won 14 awards from the 2021 virtual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Annual Conference.\r\n\r\nFor the 11<sup>th</sup> consecutive year, WUTM won the Platinum Award, which is the highest peer-reviewed award given by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System.\r\n\r\nWUTM won one first-place award, as well as 12 top-five finalist awards at the conference, including the designation as one of the top-five best college radio stations with under 10,000 students enrolled. WUTM has earned a position in the top five for this category nine of the past 10 years.\r\n<blockquote>“Once again, the students of WUTM under the direction of Dr. Richard Robinson immensely impressed our judges,” said Chris Thomas, IBS president. “Year after year, when they see entries from 90.3 The Hawk, they know they will not be disappointed.  Congratulations to the students and staff of WUTM on these accomplishments. They should be very proud of their work.”</blockquote>\r\nThe station’s finalist awards also include best newscast, best spot news coverage, and best live broadcast promotional event by the WUTM staff, as well as two best underwriting spots.\r\n\r\nKayla Brooks, a senior communications major from Dickson, won first place in community news coverage for her newscasts of the protests in Martin, and received finalist awards in best on-air personality, as well as best station blog and best news promotion in partnership with the WUTM staff.\r\n\r\nDylan Ingram, a junior communications major from Martin, won finalist awards for best use of social media and best celebrity/artist interview. In partnership with Ingram, Davis Gregory, a sophomore communications major from Knoxville, won finalist awards for best football play-by-play and best women’s basketball play-by-play.\r\n\r\n“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and given the fact that our broadcast students were working remotely much of this academic year, our students and WUTM did very well in this competition,” Dr. Richard Robinson, WUTM faculty adviser, said. “I think that speaks well for our students and their commitment to broadcast excellence for ‘The Hawk.’”\r\n\r\nWUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk” is produced by the Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communications. For more information, contact Robinson at 731-881-7555 or <a href=\"mailto:rrobins@utm.edu\">rrobins@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','\'The Hawk\' wins 14 national awards amid pandemic restrictions','WUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk,” the University of Tennessee at Martin student-run campus radio station, won 14 awards from the 2021 virtual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Annual Conference.','inherit','closed','closed','','3178-revision-v1','','','2021-04-09 11:29:50','2021-04-09 16:29:50','',3178,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/09/3178-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3176,6,'2021-04-08 12:54:28','2021-04-08 17:54:28','','\'The New Normal\'','','inherit','closed','closed','','the-new-normal','','','2021-04-08 12:54:28','2021-04-08 17:54:28','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-New-Normal.jpeg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3183,6,'2021-04-09 11:30:15','2021-04-09 16:30:15','WUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk,” the University of Tennessee at Martin student-run campus radio station, won 14 awards from the 2021 virtual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Annual Conference.\r\n\r\nFor the 11<sup>th</sup> consecutive year, WUTM won the Platinum Award, which is the highest peer-reviewed award given by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System.\r\n\r\nWUTM won one first-place award, as well as 12 top-five finalist awards at the conference, including the designation as one of the top-five best college radio stations with under 10,000 students enrolled. WUTM has earned a position in the top five for this category nine of the past 10 years.\r\n<blockquote>“Once again, the students of WUTM under the direction of Dr. Richard Robinson immensely impressed our judges,” said Chris Thomas, IBS president. “Year after year, when they see entries from 90.3 The Hawk, they know they will not be disappointed.  Congratulations to the students and staff of WUTM on these accomplishments. They should be very proud of their work.”</blockquote>\r\nThe station’s finalist awards also include best newscast, best spot news coverage, and best live broadcast promotional event by the WUTM staff, as well as two best underwriting spots.\r\n\r\nKayla Brooks, a senior communications major from Dickson, won first place in community news coverage for her newscasts of the protests in Martin, and received finalist awards in best on-air personality, as well as best station blog and best news promotion in partnership with the WUTM staff.\r\n\r\nDylan Ingram, a junior communications major from Martin, won finalist awards for best use of social media and best celebrity/artist interview. In partnership with Ingram, Davis Gregory, a sophomore communications major from Knoxville, won finalist awards for best football play-by-play and best women’s basketball play-by-play.\r\n<blockquote>“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and given the fact that our broadcast students were working remotely much of this academic year, our students and WUTM did very well in this competition,” Dr. Richard Robinson, WUTM faculty adviser, said. “I think that speaks well for our students and their commitment to broadcast excellence for ‘The Hawk.’”</blockquote>\r\nWUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk” is produced by the Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communications. For more information, contact Robinson at 731-881-7555 or <a href=\"mailto:rrobins@utm.edu\">rrobins@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','\'The Hawk\' wins 14 national awards amid pandemic restrictions','WUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk,” the University of Tennessee at Martin student-run campus radio station, won 14 awards from the 2021 virtual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Annual Conference.','inherit','closed','closed','','3178-autosave-v1','','','2021-04-09 11:30:15','2021-04-09 16:30:15','',3178,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/09/3178-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3184,6,'2021-04-09 11:30:21','2021-04-09 16:30:21','WUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk,” the University of Tennessee at Martin student-run campus radio station, won 14 awards from the 2021 virtual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Annual Conference.\r\n\r\nFor the 11<sup>th</sup> consecutive year, WUTM won the Platinum Award, which is the highest peer-reviewed award given by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System.\r\n\r\nWUTM won one first-place award, as well as 12 top-five finalist awards at the conference, including the designation as one of the top-five best college radio stations with under 10,000 students enrolled. WUTM has earned a position in the top five for this category nine of the past 10 years.\r\n<blockquote>“Once again, the students of WUTM under the direction of Dr. Richard Robinson immensely impressed our judges,” said Chris Thomas, IBS president. “Year after year, when they see entries from 90.3 The Hawk, they know they will not be disappointed.  Congratulations to the students and staff of WUTM on these accomplishments. They should be very proud of their work.”</blockquote>\r\nThe station’s finalist awards also include best newscast, best spot news coverage, and best live broadcast promotional event by the WUTM staff, as well as two best underwriting spots.\r\n\r\nKayla Brooks, a senior communications major from Dickson, won first place in community news coverage for her newscasts of the protests in Martin, and received finalist awards in best on-air personality, as well as best station blog and best news promotion in partnership with the WUTM staff.\r\n\r\nDylan Ingram, a junior communications major from Martin, won finalist awards for best use of social media and best celebrity/artist interview. In partnership with Ingram, Davis Gregory, a sophomore communications major from Knoxville, won finalist awards for best football play-by-play and best women’s basketball play-by-play.\r\n<blockquote>“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and given the fact that our broadcast students were working remotely much of this academic year, our students and WUTM did very well in this competition,” Dr. Richard Robinson, WUTM faculty adviser, said. “I think that speaks well for our students and their commitment to broadcast excellence for ‘The Hawk.’”</blockquote>\r\nWUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk” is produced by the Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communications. For more information, contact Robinson at 731-881-7555 or <a href=\"mailto:rrobins@utm.edu\">rrobins@utm.edu</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','\'The Hawk\' wins 14 national awards amid pandemic restrictions','WUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk,” the University of Tennessee at Martin student-run campus radio station, won 14 awards from the 2021 virtual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Annual Conference.','inherit','closed','closed','','3178-revision-v1','','','2021-04-09 11:30:21','2021-04-09 16:30:21','',3178,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/09/3178-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3186,6,'2021-04-14 08:32:33','2021-04-14 13:32:33','Four Hickman County students have received the Bill and Rosann Nunnelly Family Scholarship from the University of Tennessee at Martin for the 2021-2022 academic year. The scholarship, funded by Bill and Rosann Nunnelly, is a four-year scholarship currently open to Hickman County residents.\r\n\r\nThe four recipients are incoming students in the class of 2025.\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Spencer Tomlinson, of Lyles, is a civil engineering major.</li>\r\n 	<li>Carlin Cochran, of Nunnelly, is a performing arts major.</li>\r\n 	<li>Jackson Thigpen, of Centerville, is a dietetics major.</li>\r\n 	<li>William Dixon, of Centerville, is an economics major.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIn addition to the four new recipients, nine UT Martin students have earned the Bill and Rosann Nunnelly Family Scholarship for another year. These students include Emma Copley, Olivia Craft, Faryn Matney, Alyssa Poff, Isaiah Puckett, Trinyti Taylor, Jacob Bybee, Elias Istre and Emmalee Matthews.\r\n\r\nThe Nunnellys announced in 2019 a $22 million bequest to UT Martin to fund scholarships where Bill earned his degree in 1970. The money was gifted to provide greater academic and financial opportunities to students from rural counties for future generations. Their gift is the largest in university history.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the UT Martin Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Four incoming students named 2021-22 recipients of Nunnelly scholarship','Four Hickman County students have received the Bill and Rosann Nunnelly Family Scholarship from the University of Tennessee at Martin for the 2021-2022 academic year. ','publish','closed','closed','','four-incoming-students-named-2021-22-recipients-of-nunnelly-scholarship','','','2021-04-14 08:33:48','2021-04-14 13:33:48','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3186',0,'post','',0),(3187,6,'2021-04-14 08:23:45','2021-04-14 13:23:45','','06202019_Nunnelly022','','inherit','closed','closed','','06202019_nunnelly022','','','2021-04-14 08:23:45','2021-04-14 13:23:45','',3186,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06202019_Nunnelly022.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3188,6,'2021-04-14 08:25:02','2021-04-14 13:25:02','','06202019_Nunnelly022','Rosann and Bill Nunnelly announced a $22 million bequest to UT Martin in 2019 to fund scholarships for students from rural communities. ','inherit','closed','closed','','06202019_nunnelly022-2','','','2021-04-14 08:32:29','2021-04-14 13:32:29','',3186,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06202019_Nunnelly022-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3189,6,'2021-04-14 08:32:33','2021-04-14 13:32:33','Four Hickman County students have received the Bill and Rosann Nunnelly Family Scholarship from the University of Tennessee at Martin for the 2021-2022 academic year. The scholarship, funded by Bill and Rosann Nunnelly, is a four-year scholarship currently open to Hickman County residents.\r\n\r\nThe four recipients are incoming students in the class of 2025.\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Spencer Tomlinson, of Lyles, is a civil engineering major.</li>\r\n 	<li>Carlin Cochran, of Nunnelly, is a performing arts major.</li>\r\n 	<li>Jackson Thigpen, of Centerville, is a dietetics major.</li>\r\n 	<li>William Dixon, of Centerville, is an economics major.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIn addition to the four new recipients, nine UT Martin students have earned the Bill and Rosann Nunnelly Family Scholarship for another year. These students include Emma Copley, Olivia Craft, Faryn Matney, Alyssa Poff, Isaiah Puckett, Trinyti Taylor, Jacob Bybee, Elias Istre and Emmalee Matthews.\r\n\r\nThe Nunnellys announced in 2019 a $22 million bequest to UT Martin to fund scholarships where Bill earned his degree in 1970. The money was gifted to provide greater academic and financial opportunities to students from rural counties for future generations. Their gift is the largest in university history.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the UT Martin Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Four incoming students named 2021-22 recipients of Nunnelly scholarship','Four Hickman County students have received the Bill and Rosann Nunnelly Family Scholarship from the University of Tennessee at Martin for the 2021-2022 academic year. ','inherit','closed','closed','','3186-revision-v1','','','2021-04-14 08:32:33','2021-04-14 13:32:33','',3186,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/14/3186-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3191,6,'2021-04-14 15:41:59','2021-04-14 20:41:59','','LEIC_Belew and Morton 4-2021','','inherit','closed','closed','','leic_belew-and-morton-4-2021','','','2021-04-14 15:41:59','2021-04-14 20:41:59','',3190,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LEIC_Belew-and-Morton-4-2021.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3192,6,'2021-04-14 15:43:25','2021-04-14 20:43:25','','LEIC_Belew and Morton 4-2021','','inherit','closed','closed','','leic_belew-and-morton-4-2021-2','','','2021-04-14 15:43:25','2021-04-14 20:43:25','',3190,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LEIC_Belew-and-Morton-4-2021-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3193,6,'2021-04-14 15:44:54','2021-04-14 20:44:54','','LEIC_Belew and Morton 4-2021','Monte Belew is pictured in March on the main campus with Morton, the department’s service dog, and UT Martin students (l to r) Carly Bartolo, of Chapel Hill; Darien Quinones, of Parsippany, New Jersey; Daniel Arellanes, of Brownsville; and Jeremy Martinez, of Jackson. ','inherit','closed','closed','','leic_belew-and-morton-4-2021-3','','','2021-04-14 15:45:40','2021-04-14 20:45:40','',3190,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LEIC_Belew-and-Morton-4-2021-2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3194,6,'2021-04-14 15:47:50','2021-04-14 20:47:50','Officers from the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Public Safety will participate in training to help increase their cultural competency and reduce biased-based policing to better serve the main campus and surrounding area. The training will be held April 19-21 in the Boling University Center’s Smith Legislative Chamber.\r\n\r\nThis new, three-day certification program is offered by the UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center, an agency of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service. All UT System law enforcement agencies will receive the training before it’s eventually launched nationwide.\r\n\r\n“LEIC has created a national certification program for law enforcement agencies across Tennessee and nationwide,” said Rick Scarbrough, LEIC executive director. “This training will increase diversity in law enforcement and examine perceptions, stereotypes and cultural assumptions.”\r\n\r\nMonte Belew, who is serving in his first year as UT Martin director of public safety, is finding ways to bring a community-oriented policing approach to the university. He sees this training as an important step toward further implementing his vision.\r\n<blockquote>“We’re here to show respect, to serve the students and faculty of UTM and make the campus an even better place than it already is,” he said. “This training will help us recognize effective ways to build greater trust with those we serve.”</blockquote>\r\nLEIC is offering this training in partnership with the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles to meet the critical need of increasing diversity and cross-cultural competency and minimizing biased-based policing.\r\n\r\nIn December 2013, the UT Martin Department of Public Safety received full accreditation by the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police by meeting established standards of professionalism and accountability to the public they serve. Accreditation is a continuing process, and the department is committed to maintaining the progressive standards set by the association. The department received its second award in 2018.','UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center brings training to UT Martin public safety','Officers from the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Public Safety will participate in training to help increase their cultural competency and reduce biased-based policing to better serve the main campus and surrounding area. ','inherit','closed','closed','','3190-revision-v1','','','2021-04-14 15:47:50','2021-04-14 20:47:50','',3190,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/14/3190-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3212,2,'2021-04-27 22:27:02','2021-04-28 03:27:02','<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – Exactly five years to the day that the University of Tennessee at Martin earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference golf championship, the stars aligned for another title as the Skyhawks claimed both the team and individual hardware at the 2021 OVC Championships held at The Shoals on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Entering the day with a two-shot lead, UT Martin overcame a slow start to hold off a Belmont squad by the same two-stroke margin. Along with the other two teams in the featured pairing, the Skyhawks shot a 292 (+4) in Round 3 to finish up with an 861 (-3) for the tournament. That final score is the best OVC Championship 54-hole performance in school history and is 18 shots better than the 2015-16 squad shot on their way to the league title.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">At one point, UT Martin trailed by as many as three shots this afternoon but the Skyhawks persevered down the stretch. All 13 of their team birdies came from Holes No. 4 through No. 15, taking a seven-shot lead midway through the round before crossing the finish line on top. UT Martin completed the tournament with the most birdies (52) and ranking first out of 11 teams in par-5 scoring (4.75, -15).</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>“I don’t have the right words but I am so proud of this team,” Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford said. “We had guys come back for this moment right here and they have all worked their tail off. We are blessed and excited.”</blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Individually, Jack Story shot a 68 (-4) for the third consecutive day, tying Belmont’s Evan Davis for co-medalist accolades. It was a back-and-forth battle between two of the league’s elite golfers as Davis – the 2021 OVC Golfer of the Year – made birdies on his final two holes to equal Story’s final tally of 204 (-12). Story and Davis’ 204 is tied with Jacksonville State’s Jesus Montenegro (2019) and Morehead State’s Charlie Bowles (1981) for the best 54-hole score in OVC Championship history.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">“I don’t have the right words but I am so proud of this team,” Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford said. “We had guys come back for this moment right here and they have all worked their tail off. We are blessed and excited.”</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Story’s 68 was the best score for UT Martin today as the Dickson native tapped in five birdies and just one bogey to garner all-tournament status. His third career collegiate tournament win joins him alongside Brendon Caballero (2015) and Hunter Richardson (2016-17) as the only Skyhawks to chalk up OVC Championship medalist honors. He led the event in birdies (16) and par-4 scoring (3.80, -6) while topping UT Martin in par-3 scoring (2.75, -3).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Nick Wolf carded three birdies today on his way to a 74 (+2). He wrapped up his OVC Championship in 15<sup>th</sup> place with a 220 (+4) as he tied teammates Ross Redmont and Jacob Uehlein for the team lead in par-5 scoring (4.74, -6).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Redmont posted a 75 (+3) today that featured one birdie and 14 pars on the scorecard. Also shooting a 75 today was Uehlein, who began the back-nine with three birdies in a five-hole stretch. Uehlein wrapped up his first career OVC Championship appearance with a total score of 221 (+5), which ranked 17<sup>th</sup> in the field of 57 golfers.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Tate Chumley played at even-par over the final 11 holes today before finishing with a 76 (+4). He led the team with 36 pars in the tournament and finished with an overall score of 222 (+6), which was also the identical score for Redmont.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">With today’s win, the Skyhawks earned the OVC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Championship as the 2021 field will be announced on Wednesday, May 5 at 1 p.m. on the Golf Channel. The NCAA Regionals will take place on May 17-19 as UT Martin will find out if it is assigned to one of six sites that includes Noblesville, Indiana; Tallahassee, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Kingston Springs, Tennessee; and Cle Elum, Washington. The NCAA Championship will be held on May 28-June 2 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Skyhawk golf claims second OVC championship','Exactly five years to the day that the University of Tennessee at Martin earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference golf championship, the stars aligned for another title as the Skyhawks claimed both the team and individual hardware at the 2021 OVC Championships.','publish','closed','closed','','skyhawk-golf-emerges-victorious-for-second-ovc-championship-in-school-history','','','2021-04-27 22:37:04','2021-04-28 03:37:04','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3212',0,'post','',0),(3197,2,'2021-04-22 09:26:26','2021-04-22 14:26:26','MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin and the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer will host an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center at 11 a.m., Friday, April 30. University of Tennessee and UT Martin officials, including President Randy Boyd and Chancellor Keith Carver, will attend the event. A public opening is planned this summer.\r\n\r\nAs one of the most important fossil sites in the U.S., the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center is a 70-million-year-old exposed seafloor deposit that is home to almost 700 preserved marine species. The 240-acre property was acquired by lease in April 2020 by the university from the Pink Palace Family of Museums in Memphis after years of partnership for institutional field research, community outreach and instruction.\r\n\r\n“The ribbon-cutting ceremony is the first official step to opening a new phase in the history of science at the site,” said Dr. Michael Gibson, science center director and UT Martin professor of geology. “From this point forward, UT Martin will oversee the application of newer methods of conservation and study, along with expanded education. We will cut the ribbon and officially unveil what we’ve been working on and that has been 72-million years in the making.”\r\n<blockquote>“Everything at the Coon Creek Science Center is hands-on. You don’t just talk about it, you experience it.\"</blockquote>\r\nThe science center will host numerous educational programs year-round, including UT Martin faculty and student research opportunities, classes and internships, external geoscience professional and field training, educator training, summer camps and more. Visitors of all ages and professions can receive hands-on experience learning how to carefully find and extract fossils.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3199\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2048\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3199 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CC-snail-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1366\" /> A fossil found at Coon Creek[/caption]\r\n\r\n“Everything at the Coon Creek Science Center is hands-on. You don’t just talk about it, you experience it. Unlike most places, most of the fossils you dig up here, you get to keep, which includes one of the state symbols: the state fossil, the <em>Pterotrigonia thoracica</em>, or a pearly brooch clam, which was a UT Martin initiative,” Gibson said. “We want people to know that we are open and available, so come experience being a paleontologist for a day.”\r\n\r\nCourses taught at the center include, but are not limited to paleontology, geology, forensic geology, oceanography, ecology, astronomy and climatology. The property is managed by the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer.\r\n\r\nFor more information about the event or the Coon Creek Science Center, contact the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer at 731-646-1636.\r\n\r\n###','Ribbon-cutting ceremony set April 30 for Coon Creek Science Center','The University of Tennessee at Martin and the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer will host an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center at 11 a.m., Friday, April 30.','publish','closed','closed','','ribbon-cutting-ceremony-set-april-30-for-coon-creek-science-center','','','2021-04-22 09:27:29','2021-04-22 14:27:29','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3197',0,'post','',0),(3198,2,'2021-04-22 09:13:37','2021-04-22 14:13:37','','Coon Creek_Gibson 2021','Dr. Michael Gibson, director of the center and professor of geology, is pictured with a phytosaur cast from UT Martin’s extensive fossil collection, which includes one of the region’s largest collection of Coon Creek fossils (the cast is not part of the Coon Creek collection). A public opening is planned for this summer.','inherit','closed','closed','','coon-creek_gibson-2021','','','2021-04-22 09:15:16','2021-04-22 14:15:16','',3197,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Coon-Creek_Gibson-2021.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3199,2,'2021-04-22 09:18:23','2021-04-22 14:18:23','','CC snail 2','A fossil found at Coon Creek.','inherit','closed','closed','','cc-snail-2','','','2021-04-22 09:22:32','2021-04-22 14:22:32','',3197,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CC-snail-2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3200,2,'2021-04-22 09:26:26','2021-04-22 14:26:26','MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin and the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer will host an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center at 11 a.m., Friday, April 30. University of Tennessee and UT Martin officials, including President Randy Boyd and Chancellor Keith Carver, will attend the event. A public opening is planned this summer.\r\n\r\nAs one of the most important fossil sites in the U.S., the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center is a 70-million-year-old exposed seafloor deposit that is home to almost 700 preserved marine species. The 240-acre property was acquired by lease in April 2020 by the university from the Pink Palace Family of Museums in Memphis after years of partnership for institutional field research, community outreach and instruction.\r\n\r\n“The ribbon-cutting ceremony is the first official step to opening a new phase in the history of science at the site,” said Dr. Michael Gibson, science center director and UT Martin professor of geology. “From this point forward, UT Martin will oversee the application of newer methods of conservation and study, along with expanded education. We will cut the ribbon and officially unveil what we’ve been working on and that has been 72-million years in the making.”\r\n<blockquote>“Everything at the Coon Creek Science Center is hands-on. You don’t just talk about it, you experience it.\"</blockquote>\r\nThe science center will host numerous educational programs year-round, including UT Martin faculty and student research opportunities, classes and internships, external geoscience professional and field training, educator training, summer camps and more. Visitors of all ages and professions can receive hands-on experience learning how to carefully find and extract fossils.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-3199\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CC-snail-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\r\n“Everything at the Coon Creek Science Center is hands-on. You don’t just talk about it, you experience it. Unlike most places, most of the fossils you dig up here, you get to keep, which includes one of the state symbols: the state fossil, the <em>Pterotrigonia thoracica</em>, or a pearly brooch clam, which was a UT Martin initiative,” Gibson said. “We want people to know that we are open and available, so come experience being a paleontologist for a day.”\r\n\r\nCourses taught at the center include, but are not limited to paleontology, geology, forensic geology, oceanography, ecology, astronomy and climatology. The property is managed by the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer.\r\n\r\nFor more information about the event or the Coon Creek Science Center, contact the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer at 731-646-1636.\r\n\r\n###','Ribbon-cutting ceremony set April 30 for Coon Creek Science Center','The University of Tennessee at Martin and the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer will host an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center at 11 a.m., Friday, April 30.','inherit','closed','closed','','3197-revision-v1','','','2021-04-22 09:26:26','2021-04-22 14:26:26','',3197,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/22/3197-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3201,2,'2021-04-22 09:27:29','2021-04-22 14:27:29','MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin and the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer will host an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center at 11 a.m., Friday, April 30. University of Tennessee and UT Martin officials, including President Randy Boyd and Chancellor Keith Carver, will attend the event. A public opening is planned this summer.\r\n\r\nAs one of the most important fossil sites in the U.S., the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center is a 70-million-year-old exposed seafloor deposit that is home to almost 700 preserved marine species. The 240-acre property was acquired by lease in April 2020 by the university from the Pink Palace Family of Museums in Memphis after years of partnership for institutional field research, community outreach and instruction.\r\n\r\n“The ribbon-cutting ceremony is the first official step to opening a new phase in the history of science at the site,” said Dr. Michael Gibson, science center director and UT Martin professor of geology. “From this point forward, UT Martin will oversee the application of newer methods of conservation and study, along with expanded education. We will cut the ribbon and officially unveil what we’ve been working on and that has been 72-million years in the making.”\r\n<blockquote>“Everything at the Coon Creek Science Center is hands-on. You don’t just talk about it, you experience it.\"</blockquote>\r\nThe science center will host numerous educational programs year-round, including UT Martin faculty and student research opportunities, classes and internships, external geoscience professional and field training, educator training, summer camps and more. Visitors of all ages and professions can receive hands-on experience learning how to carefully find and extract fossils.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3199\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2048\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3199 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CC-snail-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1366\" /> A fossil found at Coon Creek[/caption]\r\n\r\n“Everything at the Coon Creek Science Center is hands-on. You don’t just talk about it, you experience it. Unlike most places, most of the fossils you dig up here, you get to keep, which includes one of the state symbols: the state fossil, the <em>Pterotrigonia thoracica</em>, or a pearly brooch clam, which was a UT Martin initiative,” Gibson said. “We want people to know that we are open and available, so come experience being a paleontologist for a day.”\r\n\r\nCourses taught at the center include, but are not limited to paleontology, geology, forensic geology, oceanography, ecology, astronomy and climatology. The property is managed by the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer.\r\n\r\nFor more information about the event or the Coon Creek Science Center, contact the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer at 731-646-1636.\r\n\r\n###','Ribbon-cutting ceremony set April 30 for Coon Creek Science Center','The University of Tennessee at Martin and the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer will host an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center at 11 a.m., Friday, April 30.','inherit','closed','closed','','3197-revision-v1','','','2021-04-22 09:27:29','2021-04-22 14:27:29','',3197,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/22/3197-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3202,2,'2021-04-23 08:46:16','2021-04-23 13:46:16','Two West Tennesseans were honored for their leadership, service and achievements during the 22<sup>nd</sup> African American Leadership Conference held virtually April 20. Ray Jones, of Brownsville, retired Haywood High School basketball coach, received the Outstanding Leadership Award, and Matthew Marshall, president and CEO of United Way of West Tennessee, received the Emerging Leader Award.\r\n\r\nThe conference is sponsored by the UT Martin WestStar Leadership Program, the City of Brownsville, Simmons Bank-Brownsville, West Tennessee Healthcare, Hardin County, Conner Real Estate, WestStar graduate Mark Heaston and the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service. The virtual conference attracted 140 registrants from 16 counties and featured speakers who addressed topics under the theme “Challenges and Opportunities.” The event was canceled in 2020 for the first time in its history because of the pandemic.\r\n\r\nThe awards are each presented annually to individuals who have made a positive impact in their cities or counties. The Emerging Leader Award differs only in that it’s given to individuals under 40 years of age. Potential candidates are nominated by current conference committee members and must have strong records of leadership in West Tennessee during the past five years.\r\n\r\nJones had a lengthy career as a basketball coach and received “Coach of the Year” awards on multiple occasions. After retirement, he became the director of the local Boys &amp; Girls Club and was recognized as the “Outstanding Full-Time Employee” for youth-development professionals at the 2018 Boys &amp; Girls Club All-Staff Conference.\r\n\r\nHe has served on the boards of the Elma Ross Library, the Brownsville/Haywood Chamber of Commerce and the Brownsville/Haywood Arts Council and is currently a member of the NAACP and the Carver-Dunbar Alumni Association. He is also president of the Bradley Jones Foundation, a suicide prevention non-profit.\r\n\r\nMarshall was formerly the executive director and head of school at Hands Up! Preschool, and spent eight years at Union University as the director for the Center for Racial Reconciliation, service and diversity initiatives, and student success.\r\n\r\nHe currently serves as the chair of the Anti-Poverty Task Force for the City of Jackson, the chair of the Jackson-Madison County Equity Project, as well as a team member of the City of Jackson Recovery Court and the Jackson-Madison County School System Parent Council.\r\n\r\nFor more information about the conference or the awards, contact the WestStar Leadership Program at 731-881-7787.\r\n\r\n###','Retired basketball coach, United Way CEO, honored for leadership','Two West Tennesseans were honored for their leadership, service and achievements during the 22nd African American Leadership Conference held virtually April 20. ','publish','closed','closed','','retired-basketball-coach-united-way-ceo-honored-for-leadership','','','2021-04-23 08:46:51','2021-04-23 13:46:51','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3202',0,'post','',0),(3204,2,'2021-04-23 08:35:53','2021-04-23 13:35:53','','WestStarAALCAwards','','inherit','closed','closed','','weststaraalcawards-2','','','2021-04-23 08:35:53','2021-04-23 13:35:53','',3202,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WestStarAALCAwards-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3205,2,'2021-04-23 08:36:53','2021-04-23 13:36:53','','WestStarAALCAwards','','inherit','closed','closed','','weststaraalcawards-3','','','2021-04-23 08:36:53','2021-04-23 13:36:53','',3202,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WestStarAALCAwards-2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3203,2,'2021-04-23 08:34:52','2021-04-23 13:34:52','','WestStarAALCAwards','','inherit','closed','closed','','weststaraalcawards','','','2021-04-23 08:34:52','2021-04-23 13:34:52','',3202,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WestStarAALCAwards.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3206,2,'2021-04-23 08:37:53','2021-04-23 13:37:53','','WestStarAALCAwards','','inherit','closed','closed','','weststaraalcawards-4','','','2021-04-23 08:37:53','2021-04-23 13:37:53','',3202,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WestStarAALCAwards-3.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3207,2,'2021-04-23 08:40:12','2021-04-23 13:40:12','','WestStarAALCAwards','Matthew Marshall (left), president and CEO of United Way of West Tennessee, is pictured as the recipient of the African American Conference Emerging Leader Award. Ray Jones, retired basketball coach and community leader, is pictured as the recipient of the African American Conference Outstanding Leadership Award.','inherit','closed','closed','','weststaraalcawards-5','','','2021-04-23 08:44:38','2021-04-23 13:44:38','',3202,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WestStarAALCAwards-4.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3208,2,'2021-04-23 08:46:16','2021-04-23 13:46:16','Two West Tennesseans were honored for their leadership, service and achievements during the 22<sup>nd</sup> African American Leadership Conference held virtually April 20. Ray Jones, of Brownsville, retired Haywood High School basketball coach, received the Outstanding Leadership Award, and Matthew Marshall, president and CEO of United Way of West Tennessee, received the Emerging Leader Award.\r\n\r\nThe conference is sponsored by the UT Martin WestStar Leadership Program, the City of Brownsville, Simmons Bank-Brownsville, West Tennessee Healthcare, Hardin County, Conner Real Estate, WestStar graduate Mark Heaston and the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service. The virtual conference attracted 140 registrants from 16 counties and featured speakers who addressed topics under the theme “Challenges and Opportunities.” The event was canceled in 2020 for the first time in its history because of the pandemic.\r\n\r\nThe awards are each presented annually to individuals who have made a positive impact in their cities or counties. The Emerging Leader Award differs only in that it’s given to individuals under 40 years of age. Potential candidates are nominated by current conference committee members and must have strong records of leadership in West Tennessee during the past five years.\r\n\r\nJones had a lengthy career as a basketball coach and received “Coach of the Year” awards on multiple occasions. After retirement, he became the director of the local Boys &amp; Girls Club and was recognized as the “Outstanding Full-Time Employee” for youth-development professionals at the 2018 Boys &amp; Girls Club All-Staff Conference.\r\n\r\nHe has served on the boards of the Elma Ross Library, the Brownsville/Haywood Chamber of Commerce and the Brownsville/Haywood Arts Council and is currently a member of the NAACP and the Carver-Dunbar Alumni Association. He is also president of the Bradley Jones Foundation, a suicide prevention non-profit.\r\n\r\nMarshall was formerly the executive director and head of school at Hands Up! Preschool, and spent eight years at Union University as the director for the Center for Racial Reconciliation, service and diversity initiatives, and student success.\r\n\r\nHe currently serves as the chair of the Anti-Poverty Task Force for the City of Jackson, the chair of the Jackson-Madison County Equity Project, as well as a team member of the City of Jackson Recovery Court and the Jackson-Madison County School System Parent Council.\r\n\r\nFor more information about the conference or the awards, contact the WestStar Leadership Program at 731-881-7787.\r\n\r\n###','Retired basketball coach, United Way CEO, honored for leadership','','inherit','closed','closed','','3202-revision-v1','','','2021-04-23 08:46:16','2021-04-23 13:46:16','',3202,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/23/3202-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3209,2,'2021-04-23 08:46:42','2021-04-23 13:46:42','Two West Tennesseans were honored for their leadership, service and achievements during the 22<sup>nd</sup> African American Leadership Conference held virtually April 20. Ray Jones, of Brownsville, retired Haywood High School basketball coach, received the Outstanding Leadership Award, and Matthew Marshall, president and CEO of United Way of West Tennessee, received the Emerging Leader Award.\r\n\r\nThe conference is sponsored by the UT Martin WestStar Leadership Program, the City of Brownsville, Simmons Bank-Brownsville, West Tennessee Healthcare, Hardin County, Conner Real Estate, WestStar graduate Mark Heaston and the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service. The virtual conference attracted 140 registrants from 16 counties and featured speakers who addressed topics under the theme “Challenges and Opportunities.” The event was canceled in 2020 for the first time in its history because of the pandemic.\r\n\r\nThe awards are each presented annually to individuals who have made a positive impact in their cities or counties. The Emerging Leader Award differs only in that it’s given to individuals under 40 years of age. Potential candidates are nominated by current conference committee members and must have strong records of leadership in West Tennessee during the past five years.\r\n\r\nJones had a lengthy career as a basketball coach and received “Coach of the Year” awards on multiple occasions. After retirement, he became the director of the local Boys &amp; Girls Club and was recognized as the “Outstanding Full-Time Employee” for youth-development professionals at the 2018 Boys &amp; Girls Club All-Staff Conference.\r\n\r\nHe has served on the boards of the Elma Ross Library, the Brownsville/Haywood Chamber of Commerce and the Brownsville/Haywood Arts Council and is currently a member of the NAACP and the Carver-Dunbar Alumni Association. He is also president of the Bradley Jones Foundation, a suicide prevention non-profit.\r\n\r\nMarshall was formerly the executive director and head of school at Hands Up! Preschool, and spent eight years at Union University as the director for the Center for Racial Reconciliation, service and diversity initiatives, and student success.\r\n\r\nHe currently serves as the chair of the Anti-Poverty Task Force for the City of Jackson, the chair of the Jackson-Madison County Equity Project, as well as a team member of the City of Jackson Recovery Court and the Jackson-Madison County School System Parent Council.\r\n\r\nFor more information about the conference or the awards, contact the WestStar Leadership Program at 731-881-7787.\r\n\r\n###','Retired basketball coach, United Way CEO, honored for leadership','Two West Tennesseans were honored for their leadership, service and achievements during the 22nd African American Leadership Conference held virtually April 20. ','inherit','closed','closed','','3202-revision-v1','','','2021-04-23 08:46:42','2021-04-23 13:46:42','',3202,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/23/3202-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3228,2,'2021-05-03 18:36:04','2021-05-03 23:36:04','UT President Randy Boyd called the Coon Creek Science Center arguably the largest classroom now in the University of Tennessee System. UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver noted that the center property has been around millions of years longer than UT Knoxville predecessor Blount College, which was founded in 1794. Both shared their excitement about the center with elected and university officials, center volunteers and students during an 11 a.m. invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center. The center is located off Hardin Graveyard Road in rural McNairy County.\r\n\r\nAs one of the most important fossil sites in the U.S., the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center is a 70-plus million-year-old exposed seafloor deposit that’s home to almost 700 preserved marine species. The 240-acre property was acquired by lease in April 2020 by the university from the Pink Palace Family of Museums in Memphis after years of partnership for institutional field research, community outreach and instruction.\r\n\r\n“The ribbon-cutting ceremony is the first official step to opening a new phase in the history of science at the site,” said Dr. Michael Gibson before the event. Gibson is science center director and UT Martin professor of geology. “From this point forward, UT Martin will oversee the application of newer methods of conservation and study, along with expanded education.”\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3230\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2048\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3230 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening002.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" /> UT President Randy Boyd speaks to a small crowd during an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center located off Hardin Graveyard Road in rural McNairy County.[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe science center will host various educational programs year-round, including UT Martin faculty and student research opportunities, classes and internships, external geoscience professional and field training, educator training, summer camps and more. Visitors of all ages and professions can receive hands-on experience learning how to carefully find and extract fossils.\r\n\r\nBoyd referenced UT’s new Be One UT values as he described the center’s potential impact. “The ‘B’ in the values stands for being ‘bold and impactful,’ and I think this (the center) is definitely bold and impactful,” Boyd said. “The ‘N’ stands for being ‘nimble and innovative,’ and this is incredibly nimble, it’s incredibly innovative – something that we don’t have anywhere else in the UT System, an incredible opportunity.\r\n\r\n“The ‘U’ stands for ‘united and connected,’ and this project is something that we’re doing with K-12 schools,” he continued. “We’re doing it with 4-H and through all the different community partners. It’s one of the things that the University of Tennessee strives to do is to work with our connections, not just within the campuses but also with all the communities across the state.”\r\n<blockquote>“UT Martin’s commitment to the Coon Creek Science Center will provide high-impact educational experiences in and out of the classroom and, additionally, will educate responsible citizens for careers, professions and service, while conserving this site for future generations.”</blockquote>\r\nCarver followed Boyd on the program, reviewed the site’s history and told how the Pink Palace Museum and the city of Memphis guaranteed the fossil site’s preservation and conservation in 1988 when the museum acquired the site and built the Coon Creek Science Center. “But beginning in the early 1990s and continuing through today, UT Martin geosciences have partnered with the Pink Palace in a unique and successful partnership/collaboration that’s established this site as one of the premier fossil sites for research and field-based STEM education in the region,” said Carver. He thanked museum officials for their work leading to the long-term lease agreement.\r\n\r\n“UT Martin’s commitment to the Coon Creek Science Center will provide high-impact educational experiences in and out of the classroom and, additionally, will educate responsible citizens for careers, professions and service, while conserving this site for future generations,” he said, adding, “We could not be more excited about this partnership.”\r\n\r\nA lunch and program for attendees at the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer followed the ribbon-cutting event. Alan Youngerman, center director, and Gibson led the program, which included a more detailed overview from Gibson about Coon Creek’s significance in the paleontology world.\r\n\r\nGibson noted that Stephen J. Gould, a well-known Harvard University paleobiologist, once described Coon Creek as a top-10 fossil site in all of North America. Gibson shared examples of Coon Creek’s well-preserved fossils and invited those attending to return sometime for a fossil dig. His only advice: Dress for the occasion.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3231\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2048\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3231 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening003.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" /> Dr. Michael Gibson speaks about the Coon Creek Science Center during a program at the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer.[/caption]\r\n\r\n“If you’re going to come out there, you’re going to get dirty, so you need to dress accordingly,” said Gibson. “Because I’ll take you to the dirtiest spot.”\r\n\r\nThe property is managed by UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer, and more information is available by calling the center at 731-646-1636.','Ribbon-cutting signals new era for Coon Creek Science Center','UT President Randy Boyd called the Coon Creek Science Center arguably the largest classroom now in the University of Tennessee System.','publish','closed','closed','','ribbon-cutting-signals-new-era-for-coon-creek-science-center','','','2021-05-03 18:43:49','2021-05-03 23:43:49','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3228',0,'post','',0),(3213,2,'2021-04-27 22:24:35','2021-04-28 03:24:35','','178975287_10157775646001951_3287073175404527966_n','','inherit','closed','closed','','178975287_10157775646001951_3287073175404527966_n','','','2021-04-27 22:24:35','2021-04-28 03:24:35','',3212,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/178975287_10157775646001951_3287073175404527966_n.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3218,2,'2021-04-27 22:35:33','2021-04-28 03:35:33','<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – Exactly five years to the day that the University of Tennessee at Martin earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference golf championship, the stars aligned for another title as the Skyhawks claimed both the team and individual hardware at the 2021 OVC Championships held at The Shoals on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Entering the day with a two-shot lead, UT Martin overcame a slow start to hold off a Belmont squad by the same two-stroke margin. Along with the other two teams in the featured pairing, the Skyhawks shot a 292 (+4) in Round 3 to finish up with an 861 (-3) for the tournament. That final score is the best OVC Championship 54-hole performance in school history and is 18 shots better than the 2015-16 squad shot on their way to the league title.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">At one point, UT Martin trailed by as many as three shots this afternoon but the Skyhawks persevered down the stretch. All 13 of their team birdies came from Holes No. 4 through No. 15, taking a seven-shot lead midway through the round before crossing the finish line on top. UT Martin completed the tournament with the most birdies (52) and ranking first out of 11 teams in par-5 scoring (4.75, -15).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Individually, Jack Story shot a 68 (-4) for the third consecutive day, tying Belmont’s Evan Davis for co-medalist accolades. It was a back-and-forth battle between two of the league’s elite golfers as Davis – the 2021 OVC Golfer of the Year – made birdies on his final two holes to equal Story’s final tally of 204 (-12). Story and Davis’ 204 is tied with Jacksonville State’s Jesus Montenegro (2019) and Morehead State’s Charlie Bowles (1981) for the best 54-hole score in OVC Championship history.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">“I don’t have the right words but I am so proud of this team,” Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford said. “We had guys come back for this moment right here and they have all worked their tail off. We are blessed and excited.”</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Story’s 68 was the best score for UT Martin today as the Dickson native tapped in five birdies and just one bogey to garner all-tournament status. His third career collegiate tournament win joins him alongside Brendon Caballero (2015) and Hunter Richardson (2016-17) as the only Skyhawks to chalk up OVC Championship medalist honors. He led the event in birdies (16) and par-4 scoring (3.80, -6) while topping UT Martin in par-3 scoring (2.75, -3).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Nick Wolf carded three birdies today on his way to a 74 (+2). He wrapped up his OVC Championship in 15<sup>th</sup> place with a 220 (+4) as he tied teammates Ross Redmont and Jacob Uehlein for the team lead in par-5 scoring (4.74, -6).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Redmont posted a 75 (+3) today that featured one birdie and 14 pars on the scorecard. Also shooting a 75 today was Uehlein, who began the back-nine with three birdies in a five-hole stretch. Uehlein wrapped up his first career OVC Championship appearance with a total score of 221 (+5), which ranked 17<sup>th</sup> in the field of 57 golfers.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Tate Chumley played at even-par over the final 11 holes today before finishing with a 76 (+4). He led the team with 36 pars in the tournament and finished with an overall score of 222 (+6), which was also the identical score for Redmont.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">With today’s win, the Skyhawks earned the OVC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Championship as the 2021 field will be announced on Wednesday, May 5 at 1 p.m. on the Golf Channel. The NCAA Regionals will take place on May 17-19 as UT Martin will find out if it is assigned to one of six sites that includes Noblesville, Indiana; Tallahassee, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Kingston Springs, Tennessee; and Cle Elum, Washington. The NCAA Championship will be held on May 28-June 2 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.</p>\r\n###','Skyhawk golf claims second OVC championship','Exactly five years to the day that the University of Tennessee at Martin earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference golf championship, the stars aligned for another title as the Skyhawks claimed both the team and individual hardware at the 2021 OVC Championships.','inherit','closed','closed','','3212-revision-v1','','','2021-04-27 22:35:33','2021-04-28 03:35:33','',3212,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/27/3212-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3217,2,'2021-04-27 22:34:42','2021-04-28 03:34:42','<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – Exactly five years to the day that the University of Tennessee at Martin earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference golf championship, the stars aligned for another title as the Skyhawks claimed both the team and individual hardware at the 2021 OVC Championships held at The Shoals on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Entering the day with a two-shot lead, UT Martin overcame a slow start to hold off a Belmont squad by the same two-stroke margin. Along with the other two teams in the featured pairing, the Skyhawks shot a 292 (+4) in Round 3 to finish up with an 861 (-3) for the tournament. That final score is the best OVC Championship 54-hole performance in school history and is 18 shots better than the 2015-16 squad shot on their way to the league title.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">At one point, UT Martin trailed by as many as three shots this afternoon but the Skyhawks persevered down the stretch. All 13 of their team birdies came from Holes No. 4 through No. 15, taking a seven-shot lead midway through the round before crossing the finish line on top. UT Martin completed the tournament with the most birdies (52) and ranking first out of 11 teams in par-5 scoring (4.75, -15).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Individually, Jack Story shot a 68 (-4) for the third consecutive day, tying Belmont’s Evan Davis for co-medalist accolades. It was a back-and-forth battle between two of the league’s elite golfers as Davis – the 2021 OVC Golfer of the Year – made birdies on his final two holes to equal Story’s final tally of 204 (-12). Story and Davis’ 204 is tied with Jacksonville State’s Jesus Montenegro (2019) and Morehead State’s Charlie Bowles (1981) for the best 54-hole score in OVC Championship history.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">“I don’t have the right words but I am so proud of this team,” Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford said. “We had guys come back for this moment right here and they have all worked their tail off. We are blessed and excited.”</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Story’s 68 was the best score for UT Martin today as the Dickson native tapped in five birdies and just one bogey to garner all-tournament status. His third career collegiate tournament win joins him alongside Brendon Caballero (2015) and Hunter Richardson (2016-17) as the only Skyhawks to chalk up OVC Championship medalist honors. He led the event in birdies (16) and par-4 scoring (3.80, -6) while topping UT Martin in par-3 scoring (2.75, -3).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Nick Wolf carded three birdies today on his way to a 74 (+2). He wrapped up his OVC Championship in 15<sup>th</sup> place with a 220 (+4) as he tied teammates Ross Redmont and Jacob Uehlein for the team lead in par-5 scoring (4.74, -6).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Redmont posted a 75 (+3) today that featured one birdie and 14 pars on the scorecard. Also shooting a 75 today was Uehlein, who began the back-nine with three birdies in a five-hole stretch. Uehlein wrapped up his first career OVC Championship appearance with a total score of 221 (+5), which ranked 17<sup>th</sup> in the field of 57 golfers.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Tate Chumley played at even-par over the final 11 holes today before finishing with a 76 (+4). He led the team with 36 pars in the tournament and finished with an overall score of 222 (+6), which was also the identical score for Redmont.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">With today’s win, the Skyhawks earned the OVC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Championship as the 2021 field will be announced on Wednesday, May 5 at 1 p.m. on the Golf Channel. The NCAA Regionals will take place on May 17-19 as UT Martin will find out if it is assigned to one of six sites that includes Noblesville, Indiana; Tallahassee, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Kingston Springs, Tennessee; and Cle Elum, Washington. The NCAA Championship will be held on May 28-June 2 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.</p>\r\n###','Skyhawk golf emerges victorious for second OVC championship in school history','Exactly five years to the day that the University of Tennessee at Martin earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference golf championship, the stars aligned for another title as the Skyhawks claimed both the team and individual hardware at the 2021 OVC Championships.','inherit','closed','closed','','3212-revision-v1','','','2021-04-27 22:34:42','2021-04-28 03:34:42','',3212,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/27/3212-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3214,2,'2021-04-27 22:27:02','2021-04-28 03:27:02','<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – Exactly five years to the day that the University of Tennessee at Martin earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference golf championship, the stars aligned for another title as the Skyhawks claimed both the team and individual hardware at the 2021 OVC Championships held at The Shoals on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Entering the day with a two-shot lead, UT Martin overcame a slow start to hold off a Belmont squad by the same two-stroke margin. Along with the other two teams in the featured pairing, the Skyhawks shot a 292 (+4) in Round 3 to finish up with an 861 (-3) for the tournament. That final score is the best OVC Championship 54-hole performance in school history and is 18 shots better than the 2015-16 squad shot on their way to the league title.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">At one point, UT Martin trailed by as many as three shots this afternoon but the Skyhawks persevered down the stretch. All 13 of their team birdies came from Holes No. 4 through No. 15, taking a seven-shot lead midway through the round before crossing the finish line on top. UT Martin completed the tournament with the most birdies (52) and ranking first out of 11 teams in par-5 scoring (4.75, -15).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Individually, Jack Story shot a 68 (-4) for the third consecutive day, tying Belmont’s Evan Davis for co-medalist accolades. It was a back-and-forth battle between two of the league’s elite golfers as Davis – the 2021 OVC Golfer of the Year – made birdies on his final two holes to equal Story’s final tally of 204 (-12). Story and Davis’ 204 is tied with Jacksonville State’s Jesus Montenegro (2019) and Morehead State’s Charlie Bowles (1981) for the best 54-hole score in OVC Championship history.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">“I don’t have the right words but I am so proud of this team,” Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford said. “We had guys come back for this moment right here and they have all worked their tail off. We are blessed and excited.”</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Story’s 68 was the best score for UT Martin today as the Dickson native tapped in five birdies and just one bogey to garner all-tournament status. His third career collegiate tournament win joins him alongside Brendon Caballero (2015) and Hunter Richardson (2016-17) as the only Skyhawks to chalk up OVC Championship medalist honors. He led the event in birdies (16) and par-4 scoring (3.80, -6) while topping UT Martin in par-3 scoring (2.75, -3).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Nick Wolf carded three birdies today on his way to a 74 (+2). He wrapped up his OVC Championship in 15<sup>th</sup> place with a 220 (+4) as he tied teammates Ross Redmont and Jacob Uehlein for the team lead in par-5 scoring (4.74, -6).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Redmont posted a 75 (+3) today that featured one birdie and 14 pars on the scorecard. Also shooting a 75 today was Uehlein, who began the back-nine with three birdies in a five-hole stretch. Uehlein wrapped up his first career OVC Championship appearance with a total score of 221 (+5), which ranked 17<sup>th</sup> in the field of 57 golfers.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Tate Chumley played at even-par over the final 11 holes today before finishing with a 76 (+4). He led the team with 36 pars in the tournament and finished with an overall score of 222 (+6), which was also the identical score for Redmont.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">With today’s win, the Skyhawks earned the OVC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Championship as the 2021 field will be announced on Wednesday, May 5 at 1 p.m. on the Golf Channel. The NCAA Regionals will take place on May 17-19 as UT Martin will find out if it is assigned to one of six sites that includes Noblesville, Indiana; Tallahassee, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Kingston Springs, Tennessee; and Cle Elum, Washington. The NCAA Championship will be held on May 28-June 2 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.</p>\r\n###','Skyhawk golf emerges victorious for second OVC championship in school history','Exactly five years to the day that the University of Tennessee at Martin earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference golf championship, the stars aligned for another title as the Skyhawks claimed both the team and individual hardware at the 2021 OVC Championships held at The Shoals on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.','inherit','closed','closed','','3212-revision-v1','','','2021-04-27 22:27:02','2021-04-28 03:27:02','',3212,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/27/3212-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3215,2,'2021-04-27 22:36:35','2021-04-28 03:36:35','<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – Exactly five years to the day that the University of Tennessee at Martin earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference golf championship, the stars aligned for another title as the Skyhawks claimed both the team and individual hardware at the 2021 OVC Championships held at The Shoals on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.</p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Entering the day with a two-shot lead, UT Martin overcame a slow start to hold off a Belmont squad by the same two-stroke margin. Along with the other two teams in the featured pairing, the Skyhawks shot a 292 (+4) in Round 3 to finish up with an 861 (-3) for the tournament. That final score is the best OVC Championship 54-hole performance in school history and is 18 shots better than the 2015-16 squad shot on their way to the league title.</p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">At one point, UT Martin trailed by as many as three shots this afternoon but the Skyhawks persevered down the stretch. All 13 of their team birdies came from Holes No. 4 through No. 15, taking a seven-shot lead midway through the round before crossing the finish line on top. UT Martin completed the tournament with the most birdies (52) and ranking first out of 11 teams in par-5 scoring (4.75, -15).</p>\n\n<blockquote>“I don’t have the right words but I am so proud of this team,” Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford said. “We had guys come back for this moment right here and they have all worked their tail off. We are blessed and excited.”</blockquote>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Individually, Jack Story shot a 68 (-4) for the third consecutive day, tying Belmont’s Evan Davis for co-medalist accolades. It was a back-and-forth battle between two of the league’s elite golfers as Davis – the 2021 OVC Golfer of the Year – made birdies on his final two holes to equal Story’s final tally of 204 (-12). Story and Davis’ 204 is tied with Jacksonville State’s Jesus Montenegro (2019) and Morehead State’s Charlie Bowles (1981) for the best 54-hole score in OVC Championship history.</p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">“I don’t have the right words but I am so proud of this team,” Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford said. “We had guys come back for this moment right here and they have all worked their tail off. We are blessed and excited.”</p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Story’s 68 was the best score for UT Martin today as the Dickson native tapped in five birdies and just one bogey to garner all-tournament status. His third career collegiate tournament win joins him alongside Brendon Caballero (2015) and Hunter Richardson (2016-17) as the only Skyhawks to chalk up OVC Championship medalist honors. He led the event in birdies (16) and par-4 scoring (3.80, -6) while topping UT Martin in par-3 scoring (2.75, -3).</p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Nick Wolf carded three birdies today on his way to a 74 (+2). He wrapped up his OVC Championship in 15<sup>th</sup> place with a 220 (+4) as he tied teammates Ross Redmont and Jacob Uehlein for the team lead in par-5 scoring (4.74, -6).</p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Redmont posted a 75 (+3) today that featured one birdie and 14 pars on the scorecard. Also shooting a 75 today was Uehlein, who began the back-nine with three birdies in a five-hole stretch. Uehlein wrapped up his first career OVC Championship appearance with a total score of 221 (+5), which ranked 17<sup>th</sup> in the field of 57 golfers.</p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Tate Chumley played at even-par over the final 11 holes today before finishing with a 76 (+4). He led the team with 36 pars in the tournament and finished with an overall score of 222 (+6), which was also the identical score for Redmont.</p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">With today’s win, the Skyhawks earned the OVC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Championship as the 2021 field will be announced on Wednesday, May 5 at 1 p.m. on the Golf Channel. The NCAA Regionals will take place on May 17-19 as UT Martin will find out if it is assigned to one of six sites that includes Noblesville, Indiana; Tallahassee, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Kingston Springs, Tennessee; and Cle Elum, Washington. The NCAA Championship will be held on May 28-June 2 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Skyhawk golf claims second OVC championship','Exactly five years to the day that the University of Tennessee at Martin earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference golf championship, the stars aligned for another title as the Skyhawks claimed both the team and individual hardware at the 2021 OVC Championships.','inherit','closed','closed','','3212-autosave-v1','','','2021-04-27 22:36:35','2021-04-28 03:36:35','',3212,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/27/3212-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3216,2,'2021-04-27 22:29:26','2021-04-28 03:29:26','','178975287_10157775646001951_3287073175404527966_n','','inherit','closed','closed','','178975287_10157775646001951_3287073175404527966_n-2','','','2021-04-27 22:29:26','2021-04-28 03:29:26','',3212,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/178975287_10157775646001951_3287073175404527966_n-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3219,2,'2021-04-27 22:37:04','2021-04-28 03:37:04','<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – Exactly five years to the day that the University of Tennessee at Martin earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference golf championship, the stars aligned for another title as the Skyhawks claimed both the team and individual hardware at the 2021 OVC Championships held at The Shoals on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Entering the day with a two-shot lead, UT Martin overcame a slow start to hold off a Belmont squad by the same two-stroke margin. Along with the other two teams in the featured pairing, the Skyhawks shot a 292 (+4) in Round 3 to finish up with an 861 (-3) for the tournament. That final score is the best OVC Championship 54-hole performance in school history and is 18 shots better than the 2015-16 squad shot on their way to the league title.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">At one point, UT Martin trailed by as many as three shots this afternoon but the Skyhawks persevered down the stretch. All 13 of their team birdies came from Holes No. 4 through No. 15, taking a seven-shot lead midway through the round before crossing the finish line on top. UT Martin completed the tournament with the most birdies (52) and ranking first out of 11 teams in par-5 scoring (4.75, -15).</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>“I don’t have the right words but I am so proud of this team,” Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford said. “We had guys come back for this moment right here and they have all worked their tail off. We are blessed and excited.”</blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Individually, Jack Story shot a 68 (-4) for the third consecutive day, tying Belmont’s Evan Davis for co-medalist accolades. It was a back-and-forth battle between two of the league’s elite golfers as Davis – the 2021 OVC Golfer of the Year – made birdies on his final two holes to equal Story’s final tally of 204 (-12). Story and Davis’ 204 is tied with Jacksonville State’s Jesus Montenegro (2019) and Morehead State’s Charlie Bowles (1981) for the best 54-hole score in OVC Championship history.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">“I don’t have the right words but I am so proud of this team,” Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford said. “We had guys come back for this moment right here and they have all worked their tail off. We are blessed and excited.”</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Story’s 68 was the best score for UT Martin today as the Dickson native tapped in five birdies and just one bogey to garner all-tournament status. His third career collegiate tournament win joins him alongside Brendon Caballero (2015) and Hunter Richardson (2016-17) as the only Skyhawks to chalk up OVC Championship medalist honors. He led the event in birdies (16) and par-4 scoring (3.80, -6) while topping UT Martin in par-3 scoring (2.75, -3).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Nick Wolf carded three birdies today on his way to a 74 (+2). He wrapped up his OVC Championship in 15<sup>th</sup> place with a 220 (+4) as he tied teammates Ross Redmont and Jacob Uehlein for the team lead in par-5 scoring (4.74, -6).</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Redmont posted a 75 (+3) today that featured one birdie and 14 pars on the scorecard. Also shooting a 75 today was Uehlein, who began the back-nine with three birdies in a five-hole stretch. Uehlein wrapped up his first career OVC Championship appearance with a total score of 221 (+5), which ranked 17<sup>th</sup> in the field of 57 golfers.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Tate Chumley played at even-par over the final 11 holes today before finishing with a 76 (+4). He led the team with 36 pars in the tournament and finished with an overall score of 222 (+6), which was also the identical score for Redmont.</p>\r\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">With today’s win, the Skyhawks earned the OVC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Championship as the 2021 field will be announced on Wednesday, May 5 at 1 p.m. on the Golf Channel. The NCAA Regionals will take place on May 17-19 as UT Martin will find out if it is assigned to one of six sites that includes Noblesville, Indiana; Tallahassee, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Kingston Springs, Tennessee; and Cle Elum, Washington. The NCAA Championship will be held on May 28-June 2 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Skyhawk golf claims second OVC championship','Exactly five years to the day that the University of Tennessee at Martin earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference golf championship, the stars aligned for another title as the Skyhawks claimed both the team and individual hardware at the 2021 OVC Championships.','inherit','closed','closed','','3212-revision-v1','','','2021-04-27 22:37:04','2021-04-28 03:37:04','',3212,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/27/3212-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3220,2,'2021-04-29 05:17:22','2021-04-29 10:17:22','Dr. Dawn Wilkins, a professor in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Biological Sciences, has been named the university’s 2021 spring semester Featured Faculty Scholar. She was honored April 15 with a reception in the Paul Meek Library, and her name will be added to a plaque bearing the names of past recipients that is permanently displayed in the library. Examples of her research can be seen in a case near the library’s main entrance.\r\n\r\nThe Featured Faculty Scholar award, instituted during the 1996-97 academic year, recognizes faculty members whose research and creative works are judged to be among the most prestigious of those produced by individuals in the UT Martin academic community.\r\n\r\nWilkins began her career at UT Martin in fall 2004 as an assistant professor. She was promoted to associate professor in 2008 and then to professor in 2013. Wilkins holds a bachelor’s degree from UT Martin, a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and a doctoral degree from Mississippi State University.\r\n<blockquote>“As a student at UT Martin, I participated in an undergraduate research project and was hired as a summer research technician working at Reelfoot Lake,” said Wilkins. “These experiences sparked my passion for birds and led me to pursue opportunities that allow me to incorporate this passion into my career.\"</blockquote>\r\nWilkins is a woodpecker biologist who has pursued projects with students investigating the ecology of various species including barred owls, osprey, herons and even the microbes that live in the digestive track of sapsuckers.\r\n\r\n“As a student at UT Martin, I participated in an undergraduate research project and was hired as a summer research technician working at Reelfoot Lake,” said Wilkins. “These experiences sparked my passion for birds and led me to pursue opportunities that allow me to incorporate this passion into my career. My hope for the UT Martin students that I mentor is that they find their passion through participating in active research projects and attending scientific meetings.”\r\n\r\nOutside of the classroom, Wilkins has served on many university committees and has been active in public service. “She is often invited as a speaker at other university and professional gatherings,” said Dr. Nancy Buschhaus, a professor and biological sciences interim chair. “She also serves as scientific judge, scientific advisor, moderator and scientific committee member for multiple professional scientific meetings and societies both within the state and within the region.”\r\n\r\nHer professional memberships include the American Ornithological Society, the Association of Southeastern Biologists, the Tennessee Ornithological Society and the Tennessee Academy of Sciences. Wilkins was previously honored for teaching and scholarship when she received one of two Cunningham Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Awards in spring 2016 by UT Martin.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Wilkins named Featured Faculty Scholar','Dr. Dawn Wilkins, a professor in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Biological Sciences, has been named the university’s 2021 spring semester Featured Faculty Scholar.','publish','closed','closed','','wilkins-named-featured-faculty-scholar','','','2021-04-29 05:20:18','2021-04-29 10:20:18','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3220',0,'post','',0),(3221,2,'2021-04-29 05:14:20','2021-04-29 10:14:20','','Faculty Scholar_Wilkins 2021','Dr. Dawn Wilkins, a professor in the UT Martin Department of Biological Sciences, has been named the university’s 2021 spring semester Featured Faculty Scholar. The award recognizes faculty members whose research and creative works are judged to be among the most prestigious of those produced by individuals in the UT Martin academic community. Examples of her research can be seen near the Paul Meek Library’s main entrance. In this file photo, Wilkins is pictured working with then UT Martin student Benjamin Chrestman, a natural resources management major from Adamsville, who graduated in May 2020.','inherit','closed','closed','','faculty-scholar_wilkins-2021','','','2021-04-29 05:14:46','2021-04-29 10:14:46','',3220,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Faculty-Scholar_Wilkins-2021.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3222,2,'2021-04-29 05:17:22','2021-04-29 10:17:22','Dr. Dawn Wilkins, a professor in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Biological Sciences, has been named the university’s 2021 spring semester Featured Faculty Scholar. She was honored April 15 with a reception in the Paul Meek Library, and her name will be added to a plaque bearing the names of past recipients that is permanently displayed in the library. Examples of her research can be seen in a case near the library’s main entrance.\r\n\r\nThe Featured Faculty Scholar award, instituted during the 1996-97 academic year, recognizes faculty members whose research and creative works are judged to be among the most prestigious of those produced by individuals in the UT Martin academic community.\r\n\r\nWilkins began her career at UT Martin in fall 2004 as an assistant professor. She was promoted to associate professor in 2008 and then to professor in 2013. Wilkins holds a bachelor’s degree from UT Martin, a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and a doctoral degree from Mississippi State University.\r\n\r\nWilkins is a woodpecker biologist who has pursued projects with students investigating the ecology of various species including barred owls, osprey, herons and even the microbes that live in the digestive track of sapsuckers.\r\n\r\n“As a student at UT Martin, I participated in an undergraduate research project and was hired as a summer research technician working at Reelfoot Lake,” said Wilkins. “These experiences sparked my passion for birds and led me to pursue opportunities that allow me to incorporate this passion into my career. My hope for the UT Martin students that I mentor is that they find their passion through participating in active research projects and attending scientific meetings.”\r\n\r\nOutside of the classroom, Wilkins has served on many university committees and has been active in public service. “She is often invited as a speaker at other university and professional gatherings,” said Dr. Nancy Buschhaus, a professor and biological sciences interim chair. “She also serves as scientific judge, scientific advisor, moderator and scientific committee member for multiple professional scientific meetings and societies both within the state and within the region.”\r\n\r\nHer professional memberships include the American Ornithological Society, the Association of Southeastern Biologists, the Tennessee Ornithological Society and the Tennessee Academy of Sciences. Wilkins was previously honored for teaching and scholarship when she received one of two Cunningham Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Awards in spring 2016 by UT Martin.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.','Wilkins named Featured Faculty Scholar','','inherit','closed','closed','','3220-revision-v1','','','2021-04-29 05:17:22','2021-04-29 10:17:22','',3220,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/29/3220-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3224,2,'2021-04-29 05:19:05','2021-04-29 10:19:05','Dr. Dawn Wilkins, a professor in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Biological Sciences, has been named the university’s 2021 spring semester Featured Faculty Scholar. She was honored April 15 with a reception in the Paul Meek Library, and her name will be added to a plaque bearing the names of past recipients that is permanently displayed in the library. Examples of her research can be seen in a case near the library’s main entrance.\r\n\r\nThe Featured Faculty Scholar award, instituted during the 1996-97 academic year, recognizes faculty members whose research and creative works are judged to be among the most prestigious of those produced by individuals in the UT Martin academic community.\r\n\r\nWilkins began her career at UT Martin in fall 2004 as an assistant professor. She was promoted to associate professor in 2008 and then to professor in 2013. Wilkins holds a bachelor’s degree from UT Martin, a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and a doctoral degree from Mississippi State University.\r\n<blockquote>“As a student at UT Martin, I participated in an undergraduate research project and was hired as a summer research technician working at Reelfoot Lake,” said Wilkins. “These experiences sparked my passion for birds and led me to pursue opportunities that allow me to incorporate this passion into my career.\"</blockquote>\r\nWilkins is a woodpecker biologist who has pursued projects with students investigating the ecology of various species including barred owls, osprey, herons and even the microbes that live in the digestive track of sapsuckers.\r\n\r\n“As a student at UT Martin, I participated in an undergraduate research project and was hired as a summer research technician working at Reelfoot Lake,” said Wilkins. “These experiences sparked my passion for birds and led me to pursue opportunities that allow me to incorporate this passion into my career. My hope for the UT Martin students that I mentor is that they find their passion through participating in active research projects and attending scientific meetings.”\r\n\r\nOutside of the classroom, Wilkins has served on many university committees and has been active in public service. “She is often invited as a speaker at other university and professional gatherings,” said Dr. Nancy Buschhaus, a professor and biological sciences interim chair. “She also serves as scientific judge, scientific advisor, moderator and scientific committee member for multiple professional scientific meetings and societies both within the state and within the region.”\r\n\r\nHer professional memberships include the American Ornithological Society, the Association of Southeastern Biologists, the Tennessee Ornithological Society and the Tennessee Academy of Sciences. Wilkins was previously honored for teaching and scholarship when she received one of two Cunningham Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Awards in spring 2016 by UT Martin.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.','Wilkins named Featured Faculty Scholar','','inherit','closed','closed','','3220-revision-v1','','','2021-04-29 05:19:05','2021-04-29 10:19:05','',3220,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/29/3220-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3223,2,'2021-04-29 05:18:21','2021-04-29 10:18:21','Dr. Dawn Wilkins, a professor in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Biological Sciences, has been named the university’s 2021 spring semester Featured Faculty Scholar. She was honored April 15 with a reception in the Paul Meek Library, and her name will be added to a plaque bearing the names of past recipients that is permanently displayed in the library. Examples of her research can be seen in a case near the library’s main entrance.\r\n\r\nThe Featured Faculty Scholar award, instituted during the 1996-97 academic year, recognizes faculty members whose research and creative works are judged to be among the most prestigious of those produced by individuals in the UT Martin academic community.\r\n\r\nWilkins began her career at UT Martin in fall 2004 as an assistant professor. She was promoted to associate professor in 2008 and then to professor in 2013. Wilkins holds a bachelor’s degree from UT Martin, a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and a doctoral degree from Mississippi State University.\r\n<blockquote>“As a student at UT Martin, I participated in an undergraduate research project and was hired as a summer research technician working at Reelfoot Lake,” said Wilkins. “These experiences sparked my passion for birds and led me to pursue opportunities that allow me to incorporate this passion into my career. My hope for the UT Martin students that I mentor is that they find their passion through participating in active research projects and attending scientific meetings.”</blockquote>\r\nWilkins is a woodpecker biologist who has pursued projects with students investigating the ecology of various species including barred owls, osprey, herons and even the microbes that live in the digestive track of sapsuckers.\r\n\r\n“As a student at UT Martin, I participated in an undergraduate research project and was hired as a summer research technician working at Reelfoot Lake,” said Wilkins. “These experiences sparked my passion for birds and led me to pursue opportunities that allow me to incorporate this passion into my career. My hope for the UT Martin students that I mentor is that they find their passion through participating in active research projects and attending scientific meetings.”\r\n\r\nOutside of the classroom, Wilkins has served on many university committees and has been active in public service. “She is often invited as a speaker at other university and professional gatherings,” said Dr. Nancy Buschhaus, a professor and biological sciences interim chair. “She also serves as scientific judge, scientific advisor, moderator and scientific committee member for multiple professional scientific meetings and societies both within the state and within the region.”\r\n\r\nHer professional memberships include the American Ornithological Society, the Association of Southeastern Biologists, the Tennessee Ornithological Society and the Tennessee Academy of Sciences. Wilkins was previously honored for teaching and scholarship when she received one of two Cunningham Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Awards in spring 2016 by UT Martin.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.','Wilkins named Featured Faculty Scholar','','inherit','closed','closed','','3220-revision-v1','','','2021-04-29 05:18:21','2021-04-29 10:18:21','',3220,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/29/3220-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3225,2,'2021-04-29 05:19:27','2021-04-29 10:19:27','Dr. Dawn Wilkins, a professor in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Biological Sciences, has been named the university’s 2021 spring semester Featured Faculty Scholar. She was honored April 15 with a reception in the Paul Meek Library, and her name will be added to a plaque bearing the names of past recipients that is permanently displayed in the library. Examples of her research can be seen in a case near the library’s main entrance.\r\n\r\nThe Featured Faculty Scholar award, instituted during the 1996-97 academic year, recognizes faculty members whose research and creative works are judged to be among the most prestigious of those produced by individuals in the UT Martin academic community.\r\n\r\nWilkins began her career at UT Martin in fall 2004 as an assistant professor. She was promoted to associate professor in 2008 and then to professor in 2013. Wilkins holds a bachelor’s degree from UT Martin, a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and a doctoral degree from Mississippi State University.\r\n<blockquote>“As a student at UT Martin, I participated in an undergraduate research project and was hired as a summer research technician working at Reelfoot Lake,” said Wilkins. “These experiences sparked my passion for birds and led me to pursue opportunities that allow me to incorporate this passion into my career.\"</blockquote>\r\nWilkins is a woodpecker biologist who has pursued projects with students investigating the ecology of various species including barred owls, osprey, herons and even the microbes that live in the digestive track of sapsuckers.\r\n\r\n“As a student at UT Martin, I participated in an undergraduate research project and was hired as a summer research technician working at Reelfoot Lake,” said Wilkins. “These experiences sparked my passion for birds and led me to pursue opportunities that allow me to incorporate this passion into my career. My hope for the UT Martin students that I mentor is that they find their passion through participating in active research projects and attending scientific meetings.”\r\n\r\nOutside of the classroom, Wilkins has served on many university committees and has been active in public service. “She is often invited as a speaker at other university and professional gatherings,” said Dr. Nancy Buschhaus, a professor and biological sciences interim chair. “She also serves as scientific judge, scientific advisor, moderator and scientific committee member for multiple professional scientific meetings and societies both within the state and within the region.”\r\n\r\nHer professional memberships include the American Ornithological Society, the Association of Southeastern Biologists, the Tennessee Ornithological Society and the Tennessee Academy of Sciences. Wilkins was previously honored for teaching and scholarship when she received one of two Cunningham Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Awards in spring 2016 by UT Martin.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Wilkins named Featured Faculty Scholar','','inherit','closed','closed','','3220-revision-v1','','','2021-04-29 05:19:27','2021-04-29 10:19:27','',3220,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/29/3220-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3226,2,'2021-04-29 05:20:18','2021-04-29 10:20:18','Dr. Dawn Wilkins, a professor in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Biological Sciences, has been named the university’s 2021 spring semester Featured Faculty Scholar. She was honored April 15 with a reception in the Paul Meek Library, and her name will be added to a plaque bearing the names of past recipients that is permanently displayed in the library. Examples of her research can be seen in a case near the library’s main entrance.\r\n\r\nThe Featured Faculty Scholar award, instituted during the 1996-97 academic year, recognizes faculty members whose research and creative works are judged to be among the most prestigious of those produced by individuals in the UT Martin academic community.\r\n\r\nWilkins began her career at UT Martin in fall 2004 as an assistant professor. She was promoted to associate professor in 2008 and then to professor in 2013. Wilkins holds a bachelor’s degree from UT Martin, a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and a doctoral degree from Mississippi State University.\r\n<blockquote>“As a student at UT Martin, I participated in an undergraduate research project and was hired as a summer research technician working at Reelfoot Lake,” said Wilkins. “These experiences sparked my passion for birds and led me to pursue opportunities that allow me to incorporate this passion into my career.\"</blockquote>\r\nWilkins is a woodpecker biologist who has pursued projects with students investigating the ecology of various species including barred owls, osprey, herons and even the microbes that live in the digestive track of sapsuckers.\r\n\r\n“As a student at UT Martin, I participated in an undergraduate research project and was hired as a summer research technician working at Reelfoot Lake,” said Wilkins. “These experiences sparked my passion for birds and led me to pursue opportunities that allow me to incorporate this passion into my career. My hope for the UT Martin students that I mentor is that they find their passion through participating in active research projects and attending scientific meetings.”\r\n\r\nOutside of the classroom, Wilkins has served on many university committees and has been active in public service. “She is often invited as a speaker at other university and professional gatherings,” said Dr. Nancy Buschhaus, a professor and biological sciences interim chair. “She also serves as scientific judge, scientific advisor, moderator and scientific committee member for multiple professional scientific meetings and societies both within the state and within the region.”\r\n\r\nHer professional memberships include the American Ornithological Society, the Association of Southeastern Biologists, the Tennessee Ornithological Society and the Tennessee Academy of Sciences. Wilkins was previously honored for teaching and scholarship when she received one of two Cunningham Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Awards in spring 2016 by UT Martin.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Wilkins named Featured Faculty Scholar','Dr. Dawn Wilkins, a professor in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Biological Sciences, has been named the university’s 2021 spring semester Featured Faculty Scholar.','inherit','closed','closed','','3220-revision-v1','','','2021-04-29 05:20:18','2021-04-29 10:20:18','',3220,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/04/29/3220-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3229,2,'2021-05-03 18:31:33','2021-05-03 23:31:33','','04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening001','A ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 officially announced the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center in McNairy County. Pictured are (l to r) Dr. Charley Deal, vice chancellor, UT Martin University Advancement; Erica Bell, director, Office of Regional Centers and Online Programs; Larry Smith, mayor, McNairy County; Dr. Todd Winters, dean, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences; Alan Youngerman, director, UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer; Randy Boyd, president, the University of Tennessee; Dr. Michael Gibson, professor of geology and director, UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center; Dr. Keith Carver, chancellor, UT Martin; John Smith, mayor, Selmer; Rep. Ron Gant (R-94th District); and Kara Hill, city administrator, Adamsville.','inherit','closed','closed','','04302021_cooncreeksciencecenteropening001','','','2021-05-03 18:33:01','2021-05-03 23:33:01','',3228,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening001.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3230,2,'2021-05-03 18:32:00','2021-05-03 23:32:00','','04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening002','UT President Randy Boyd speaks to a small crowd during an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony April\n30 for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center located off Hardin Graveyard Road in rural\nMcNairy County. The science center will host various educational programs year-round, including UT Martin\nfaculty and student research opportunities, classes and internships, external geoscience professional and field\ntraining, educator training, summer camps and more. ','inherit','closed','closed','','04302021_cooncreeksciencecenteropening002','','','2021-05-03 18:32:38','2021-05-03 23:32:38','',3228,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening002.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3231,2,'2021-05-03 18:32:14','2021-05-03 23:32:14','','04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening003','','inherit','closed','closed','','04302021_cooncreeksciencecenteropening003','','','2021-05-03 18:32:14','2021-05-03 23:32:14','',3228,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening003.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3232,2,'2021-05-03 18:36:04','2021-05-03 23:36:04','UT President Randy Boyd called the Coon Creek Science Center arguably the largest classroom now in the University of Tennessee System. UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver noted that the center property has been around millions of years longer than UT Knoxville predecessor Blount College, which was founded in 1794. Both shared their excitement about the center with elected and university officials, center volunteers and students during an 11 a.m. invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center. The center is located off Hardin Graveyard Road in rural McNairy County.\r\n\r\nAs one of the most important fossil sites in the U.S., the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center is a 70-plus million-year-old exposed seafloor deposit that’s home to almost 700 preserved marine species. The 240-acre property was acquired by lease in April 2020 by the university from the Pink Palace Family of Museums in Memphis after years of partnership for institutional field research, community outreach and instruction.\r\n\r\n“The ribbon-cutting ceremony is the first official step to opening a new phase in the history of science at the site,” said Dr. Michael Gibson before the event. Gibson is science center director and UT Martin professor of geology. “From this point forward, UT Martin will oversee the application of newer methods of conservation and study, along with expanded education.”\r\n\r\nThe science center will host various educational programs year-round, including UT Martin faculty and student research opportunities, classes and internships, external geoscience professional and field training, educator training, summer camps and more. Visitors of all ages and professions can receive hands-on experience learning how to carefully find and extract fossils.\r\n\r\nBoyd referenced UT’s new Be One UT values as he described the center’s potential impact. “The ‘B’ in the values stands for being ‘bold and impactful,’ and I think this (the center) is definitely bold and impactful,” Boyd said. “The ‘N’ stands for being ‘nimble and innovative,’ and this is incredibly nimble, it’s incredibly innovative – something that we don’t have anywhere else in the UT System, an incredible opportunity.\r\n\r\n“The ‘U’ stands for ‘united and connected,’ and this project is something that we’re doing with K-12 schools,” he continued. “We’re doing it with 4-H and through all the different community partners. It’s one of the things that the University of Tennessee strives to do is to work with our connections, not just within the campuses but also with all the communities across the state.”\r\n<blockquote>“UT Martin’s commitment to the Coon Creek Science Center will provide high-impact educational experiences in and out of the classroom and, additionally, will educate responsible citizens for careers, professions and service, while conserving this site for future generations.” – Chancellor Keith Carver</blockquote>\r\nCarver followed Boyd on the program, reviewed the site’s history and told how the Pink Palace Museum and the city of Memphis guaranteed the fossil site’s preservation and conservation in 1988 when the museum acquired the site and built the Coon Creek Science Center. “But beginning in the early 1990s and continuing through today, UT Martin geosciences have partnered with the Pink Palace in a unique and successful partnership/collaboration that’s established this site as one of the premier fossil sites for research and field-based STEM education in the region,” said Carver. He thanked museum officials for their work leading to the long-term lease agreement.\r\n\r\n“UT Martin’s commitment to the Coon Creek Science Center will provide high-impact educational experiences in and out of the classroom and, additionally, will educate responsible citizens for careers, professions and service, while conserving this site for future generations,” he said, adding, “We could not be more excited about this partnership.”\r\n\r\nA lunch and program for attendees at the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer followed the ribbon-cutting event. Alan Youngerman, center director, and Gibson led the program, which included a more detailed overview from Gibson about Coon Creek’s significance in the paleontology world.\r\n\r\nGibson noted that Stephen J. Gould, a well-known Harvard University paleobiologist, once described Coon Creek as a top-10 fossil site in all of North America. Gibson shared examples of Coon Creek’s well-preserved fossils and invited those attending to return sometime for a fossil dig. His only advice: Dress for the occasion.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignright wp-image-3231 size-medium\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening003-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" />\r\n\r\n“If you’re going to come out there, you’re going to get dirty, so you need to dress accordingly,” said Gibson. “Because I’ll take you to the dirtiest spot.”\r\n\r\nThe property is managed by UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer, and more information is available by calling the center at 731-646-1636.','Ribbon-cutting signals new era for Coon Creek Science Center','','inherit','closed','closed','','3228-revision-v1','','','2021-05-03 18:36:04','2021-05-03 23:36:04','',3228,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/03/3228-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3233,2,'2021-05-03 18:40:41','2021-05-03 23:40:41','UT President Randy Boyd called the Coon Creek Science Center arguably the largest classroom now in the University of Tennessee System. UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver noted that the center property has been around millions of years longer than UT Knoxville predecessor Blount College, which was founded in 1794. Both shared their excitement about the center with elected and university officials, center volunteers and students during an 11 a.m. invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center. The center is located off Hardin Graveyard Road in rural McNairy County.\n\nAs one of the most important fossil sites in the U.S., the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center is a 70-plus million-year-old exposed seafloor deposit that’s home to almost 700 preserved marine species. The 240-acre property was acquired by lease in April 2020 by the university from the Pink Palace Family of Museums in Memphis after years of partnership for institutional field research, community outreach and instruction.\n\n“The ribbon-cutting ceremony is the first official step to opening a new phase in the history of science at the site,” said Dr. Michael Gibson before the event. Gibson is science center director and UT Martin professor of geology. “From this point forward, UT Martin will oversee the application of newer methods of conservation and study, along with expanded education.”\n\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-3230\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening002.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\n\nThe science center will host various educational programs year-round, including UT Martin faculty and student research opportunities, classes and internships, external geoscience professional and field training, educator training, summer camps and more. Visitors of all ages and professions can receive hands-on experience learning how to carefully find and extract fossils.\n\nBoyd referenced UT’s new Be One UT values as he described the center’s potential impact. “The ‘B’ in the values stands for being ‘bold and impactful,’ and I think this (the center) is definitely bold and impactful,” Boyd said. “The ‘N’ stands for being ‘nimble and innovative,’ and this is incredibly nimble, it’s incredibly innovative – something that we don’t have anywhere else in the UT System, an incredible opportunity.\n\n“The ‘U’ stands for ‘united and connected,’ and this project is something that we’re doing with K-12 schools,” he continued. “We’re doing it with 4-H and through all the different community partners. It’s one of the things that the University of Tennessee strives to do is to work with our connections, not just within the campuses but also with all the communities across the state.”\n<blockquote>“UT Martin’s commitment to the Coon Creek Science Center will provide high-impact educational experiences in and out of the classroom and, additionally, will educate responsible citizens for careers, professions and service, while conserving this site for future generations.” – Chancellor Keith Carver</blockquote>\nCarver followed Boyd on the program, reviewed the site’s history and told how the Pink Palace Museum and the city of Memphis guaranteed the fossil site’s preservation and conservation in 1988 when the museum acquired the site and built the Coon Creek Science Center. “But beginning in the early 1990s and continuing through today, UT Martin geosciences have partnered with the Pink Palace in a unique and successful partnership/collaboration that’s established this site as one of the premier fossil sites for research and field-based STEM education in the region,” said Carver. He thanked museum officials for their work leading to the long-term lease agreement.\n\n“UT Martin’s commitment to the Coon Creek Science Center will provide high-impact educational experiences in and out of the classroom and, additionally, will educate responsible citizens for careers, professions and service, while conserving this site for future generations,” he said, adding, “We could not be more excited about this partnership.”\n\nA lunch and program for attendees at the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer followed the ribbon-cutting event. Alan Youngerman, center director, and Gibson led the program, which included a more detailed overview from Gibson about Coon Creek’s significance in the paleontology world.\n\nGibson noted that Stephen J. Gould, a well-known Harvard University paleobiologist, once described Coon Creek as a top-10 fossil site in all of North America. Gibson shared examples of Coon Creek’s well-preserved fossils and invited those attending to return sometime for a fossil dig. His only advice: Dress for the occasion.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3231\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2048\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3231 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening003.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" /> Dr. Michael Gibson speaks about the Coon Creek Science Center during a program at the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer.[/caption]\n\n“If you’re going to come out there, you’re going to get dirty, so you need to dress accordingly,” said Gibson. “Because I’ll take you to the dirtiest spot.”\n\nThe property is managed by UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer, and more information is available by calling the center at 731-646-1636.','Ribbon-cutting signals new era for Coon Creek Science Center','UT President Randy Boyd called the Coon Creek Science Center arguably the largest classroom now in the University of Tennessee System.','inherit','closed','closed','','3228-autosave-v1','','','2021-05-03 18:40:41','2021-05-03 23:40:41','',3228,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/03/3228-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3234,2,'2021-05-03 18:41:49','2021-05-03 23:41:49','UT President Randy Boyd called the Coon Creek Science Center arguably the largest classroom now in the University of Tennessee System. UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver noted that the center property has been around millions of years longer than UT Knoxville predecessor Blount College, which was founded in 1794. Both shared their excitement about the center with elected and university officials, center volunteers and students during an 11 a.m. invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center. The center is located off Hardin Graveyard Road in rural McNairy County.\r\n\r\nAs one of the most important fossil sites in the U.S., the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center is a 70-plus million-year-old exposed seafloor deposit that’s home to almost 700 preserved marine species. The 240-acre property was acquired by lease in April 2020 by the university from the Pink Palace Family of Museums in Memphis after years of partnership for institutional field research, community outreach and instruction.\r\n\r\n“The ribbon-cutting ceremony is the first official step to opening a new phase in the history of science at the site,” said Dr. Michael Gibson before the event. Gibson is science center director and UT Martin professor of geology. “From this point forward, UT Martin will oversee the application of newer methods of conservation and study, along with expanded education.”\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-3230\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening002.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\r\nThe science center will host various educational programs year-round, including UT Martin faculty and student research opportunities, classes and internships, external geoscience professional and field training, educator training, summer camps and more. Visitors of all ages and professions can receive hands-on experience learning how to carefully find and extract fossils.\r\n\r\nBoyd referenced UT’s new Be One UT values as he described the center’s potential impact. “The ‘B’ in the values stands for being ‘bold and impactful,’ and I think this (the center) is definitely bold and impactful,” Boyd said. “The ‘N’ stands for being ‘nimble and innovative,’ and this is incredibly nimble, it’s incredibly innovative – something that we don’t have anywhere else in the UT System, an incredible opportunity.\r\n\r\n“The ‘U’ stands for ‘united and connected,’ and this project is something that we’re doing with K-12 schools,” he continued. “We’re doing it with 4-H and through all the different community partners. It’s one of the things that the University of Tennessee strives to do is to work with our connections, not just within the campuses but also with all the communities across the state.”\r\n<blockquote>“UT Martin’s commitment to the Coon Creek Science Center will provide high-impact educational experiences in and out of the classroom and, additionally, will educate responsible citizens for careers, professions and service, while conserving this site for future generations.” – Chancellor Keith Carver</blockquote>\r\nCarver followed Boyd on the program, reviewed the site’s history and told how the Pink Palace Museum and the city of Memphis guaranteed the fossil site’s preservation and conservation in 1988 when the museum acquired the site and built the Coon Creek Science Center. “But beginning in the early 1990s and continuing through today, UT Martin geosciences have partnered with the Pink Palace in a unique and successful partnership/collaboration that’s established this site as one of the premier fossil sites for research and field-based STEM education in the region,” said Carver. He thanked museum officials for their work leading to the long-term lease agreement.\r\n\r\n“UT Martin’s commitment to the Coon Creek Science Center will provide high-impact educational experiences in and out of the classroom and, additionally, will educate responsible citizens for careers, professions and service, while conserving this site for future generations,” he said, adding, “We could not be more excited about this partnership.”\r\n\r\nA lunch and program for attendees at the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer followed the ribbon-cutting event. Alan Youngerman, center director, and Gibson led the program, which included a more detailed overview from Gibson about Coon Creek’s significance in the paleontology world.\r\n\r\nGibson noted that Stephen J. Gould, a well-known Harvard University paleobiologist, once described Coon Creek as a top-10 fossil site in all of North America. Gibson shared examples of Coon Creek’s well-preserved fossils and invited those attending to return sometime for a fossil dig. His only advice: Dress for the occasion.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3231\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2048\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3231 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening003.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" /> Dr. Michael Gibson speaks about the Coon Creek Science Center during a program at the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer.[/caption]\r\n\r\n“If you’re going to come out there, you’re going to get dirty, so you need to dress accordingly,” said Gibson. “Because I’ll take you to the dirtiest spot.”\r\n\r\nThe property is managed by UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer, and more information is available by calling the center at 731-646-1636.','Ribbon-cutting signals new era for Coon Creek Science Center','UT President Randy Boyd called the Coon Creek Science Center arguably the largest classroom now in the University of Tennessee System.','inherit','closed','closed','','3228-revision-v1','','','2021-05-03 18:41:49','2021-05-03 23:41:49','',3228,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/03/3228-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3235,2,'2021-05-03 18:43:24','2021-05-03 23:43:24','UT President Randy Boyd called the Coon Creek Science Center arguably the largest classroom now in the University of Tennessee System. UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver noted that the center property has been around millions of years longer than UT Knoxville predecessor Blount College, which was founded in 1794. Both shared their excitement about the center with elected and university officials, center volunteers and students during an 11 a.m. invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center. The center is located off Hardin Graveyard Road in rural McNairy County.\r\n\r\nAs one of the most important fossil sites in the U.S., the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center is a 70-plus million-year-old exposed seafloor deposit that’s home to almost 700 preserved marine species. The 240-acre property was acquired by lease in April 2020 by the university from the Pink Palace Family of Museums in Memphis after years of partnership for institutional field research, community outreach and instruction.\r\n\r\n“The ribbon-cutting ceremony is the first official step to opening a new phase in the history of science at the site,” said Dr. Michael Gibson before the event. Gibson is science center director and UT Martin professor of geology. “From this point forward, UT Martin will oversee the application of newer methods of conservation and study, along with expanded education.”\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3230\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2048\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3230 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening002.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" /> UT President Randy Boyd speaks to a small crowd during an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center located off Hardin Graveyard Road in rural McNairy County.[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe science center will host various educational programs year-round, including UT Martin faculty and student research opportunities, classes and internships, external geoscience professional and field training, educator training, summer camps and more. Visitors of all ages and professions can receive hands-on experience learning how to carefully find and extract fossils.\r\n\r\nBoyd referenced UT’s new Be One UT values as he described the center’s potential impact. “The ‘B’ in the values stands for being ‘bold and impactful,’ and I think this (the center) is definitely bold and impactful,” Boyd said. “The ‘N’ stands for being ‘nimble and innovative,’ and this is incredibly nimble, it’s incredibly innovative – something that we don’t have anywhere else in the UT System, an incredible opportunity.\r\n\r\n“The ‘U’ stands for ‘united and connected,’ and this project is something that we’re doing with K-12 schools,” he continued. “We’re doing it with 4-H and through all the different community partners. It’s one of the things that the University of Tennessee strives to do is to work with our connections, not just within the campuses but also with all the communities across the state.”\r\n<blockquote>“UT Martin’s commitment to the Coon Creek Science Center will provide high-impact educational experiences in and out of the classroom and, additionally, will educate responsible citizens for careers, professions and service, while conserving this site for future generations.” – Chancellor Keith Carver</blockquote>\r\nCarver followed Boyd on the program, reviewed the site’s history and told how the Pink Palace Museum and the city of Memphis guaranteed the fossil site’s preservation and conservation in 1988 when the museum acquired the site and built the Coon Creek Science Center. “But beginning in the early 1990s and continuing through today, UT Martin geosciences have partnered with the Pink Palace in a unique and successful partnership/collaboration that’s established this site as one of the premier fossil sites for research and field-based STEM education in the region,” said Carver. He thanked museum officials for their work leading to the long-term lease agreement.\r\n\r\n“UT Martin’s commitment to the Coon Creek Science Center will provide high-impact educational experiences in and out of the classroom and, additionally, will educate responsible citizens for careers, professions and service, while conserving this site for future generations,” he said, adding, “We could not be more excited about this partnership.”\r\n\r\nA lunch and program for attendees at the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer followed the ribbon-cutting event. Alan Youngerman, center director, and Gibson led the program, which included a more detailed overview from Gibson about Coon Creek’s significance in the paleontology world.\r\n\r\nGibson noted that Stephen J. Gould, a well-known Harvard University paleobiologist, once described Coon Creek as a top-10 fossil site in all of North America. Gibson shared examples of Coon Creek’s well-preserved fossils and invited those attending to return sometime for a fossil dig. His only advice: Dress for the occasion.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3231\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2048\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3231 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening003.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" /> Dr. Michael Gibson speaks about the Coon Creek Science Center during a program at the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer.[/caption]\r\n\r\n“If you’re going to come out there, you’re going to get dirty, so you need to dress accordingly,” said Gibson. “Because I’ll take you to the dirtiest spot.”\r\n\r\nThe property is managed by UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer, and more information is available by calling the center at 731-646-1636.','Ribbon-cutting signals new era for Coon Creek Science Center','UT President Randy Boyd called the Coon Creek Science Center arguably the largest classroom now in the University of Tennessee System.','inherit','closed','closed','','3228-revision-v1','','','2021-05-03 18:43:24','2021-05-03 23:43:24','',3228,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/03/3228-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3236,2,'2021-05-03 18:43:49','2021-05-03 23:43:49','UT President Randy Boyd called the Coon Creek Science Center arguably the largest classroom now in the University of Tennessee System. UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver noted that the center property has been around millions of years longer than UT Knoxville predecessor Blount College, which was founded in 1794. Both shared their excitement about the center with elected and university officials, center volunteers and students during an 11 a.m. invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center. The center is located off Hardin Graveyard Road in rural McNairy County.\r\n\r\nAs one of the most important fossil sites in the U.S., the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center is a 70-plus million-year-old exposed seafloor deposit that’s home to almost 700 preserved marine species. The 240-acre property was acquired by lease in April 2020 by the university from the Pink Palace Family of Museums in Memphis after years of partnership for institutional field research, community outreach and instruction.\r\n\r\n“The ribbon-cutting ceremony is the first official step to opening a new phase in the history of science at the site,” said Dr. Michael Gibson before the event. Gibson is science center director and UT Martin professor of geology. “From this point forward, UT Martin will oversee the application of newer methods of conservation and study, along with expanded education.”\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3230\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2048\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3230 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening002.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" /> UT President Randy Boyd speaks to a small crowd during an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony April 30 for the newly acquired UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center located off Hardin Graveyard Road in rural McNairy County.[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe science center will host various educational programs year-round, including UT Martin faculty and student research opportunities, classes and internships, external geoscience professional and field training, educator training, summer camps and more. Visitors of all ages and professions can receive hands-on experience learning how to carefully find and extract fossils.\r\n\r\nBoyd referenced UT’s new Be One UT values as he described the center’s potential impact. “The ‘B’ in the values stands for being ‘bold and impactful,’ and I think this (the center) is definitely bold and impactful,” Boyd said. “The ‘N’ stands for being ‘nimble and innovative,’ and this is incredibly nimble, it’s incredibly innovative – something that we don’t have anywhere else in the UT System, an incredible opportunity.\r\n\r\n“The ‘U’ stands for ‘united and connected,’ and this project is something that we’re doing with K-12 schools,” he continued. “We’re doing it with 4-H and through all the different community partners. It’s one of the things that the University of Tennessee strives to do is to work with our connections, not just within the campuses but also with all the communities across the state.”\r\n<blockquote>“UT Martin’s commitment to the Coon Creek Science Center will provide high-impact educational experiences in and out of the classroom and, additionally, will educate responsible citizens for careers, professions and service, while conserving this site for future generations.”</blockquote>\r\nCarver followed Boyd on the program, reviewed the site’s history and told how the Pink Palace Museum and the city of Memphis guaranteed the fossil site’s preservation and conservation in 1988 when the museum acquired the site and built the Coon Creek Science Center. “But beginning in the early 1990s and continuing through today, UT Martin geosciences have partnered with the Pink Palace in a unique and successful partnership/collaboration that’s established this site as one of the premier fossil sites for research and field-based STEM education in the region,” said Carver. He thanked museum officials for their work leading to the long-term lease agreement.\r\n\r\n“UT Martin’s commitment to the Coon Creek Science Center will provide high-impact educational experiences in and out of the classroom and, additionally, will educate responsible citizens for careers, professions and service, while conserving this site for future generations,” he said, adding, “We could not be more excited about this partnership.”\r\n\r\nA lunch and program for attendees at the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer followed the ribbon-cutting event. Alan Youngerman, center director, and Gibson led the program, which included a more detailed overview from Gibson about Coon Creek’s significance in the paleontology world.\r\n\r\nGibson noted that Stephen J. Gould, a well-known Harvard University paleobiologist, once described Coon Creek as a top-10 fossil site in all of North America. Gibson shared examples of Coon Creek’s well-preserved fossils and invited those attending to return sometime for a fossil dig. His only advice: Dress for the occasion.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3231\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2048\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3231 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04302021_CoonCreekScienceCenterOpening003.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" /> Dr. Michael Gibson speaks about the Coon Creek Science Center during a program at the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer.[/caption]\r\n\r\n“If you’re going to come out there, you’re going to get dirty, so you need to dress accordingly,” said Gibson. “Because I’ll take you to the dirtiest spot.”\r\n\r\nThe property is managed by UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer, and more information is available by calling the center at 731-646-1636.','Ribbon-cutting signals new era for Coon Creek Science Center','UT President Randy Boyd called the Coon Creek Science Center arguably the largest classroom now in the University of Tennessee System.','inherit','closed','closed','','3228-revision-v1','','','2021-05-03 18:43:49','2021-05-03 23:43:49','',3228,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/03/3228-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3237,2,'2021-05-04 17:35:34','2021-05-04 22:35:34','The University of Tennessee at Martin will hold spring commencement in four separate in-person ceremonies May 7-8 on the main campus in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Commencement times are 6 p.m., May 7, and 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. May 8. Tickets are required to enter the Elam Center, and masks and social distancing are required at all times. Doors will open 45 minutes before each ceremony begins, and guests are asked to clear Skyhawk Arena for cleaning within 30 minutes after each ceremony ends.\r\n\r\nAll four commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed at <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/utmartin\">www.facebook.com/utmartin</a> and <a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/utmartin\">www.youtube.com/utmartin</a>. The ceremonies will be archived for later viewing on YouTube and will also be broadcast live in Skyhawk Fieldhouse located adjacent to the Elam Center, which will allow up to 350 additional guests to view the commencements. While tickets are required to enter the Elam Center, additional tickets will not be required to access Skyhawk Fieldhouse.\r\n\r\nDr. Philip Acree Cavalier, provost and UT Martin vice chancellor for academic affairs, will preside over the commencement ceremonies, offer the commencement address and confer degrees. In addition, several speakers will appear virtually: The Rev. Amanda Crice, campus minister, UT Martin Wesley Foundation, will offer the invocation; UT President Randy Boyd and UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver will offer greetings and personal congratulations; and Student Government Association immediate-past President Hunter McCloud and UT Martin Alumni Council President Victor Andrews will each address the graduating class. Each ceremony will close with a performance of the Alma Mater by the UTM Virtual Choir, recorded and edited by 2010 UT Martin graduate Joseph Sam.\r\n\r\nAdditional information is available by calling the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.                                                           ###','UT Martin in-person commencement set May 7-8','The University of Tennessee at Martin will hold spring commencement in four separate in-person ceremonies May 7-8 on the main campus in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.','publish','closed','closed','','ut-martin-in-person-commencement-set-may-7-8','','','2021-05-04 17:35:34','2021-05-04 22:35:34','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3237',0,'post','',0),(3238,2,'2021-05-04 17:33:39','2021-05-04 22:33:39','','11212020_FallCommencement6PM(Nathan)030','','inherit','closed','closed','','11212020_fallcommencement6pmnathan030','','','2021-05-04 17:33:39','2021-05-04 22:33:39','',3237,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/11212020_FallCommencement6PMNathan030.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3239,2,'2021-05-04 17:35:34','2021-05-04 22:35:34','The University of Tennessee at Martin will hold spring commencement in four separate in-person ceremonies May 7-8 on the main campus in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Commencement times are 6 p.m., May 7, and 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. May 8. Tickets are required to enter the Elam Center, and masks and social distancing are required at all times. Doors will open 45 minutes before each ceremony begins, and guests are asked to clear Skyhawk Arena for cleaning within 30 minutes after each ceremony ends.\r\n\r\nAll four commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed at <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/utmartin\">www.facebook.com/utmartin</a> and <a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/utmartin\">www.youtube.com/utmartin</a>. The ceremonies will be archived for later viewing on YouTube and will also be broadcast live in Skyhawk Fieldhouse located adjacent to the Elam Center, which will allow up to 350 additional guests to view the commencements. While tickets are required to enter the Elam Center, additional tickets will not be required to access Skyhawk Fieldhouse.\r\n\r\nDr. Philip Acree Cavalier, provost and UT Martin vice chancellor for academic affairs, will preside over the commencement ceremonies, offer the commencement address and confer degrees. In addition, several speakers will appear virtually: The Rev. Amanda Crice, campus minister, UT Martin Wesley Foundation, will offer the invocation; UT President Randy Boyd and UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver will offer greetings and personal congratulations; and Student Government Association immediate-past President Hunter McCloud and UT Martin Alumni Council President Victor Andrews will each address the graduating class. Each ceremony will close with a performance of the Alma Mater by the UTM Virtual Choir, recorded and edited by 2010 UT Martin graduate Joseph Sam.\r\n\r\nAdditional information is available by calling the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.                                                           ###','UT Martin in-person commencement set May 7-8','The University of Tennessee at Martin will hold spring commencement in four separate in-person ceremonies May 7-8 on the main campus in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.','inherit','closed','closed','','3237-revision-v1','','','2021-05-04 17:35:34','2021-05-04 22:35:34','',3237,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/04/3237-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3240,2,'2021-05-05 09:02:06','2021-05-05 14:02:06','Dear Skyhawk Seniors:\r\n\r\nIt’s commencement week.\r\n\r\nYou’ve made it. Take a moment and breathe it all in. No…really. These past four years have been tough, but the past 13 months have been really difficult. This is an important milestone in life and you need to stop and celebrate!\r\n\r\nLet me leave you with four quick pieces of advice as you move forward.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>You are tough</strong>. You’ve faced numerous obstacles this past year, some of which many of us have never encountered in our lifetimes. You’ve experienced extended isolation, the threat of physical illness and an uncertain economic outlook. Through it all, you’ve kept pushing. Learning. Surviving. Succeeding. Don’t think about what you didn’t get to do this past year. Instead, think about the new ways you have learned to cope with challenges and overcome them with creativity, grit and determination.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ol start=\"2\">\r\n 	<li><strong>Always give people the benefit of the doubt. </strong>It’s been a tough year. Most of us are carrying around a load of burdens and concerns. In a time when we need to come together and listen to each other, we’ve been isolated and alone. When you encounter someone who seems irritated, frustrated or withdrawn…remember that they may be experiencing a tough time and have a heavy heart. Give them grace and offer a smile. You never know what a kind word or nice gesture can do for a weary spirit.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<ol start=\"3\">\r\n 	<li><strong>Say “I love you” daily.</strong> As the world opens back up and you prepare for a new career and life adventures, you’ll be busier than you’ve ever been. Some of you will be starting your first jobs. Others are beginning graduate school or moving across the country. You’ll have countless new people to meet and new roles to learn. Through it all, don’t forget your family and friends. They’ve been there for you and want to remain your support system as you move forward. Keep in touch with those special people in your life. Call them. Send them a quick note or text. Shoot them pictures of your new adventures. But most of all – tell someone you love them every day. It’ll bring a smile to their face and the communication will brighten your day, too.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ol start=\"4\">\r\n 	<li><strong>Don’t forget that we are still here for you. </strong>Those faculty members who advised you through your academic schedule will still want to hear from you! That mentor in the Office of Student Life and Multicultural Affairs? They want to know how you are doing. Remember, this is your university for life. The relationships you formed while a student will remain for years to come. Call us. Visit us. Keep in touch.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wish you the best as you transition to the next phase of life. You can do anything and be anything. Don’t ever stop believing in yourself…or loving others.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAll the best,\r\n\r\nDr. C','Chancellor’s Corner: Advice for Graduates','You’ve made it. Take a moment and breathe it all in. No…really. These past four years have been tough, but the past 13 months have been really difficult. This is an important milestone in life and you need to stop and celebrate!','publish','closed','closed','','chancellors-corner-advice-for-graduates','','','2021-05-05 09:02:43','2021-05-05 14:02:43','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3240',0,'post','',0),(3241,2,'2021-05-05 09:00:55','2021-05-05 14:00:55','','05022020_VirtualCommencement004','','inherit','closed','closed','','05022020_virtualcommencement004-2','','','2021-05-05 09:00:55','2021-05-05 14:00:55','',3240,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05022020_VirtualCommencement004.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3242,2,'2021-05-05 09:02:06','2021-05-05 14:02:06','Dear Skyhawk Seniors:\r\n\r\nIt’s commencement week.\r\n\r\nYou’ve made it. Take a moment and breathe it all in. No…really. These past four years have been tough, but the past 13 months have been really difficult. This is an important milestone in life and you need to stop and celebrate!\r\n\r\nLet me leave you with four quick pieces of advice as you move forward.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>You are tough</strong>. You’ve faced numerous obstacles this past year, some of which many of us have never encountered in our lifetimes. You’ve experienced extended isolation, the threat of physical illness and an uncertain economic outlook. Through it all, you’ve kept pushing. Learning. Surviving. Succeeding. Don’t think about what you didn’t get to do this past year. Instead, think about the new ways you have learned to cope with challenges and overcome them with creativity, grit and determination.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ol start=\"2\">\r\n 	<li><strong>Always give people the benefit of the doubt. </strong>It’s been a tough year. Most of us are carrying around a load of burdens and concerns. In a time when we need to come together and listen to each other, we’ve been isolated and alone. When you encounter someone who seems irritated, frustrated or withdrawn…remember that they may be experiencing a tough time and have a heavy heart. Give them grace and offer a smile. You never know what a kind word or nice gesture can do for a weary spirit.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<ol start=\"3\">\r\n 	<li><strong>Say “I love you” daily.</strong> As the world opens back up and you prepare for a new career and life adventures, you’ll be busier than you’ve ever been. Some of you will be starting your first jobs. Others are beginning graduate school or moving across the country. You’ll have countless new people to meet and new roles to learn. Through it all, don’t forget your family and friends. They’ve been there for you and want to remain your support system as you move forward. Keep in touch with those special people in your life. Call them. Send them a quick note or text. Shoot them pictures of your new adventures. But most of all – tell someone you love them every day. It’ll bring a smile to their face and the communication will brighten your day, too.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ol start=\"4\">\r\n 	<li><strong>Don’t forget that we are still here for you. </strong>Those faculty members who advised you through your academic schedule will still want to hear from you! That mentor in the Office of Student Life and Multicultural Affairs? They want to know how you are doing. Remember, this is your university for life. The relationships you formed while a student will remain for years to come. Call us. Visit us. Keep in touch.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wish you the best as you transition to the next phase of life. You can do anything and be anything. Don’t ever stop believing in yourself…or loving others.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAll the best,\r\n\r\nDr. C','Chancellor’s Corner: Advice for Graduates','','inherit','closed','closed','','3240-revision-v1','','','2021-05-05 09:02:06','2021-05-05 14:02:06','',3240,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/05/3240-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3243,2,'2021-05-05 09:02:43','2021-05-05 14:02:43','Dear Skyhawk Seniors:\r\n\r\nIt’s commencement week.\r\n\r\nYou’ve made it. Take a moment and breathe it all in. No…really. These past four years have been tough, but the past 13 months have been really difficult. This is an important milestone in life and you need to stop and celebrate!\r\n\r\nLet me leave you with four quick pieces of advice as you move forward.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong>You are tough</strong>. You’ve faced numerous obstacles this past year, some of which many of us have never encountered in our lifetimes. You’ve experienced extended isolation, the threat of physical illness and an uncertain economic outlook. Through it all, you’ve kept pushing. Learning. Surviving. Succeeding. Don’t think about what you didn’t get to do this past year. Instead, think about the new ways you have learned to cope with challenges and overcome them with creativity, grit and determination.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ol start=\"2\">\r\n 	<li><strong>Always give people the benefit of the doubt. </strong>It’s been a tough year. Most of us are carrying around a load of burdens and concerns. In a time when we need to come together and listen to each other, we’ve been isolated and alone. When you encounter someone who seems irritated, frustrated or withdrawn…remember that they may be experiencing a tough time and have a heavy heart. Give them grace and offer a smile. You never know what a kind word or nice gesture can do for a weary spirit.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<ol start=\"3\">\r\n 	<li><strong>Say “I love you” daily.</strong> As the world opens back up and you prepare for a new career and life adventures, you’ll be busier than you’ve ever been. Some of you will be starting your first jobs. Others are beginning graduate school or moving across the country. You’ll have countless new people to meet and new roles to learn. Through it all, don’t forget your family and friends. They’ve been there for you and want to remain your support system as you move forward. Keep in touch with those special people in your life. Call them. Send them a quick note or text. Shoot them pictures of your new adventures. But most of all – tell someone you love them every day. It’ll bring a smile to their face and the communication will brighten your day, too.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ol start=\"4\">\r\n 	<li><strong>Don’t forget that we are still here for you. </strong>Those faculty members who advised you through your academic schedule will still want to hear from you! That mentor in the Office of Student Life and Multicultural Affairs? They want to know how you are doing. Remember, this is your university for life. The relationships you formed while a student will remain for years to come. Call us. Visit us. Keep in touch.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wish you the best as you transition to the next phase of life. You can do anything and be anything. Don’t ever stop believing in yourself…or loving others.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAll the best,\r\n\r\nDr. C','Chancellor’s Corner: Advice for Graduates','You’ve made it. Take a moment and breathe it all in. No…really. These past four years have been tough, but the past 13 months have been really difficult. This is an important milestone in life and you need to stop and celebrate!','inherit','closed','closed','','3240-revision-v1','','','2021-05-05 09:02:43','2021-05-05 14:02:43','',3240,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/05/3240-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3244,2,'2021-05-03 19:30:44','2021-05-04 00:30:44','Stephanie Sellers and Anthony Prewitt, both of Martin, received Spring 2021 Outstanding Employee Awards from the University of Tennessee at Martin during a surprise virtual reception on April 29.\r\n\r\nSellers is the student services specialist for UT Martin’s Regional Centers and Online Programs and provides support to online faculty and students. She has been instrumental in the success of the online agribusiness program and has been diligent in supporting the university and its mission, especially for faculty new to online teaching.\r\n\r\n“Faculty have extreme confidence in her, no matter the issue,” coworkers wrote in Sellers’ nomination package. “She is always looking for ways to improve our processes and make them more efficient for our online students and faculty.”\r\n\r\nSellers has served as advisor for the Non-Traditional Student Association and volunteers her time to Tennessee Promise mentoring, the university’s Annual Civil Rights Conference and other programs on campus.\r\n\r\nPrewitt is the co-interim director for the Office of Student Life and Multicultural Affairs, as well as the campus coordinator for the UT Promise Scholarship Program. He works tirelessly to ensure hundreds of UT Martin students have access to this scholarship.\r\n\r\n“Anthony is a true servant leader, providing mentorship and support to students and colleagues alike,” wrote his coworkers in his nomination letter. “Through endless examples of action, he models how to create an inclusive space in which all persons may thrive academically, professionally and personally.”\r\n\r\nPrewitt also serves as the National Panhellenic Council adviser, co-adviser of the Flight Crew, a leader in the “Call Me Mister” program, and other campus initiatives and programs.\r\n\r\nUT Martin Outstanding Employee Awards are given to one exempt and one non-exempt employee each semester. Recipients are nominated by their coworkers and chosen by a selection committee.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the UT Martin Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Sellers, Prewitt receive Outstanding Employee Awards','Stephanie Sellers and Anthony Prewitt, both of Martin, received Spring 2021 Outstanding Employee Awards from the University of Tennessee at Martin during a surprise virtual reception on April 29.','publish','closed','closed','','sellers-prewitt-receive-outstanding-employee-awards','','','2021-05-05 09:27:33','2021-05-05 14:27:33','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3244',0,'post','',0),(3245,2,'2021-05-05 09:22:51','2021-05-05 14:22:51','','04292021_OutstandingEmployeeAwards005','','inherit','closed','closed','','04292021_outstandingemployeeawards005','','','2021-05-05 09:22:51','2021-05-05 14:22:51','',3244,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04292021_OutstandingEmployeeAwards005.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3246,2,'2021-05-05 09:27:16','2021-05-05 14:27:16','Stephanie Sellers and Anthony Prewitt, both of Martin, received Spring 2021 Outstanding Employee Awards from the University of Tennessee at Martin during a surprise virtual reception on April 29.\r\n\r\nSellers is the student services specialist for UT Martin’s Regional Centers and Online Programs and provides support to online faculty and students. She has been instrumental in the success of the online agribusiness program and has been diligent in supporting the university and its mission, especially for faculty new to online teaching.\r\n\r\n“Faculty have extreme confidence in her, no matter the issue,” coworkers wrote in Sellers’ nomination package. “She is always looking for ways to improve our processes and make them more efficient for our online students and faculty.”\r\n\r\nSellers has served as advisor for the Non-Traditional Student Association and volunteers her time to Tennessee Promise mentoring, the university’s Annual Civil Rights Conference and other programs on campus.\r\n\r\nPrewitt is the co-interim director for the Office of Student Life and Multicultural Affairs, as well as the campus coordinator for the UT Promise Scholarship Program. He works tirelessly to ensure hundreds of UT Martin students have access to this scholarship.\r\n\r\n“Anthony is a true servant leader, providing mentorship and support to students and colleagues alike,” wrote his coworkers in his nomination letter. “Through endless examples of action, he models how to create an inclusive space in which all persons may thrive academically, professionally and personally.”\r\n\r\nPrewitt also serves as the National Panhellenic Council adviser, co-adviser of the Flight Crew, a leader in the “Call Me Mister” program, and other campus initiatives and programs.\r\n\r\nUT Martin Outstanding Employee Awards are given to one exempt and one non-exempt employee each semester. Recipients are nominated by their coworkers and chosen by a selection committee.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the UT Martin Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Sellers, Prewitt receive Outstanding Employee Awards','','inherit','closed','closed','','3244-revision-v1','','','2021-05-05 09:27:16','2021-05-05 14:27:16','',3244,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/05/3244-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3247,2,'2021-05-05 09:27:33','2021-05-05 14:27:33','Stephanie Sellers and Anthony Prewitt, both of Martin, received Spring 2021 Outstanding Employee Awards from the University of Tennessee at Martin during a surprise virtual reception on April 29.\r\n\r\nSellers is the student services specialist for UT Martin’s Regional Centers and Online Programs and provides support to online faculty and students. She has been instrumental in the success of the online agribusiness program and has been diligent in supporting the university and its mission, especially for faculty new to online teaching.\r\n\r\n“Faculty have extreme confidence in her, no matter the issue,” coworkers wrote in Sellers’ nomination package. “She is always looking for ways to improve our processes and make them more efficient for our online students and faculty.”\r\n\r\nSellers has served as advisor for the Non-Traditional Student Association and volunteers her time to Tennessee Promise mentoring, the university’s Annual Civil Rights Conference and other programs on campus.\r\n\r\nPrewitt is the co-interim director for the Office of Student Life and Multicultural Affairs, as well as the campus coordinator for the UT Promise Scholarship Program. He works tirelessly to ensure hundreds of UT Martin students have access to this scholarship.\r\n\r\n“Anthony is a true servant leader, providing mentorship and support to students and colleagues alike,” wrote his coworkers in his nomination letter. “Through endless examples of action, he models how to create an inclusive space in which all persons may thrive academically, professionally and personally.”\r\n\r\nPrewitt also serves as the National Panhellenic Council adviser, co-adviser of the Flight Crew, a leader in the “Call Me Mister” program, and other campus initiatives and programs.\r\n\r\nUT Martin Outstanding Employee Awards are given to one exempt and one non-exempt employee each semester. Recipients are nominated by their coworkers and chosen by a selection committee.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the UT Martin Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Sellers, Prewitt receive Outstanding Employee Awards','Stephanie Sellers and Anthony Prewitt, both of Martin, received Spring 2021 Outstanding Employee Awards from the University of Tennessee at Martin during a surprise virtual reception on April 29.','inherit','closed','closed','','3244-revision-v1','','','2021-05-05 09:27:33','2021-05-05 14:27:33','',3244,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/05/3244-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3248,2,'2021-05-10 16:06:36','2021-05-10 21:06:36','At first glance, Luke Winters is your typical successful University of Tennessee at Martin graduating senior – a Martin native with a 3.5 grade point average, engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities and well-liked by his peers. In fact, he’s a bit of an overachiever, earning Bachelor of Science degrees in both Business Administration (accounting) and Agricultural Business, Magna Cum Laude.\r\n\r\nYou’d never guess Luke had four life-threatening brain surgeries before he entered kindergarten.\r\n\r\n“We thought he may have been deaf,” said his mother, UT Martin Nursing Assistant Professor Dr. Susan Cramer Winters. “You’d slam a door near him and he wouldn’t flinch.”\r\n\r\nScans showed that Luke was born with hydrocephalus, a chronic neurological condition caused by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain. CSF has many functions in the human body; it surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts as a protective cushion against injury. It also provides nutrients and proteins that aids in the brain’s normal functioning, and carries waste products away from surrounding tissues.\r\n\r\nHydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF that is produced and the rate at which it is absorbed. The CSF builds up, causing the brain’s ventricles to enlarge and the pressure inside the head to increase. The condition affects more than 1 million Americans, ranging from infants and older children to older and middle-aged adults, as well as seniors.\r\n\r\nTypically, those with hydrocephalus display a disproportionately large head, caused by the pressure of the CSF against the cranium. In Luke’s case, he was relatively fortunate to have been diagnosed in infancy.\r\n\r\n“Luke was lucky in that he was young enough that his skull was still somewhat malleable,” Susan said. “People who are diagnosed later in life have a lot more damage because the skull is already fully formed.”\r\n\r\nOnce a death sentence, hydrocephalus is now treated surgically through the insertion of an internal shunt from the brain to the abdomen, providing for release of excess fluid. But while technology has extended the life of hydrocephalus patients, that life is not easy. The condition affects fine motor skills, making simple tasks like buttoning a coat or holding a fork a difficult procedure. Balance is also affected; Luke was 18 years old before he could fully ride a bicycle.\r\n\r\n“He had physical therapy twice a week for three years and could not stand on one leg,” Susan recalled. “With the bicycle, he just persisted – he would just try and try and one day, we looked out the window and he was motoring down the street. He just keeps trying until he gets it.”\r\n<blockquote>“Luke is a visionary,” said Kameron Echols, CPAD assistant director and Luke’s supervisor. “He is able to look at the bigger picture, and he is able to figure out the best way to talk to a student who might not be able to articulate what they want to say.”</blockquote>\r\nThat persistence has aided Luke throughout his entire life, from playing soccer and golf in high school, to earning a Spanish language scholarship, to learning how to drive.\r\n\r\n“There’s nothing wrong with Luke’s IQ,” Susan said. “He’s undergone some very strenuous neuropsychological evaluations. He’s very smart, but his processing speed is slow. Something that another kid gets right away, it takes him a little while to process it.”\r\n\r\nInstead of getting discouraged, Luke has learned to adapt, finding alternate approaches to a situation. This makes him an excellent employee in UT Martin’s Office of Career Planning and Development, where Luke meets with students as a career peer educator.\r\n\r\n“Luke is a visionary,” said Kameron Echols, CPAD assistant director and Luke’s supervisor. “He is able to look at the bigger picture, and he is able to figure out the best way to talk to a student who might not be able to articulate what they want to say.”\r\n\r\nAdmittedly, Luke said he has a certain affinity for helping those freshmen and sophomores who come to the CPAD not knowing what to do next.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3249\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"3000\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3249 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencementPM001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" /> Winters crosses the commencement stage May 8, 2021.[/caption]\r\n\r\n“I switched majors a few times at UT Martin, and I definitely can relate to those people who come in that need to find some focus in what they want to do as a major, or as a profession,” Luke said. “I have a lot of diverse interests and situational experiences that have helped me grow and helped my problem-solving skills.”\r\n\r\nAs president of the UT Martin College Democrats, Luke started a podcast to keep the group active under the COVID-19 pandemic when meeting in person was not possible. In his work with the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences student organization, Luke organized a quiz bowl team that competed nationally and presented at a conference.\r\n\r\n“He’s a great organizer,” said Dr. Annie Jones, CPAD career counselor and MANRRS advisor. “He’s easy to talk to, intelligent and charismatic. You naturally feel very comfortable with him, whether you’re a student or faculty member. He just has a natural ability to put people at ease and bring out the best in them.”\r\n\r\nAs an agricultural business student, Luke led a student-centered marketing project with the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team. The NBA organization was looking to expand their marketing to appeal to Tennessee’s rural agricultural communities.\r\n\r\n“(Luke) really took the lead on that,” said Dr. Joey E. Mehlhorn, professor of agriculture, geosciences and natural resources. “He kept the students going, pulled it all together, and presented the report to the Grizzlies. Employers are looking for people who can motivate others and stick with a project until it’s done, and that is Luke to a ‘T’.”\r\n\r\nIt was Mehlhorn who recommended a second degree in agricultural business to Luke, who was majoring in accounting and initially resistant to the thought of additional coursework.\r\n\r\n“He comes from a long line of agricultural people, and he already had the business acumen from the accounting side that would be a natural fit,” Mehlhorn said. “But the reality is, I couldn’t see Luke in a solitary position like accounting. He’s definitely a people person, he’s outgoing, and he will do well in a position where he’s working with people and helping them.”\r\n\r\nIronically, those with hydrocephalus typically find math and foreign languages the most difficult subjects to master – two subjects at which Luke excels.\r\n<blockquote>\"He’s definitely a people person, he’s outgoing, and he will do well in a position where he’s working with people and helping them.”</blockquote>\r\n“We’d go to hydrocephalus conferences and I would hear horror stories of parents who were pulling their hair out trying to help their kids learn math,” Susan said. “I was always the exception to the rule, with Luke graduating with an accounting degree. I say they must have added something to him during one of his surgeries.”\r\n\r\nDuring his time at UT Martin, Luke endured two surgeries to repair a failing shunt. The first was over a Christmas break, but the second occurred while he was taking a summer class. Neither caused a break in his studies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3255\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"3000\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3255 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencementPM037.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" /> Winters with his parents, Dr. Todd A. Winters (left), Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and Dr. Susan Cramer Winters (right), assistant professor of nursing.[/caption]\r\n\r\n“Fortunately, it was (an) American Politics (class), and I was familiar with the subject, so even though I had just had brain surgery, it really wasn’t that much of a problem,” Luke said.\r\n\r\nNot that he would have asked for help if he had needed it, he admitted. Because of his condition, Luke likely would have qualified for accommodation by UT Martin’s Office of Disability Services. He may have been offered extra time to take exams or complete assignments, but he declined to pursue those accommodations, despite Susan’s encouragement to do so.\r\n\r\n“It really comes down to the fact that any person with a chronic condition such as mine, we want to see ourselves as normal,” Luke said. “In some cases, I probably should have asked for more time to complete some things, but I guess through my own stubbornness, I wanted to be seen on the same level as any other student.”\r\n\r\nWhat everyone seems to agree on is that UT Martin was the right fit for Luke.\r\n<blockquote>“It really comes down to the fact that any person with a chronic condition such as mine, we want to see ourselves as normal.”</blockquote>\r\n“Even though his parents are both at UTM, it was absolutely Luke’s choice to come here,” said Luke’s father, Dr. Todd A. Winters, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. “(Susan and I) encouraged that, because we knew he would do better here than at a large university where we just dropped him off in a dorm. What’s special about UT Martin is that anybody can succeed here, no matter who you are or the challenges you’ve had.”\r\n\r\nWith his dual degrees, Luke is optimistic about his future and the opportunities it holds. “I’m grateful to my parents and everyone who made (UT Martin) a fantastic place to be these last five years,” he said. “The next step is a little scary, but I do feel that I am prepared for whatever comes next.”\r\n\r\nWhether that future includes marketing, accounting, career counseling, helping people in a medical capacity, or something entirely unforeseen, Luke’s family and friends are confident in his abilities to excel.\r\n\r\n“He is a special person – someone with empathy, with knowledge, with talent, and the ability to roll with the punches,” Echols said. “I would say he has a 100 percent chance of succeeding wherever he goes.”\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Persistence payoff: Student excels despite life-threatening condition','At first glance, Luke Winters is your typical successful University of Tennessee at Martin graduating senior – a Martin native with a 3.5 grade point average, engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities and well-liked by his peers. ','publish','closed','closed','','persistence-payoff-student-excels-despite-life-threatening-condition','','','2021-05-10 16:56:30','2021-05-10 21:56:30','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3248',0,'post','',0),(3249,2,'2021-05-10 16:02:51','2021-05-10 21:02:51','','05082021_SpringCommencementPM001','','inherit','closed','closed','','05082021_springcommencementpm001','','','2021-05-10 16:02:51','2021-05-10 21:02:51','',3248,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencementPM001.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3250,2,'2021-05-10 16:06:36','2021-05-10 21:06:36','At first glance, Luke Winters is your typical successful University of Tennessee at Martin graduating senior – a Martin native with a 3.5 grade point average, engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities and well-liked by his peers. In fact, he’s a bit of an overachiever, earning Bachelor of Science degrees in both Business Administration (accounting) and Agricultural Business, Magna Cum Laude.\r\n\r\nYou’d never guess Luke had four life-threatening brain surgeries before he entered kindergarten.\r\n\r\n“We thought he may have been deaf,” said his mother, UT Martin Nursing Assistant Professor Dr. Susan Cramer Winters. “You’d slam a door near him and he wouldn’t flinch.”\r\n\r\nScans showed that Luke was born with hydrocephalus, a chronic neurological condition caused by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain. CSF has many functions in the human body; it surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts as a protective cushion against injury. It also provides nutrients and proteins that aids in the brain’s normal functioning, and carries waste products away from surrounding tissues.\r\n\r\nHydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF that is produced and the rate at which it is absorbed. The CSF builds up, causing the brain’s ventricles to enlarge and the pressure inside the head to increase. The condition affects more than 1 million Americans, ranging from infants and older children to older and middle-aged adults, as well as seniors.\r\n\r\nTypically, those with hydrocephalus display a disproportionately large head, caused by the pressure of the CSF against the cranium. In Luke’s case, he was relatively fortunate to have been diagnosed in infancy.\r\n\r\n“Luke was lucky in that he was young enough that his skull was still somewhat malleable,” Susan said. “People who are diagnosed later in life have a lot more damage because the skull is already fully formed.”\r\n\r\nOnce a death sentence, hydrocephalus is now treated surgically through the insertion of an internal shunt from the brain to the abdomen, providing for release of excess fluid. But while technology has extended the life of hydrocephalus patients, that life is not easy. The condition affects fine motor skills, making simple tasks like buttoning a coat or holding a fork a difficult procedure. Balance is also affected; Luke was 18 years old before he could fully ride a bicycle.\r\n\r\n“He had physical therapy twice a week for three years and could not stand on one leg,” Susan recalled. “With the bicycle, he just persisted – he would just try and try and one day, we looked out the window and he was motoring down the street. He just keeps trying until he gets it.”\r\n<blockquote>“Luke is a visionary,” said Kameron Echols, CPAD assistant director and Luke’s supervisor. “He is able to look at the bigger picture, and he is able to figure out the best way to talk to a student who might not be able to articulate what they want to say.”</blockquote>\r\nThat persistence has aided Luke throughout his entire life, from playing soccer and golf in high school, to earning a Spanish language scholarship, to learning how to drive.\r\n\r\n“There’s nothing wrong with Luke’s IQ,” Susan said. “He’s undergone some very strenuous neuropsychological evaluations. He’s very smart, but his processing speed is slow. Something that another kid gets right away, it takes him a little while to process it.”\r\n\r\nInstead of getting discouraged, Luke has learned to adapt, finding alternate approaches to a situation. This makes him an excellent employee in UT Martin’s Office of Career Planning and Development, where Luke meets with students as a career peer educator.\r\n\r\n“Luke is a visionary,” said Kameron Echols, CPAD assistant director and Luke’s supervisor. “He is able to look at the bigger picture, and he is able to figure out the best way to talk to a student who might not be able to articulate what they want to say.”\r\n\r\nAdmittedly, Luke said he has a certain affinity for helping those freshmen and sophomores who come to the CPAD not knowing what to do next.\r\n\r\n“I switched majors a few times at UT Martin, and I definitely can relate to those people who come in that need to find some focus in what they want to do as a major, or as a profession,” Luke said. “I have a lot of diverse interests and situational experiences that have helped me grow and helped my problem-solving skills.”<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3249\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencementPM001.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\r\nAs president of the UT Martin College Democrats, Luke started a podcast to keep the group active under the COVID-19 pandemic when meeting in person was not possible. In his work with the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences student organization, Luke organized a quiz bowl team that competed nationally and presented at a conference.\r\n\r\n“He’s a great organizer,” said Dr. Annie Jones, CPAD career counselor and MANRRS advisor. “He’s easy to talk to, intelligent and charismatic. You naturally feel very comfortable with him, whether you’re a student or faculty member. He just has a natural ability to put people at ease and bring out the best in them.”\r\n\r\nAs an agricultural business student, Luke led a student-centered marketing project with the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team. The NBA organization was looking to expand their marketing to appeal to Tennessee’s rural agricultural communities.\r\n\r\n“(Luke) really took the lead on that,” said Dr. Joey E. Mehlhorn, professor of agriculture, geosciences and natural resources. “He kept the students going, pulled it all together, and presented the report to the Grizzlies. Employers are looking for people who can motivate others and stick with a project until it’s done, and that is Luke to a ‘T’.”\r\n\r\nIt was Mehlhorn who recommended a second degree in agricultural business to Luke, who was majoring in accounting and initially resistant to the thought of additional coursework.\r\n\r\n“He comes from a long line of agricultural people, and he already had the business acumen from the accounting side that would be a natural fit,” Mehlhorn said. “But the reality is, I couldn’t see Luke in a solitary position like accounting. He’s definitely a people person, he’s outgoing, and he will do well in a position where he’s working with people and helping them.”\r\n\r\nIronically, those with hydrocephalus typically find math and foreign languages the most difficult subjects to master – two subjects at which Luke excels.\r\n<blockquote>\"He’s definitely a people person, he’s outgoing, and he will do well in a position where he’s working with people and helping them.”</blockquote>\r\n“We’d go to hydrocephalus conferences and I would hear horror stories of parents who were pulling their hair out trying to help their kids learn math,” Susan said. “I was always the exception to the rule, with Luke graduating with an accounting degree. I say they must have added something to him during one of his surgeries.”\r\n\r\nDuring his time at UT Martin, Luke endured two surgeries to repair a failing shunt. The first was over a Christmas break, but the second occurred while he was taking a summer class. Neither caused a break in his studies.\r\n\r\n“Fortunately, it was (an) American Politics (class), and I was familiar with the subject, so even though I had just had brain surgery, it really wasn’t that much of a problem,” Luke said.\r\n\r\nNot that he would have asked for help if he had needed it, he admitted. Because of his condition, Luke likely would have qualified for accommodation by UT Martin’s Office of Disability Services. He may have been offered extra time to take exams or complete assignments, but he declined to pursue those accommodations, despite Susan’s encouragement to do so.\r\n\r\n“It really comes down to the fact that any person with a chronic condition such as mine, we want to see ourselves as normal,” Luke said. “In some cases, I probably should have asked for more time to complete some things, but I guess through my own stubbornness, I wanted to be seen on the same level as any other student.”\r\n\r\nWhat everyone seems to agree on is that UT Martin was the right fit for Luke.\r\n<blockquote>“It really comes down to the fact that any person with a chronic condition such as mine, we want to see ourselves as normal.”</blockquote>\r\n“Even though his parents are both at UTM, it was absolutely Luke’s choice to come here,” said Luke’s father, Dr. Todd A. Winters, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. “(Susan and I) encouraged that, because we knew he would do better here than at a large university where we just dropped him off in a dorm. What’s special about UT Martin is that anybody can succeed here, no matter who you are or the challenges you’ve had.”\r\n\r\nWith his dual degrees, Luke is optimistic about his future and the opportunities it holds. “I’m grateful to my parents and everyone who made (UT Martin) a fantastic place to be these last five years,” he said. “The next step is a little scary, but I do feel that I am prepared for whatever comes next.”\r\n\r\nWhether that future includes marketing, accounting, career counseling, helping people in a medical capacity, or something entirely unforeseen, Luke’s family and friends are confident in his abilities to excel.\r\n\r\n“He is a special person – someone with empathy, with knowledge, with talent, and the ability to roll with the punches,” Echols said. “I would say he has a 100 percent chance of succeeding wherever he goes.”\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Persistence payoff: Student excels despite life-threatening condition','','inherit','closed','closed','','3248-revision-v1','','','2021-05-10 16:06:36','2021-05-10 21:06:36','',3248,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/10/3248-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3251,2,'2021-05-10 16:53:48','2021-05-10 21:53:48','At first glance, Luke Winters is your typical successful University of Tennessee at Martin graduating senior – a Martin native with a 3.5 grade point average, engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities and well-liked by his peers. In fact, he’s a bit of an overachiever, earning Bachelor of Science degrees in both Business Administration (accounting) and Agricultural Business, Magna Cum Laude.\n\nYou’d never guess Luke had four life-threatening brain surgeries before he entered kindergarten.\n\n“We thought he may have been deaf,” said his mother, UT Martin Nursing Assistant Professor Dr. Susan Cramer Winters. “You’d slam a door near him and he wouldn’t flinch.”\n\nScans showed that Luke was born with hydrocephalus, a chronic neurological condition caused by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain. CSF has many functions in the human body; it surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts as a protective cushion against injury. It also provides nutrients and proteins that aids in the brain’s normal functioning, and carries waste products away from surrounding tissues.\n\nHydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF that is produced and the rate at which it is absorbed. The CSF builds up, causing the brain’s ventricles to enlarge and the pressure inside the head to increase. The condition affects more than 1 million Americans, ranging from infants and older children to older and middle-aged adults, as well as seniors.\n\nTypically, those with hydrocephalus display a disproportionately large head, caused by the pressure of the CSF against the cranium. In Luke’s case, he was relatively fortunate to have been diagnosed in infancy.\n\n“Luke was lucky in that he was young enough that his skull was still somewhat malleable,” Susan said. “People who are diagnosed later in life have a lot more damage because the skull is already fully formed.”\n\nOnce a death sentence, hydrocephalus is now treated surgically through the insertion of an internal shunt from the brain to the abdomen, providing for release of excess fluid. But while technology has extended the life of hydrocephalus patients, that life is not easy. The condition affects fine motor skills, making simple tasks like buttoning a coat or holding a fork a difficult procedure. Balance is also affected; Luke was 18 years old before he could fully ride a bicycle.\n\n“He had physical therapy twice a week for three years and could not stand on one leg,” Susan recalled. “With the bicycle, he just persisted – he would just try and try and one day, we looked out the window and he was motoring down the street. He just keeps trying until he gets it.”\n<blockquote>“Luke is a visionary,” said Kameron Echols, CPAD assistant director and Luke’s supervisor. “He is able to look at the bigger picture, and he is able to figure out the best way to talk to a student who might not be able to articulate what they want to say.”</blockquote>\nThat persistence has aided Luke throughout his entire life, from playing soccer and golf in high school, to earning a Spanish language scholarship, to learning how to drive.\n\n“There’s nothing wrong with Luke’s IQ,” Susan said. “He’s undergone some very strenuous neuropsychological evaluations. He’s very smart, but his processing speed is slow. Something that another kid gets right away, it takes him a little while to process it.”\n\nInstead of getting discouraged, Luke has learned to adapt, finding alternate approaches to a situation. This makes him an excellent employee in UT Martin’s Office of Career Planning and Development, where Luke meets with students as a career peer educator.\n\n“Luke is a visionary,” said Kameron Echols, CPAD assistant director and Luke’s supervisor. “He is able to look at the bigger picture, and he is able to figure out the best way to talk to a student who might not be able to articulate what they want to say.”\n\nAdmittedly, Luke said he has a certain affinity for helping those freshmen and sophomores who come to the CPAD not knowing what to do next.\n\n“I switched majors a few times at UT Martin, and I definitely can relate to those people who come in that need to find some focus in what they want to do as a major, or as a profession,” Luke said. “I have a lot of diverse interests and situational experiences that have helped me grow and helped my problem-solving skills.”<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3249\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencementPM001.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\n\nAs president of the UT Martin College Democrats, Luke started a podcast to keep the group active under the COVID-19 pandemic when meeting in person was not possible. In his work with the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences student organization, Luke organized a quiz bowl team that competed nationally and presented at a conference.\n\n“He’s a great organizer,” said Dr. Annie Jones, CPAD career counselor and MANRRS advisor. “He’s easy to talk to, intelligent and charismatic. You naturally feel very comfortable with him, whether you’re a student or faculty member. He just has a natural ability to put people at ease and bring out the best in them.”\n\nAs an agricultural business student, Luke led a student-centered marketing project with the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team. The NBA organization was looking to expand their marketing to appeal to Tennessee’s rural agricultural communities.\n\n“(Luke) really took the lead on that,” said Dr. Joey E. Mehlhorn, professor of agriculture, geosciences and natural resources. “He kept the students going, pulled it all together, and presented the report to the Grizzlies. Employers are looking for people who can motivate others and stick with a project until it’s done, and that is Luke to a ‘T’.”\n\nIt was Mehlhorn who recommended a second degree in agricultural business to Luke, who was majoring in accounting and initially resistant to the thought of additional coursework.\n\n“He comes from a long line of agricultural people, and he already had the business acumen from the accounting side that would be a natural fit,” Mehlhorn said. “But the reality is, I couldn’t see Luke in a solitary position like accounting. He’s definitely a people person, he’s outgoing, and he will do well in a position where he’s working with people and helping them.”\n\nIronically, those with hydrocephalus typically find math and foreign languages the most difficult subjects to master – two subjects at which Luke excels.\n<blockquote>\"He’s definitely a people person, he’s outgoing, and he will do well in a position where he’s working with people and helping them.”</blockquote>\n“We’d go to hydrocephalus conferences and I would hear horror stories of parents who were pulling their hair out trying to help their kids learn math,” Susan said. “I was always the exception to the rule, with Luke graduating with an accounting degree. I say they must have added something to him during one of his surgeries.”\n\nDuring his time at UT Martin, Luke endured two surgeries to repair a failing shunt. The first was over a Christmas break, but the second occurred while he was taking a summer class. Neither caused a break in his studies.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3255\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"3000\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3255 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencementPM037.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" /> Winters with his parents, Dr. Todd A. Winters (left), Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and Dr. Susan Cramer Winters (right), assistant professor of nursing.[/caption]\n\n“Fortunately, it was (an) American Politics (class), and I was familiar with the subject, so even though I had just had brain surgery, it really wasn’t that much of a problem,” Luke said.\n\nNot that he would have asked for help if he had needed it, he admitted. Because of his condition, Luke likely would have qualified for accommodation by UT Martin’s Office of Disability Services. He may have been offered extra time to take exams or complete assignments, but he declined to pursue those accommodations, despite Susan’s encouragement to do so.\n\n“It really comes down to the fact that any person with a chronic condition such as mine, we want to see ourselves as normal,” Luke said. “In some cases, I probably should have asked for more time to complete some things, but I guess through my own stubbornness, I wanted to be seen on the same level as any other student.”\n\nWhat everyone seems to agree on is that UT Martin was the right fit for Luke.\n<blockquote>“It really comes down to the fact that any person with a chronic condition such as mine, we want to see ourselves as normal.”</blockquote>\n“Even though his parents are both at UTM, it was absolutely Luke’s choice to come here,” said Luke’s father, Dr. Todd A. Winters, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. “(Susan and I) encouraged that, because we knew he would do better here than at a large university where we just dropped him off in a dorm. What’s special about UT Martin is that anybody can succeed here, no matter who you are or the challenges you’ve had.”\n\nWith his dual degrees, Luke is optimistic about his future and the opportunities it holds. “I’m grateful to my parents and everyone who made (UT Martin) a fantastic place to be these last five years,” he said. “The next step is a little scary, but I do feel that I am prepared for whatever comes next.”\n\nWhether that future includes marketing, accounting, career counseling, helping people in a medical capacity, or something entirely unforeseen, Luke’s family and friends are confident in his abilities to excel.\n\n“He is a special person – someone with empathy, with knowledge, with talent, and the ability to roll with the punches,” Echols said. “I would say he has a 100 percent chance of succeeding wherever he goes.”\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Persistence payoff: Student excels despite life-threatening condition','','inherit','closed','closed','','3248-autosave-v1','','','2021-05-10 16:53:48','2021-05-10 21:53:48','',3248,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/10/3248-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3252,2,'2021-05-10 16:44:15','2021-05-10 21:44:15','','05042021_Hometowners006_2','','inherit','closed','closed','','05042021_hometowners006_2','','','2021-05-10 16:44:15','2021-05-10 21:44:15','',3248,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05042021_Hometowners006_2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3253,2,'2021-05-10 16:45:15','2021-05-10 21:45:15','','05042021_Hometowners006_2','','inherit','closed','closed','','05042021_hometowners006_2-2','','','2021-05-10 16:45:15','2021-05-10 21:45:15','',3248,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05042021_Hometowners006_2-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3254,2,'2021-05-10 16:46:15','2021-05-10 21:46:15','','05042021_Hometowners006_2','Luke Winters','inherit','closed','closed','','05042021_hometowners006_2-3','','','2021-05-10 16:56:27','2021-05-10 21:56:27','',3248,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05042021_Hometowners006_2-2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3255,2,'2021-05-10 16:48:52','2021-05-10 21:48:52','','05082021_SpringCommencementPM037','','inherit','closed','closed','','05082021_springcommencementpm037','','','2021-05-10 16:48:52','2021-05-10 21:48:52','',3248,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencementPM037.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3256,2,'2021-05-10 16:54:56','2021-05-10 21:54:56','At first glance, Luke Winters is your typical successful University of Tennessee at Martin graduating senior – a Martin native with a 3.5 grade point average, engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities and well-liked by his peers. In fact, he’s a bit of an overachiever, earning Bachelor of Science degrees in both Business Administration (accounting) and Agricultural Business, Magna Cum Laude.\r\n\r\nYou’d never guess Luke had four life-threatening brain surgeries before he entered kindergarten.\r\n\r\n“We thought he may have been deaf,” said his mother, UT Martin Nursing Assistant Professor Dr. Susan Cramer Winters. “You’d slam a door near him and he wouldn’t flinch.”\r\n\r\nScans showed that Luke was born with hydrocephalus, a chronic neurological condition caused by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain. CSF has many functions in the human body; it surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts as a protective cushion against injury. It also provides nutrients and proteins that aids in the brain’s normal functioning, and carries waste products away from surrounding tissues.\r\n\r\nHydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF that is produced and the rate at which it is absorbed. The CSF builds up, causing the brain’s ventricles to enlarge and the pressure inside the head to increase. The condition affects more than 1 million Americans, ranging from infants and older children to older and middle-aged adults, as well as seniors.\r\n\r\nTypically, those with hydrocephalus display a disproportionately large head, caused by the pressure of the CSF against the cranium. In Luke’s case, he was relatively fortunate to have been diagnosed in infancy.\r\n\r\n“Luke was lucky in that he was young enough that his skull was still somewhat malleable,” Susan said. “People who are diagnosed later in life have a lot more damage because the skull is already fully formed.”\r\n\r\nOnce a death sentence, hydrocephalus is now treated surgically through the insertion of an internal shunt from the brain to the abdomen, providing for release of excess fluid. But while technology has extended the life of hydrocephalus patients, that life is not easy. The condition affects fine motor skills, making simple tasks like buttoning a coat or holding a fork a difficult procedure. Balance is also affected; Luke was 18 years old before he could fully ride a bicycle.\r\n\r\n“He had physical therapy twice a week for three years and could not stand on one leg,” Susan recalled. “With the bicycle, he just persisted – he would just try and try and one day, we looked out the window and he was motoring down the street. He just keeps trying until he gets it.”\r\n<blockquote>“Luke is a visionary,” said Kameron Echols, CPAD assistant director and Luke’s supervisor. “He is able to look at the bigger picture, and he is able to figure out the best way to talk to a student who might not be able to articulate what they want to say.”</blockquote>\r\nThat persistence has aided Luke throughout his entire life, from playing soccer and golf in high school, to earning a Spanish language scholarship, to learning how to drive.\r\n\r\n“There’s nothing wrong with Luke’s IQ,” Susan said. “He’s undergone some very strenuous neuropsychological evaluations. He’s very smart, but his processing speed is slow. Something that another kid gets right away, it takes him a little while to process it.”\r\n\r\nInstead of getting discouraged, Luke has learned to adapt, finding alternate approaches to a situation. This makes him an excellent employee in UT Martin’s Office of Career Planning and Development, where Luke meets with students as a career peer educator.\r\n\r\n“Luke is a visionary,” said Kameron Echols, CPAD assistant director and Luke’s supervisor. “He is able to look at the bigger picture, and he is able to figure out the best way to talk to a student who might not be able to articulate what they want to say.”\r\n\r\nAdmittedly, Luke said he has a certain affinity for helping those freshmen and sophomores who come to the CPAD not knowing what to do next.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3249\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"3000\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3249 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencementPM001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" /> Winters crosses the commencement stage May 8, 2021.[/caption]\r\n\r\n“I switched majors a few times at UT Martin, and I definitely can relate to those people who come in that need to find some focus in what they want to do as a major, or as a profession,” Luke said. “I have a lot of diverse interests and situational experiences that have helped me grow and helped my problem-solving skills.”\r\n\r\nAs president of the UT Martin College Democrats, Luke started a podcast to keep the group active under the COVID-19 pandemic when meeting in person was not possible. In his work with the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences student organization, Luke organized a quiz bowl team that competed nationally and presented at a conference.\r\n\r\n“He’s a great organizer,” said Dr. Annie Jones, CPAD career counselor and MANRRS advisor. “He’s easy to talk to, intelligent and charismatic. You naturally feel very comfortable with him, whether you’re a student or faculty member. He just has a natural ability to put people at ease and bring out the best in them.”\r\n\r\nAs an agricultural business student, Luke led a student-centered marketing project with the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team. The NBA organization was looking to expand their marketing to appeal to Tennessee’s rural agricultural communities.\r\n\r\n“(Luke) really took the lead on that,” said Dr. Joey E. Mehlhorn, professor of agriculture, geosciences and natural resources. “He kept the students going, pulled it all together, and presented the report to the Grizzlies. Employers are looking for people who can motivate others and stick with a project until it’s done, and that is Luke to a ‘T’.”\r\n\r\nIt was Mehlhorn who recommended a second degree in agricultural business to Luke, who was majoring in accounting and initially resistant to the thought of additional coursework.\r\n\r\n“He comes from a long line of agricultural people, and he already had the business acumen from the accounting side that would be a natural fit,” Mehlhorn said. “But the reality is, I couldn’t see Luke in a solitary position like accounting. He’s definitely a people person, he’s outgoing, and he will do well in a position where he’s working with people and helping them.”\r\n\r\nIronically, those with hydrocephalus typically find math and foreign languages the most difficult subjects to master – two subjects at which Luke excels.\r\n<blockquote>\"He’s definitely a people person, he’s outgoing, and he will do well in a position where he’s working with people and helping them.”</blockquote>\r\n“We’d go to hydrocephalus conferences and I would hear horror stories of parents who were pulling their hair out trying to help their kids learn math,” Susan said. “I was always the exception to the rule, with Luke graduating with an accounting degree. I say they must have added something to him during one of his surgeries.”\r\n\r\nDuring his time at UT Martin, Luke endured two surgeries to repair a failing shunt. The first was over a Christmas break, but the second occurred while he was taking a summer class. Neither caused a break in his studies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3255\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"3000\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3255 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencementPM037.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" /> Winters with his parents, Dr. Todd A. Winters (left), Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and Dr. Susan Cramer Winters (right), assistant professor of nursing.[/caption]\r\n\r\n“Fortunately, it was (an) American Politics (class), and I was familiar with the subject, so even though I had just had brain surgery, it really wasn’t that much of a problem,” Luke said.\r\n\r\nNot that he would have asked for help if he had needed it, he admitted. Because of his condition, Luke likely would have qualified for accommodation by UT Martin’s Office of Disability Services. He may have been offered extra time to take exams or complete assignments, but he declined to pursue those accommodations, despite Susan’s encouragement to do so.\r\n\r\n“It really comes down to the fact that any person with a chronic condition such as mine, we want to see ourselves as normal,” Luke said. “In some cases, I probably should have asked for more time to complete some things, but I guess through my own stubbornness, I wanted to be seen on the same level as any other student.”\r\n\r\nWhat everyone seems to agree on is that UT Martin was the right fit for Luke.\r\n<blockquote>“It really comes down to the fact that any person with a chronic condition such as mine, we want to see ourselves as normal.”</blockquote>\r\n“Even though his parents are both at UTM, it was absolutely Luke’s choice to come here,” said Luke’s father, Dr. Todd A. Winters, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. “(Susan and I) encouraged that, because we knew he would do better here than at a large university where we just dropped him off in a dorm. What’s special about UT Martin is that anybody can succeed here, no matter who you are or the challenges you’ve had.”\r\n\r\nWith his dual degrees, Luke is optimistic about his future and the opportunities it holds. “I’m grateful to my parents and everyone who made (UT Martin) a fantastic place to be these last five years,” he said. “The next step is a little scary, but I do feel that I am prepared for whatever comes next.”\r\n\r\nWhether that future includes marketing, accounting, career counseling, helping people in a medical capacity, or something entirely unforeseen, Luke’s family and friends are confident in his abilities to excel.\r\n\r\n“He is a special person – someone with empathy, with knowledge, with talent, and the ability to roll with the punches,” Echols said. “I would say he has a 100 percent chance of succeeding wherever he goes.”\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Persistence payoff: Student excels despite life-threatening condition','','inherit','closed','closed','','3248-revision-v1','','','2021-05-10 16:54:56','2021-05-10 21:54:56','',3248,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/10/3248-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3257,2,'2021-05-10 16:55:27','2021-05-10 21:55:27','At first glance, Luke Winters is your typical successful University of Tennessee at Martin graduating senior – a Martin native with a 3.5 grade point average, engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities and well-liked by his peers. In fact, he’s a bit of an overachiever, earning Bachelor of Science degrees in both Business Administration (accounting) and Agricultural Business, Magna Cum Laude.\r\n\r\nYou’d never guess Luke had four life-threatening brain surgeries before he entered kindergarten.\r\n\r\n“We thought he may have been deaf,” said his mother, UT Martin Nursing Assistant Professor Dr. Susan Cramer Winters. “You’d slam a door near him and he wouldn’t flinch.”\r\n\r\nScans showed that Luke was born with hydrocephalus, a chronic neurological condition caused by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain. CSF has many functions in the human body; it surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts as a protective cushion against injury. It also provides nutrients and proteins that aids in the brain’s normal functioning, and carries waste products away from surrounding tissues.\r\n\r\nHydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF that is produced and the rate at which it is absorbed. The CSF builds up, causing the brain’s ventricles to enlarge and the pressure inside the head to increase. The condition affects more than 1 million Americans, ranging from infants and older children to older and middle-aged adults, as well as seniors.\r\n\r\nTypically, those with hydrocephalus display a disproportionately large head, caused by the pressure of the CSF against the cranium. In Luke’s case, he was relatively fortunate to have been diagnosed in infancy.\r\n\r\n“Luke was lucky in that he was young enough that his skull was still somewhat malleable,” Susan said. “People who are diagnosed later in life have a lot more damage because the skull is already fully formed.”\r\n\r\nOnce a death sentence, hydrocephalus is now treated surgically through the insertion of an internal shunt from the brain to the abdomen, providing for release of excess fluid. But while technology has extended the life of hydrocephalus patients, that life is not easy. The condition affects fine motor skills, making simple tasks like buttoning a coat or holding a fork a difficult procedure. Balance is also affected; Luke was 18 years old before he could fully ride a bicycle.\r\n\r\n“He had physical therapy twice a week for three years and could not stand on one leg,” Susan recalled. “With the bicycle, he just persisted – he would just try and try and one day, we looked out the window and he was motoring down the street. He just keeps trying until he gets it.”\r\n<blockquote>“Luke is a visionary,” said Kameron Echols, CPAD assistant director and Luke’s supervisor. “He is able to look at the bigger picture, and he is able to figure out the best way to talk to a student who might not be able to articulate what they want to say.”</blockquote>\r\nThat persistence has aided Luke throughout his entire life, from playing soccer and golf in high school, to earning a Spanish language scholarship, to learning how to drive.\r\n\r\n“There’s nothing wrong with Luke’s IQ,” Susan said. “He’s undergone some very strenuous neuropsychological evaluations. He’s very smart, but his processing speed is slow. Something that another kid gets right away, it takes him a little while to process it.”\r\n\r\nInstead of getting discouraged, Luke has learned to adapt, finding alternate approaches to a situation. This makes him an excellent employee in UT Martin’s Office of Career Planning and Development, where Luke meets with students as a career peer educator.\r\n\r\n“Luke is a visionary,” said Kameron Echols, CPAD assistant director and Luke’s supervisor. “He is able to look at the bigger picture, and he is able to figure out the best way to talk to a student who might not be able to articulate what they want to say.”\r\n\r\nAdmittedly, Luke said he has a certain affinity for helping those freshmen and sophomores who come to the CPAD not knowing what to do next.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3249\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"3000\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3249 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencementPM001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" /> Winters crosses the commencement stage May 8, 2021.[/caption]\r\n\r\n“I switched majors a few times at UT Martin, and I definitely can relate to those people who come in that need to find some focus in what they want to do as a major, or as a profession,” Luke said. “I have a lot of diverse interests and situational experiences that have helped me grow and helped my problem-solving skills.”\r\n\r\nAs president of the UT Martin College Democrats, Luke started a podcast to keep the group active under the COVID-19 pandemic when meeting in person was not possible. In his work with the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences student organization, Luke organized a quiz bowl team that competed nationally and presented at a conference.\r\n\r\n“He’s a great organizer,” said Dr. Annie Jones, CPAD career counselor and MANRRS advisor. “He’s easy to talk to, intelligent and charismatic. You naturally feel very comfortable with him, whether you’re a student or faculty member. He just has a natural ability to put people at ease and bring out the best in them.”\r\n\r\nAs an agricultural business student, Luke led a student-centered marketing project with the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team. The NBA organization was looking to expand their marketing to appeal to Tennessee’s rural agricultural communities.\r\n\r\n“(Luke) really took the lead on that,” said Dr. Joey E. Mehlhorn, professor of agriculture, geosciences and natural resources. “He kept the students going, pulled it all together, and presented the report to the Grizzlies. Employers are looking for people who can motivate others and stick with a project until it’s done, and that is Luke to a ‘T’.”\r\n\r\nIt was Mehlhorn who recommended a second degree in agricultural business to Luke, who was majoring in accounting and initially resistant to the thought of additional coursework.\r\n\r\n“He comes from a long line of agricultural people, and he already had the business acumen from the accounting side that would be a natural fit,” Mehlhorn said. “But the reality is, I couldn’t see Luke in a solitary position like accounting. He’s definitely a people person, he’s outgoing, and he will do well in a position where he’s working with people and helping them.”\r\n\r\nIronically, those with hydrocephalus typically find math and foreign languages the most difficult subjects to master – two subjects at which Luke excels.\r\n<blockquote>\"He’s definitely a people person, he’s outgoing, and he will do well in a position where he’s working with people and helping them.”</blockquote>\r\n“We’d go to hydrocephalus conferences and I would hear horror stories of parents who were pulling their hair out trying to help their kids learn math,” Susan said. “I was always the exception to the rule, with Luke graduating with an accounting degree. I say they must have added something to him during one of his surgeries.”\r\n\r\nDuring his time at UT Martin, Luke endured two surgeries to repair a failing shunt. The first was over a Christmas break, but the second occurred while he was taking a summer class. Neither caused a break in his studies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3255\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"3000\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3255 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencementPM037.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" /> Winters with his parents, Dr. Todd A. Winters (left), Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and Dr. Susan Cramer Winters (right), assistant professor of nursing.[/caption]\r\n\r\n“Fortunately, it was (an) American Politics (class), and I was familiar with the subject, so even though I had just had brain surgery, it really wasn’t that much of a problem,” Luke said.\r\n\r\nNot that he would have asked for help if he had needed it, he admitted. Because of his condition, Luke likely would have qualified for accommodation by UT Martin’s Office of Disability Services. He may have been offered extra time to take exams or complete assignments, but he declined to pursue those accommodations, despite Susan’s encouragement to do so.\r\n\r\n“It really comes down to the fact that any person with a chronic condition such as mine, we want to see ourselves as normal,” Luke said. “In some cases, I probably should have asked for more time to complete some things, but I guess through my own stubbornness, I wanted to be seen on the same level as any other student.”\r\n\r\nWhat everyone seems to agree on is that UT Martin was the right fit for Luke.\r\n<blockquote>“It really comes down to the fact that any person with a chronic condition such as mine, we want to see ourselves as normal.”</blockquote>\r\n“Even though his parents are both at UTM, it was absolutely Luke’s choice to come here,” said Luke’s father, Dr. Todd A. Winters, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. “(Susan and I) encouraged that, because we knew he would do better here than at a large university where we just dropped him off in a dorm. What’s special about UT Martin is that anybody can succeed here, no matter who you are or the challenges you’ve had.”\r\n\r\nWith his dual degrees, Luke is optimistic about his future and the opportunities it holds. “I’m grateful to my parents and everyone who made (UT Martin) a fantastic place to be these last five years,” he said. “The next step is a little scary, but I do feel that I am prepared for whatever comes next.”\r\n\r\nWhether that future includes marketing, accounting, career counseling, helping people in a medical capacity, or something entirely unforeseen, Luke’s family and friends are confident in his abilities to excel.\r\n\r\n“He is a special person – someone with empathy, with knowledge, with talent, and the ability to roll with the punches,” Echols said. “I would say he has a 100 percent chance of succeeding wherever he goes.”\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Persistence payoff: Student excels despite life-threatening condition','At first glance, Luke Winters is your typical successful University of Tennessee at Martin graduating senior – a Martin native with a 3.5 grade point average, engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities and well-liked by his peers. ','inherit','closed','closed','','3248-revision-v1','','','2021-05-10 16:55:27','2021-05-10 21:55:27','',3248,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/10/3248-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3350,7,'2021-06-11 09:49:31','2021-06-11 14:49:31','','DeAundraBoyd','','inherit','closed','closed','','deaundraboyd','','','2021-06-11 09:49:31','2021-06-11 14:49:31','',3349,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DeAundraBoyd.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3349,7,'2021-06-11 09:58:31','2021-06-11 14:58:31','DeAundra Boyd, a recent graduate from the University of Tennessee at Martin, was named the recipient of the 2021 Michelle Horton Community Service Award. He received a bachelor’s degree in social work during commencement exercises on May 8 and has begun working with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services’ Foster Care Unit in the Northwest Tennessee region.\r\n\r\nThe Michelle Horton Service Award honors students in the Department of Behavioral Sciences who make significant contributions to their community through acts of service. To be eligible, students must serve a minimum of 20 service hours. Boyd, of Somerville, volunteered with five local non-profit organizations during his time at UT Martin. He also served as the philanthropy chair for his fraternity and as the president of the UT Martin Student Social Work Association.\r\n<blockquote>“DeAundra’s compassion and desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others is an example for all.”</blockquote>\r\n“A role model is characterized by an individual that others look up to for encouragement during times of challenge and hope in the midst of despair. DeAundra has exemplified what it is to be a role model in action through his commitment and dedication to service activities at UT Martin and local agencies/organizations,” Alicia Donaldson, program director and professor for the social work program, wrote in Boyd’s nomination material. “DeAundra’s compassion and desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others is an example for all.”\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the UT Martin Department of Behavioral Sciences at 731-881-7519.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Boyd receives the 2021 Michelle Horton Community Service Award','DeAundra Boyd, a recent graduate from the University of Tennessee at Martin, was named the recipient of the 2021 Michelle Horton Community Service Award.','publish','closed','closed','','boyd-receives-the-2021-michelle-horton-community-service-award','','','2021-06-11 09:58:31','2021-06-11 14:58:31','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3349',0,'post','',0),(3262,2,'2021-05-10 17:22:38','2021-05-10 22:22:38','Shay Briggs knows how to adapt to new situations, including job changes that led her to chart a new career path. The first leg of the Lexington, Tennessee, resident’s journey to that new beginning was completed May 7 when she received her bachelor’s degree in geoscience during the first of four University of Tennessee at Martin commencement ceremonies. The ceremonies held May 7-8 accommodated COVID-19 protocols and welcomed 569 in-person graduates over the two days in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Students who did not participate in person were recognized virtually during the livestream of each ceremony.\r\n\r\nBriggs, who spoke about her graduation following the Friday event, experienced her first major employment change in 2008 when she lost her automotive industry job. She entered Jackson State Community College and earned an associate degree in computer science, which she received 10 years ago to the day that she graduated from UT Martin. Briggs then worked for a software company, but that position was moved to California, so she decided to pursue her interest in the emergency management field. She couldn’t find an academic program that was a perfect match for her passion, decided to pursue geoscience and started at UT Martin in fall 2017.\r\n\r\nHer path to a bachelor’s degree included familiar challenges for the non-traditional student. In addition to adding commuting time to her routine, she interacted regularly with younger students in a curriculum that requires hands-on experiences in field-trip settings, but Briggs found her place. “The group of students that I went through with have been fantastic,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a better experience.”\r\n<blockquote>“The group of students that I went through with have been fantastic,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a better experience.”</blockquote>\r\nBesides enjoying her work with fellow students, Briggs appreciates faculty members who made time to work with her. Briggs earned a GED after dropping out of high school at the age of 15, so a combination of hard work and seeking academic help when she needed it were keys to her success. She always found her faculty members accessible.\r\n\r\n“(It) didn’t matter what was going on, they (her professors) were always available,” she said. “That means a lot, especially for a nontraditional (student) because I didn’t have a very strong educational background going into Jackson State, so there were a lot of things I struggled with. But they literally got me through it.”\r\n\r\nBriggs’ experiences included work as an intern with Dr. Michael Gibson at the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center in McNairy County. Gibson is professor of geology and director of the center, a major fossil site acquired by the university. “Shay is a non-traditional student with an incredible work ethic,” he said. “Her past experiences and maturity made her an invaluable role model for our geoscience majors.”\r\n\r\nBriggs begins the earth sciences graduate program this fall at the University of Memphis. A doctorate is a long-term dream, but she has a plan until then. “I want to work with communities to help them be more resilient when natural disasters and things like earthquakes, tornadoes – things like that happen,” she said. “I want to be able to work with underserved communities, kind of get them back up where they need to be.”\r\n\r\nGibson described Briggs as an extrovert who sees the best in everyone she meets. “Such positive attributes clearly give her strength and motivation,” he said. “Part of her strength comes from helping others and being part of something bigger than herself.”\r\n\r\nBriggs joined fellow graduates earlier in the evening when Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier, provost and UT Martin vice chancellor for academic affairs, presided over the ceremony and conferred degrees. He also provided the commencement address and offered practical advice for beginning life after college, advising the class first to welcome unexpected opportunities.\r\n\r\n“Don’t stick to a rigid narrative of how your life should go,” he said. “Over the next 60 years, opportunities will open up for you that you can’t imagine today. Embrace them – don’t ignore or avoid them simply because they don’t fit with the plan you created for your life in 2021.”\r\n<blockquote>“Over the next 60 years, opportunities will open up for you that you can’t imagine today. Embrace them – don’t ignore or avoid them simply because they don’t fit with the plan you created for your life in 2021.”</blockquote>\r\nHe next advised each class member to continually refine the kind of person he or she wishes to be both in public and in private. Cavalier urged each person to especially consider what he or she needs in order to be happy and grow individually. “Give yourself the license to reinvent yourself throughout your life,” he said. Success individually and professionally often involves taking risks and learning from failure, and he encouraged each person to test his or her limits by “stepping outside your comfort zone.”\r\n\r\n“I’m not suggesting that each of you go out and push yourself to the point of catastrophic failure,” he said. “I’m talking about considering a job several hours away from home or switching careers to pursue an unexpected opportunity.\r\n\r\n“The job may not work out. You may discover that you don’t want to live that far away from your family. But you learn a lot about yourself and may even discover your true calling.” He closed by asking each graduate to “never stop asking questions about yourself and about the world around you.”\r\n\r\n“Throughout your life, I hope that you will choose to keep asking questions and be a self-reflective thinker as you gain new insights from your experiences and observations,” Cavalier said. “Sometimes how you see a problem one day is very different from how you see it a month later because you take the time to think deeply and carefully about the problem. Keep honing that skill as a lifelong learner.”\r\n\r\nEach ceremony featured several speakers who appeared virtually on Skyhawk Arena’s digital board. The Rev. Amanda Crice, campus minister, UT Martin Wesley Foundation, offered the invocation; UT President Randy Boyd and UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver provided greetings and personal congratulations; and Student Government Association immediate-past President Hunter McCloud and UT Martin Alumni Council President Victor Andrews addressed the graduating class. Each ceremony closed with a performance of the Alma Mater by the UTM Virtual Choir, recorded and edited by 2010 UT Martin graduate Joseph Sam.\r\n\r\nThe four ceremonies included graduates from 65 Tennessee counties, 24 states and seven countries outside of the U.S.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Friday – May 7 – 6 p.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000dzrHjHxg9XQ\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\r\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 10 a.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000dSXOVJIm_9A\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\r\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 2 p.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000eqMMq38mh9Q\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\r\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 6 p.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000BkSucFXO.Ho\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>','Graduate sets new career course with May 7 graduation','Shay Briggs knows how to adapt to new situations, including job changes that led her to chart a new career path. ','publish','closed','closed','','graduate-sets-new-career-course-with-may-7-graduation','','','2021-05-11 16:32:46','2021-05-11 21:32:46','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3262',0,'post','',0),(3263,2,'2021-05-10 17:22:38','2021-05-10 22:22:38','<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000dzrHjHxg9XQ\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>','','','inherit','closed','closed','','3262-revision-v1','','','2021-05-10 17:22:38','2021-05-10 22:22:38','',3262,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/10/3262-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3264,2,'2021-05-10 17:48:41','2021-05-10 22:48:41','Shay Briggs knows how to adapt to new situations, including job changes that led her to chart a new career path. The first leg of the Lexington, Tennessee, resident’s journey to that new beginning was completed May 7 when she received her bachelor’s degree in geoscience during the first of four University of Tennessee at Martin commencement ceremonies. The ceremonies held May 7-8 accommodated COVID-19 protocols and welcomed 569 in-person graduates over the two days in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Students who did not participate in person were recognized virtually during the livestream of each ceremony.\n\nBriggs, who spoke about her graduation following the Friday event, experienced her first major employment change in 2008 when she lost her automotive industry job. She entered Jackson State Community College and earned an associate degree in computer science, which she received 10 years ago to the day that she graduated from UT Martin. Briggs then worked for a software company, but that position was moved to California, so she decided to pursue her interest in the emergency management field. She couldn’t find an academic program that was a perfect match for her passion, decided to pursue geoscience and started at UT Martin in fall 2017.\n\nHer path to a bachelor’s degree included familiar challenges for the non-traditional student. In addition to adding commuting time to her routine, she interacted regularly with younger students in a curriculum that requires hands-on experiences in field-trip settings, but Briggs found her place. “The group of students that I went through with have been fantastic,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a better experience.”\n\nBesides enjoying her work with fellow students, Briggs appreciates faculty members who made time to work with her. Briggs earned a GED after dropping out of high school at the age of 15, so a combination of hard work and seeking academic help when she needed it were keys to her success. She always found her faculty members accessible.\n\n“(It) didn’t matter what was going on, they (her professors) were always available,” she said. “That means a lot, especially for a nontraditional (student) because I didn’t have a very strong educational background going into Jackson State, so there were a lot of things I struggled with. But they literally got me through it.”\n\nBriggs’ experiences included work as an intern with Dr. Michael Gibson at the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center in McNairy County. Gibson is professor of geology and director of the center, a major fossil site acquired by the university. “Shay is a non-traditional student with an incredible work ethic,” he said. “Her past experiences and maturity made her an invaluable role model for our geoscience majors.”\n\nBriggs begins the earth sciences graduate program this fall at the University of Memphis. A doctorate is a long-term dream, but she has a plan until then. “I want to work with communities to help them be more resilient when natural disasters and things like earthquakes, tornadoes – things like that happen,” she said. “I want to be able to work with underserved communities, kind of get them back up where they need to be.”\n\nGibson described Briggs as an extrovert who sees the best in everyone she meets. “Such positive attributes clearly give her strength and motivation,” he said. “Part of her strength comes from helping others and being part of something bigger than herself.”\n\nBriggs joined fellow graduates earlier in the evening when Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier, provost and UT Martin vice chancellor for academic affairs, presided over the ceremony and conferred degrees. He also provided the commencement address and offered practical advice for beginning life after college, advising the class first to welcome unexpected opportunities.\n\n“Don’t stick to a rigid narrative of how your life should go,” he said. “Over the next 60 years, opportunities will open up for you that you can’t imagine today. Embrace them – don’t ignore or avoid them simply because they don’t fit with the plan you created for your life in 2021.”\n<blockquote>“Over the next 60 years, opportunities will open up for you that you can’t imagine today. Embrace them – don’t ignore or avoid them simply because they don’t fit with the plan you created for your life in 2021.”</blockquote>\nHe next advised each class member to continually refine the kind of person he or she wishes to be both in public and in private. Cavalier urged each person to especially consider what he or she needs in order to be happy and grow individually. “Give yourself the license to reinvent yourself throughout your life,” he said. Success individually and professionally often involves taking risks and learning from failure, and he encouraged each person to test his or her limits by “stepping outside your comfort zone.”\n\n“I’m not suggesting that each of you go out and push yourself to the point of catastrophic failure,” he said. “I’m talking about considering a job several hours away from home or switching careers to pursue an unexpected opportunity.\n\n“The job may not work out. You may discover that you don’t want to live that far away from your family. But you learn a lot about yourself and may even discover your true calling.” He closed by asking each graduate to “never stop asking questions about yourself and about the world around you.”\n\n“Throughout your life, I hope that you will choose to keep asking questions and be a self-reflective thinker as you gain new insights from your experiences and observations,” Cavalier said. “Sometimes how you see a problem one day is very different from how you see it a month later because you take the time to think deeply and carefully about the problem. Keep honing that skill as a lifelong learner.”\n\nEach ceremony featured several speakers who appeared virtually on Skyhawk Arena’s digital board. The Rev. Amanda Crice, campus minister, UT Martin Wesley Foundation, offered the invocation; UT President Randy Boyd and UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver provided greetings and personal congratulations; and Student Government Association immediate-past President Hunter McCloud and UT Martin Alumni Council President Victor Andrews addressed the graduating class. Each ceremony closed with a performance of the Alma Mater by the UTM Virtual Choir, recorded and edited by 2010 UT Martin graduate Joseph Sam.\n\nThe four ceremonies included graduates from 65 Tennessee counties, 24 states and seven countries outside of the U.S.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>\n\n<h3>Friday – May 7 – 6 p.m.</h3>\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000dzrHjHxg9XQ\"></div>\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 10 a.m.</h3>\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000dSXOVJIm_9A\"></div>\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 2 p.m.</h3>\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000eqMMq38mh9Q\"></div>\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 6 p.m.</h3>\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000BkSucFXO.Ho\"></div>\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>','Graduate sets new career course with May 7 graduation','Shay Briggs knows how to adapt to new situations, including job changes that led her to chart a new career path. ','inherit','closed','closed','','3262-autosave-v1','','','2021-05-10 17:48:41','2021-05-10 22:48:41','',3262,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/10/3262-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3265,2,'2021-05-10 17:30:46','2021-05-10 22:30:46','','05082021_SpringCommencement10AM046','Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier presided over four University of Tennessee at Martin Spring Commencement ceremonies and also provided the address at each event. Cavalier is provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.','inherit','closed','closed','','05082021_springcommencement10am046','','','2021-05-10 17:31:14','2021-05-10 22:31:14','',3262,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencement10AM046.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3266,2,'2021-05-10 17:34:31','2021-05-10 22:34:31','Shay Briggs knows how to adapt to new situations, including job changes that led her to chart a new career path. The first leg of the Lexington, Tennessee, resident’s journey to that new beginning was completed May 7 when she received her bachelor’s degree in geoscience during the first of four University of Tennessee at Martin commencement ceremonies. The ceremonies held May 7-8 accommodated COVID-19 protocols and welcomed 569 in-person graduates over the two days in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Students who did not participate in person were recognized virtually during the livestream of each ceremony.\r\n\r\nBriggs, who spoke about her graduation following the Friday event, experienced her first major employment change in 2008 when she lost her automotive industry job. She entered Jackson State Community College and earned an associate degree in computer science, which she received 10 years ago to the day that she graduated from UT Martin. Briggs then worked for a software company, but that position was moved to California, so she decided to pursue her interest in the emergency management field. She couldn’t find an academic program that was a perfect match for her passion, decided to pursue geoscience and started at UT Martin in fall 2017.\r\n\r\nHer path to a bachelor’s degree included familiar challenges for the non-traditional student. In addition to adding commuting time to her routine, she interacted regularly with younger students in a curriculum that requires hands-on experiences in field-trip settings, but Briggs found her place. “The group of students that I went through with have been fantastic,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a better experience.”\r\n<blockquote>“The group of students that I went through with have been fantastic,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a better experience.”</blockquote>\r\nBesides enjoying her work with fellow students, Briggs appreciates faculty members who made time to work with her. Briggs earned a GED after dropping out of high school at the age of 15, so a combination of hard work and seeking academic help when she needed it were keys to her success. She always found her faculty members accessible.\r\n\r\n“(It) didn’t matter what was going on, they (her professors) were always available,” she said. “That means a lot, especially for a nontraditional (student) because I didn’t have a very strong educational background going into Jackson State, so there were a lot of things I struggled with. But they literally got me through it.”\r\n\r\nBriggs’ experiences included work as an intern with Dr. Michael Gibson at the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center in McNairy County. Gibson is professor of geology and director of the center, a major fossil site acquired by the university. “She really enjoyed the idea of being part of something new for UT Martin and became a terrific role model for our geoscience majors,” he said. “Shay is a non-traditional student with an incredible work ethic. Her past experiences and maturity made her an invaluable role model for our geoscience majors.”\r\n\r\nBriggs begins the earth sciences graduate program this fall at the University of Memphis. A doctorate is a long-term dream, but she has a plan until then. “I want to work with communities to help them be more resilient when natural disasters and things like earthquakes, tornadoes – things like that happen,” she said. “I want to be able to work with underserved communities, kind of get them back up where they need to be.”\r\n\r\nGibson said Briggs is an extrovert who sees the best in everyone she meets. “Such positive attributes clearly give her strength and motivation,” he said. “Part of her strength comes from helping others and being part of something bigger than herself.”\r\n\r\nBriggs joined fellow graduates earlier in the evening when Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier, provost and UT Martin vice chancellor for academic affairs, presided over the ceremony and conferred degrees. He also provided the commencement address and offered practical advice for beginning life after college, advising the class first to welcome unexpected opportunities.\r\n\r\n“Don’t stick to a rigid narrative of how your life should go,” he said. “Over the next 60 years, opportunities will open up for you that you can’t imagine today. Embrace them – don’t ignore or avoid them simply because they don’t fit with the plan you created for your life in 2021.”\r\n<blockquote>“Over the next 60 years, opportunities will open up for you that you can’t imagine today. Embrace them – don’t ignore or avoid them simply because they don’t fit with the plan you created for your life in 2021.”</blockquote>\r\nHe next advised each class member to continually refine the kind of person he or she wishes to be both in public and in private. Cavalier urged each person to especially consider what he or she needs in order to be happy and grow individually. “Give yourself the license to reinvent yourself throughout your life,” he said. Success individually and professionally often involves taking risks and learning from failure, and he encouraged each person to test his or her limits by “stepping outside your comfort zone.”\r\n\r\n“I’m not suggesting that each of you go out and push yourself to the point of catastrophic failure,” he said. “I’m talking about considering a job several hours away from home or switching careers to pursue an unexpected opportunity.\r\n\r\n“The job may not work out. You may discover that you don’t want to live that far away from your family. But you learn a lot about yourself and may even discover your true calling.” He closed by asking each graduate to “never stop asking questions about yourself and about the world around you.”\r\n\r\n“Throughout your life, I hope that you will choose to keep asking questions and be a self-reflective thinker as you gain new insights from your experiences and observations,” Cavalier said. “Sometimes how you see a problem one day is very different from how you see it a month later because you take the time to think deeply and carefully about the problem. Keep honing that skill as a lifelong learner.”\r\n\r\nEach ceremony featured several speakers who appeared virtually on Skyhawk Arena’s digital board. The Rev. Amanda Crice, campus minister, UT Martin Wesley Foundation, offered the invocation; UT President Randy Boyd and UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver provided greetings and personal congratulations; and Student Government Association immediate-past President Hunter McCloud and UT Martin Alumni Council President Victor Andrews addressed the graduating class. Each ceremony closed with a performance of the Alma Mater by the UTM Virtual Choir, recorded and edited by 2010 UT Martin graduate Joseph Sam.\r\n\r\nThe four ceremonies included graduates from 65 Tennessee counties, 24 states and seven countries outside of the U.S.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Friday – May 7 – 6 p.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000dzrHjHxg9XQ\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\r\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 10 a.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000dSXOVJIm_9A\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\r\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 2 p.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000eqMMq38mh9Q\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\r\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 6 p.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000BkSucFXO.Ho\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>','Graduate sets new career course with May 7 graduation','','inherit','closed','closed','','3262-revision-v1','','','2021-05-10 17:34:31','2021-05-10 22:34:31','',3262,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/10/3262-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3268,2,'2021-05-10 17:49:08','2021-05-10 22:49:08','Shay Briggs knows how to adapt to new situations, including job changes that led her to chart a new career path. The first leg of the Lexington, Tennessee, resident’s journey to that new beginning was completed May 7 when she received her bachelor’s degree in geoscience during the first of four University of Tennessee at Martin commencement ceremonies. The ceremonies held May 7-8 accommodated COVID-19 protocols and welcomed 569 in-person graduates over the two days in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Students who did not participate in person were recognized virtually during the livestream of each ceremony.\r\n\r\nBriggs, who spoke about her graduation following the Friday event, experienced her first major employment change in 2008 when she lost her automotive industry job. She entered Jackson State Community College and earned an associate degree in computer science, which she received 10 years ago to the day that she graduated from UT Martin. Briggs then worked for a software company, but that position was moved to California, so she decided to pursue her interest in the emergency management field. She couldn’t find an academic program that was a perfect match for her passion, decided to pursue geoscience and started at UT Martin in fall 2017.\r\n\r\nHer path to a bachelor’s degree included familiar challenges for the non-traditional student. In addition to adding commuting time to her routine, she interacted regularly with younger students in a curriculum that requires hands-on experiences in field-trip settings, but Briggs found her place. “The group of students that I went through with have been fantastic,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a better experience.”\r\n<blockquote>“The group of students that I went through with have been fantastic,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a better experience.”</blockquote>\r\nBesides enjoying her work with fellow students, Briggs appreciates faculty members who made time to work with her. Briggs earned a GED after dropping out of high school at the age of 15, so a combination of hard work and seeking academic help when she needed it were keys to her success. She always found her faculty members accessible.\r\n\r\n“(It) didn’t matter what was going on, they (her professors) were always available,” she said. “That means a lot, especially for a nontraditional (student) because I didn’t have a very strong educational background going into Jackson State, so there were a lot of things I struggled with. But they literally got me through it.”\r\n\r\nBriggs’ experiences included work as an intern with Dr. Michael Gibson at the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center in McNairy County. Gibson is professor of geology and director of the center, a major fossil site acquired by the university. “Shay is a non-traditional student with an incredible work ethic,” he said. “Her past experiences and maturity made her an invaluable role model for our geoscience majors.”\r\n\r\nBriggs begins the earth sciences graduate program this fall at the University of Memphis. A doctorate is a long-term dream, but she has a plan until then. “I want to work with communities to help them be more resilient when natural disasters and things like earthquakes, tornadoes – things like that happen,” she said. “I want to be able to work with underserved communities, kind of get them back up where they need to be.”\r\n\r\nGibson described Briggs as an extrovert who sees the best in everyone she meets. “Such positive attributes clearly give her strength and motivation,” he said. “Part of her strength comes from helping others and being part of something bigger than herself.”\r\n\r\nBriggs joined fellow graduates earlier in the evening when Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier, provost and UT Martin vice chancellor for academic affairs, presided over the ceremony and conferred degrees. He also provided the commencement address and offered practical advice for beginning life after college, advising the class first to welcome unexpected opportunities.\r\n\r\n“Don’t stick to a rigid narrative of how your life should go,” he said. “Over the next 60 years, opportunities will open up for you that you can’t imagine today. Embrace them – don’t ignore or avoid them simply because they don’t fit with the plan you created for your life in 2021.”\r\n<blockquote>“Over the next 60 years, opportunities will open up for you that you can’t imagine today. Embrace them – don’t ignore or avoid them simply because they don’t fit with the plan you created for your life in 2021.”</blockquote>\r\nHe next advised each class member to continually refine the kind of person he or she wishes to be both in public and in private. Cavalier urged each person to especially consider what he or she needs in order to be happy and grow individually. “Give yourself the license to reinvent yourself throughout your life,” he said. Success individually and professionally often involves taking risks and learning from failure, and he encouraged each person to test his or her limits by “stepping outside your comfort zone.”\r\n\r\n“I’m not suggesting that each of you go out and push yourself to the point of catastrophic failure,” he said. “I’m talking about considering a job several hours away from home or switching careers to pursue an unexpected opportunity.\r\n\r\n“The job may not work out. You may discover that you don’t want to live that far away from your family. But you learn a lot about yourself and may even discover your true calling.” He closed by asking each graduate to “never stop asking questions about yourself and about the world around you.”\r\n\r\n“Throughout your life, I hope that you will choose to keep asking questions and be a self-reflective thinker as you gain new insights from your experiences and observations,” Cavalier said. “Sometimes how you see a problem one day is very different from how you see it a month later because you take the time to think deeply and carefully about the problem. Keep honing that skill as a lifelong learner.”\r\n\r\nEach ceremony featured several speakers who appeared virtually on Skyhawk Arena’s digital board. The Rev. Amanda Crice, campus minister, UT Martin Wesley Foundation, offered the invocation; UT President Randy Boyd and UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver provided greetings and personal congratulations; and Student Government Association immediate-past President Hunter McCloud and UT Martin Alumni Council President Victor Andrews addressed the graduating class. Each ceremony closed with a performance of the Alma Mater by the UTM Virtual Choir, recorded and edited by 2010 UT Martin graduate Joseph Sam.\r\n\r\nThe four ceremonies included graduates from 65 Tennessee counties, 24 states and seven countries outside of the U.S.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Friday – May 7 – 6 p.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000dzrHjHxg9XQ\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\r\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 10 a.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000dSXOVJIm_9A\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\r\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 2 p.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000eqMMq38mh9Q\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\r\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 6 p.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000BkSucFXO.Ho\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>','Graduate sets new career course with May 7 graduation','Shay Briggs knows how to adapt to new situations, including job changes that led her to chart a new career path. ','inherit','closed','closed','','3262-revision-v1','','','2021-05-10 17:49:08','2021-05-10 22:49:08','',3262,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/10/3262-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3267,2,'2021-05-10 17:35:01','2021-05-10 22:35:01','Shay Briggs knows how to adapt to new situations, including job changes that led her to chart a new career path. The first leg of the Lexington, Tennessee, resident’s journey to that new beginning was completed May 7 when she received her bachelor’s degree in geoscience during the first of four University of Tennessee at Martin commencement ceremonies. The ceremonies held May 7-8 accommodated COVID-19 protocols and welcomed 569 in-person graduates over the two days in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Students who did not participate in person were recognized virtually during the livestream of each ceremony.\r\n\r\nBriggs, who spoke about her graduation following the Friday event, experienced her first major employment change in 2008 when she lost her automotive industry job. She entered Jackson State Community College and earned an associate degree in computer science, which she received 10 years ago to the day that she graduated from UT Martin. Briggs then worked for a software company, but that position was moved to California, so she decided to pursue her interest in the emergency management field. She couldn’t find an academic program that was a perfect match for her passion, decided to pursue geoscience and started at UT Martin in fall 2017.\r\n\r\nHer path to a bachelor’s degree included familiar challenges for the non-traditional student. In addition to adding commuting time to her routine, she interacted regularly with younger students in a curriculum that requires hands-on experiences in field-trip settings, but Briggs found her place. “The group of students that I went through with have been fantastic,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a better experience.”\r\n<blockquote>“The group of students that I went through with have been fantastic,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a better experience.”</blockquote>\r\nBesides enjoying her work with fellow students, Briggs appreciates faculty members who made time to work with her. Briggs earned a GED after dropping out of high school at the age of 15, so a combination of hard work and seeking academic help when she needed it were keys to her success. She always found her faculty members accessible.\r\n\r\n“(It) didn’t matter what was going on, they (her professors) were always available,” she said. “That means a lot, especially for a nontraditional (student) because I didn’t have a very strong educational background going into Jackson State, so there were a lot of things I struggled with. But they literally got me through it.”\r\n\r\nBriggs’ experiences included work as an intern with Dr. Michael Gibson at the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center in McNairy County. Gibson is professor of geology and director of the center, a major fossil site acquired by the university. “She really enjoyed the idea of being part of something new for UT Martin and became a terrific role model for our geoscience majors,” he said. “Shay is a non-traditional student with an incredible work ethic. Her past experiences and maturity made her an invaluable role model for our geoscience majors.”\r\n\r\nBriggs begins the earth sciences graduate program this fall at the University of Memphis. A doctorate is a long-term dream, but she has a plan until then. “I want to work with communities to help them be more resilient when natural disasters and things like earthquakes, tornadoes – things like that happen,” she said. “I want to be able to work with underserved communities, kind of get them back up where they need to be.”\r\n\r\nGibson said Briggs is an extrovert who sees the best in everyone she meets. “Such positive attributes clearly give her strength and motivation,” he said. “Part of her strength comes from helping others and being part of something bigger than herself.”\r\n\r\nBriggs joined fellow graduates earlier in the evening when Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier, provost and UT Martin vice chancellor for academic affairs, presided over the ceremony and conferred degrees. He also provided the commencement address and offered practical advice for beginning life after college, advising the class first to welcome unexpected opportunities.\r\n\r\n“Don’t stick to a rigid narrative of how your life should go,” he said. “Over the next 60 years, opportunities will open up for you that you can’t imagine today. Embrace them – don’t ignore or avoid them simply because they don’t fit with the plan you created for your life in 2021.”\r\n<blockquote>“Over the next 60 years, opportunities will open up for you that you can’t imagine today. Embrace them – don’t ignore or avoid them simply because they don’t fit with the plan you created for your life in 2021.”</blockquote>\r\nHe next advised each class member to continually refine the kind of person he or she wishes to be both in public and in private. Cavalier urged each person to especially consider what he or she needs in order to be happy and grow individually. “Give yourself the license to reinvent yourself throughout your life,” he said. Success individually and professionally often involves taking risks and learning from failure, and he encouraged each person to test his or her limits by “stepping outside your comfort zone.”\r\n\r\n“I’m not suggesting that each of you go out and push yourself to the point of catastrophic failure,” he said. “I’m talking about considering a job several hours away from home or switching careers to pursue an unexpected opportunity.\r\n\r\n“The job may not work out. You may discover that you don’t want to live that far away from your family. But you learn a lot about yourself and may even discover your true calling.” He closed by asking each graduate to “never stop asking questions about yourself and about the world around you.”\r\n\r\n“Throughout your life, I hope that you will choose to keep asking questions and be a self-reflective thinker as you gain new insights from your experiences and observations,” Cavalier said. “Sometimes how you see a problem one day is very different from how you see it a month later because you take the time to think deeply and carefully about the problem. Keep honing that skill as a lifelong learner.”\r\n\r\nEach ceremony featured several speakers who appeared virtually on Skyhawk Arena’s digital board. The Rev. Amanda Crice, campus minister, UT Martin Wesley Foundation, offered the invocation; UT President Randy Boyd and UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver provided greetings and personal congratulations; and Student Government Association immediate-past President Hunter McCloud and UT Martin Alumni Council President Victor Andrews addressed the graduating class. Each ceremony closed with a performance of the Alma Mater by the UTM Virtual Choir, recorded and edited by 2010 UT Martin graduate Joseph Sam.\r\n\r\nThe four ceremonies included graduates from 65 Tennessee counties, 24 states and seven countries outside of the U.S.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Friday – May 7 – 6 p.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000dzrHjHxg9XQ\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\r\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 10 a.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000dSXOVJIm_9A\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\r\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 2 p.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000eqMMq38mh9Q\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>\r\n<h3>Saturday – May 8 – 6 p.m.</h3>\r\n<style>[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}</style>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 75% !important; width: 100% !important;\" data-ps-embed-type=\"slideshow\" data-ps-embed-gid=\"G0000BkSucFXO.Ho\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com/js/psEmbed.js\"></script>\r\n<script>_psEmbed(\"https://utmartin.photoshelter.com\");</script>','Graduate sets new career course with May 7 graduation','Shay Briggs knows how to adapt to new situations, including job changes that led her to chart a new career path. ','inherit','closed','closed','','3262-revision-v1','','','2021-05-10 17:35:01','2021-05-10 22:35:01','',3262,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/10/3262-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3270,2,'2021-05-14 14:06:00','2021-05-14 19:06:00','For Samuel Walgren, graduating from college with a degree in history is the realization of a lifelong dream.\r\n\r\n“I was about 10 when I knew I wanted to do something in history,” said the Milan native, who received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Tennessee in Martin on May 8. “It’s the only subject to me that makes sense, because it’s got everything – anything you want to learn about you can learn in a history class.”\r\n\r\nWalgren credits his family with getting him started on the road to becoming a historian.\r\n\r\n“My parents would tell me all these fascinating oral histories of their parents and grandparents, which drove my imagination at an early age,” Walgren said. “My grandpa would tell me stories of my Civil War ancestors, and my passion for studying the Civil War started in about fourth or fifth grade. It’s the truth – I was obsessed.”\r\n\r\nHe was still passionate about history in 2016, when he met Dr. David Coffey, UT Martin professor and department chair of history and philosophy at South Gibson High School’s junior-senior career day.\r\n<blockquote>“My grandpa would tell me stories of my Civil War ancestors, and my passion for studying the Civil War started in about fourth or fifth grade. It’s the truth – I was obsessed.”</blockquote>\r\n“I got to talking with (Coffey) about history, particularly military history,” Walgren said. “He is a true historian of the American Civil War, and I knew I wanted to study with him, and that’s one of the big reasons I chose UT Martin.”\r\n\r\nCoffey recalls meeting Walgren, and being initially impressed with the student’s maturity, his passion for military history, and the breadth of his knowledge.\r\n\r\n“He was a serious student from the very start, and I really hoped that we could attract him to UTM,” Coffey said. UT Martin’s department of history and philosophy did not disappoint.\r\n\r\n“I have been impressed with every single professor I’ve had at UTM,” said Walgren, listing no fewer than 10 professors, instructors and lecturers in a variety of disciplines he has studied with over the past four years. “Some were tougher than others, but all of them were approachable and every single one of them answered my questions and were happy to do so.”\r\n\r\nAn English minor, Walgren dabbled in poetry during two workshop courses led by UTM adjunct instructor of English Pamela Johnson Parker.\r\n<blockquote>“I have been impressed with every single professor I’ve had at UTM.”</blockquote>\r\n“I really enjoyed her class, and she held several virtual office hours that were helpful to my creativity,” Walgren said.\r\n\r\nBut history has been, is, and will always be Walgren’s true love, and as a student of history, he didn’t disappoint UTM, either. From recruiting him to acting as his advisor and then having him in four classes, including an independent study, Coffey said Walgren proved to be one of the best students he has had in 20 years at UT Martin.\r\n\r\n“From the start, he soaked up everything presented to him,” Coffey said. “He is thirsty for knowledge, and always thinking of the next step, the next level. That can be a challenge for (professors), but when you get someone like Samuel in class it’s a real treat, because we’re building the next generations of historians.”\r\n\r\nTom Elam Distinguished Professor of History at UTM Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls made an exception for Walgren, allowing him to take her “Europe from War to War 1914-1945” class, a course typically reserved for upperclassmen, and a prerequisite for students wishing to take its corresponding European field trip in the summer of 2018.\r\n\r\n“Usually, I don’t let freshmen take that class, but Samuel really wanted to go on that trip,” Carls said. A joint venture with the history department of Union University, the 12-day trip included stops in England, Belgium and France, and commemorated the centennial of the end of the Great War in 1918.\r\n\r\n“To see Flanders Fields in Belgium, the actual trenches, to walk through the (Forest of) Argonne (France), it was an amazing experience,” Walgren said. One highlight was a day-long excursion to sites relating to the Battle of Verdun, France, renown as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War I. Lasting 10 months, the battle resulted in the death of more than 300,000 French and German soldiers. “The destruction is still visible. It’s incredible to see all of the bomb craters still there, entire towns just leveled.”\r\n\r\nStudents were also treated to a surprise stop – while heading to Varennes, France, the coach detoured near the German Crown Prince’s bunker, where they walked through some of the German army’s World War I trenches. “That was not even on the itinerary, but our bus driver knew about it and took us there,” Walgren said. “To see a German trench, that was pretty much a dream come true.”\r\n\r\nCourse lectures, special projects and assignments at UT Martin led to Walgren’s deeper appreciation for the subject of history.\r\n\r\n“I was assigned citation exams, close readings, and a research paper in my (History) 299 (History for Historians) course, which helped cultivate my skills. (History) 499 (Senior Seminar: Historical Research and Writing) put everything I had learned for three years into a cohesive senior paper, and I also had the opportunity to study abroad and do a public history internship – all of that helped with my understanding of history and the world around me,” Walgren said.\r\n\r\nThe C.E. Weldon Public Library in downtown Martin benefitted from Walgren’s skills as a student archivist, where he worked to update obituary records in Weakley county. As vice president and president of the UTM history club, Walgren organized history field trips, movie nights, and trivia events. As president of the UTM Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta (history honor society), his conference paper, presented virtually in March 2021, received special recognition.\r\n<blockquote>“Samuel’s knowledge is not all book knowledge,” she said. “Legitimate reenactors know the value of historical details down to the shape of a button or type of rifle you’re carrying or where the helmet strap goes. He is attentive to those details, and that makes him a better historian.”</blockquote>\r\nWalgren’s passion for history fuels his hobby as a historical reenactor. Also known as living history, reenactments place modern volunteers in simulated historical situations with the goal of enlightening the public to conditions of life in the past. Historians differ on the efficacy of reenactment, as too often the participants are more focused on entertainment than on scholarship.\r\n\r\n“Some people see it as a game; they put on a costume and have a good time without much thought to authenticity,” Coffey said. “Done wrong, reenactment gives history a bad name.”\r\n\r\nBy contrast, Walgren looks at reenactment as a teaching opportunity. “He’s got a level of specialty there that is pretty admirable,” Coffey said. “He started out with the Civil War, but he is doing WWII performances now and even Vietnam, and his preparation and attention to detail is something I can’t fault.”<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-3272 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/US-Walgren.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1800\" />\r\n\r\nCarls said Walgren’s experience as a reenactor aids in his understanding of the past.\r\n\r\n“Samuel’s knowledge is not all book knowledge,” she said. “Legitimate reenactors know the value of historical details down to the shape of a button or type of rifle you’re carrying or where the helmet strap goes. He is attentive to those details, and that makes him a better historian.”\r\n\r\nWalgren’s maturity, writing ability, and natural curiosity make him one of the department’s favorite graduates.\r\n\r\n“I knew when he came to me in September with a six-page outline that he was going to be a joy to work with,” said Carls, Walgren’s senior paper advisor. “It wasn’t me just teaching him, it was more a dialogue, a fluid conversation between two people interested in history. It was fantastic.”\r\n\r\nWalgren will pursue a master’s degree in history at Oklahoma State University, where he will study 19<sup>th</sup> Century American history, public history, and the history of Latin America.\r\n\r\n“I’m awfully proud of him and I am lucky to have worked with him as much as I did,” Coffey said. “He’s a once-in-a-generation kind of talent. He just does everything right.”\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Grad turns lifelong love of history into promising future','For Samuel Walgren, graduating from college with a degree in history is the realization of a lifelong dream.','publish','closed','closed','','grad-turns-lifelong-love-of-history-into-promising-future','','','2021-05-14 14:08:39','2021-05-14 19:08:39','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3270',0,'post','',0),(3271,2,'2021-05-14 14:03:19','2021-05-14 19:03:19','','05082021_SpringCommencement10AM120','Samuel Walgren crosses the stage during UT Martin’s commencement exercises, May 8, 2021.','inherit','closed','closed','','05082021_springcommencement10am120','','','2021-05-14 14:04:14','2021-05-14 19:04:14','',3270,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencement10AM120.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3272,2,'2021-05-14 14:05:08','2021-05-14 19:05:08','','US-Walgren','','inherit','closed','closed','','us-walgren','','','2021-05-14 14:05:08','2021-05-14 19:05:08','',3270,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/US-Walgren.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3273,2,'2021-05-14 14:06:00','2021-05-14 19:06:00','For Samuel Walgren, graduating from college with a degree in history is the realization of a lifelong dream.\r\n\r\n“I was about 10 when I knew I wanted to do something in history,” said the Milan native, who received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Tennessee in Martin on May 8. “It’s the only subject to me that makes sense, because it’s got everything – anything you want to learn about you can learn in a history class.”\r\n\r\nWalgren credits his family with getting him started on the road to becoming a historian.\r\n\r\n“My parents would tell me all these fascinating oral histories of their parents and grandparents, which drove my imagination at an early age,” Walgren said. “My grandpa would tell me stories of my Civil War ancestors, and my passion for studying the Civil War started in about fourth or fifth grade. It’s the truth – I was obsessed.”\r\n\r\nHe was still passionate about history in 2016, when he met Dr. David Coffey, UT Martin professor and department chair of history and philosophy at South Gibson High School’s junior-senior career day.\r\n\r\n“I got to talking with (Coffey) about history, particularly military history,” Walgren said. “He is a true historian of the American Civil War, and I knew I wanted to study with him, and that’s one of the big reasons I chose UT Martin.”\r\n\r\nCoffey recalls meeting Walgren, and being initially impressed with the student’s maturity, his passion for military history, and the breadth of his knowledge.\r\n\r\n“He was a serious student from the very start, and I really hoped that we could attract him to UTM,” Coffey said. UT Martin’s department of history and philosophy did not disappoint.\r\n\r\n“I have been impressed with every single professor I’ve had at UTM,” said Walgren, listing no fewer than 10 professors, instructors and lecturers in a variety of disciplines he has studied with over the past four years. “Some were tougher than others, but all of them were approachable and every single one of them answered my questions and were happy to do so.”\r\n\r\nAn English minor, Walgren dabbled in poetry during two workshop courses led by UTM adjunct instructor of English Pamela Johnson Parker.\r\n\r\n“I really enjoyed her class, and she held several virtual office hours that were helpful to my creativity,” Walgren said.\r\n\r\nBut history has been, is, and will always be Walgren’s true love, and as a student of history, he didn’t disappoint UTM, either. From recruiting him to acting as his advisor and then having him in four classes, including an independent study, Coffey said Walgren proved to be one of the best students he has had in 20 years at UT Martin.\r\n\r\n“From the start, he soaked up everything presented to him,” Coffey said. “He is thirsty for knowledge, and always thinking of the next step, the next level. That can be a challenge for (professors), but when you get someone like Samuel in class it’s a real treat, because we’re building the next generations of historians.”\r\n\r\nTom Elam Distinguished Professor of History at UTM Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls made an exception for Walgren, allowing him to take her “Europe from War to War 1914-1945” class, a course typically reserved for upperclassmen, and a prerequisite for students wishing to take its corresponding European field trip in the summer of 2018.\r\n\r\n“Usually, I don’t let freshmen take that class, but Samuel really wanted to go on that trip,” Carls said. A joint venture with the history department of Union University, the 12-day trip included stops in England, Belgium and France, and commemorated the centennial of the end of the Great War in 1918.\r\n\r\n“To see Flanders Fields in Belgium, the actual trenches, to walk through the (Forest of) Argonne (France), it was an amazing experience,” Walgren said. One highlight was a day-long excursion to sites relating to the Battle of Verdun, France, renown as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War I. Lasting 10 months, the battle resulted in the death of more than 300,000 French and German soldiers. “The destruction is still visible. It’s incredible to see all of the bomb craters still there, entire towns just leveled.”\r\n\r\nStudents were also treated to a surprise stop – while heading to Varennes, France, the coach detoured near the German Crown Prince’s bunker, where they walked through some of the German army’s World War I trenches. “That was not even on the itinerary, but our bus driver knew about it and took us there,” Walgren said. “To see a German trench, that was pretty much a dream come true.”\r\n\r\nCourse lectures, special projects and assignments at UT Martin led to Walgren’s deeper appreciation for the subject of history.\r\n\r\n“I was assigned citation exams, close readings, and a research paper in my (History) 299 (History for Historians) course, which helped cultivate my skills. (History) 499 (Senior Seminar: Historical Research and Writing) put everything I had learned for three years into a cohesive senior paper, and I also had the opportunity to study abroad and do a public history internship – all of that helped with my understanding of history and the world around me,” Walgren said.\r\n\r\nThe C.E. Weldon Public Library in downtown Martin benefitted from Walgren’s skills as a student archivist, where he worked to update obituary records in Weakley county. As vice president and president of the UTM history club, Walgren organized history field trips, movie nights, and trivia events. As president of the UTM Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta (history honor society), his conference paper, presented virtually in March 2021, received special recognition.\r\n<blockquote>“Samuel’s knowledge is not all book knowledge,” she said. “Legitimate reenactors know the value of historical details down to the shape of a button or type of rifle you’re carrying or where the helmet strap goes. He is attentive to those details, and that makes him a better historian.”</blockquote>\r\nWalgren’s passion for history fuels his hobby as a historical reenactor. Also known as living history, reenactments place modern volunteers in simulated historical situations with the goal of enlightening the public to conditions of life in the past. Historians differ on the efficacy of reenactment, as too often the participants are more focused on entertainment than on scholarship.\r\n\r\n“Some people see it as a game; they put on a costume and have a good time without much thought to authenticity,” Coffey said. “Done wrong, reenactment gives history a bad name.”\r\n\r\nBy contrast, Walgren looks at reenactment as a teaching opportunity. “He’s got a level of specialty there that is pretty admirable,” Coffey said. “He started out with the Civil War, but he is doing WWII performances now and even Vietnam, and his preparation and attention to detail is something I can’t fault.”<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-3272 size-medium\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/US-Walgren-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nCarls said Walgren’s experience as a reenactor aids in his understanding of the past.\r\n\r\n“Samuel’s knowledge is not all book knowledge,” she said. “Legitimate reenactors know the value of historical details down to the shape of a button or type of rifle you’re carrying or where the helmet strap goes. He is attentive to those details, and that makes him a better historian.”\r\n\r\nWalgren’s maturity, writing ability, and natural curiosity make him one of the department’s favorite graduates.\r\n\r\n“I knew when he came to me in September with a six-page outline that he was going to be a joy to work with,” said Carls, Walgren’s senior paper advisor. “It wasn’t me just teaching him, it was more a dialogue, a fluid conversation between two people interested in history. It was fantastic.”\r\n\r\nWalgren will pursue a master’s degree in history at Oklahoma State University, where he will study 19<sup>th</sup> Century American history, public history, and the history of Latin America.\r\n\r\n“I’m awfully proud of him and I am lucky to have worked with him as much as I did,” Coffey said. “He’s a once-in-a-generation kind of talent. He just does everything right.”\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Grad turns lifelong love of history into promising future','','inherit','closed','closed','','3270-revision-v1','','','2021-05-14 14:06:00','2021-05-14 19:06:00','',3270,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/14/3270-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3274,2,'2021-05-14 14:07:54','2021-05-14 19:07:54','For Samuel Walgren, graduating from college with a degree in history is the realization of a lifelong dream.\n\n“I was about 10 when I knew I wanted to do something in history,” said the Milan native, who received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Tennessee in Martin on May 8. “It’s the only subject to me that makes sense, because it’s got everything – anything you want to learn about you can learn in a history class.”\n\nWalgren credits his family with getting him started on the road to becoming a historian.\n\n“My parents would tell me all these fascinating oral histories of their parents and grandparents, which drove my imagination at an early age,” Walgren said. “My grandpa would tell me stories of my Civil War ancestors, and my passion for studying the Civil War started in about fourth or fifth grade. It’s the truth – I was obsessed.”\n\nHe was still passionate about history in 2016, when he met Dr. David Coffey, UT Martin professor and department chair of history and philosophy at South Gibson High School’s junior-senior career day.\n\n“I got to talking with (Coffey) about history, particularly military history,” Walgren said. “He is a true historian of the American Civil War, and I knew I wanted to study with him, and that’s one of the big reasons I chose UT Martin.”\n\nCoffey recalls meeting Walgren, and being initially impressed with the student’s maturity, his passion for military history, and the breadth of his knowledge.\n\n“He was a serious student from the very start, and I really hoped that we could attract him to UTM,” Coffey said. UT Martin’s department of history and philosophy did not disappoint.\n\n“I have been impressed with every single professor I’ve had at UTM,” said Walgren, listing no fewer than 10 professors, instructors and lecturers in a variety of disciplines he has studied with over the past four years. “Some were tougher than others, but all of them were approachable and every single one of them answered my questions and were happy to do so.”\n\nAn English minor, Walgren dabbled in poetry during two workshop courses led by UTM adjunct instructor of English Pamela Johnson Parker.\n<blockquote>“I have been impressed with every single professor I’ve had at UTM.”</blockquote>\n“I really enjoyed her class, and she held several virtual office hours that were helpful to my creativity,” Walgren said.\n\nBut history has been, is, and will always be Walgren’s true love, and as a student of history, he didn’t disappoint UTM, either. From recruiting him to acting as his advisor and then having him in four classes, including an independent study, Coffey said Walgren proved to be one of the best students he has had in 20 years at UT Martin.\n\n“From the start, he soaked up everything presented to him,” Coffey said. “He is thirsty for knowledge, and always thinking of the next step, the next level. That can be a challenge for (professors), but when you get someone like Samuel in class it’s a real treat, because we’re building the next generations of historians.”\n\nTom Elam Distinguished Professor of History at UTM Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls made an exception for Walgren, allowing him to take her “Europe from War to War 1914-1945” class, a course typically reserved for upperclassmen, and a prerequisite for students wishing to take its corresponding European field trip in the summer of 2018.\n\n“Usually, I don’t let freshmen take that class, but Samuel really wanted to go on that trip,” Carls said. A joint venture with the history department of Union University, the 12-day trip included stops in England, Belgium and France, and commemorated the centennial of the end of the Great War in 1918.\n\n“To see Flanders Fields in Belgium, the actual trenches, to walk through the (Forest of) Argonne (France), it was an amazing experience,” Walgren said. One highlight was a day-long excursion to sites relating to the Battle of Verdun, France, renown as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War I. Lasting 10 months, the battle resulted in the death of more than 300,000 French and German soldiers. “The destruction is still visible. It’s incredible to see all of the bomb craters still there, entire towns just leveled.”\n\nStudents were also treated to a surprise stop – while heading to Varennes, France, the coach detoured near the German Crown Prince’s bunker, where they walked through some of the German army’s World War I trenches. “That was not even on the itinerary, but our bus driver knew about it and took us there,” Walgren said. “To see a German trench, that was pretty much a dream come true.”\n\nCourse lectures, special projects and assignments at UT Martin led to Walgren’s deeper appreciation for the subject of history.\n\n“I was assigned citation exams, close readings, and a research paper in my (History) 299 (History for Historians) course, which helped cultivate my skills. (History) 499 (Senior Seminar: Historical Research and Writing) put everything I had learned for three years into a cohesive senior paper, and I also had the opportunity to study abroad and do a public history internship – all of that helped with my understanding of history and the world around me,” Walgren said.\n\nThe C.E. Weldon Public Library in downtown Martin benefitted from Walgren’s skills as a student archivist, where he worked to update obituary records in Weakley county. As vice president and president of the UTM history club, Walgren organized history field trips, movie nights, and trivia events. As president of the UTM Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta (history honor society), his conference paper, presented virtually in March 2021, received special recognition.\n<blockquote>“Samuel’s knowledge is not all book knowledge,” she said. “Legitimate reenactors know the value of historical details down to the shape of a button or type of rifle you’re carrying or where the helmet strap goes. He is attentive to those details, and that makes him a better historian.”</blockquote>\nWalgren’s passion for history fuels his hobby as a historical reenactor. Also known as living history, reenactments place modern volunteers in simulated historical situations with the goal of enlightening the public to conditions of life in the past. Historians differ on the efficacy of reenactment, as too often the participants are more focused on entertainment than on scholarship.\n\n“Some people see it as a game; they put on a costume and have a good time without much thought to authenticity,” Coffey said. “Done wrong, reenactment gives history a bad name.”\n\nBy contrast, Walgren looks at reenactment as a teaching opportunity. “He’s got a level of specialty there that is pretty admirable,” Coffey said. “He started out with the Civil War, but he is doing WWII performances now and even Vietnam, and his preparation and attention to detail is something I can’t fault.”<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-3272 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/US-Walgren.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1800\" />\n\nCarls said Walgren’s experience as a reenactor aids in his understanding of the past.\n\n“Samuel’s knowledge is not all book knowledge,” she said. “Legitimate reenactors know the value of historical details down to the shape of a button or type of rifle you’re carrying or where the helmet strap goes. He is attentive to those details, and that makes him a better historian.”\n\nWalgren’s maturity, writing ability, and natural curiosity make him one of the department’s favorite graduates.\n\n“I knew when he came to me in September with a six-page outline that he was going to be a joy to work with,” said Carls, Walgren’s senior paper advisor. “It wasn’t me just teaching him, it was more a dialogue, a fluid conversation between two people interested in history. It was fantastic.”\n\nWalgren will pursue a master’s degree in history at Oklahoma State University, where he will study 19<sup>th</sup> Century American history, public history, and the history of Latin America.\n\n“I’m awfully proud of him and I am lucky to have worked with him as much as I did,” Coffey said. “He’s a once-in-a-generation kind of talent. He just does everything right.”\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Grad turns lifelong love of history into promising future','','inherit','closed','closed','','3270-autosave-v1','','','2021-05-14 14:07:54','2021-05-14 19:07:54','',3270,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/14/3270-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3275,2,'2021-05-14 14:08:16','2021-05-14 19:08:16','For Samuel Walgren, graduating from college with a degree in history is the realization of a lifelong dream.\r\n\r\n“I was about 10 when I knew I wanted to do something in history,” said the Milan native, who received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Tennessee in Martin on May 8. “It’s the only subject to me that makes sense, because it’s got everything – anything you want to learn about you can learn in a history class.”\r\n\r\nWalgren credits his family with getting him started on the road to becoming a historian.\r\n\r\n“My parents would tell me all these fascinating oral histories of their parents and grandparents, which drove my imagination at an early age,” Walgren said. “My grandpa would tell me stories of my Civil War ancestors, and my passion for studying the Civil War started in about fourth or fifth grade. It’s the truth – I was obsessed.”\r\n\r\nHe was still passionate about history in 2016, when he met Dr. David Coffey, UT Martin professor and department chair of history and philosophy at South Gibson High School’s junior-senior career day.\r\n<blockquote>“My grandpa would tell me stories of my Civil War ancestors, and my passion for studying the Civil War started in about fourth or fifth grade. It’s the truth – I was obsessed.”</blockquote>\r\n“I got to talking with (Coffey) about history, particularly military history,” Walgren said. “He is a true historian of the American Civil War, and I knew I wanted to study with him, and that’s one of the big reasons I chose UT Martin.”\r\n\r\nCoffey recalls meeting Walgren, and being initially impressed with the student’s maturity, his passion for military history, and the breadth of his knowledge.\r\n\r\n“He was a serious student from the very start, and I really hoped that we could attract him to UTM,” Coffey said. UT Martin’s department of history and philosophy did not disappoint.\r\n\r\n“I have been impressed with every single professor I’ve had at UTM,” said Walgren, listing no fewer than 10 professors, instructors and lecturers in a variety of disciplines he has studied with over the past four years. “Some were tougher than others, but all of them were approachable and every single one of them answered my questions and were happy to do so.”\r\n\r\nAn English minor, Walgren dabbled in poetry during two workshop courses led by UTM adjunct instructor of English Pamela Johnson Parker.\r\n<blockquote>“I have been impressed with every single professor I’ve had at UTM.”</blockquote>\r\n“I really enjoyed her class, and she held several virtual office hours that were helpful to my creativity,” Walgren said.\r\n\r\nBut history has been, is, and will always be Walgren’s true love, and as a student of history, he didn’t disappoint UTM, either. From recruiting him to acting as his advisor and then having him in four classes, including an independent study, Coffey said Walgren proved to be one of the best students he has had in 20 years at UT Martin.\r\n\r\n“From the start, he soaked up everything presented to him,” Coffey said. “He is thirsty for knowledge, and always thinking of the next step, the next level. That can be a challenge for (professors), but when you get someone like Samuel in class it’s a real treat, because we’re building the next generations of historians.”\r\n\r\nTom Elam Distinguished Professor of History at UTM Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls made an exception for Walgren, allowing him to take her “Europe from War to War 1914-1945” class, a course typically reserved for upperclassmen, and a prerequisite for students wishing to take its corresponding European field trip in the summer of 2018.\r\n\r\n“Usually, I don’t let freshmen take that class, but Samuel really wanted to go on that trip,” Carls said. A joint venture with the history department of Union University, the 12-day trip included stops in England, Belgium and France, and commemorated the centennial of the end of the Great War in 1918.\r\n\r\n“To see Flanders Fields in Belgium, the actual trenches, to walk through the (Forest of) Argonne (France), it was an amazing experience,” Walgren said. One highlight was a day-long excursion to sites relating to the Battle of Verdun, France, renown as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War I. Lasting 10 months, the battle resulted in the death of more than 300,000 French and German soldiers. “The destruction is still visible. It’s incredible to see all of the bomb craters still there, entire towns just leveled.”\r\n\r\nStudents were also treated to a surprise stop – while heading to Varennes, France, the coach detoured near the German Crown Prince’s bunker, where they walked through some of the German army’s World War I trenches. “That was not even on the itinerary, but our bus driver knew about it and took us there,” Walgren said. “To see a German trench, that was pretty much a dream come true.”\r\n\r\nCourse lectures, special projects and assignments at UT Martin led to Walgren’s deeper appreciation for the subject of history.\r\n\r\n“I was assigned citation exams, close readings, and a research paper in my (History) 299 (History for Historians) course, which helped cultivate my skills. (History) 499 (Senior Seminar: Historical Research and Writing) put everything I had learned for three years into a cohesive senior paper, and I also had the opportunity to study abroad and do a public history internship – all of that helped with my understanding of history and the world around me,” Walgren said.\r\n\r\nThe C.E. Weldon Public Library in downtown Martin benefitted from Walgren’s skills as a student archivist, where he worked to update obituary records in Weakley county. As vice president and president of the UTM history club, Walgren organized history field trips, movie nights, and trivia events. As president of the UTM Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta (history honor society), his conference paper, presented virtually in March 2021, received special recognition.\r\n<blockquote>“Samuel’s knowledge is not all book knowledge,” she said. “Legitimate reenactors know the value of historical details down to the shape of a button or type of rifle you’re carrying or where the helmet strap goes. He is attentive to those details, and that makes him a better historian.”</blockquote>\r\nWalgren’s passion for history fuels his hobby as a historical reenactor. Also known as living history, reenactments place modern volunteers in simulated historical situations with the goal of enlightening the public to conditions of life in the past. Historians differ on the efficacy of reenactment, as too often the participants are more focused on entertainment than on scholarship.\r\n\r\n“Some people see it as a game; they put on a costume and have a good time without much thought to authenticity,” Coffey said. “Done wrong, reenactment gives history a bad name.”\r\n\r\nBy contrast, Walgren looks at reenactment as a teaching opportunity. “He’s got a level of specialty there that is pretty admirable,” Coffey said. “He started out with the Civil War, but he is doing WWII performances now and even Vietnam, and his preparation and attention to detail is something I can’t fault.”<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-3272 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/US-Walgren.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1800\" />\r\n\r\nCarls said Walgren’s experience as a reenactor aids in his understanding of the past.\r\n\r\n“Samuel’s knowledge is not all book knowledge,” she said. “Legitimate reenactors know the value of historical details down to the shape of a button or type of rifle you’re carrying or where the helmet strap goes. He is attentive to those details, and that makes him a better historian.”\r\n\r\nWalgren’s maturity, writing ability, and natural curiosity make him one of the department’s favorite graduates.\r\n\r\n“I knew when he came to me in September with a six-page outline that he was going to be a joy to work with,” said Carls, Walgren’s senior paper advisor. “It wasn’t me just teaching him, it was more a dialogue, a fluid conversation between two people interested in history. It was fantastic.”\r\n\r\nWalgren will pursue a master’s degree in history at Oklahoma State University, where he will study 19<sup>th</sup> Century American history, public history, and the history of Latin America.\r\n\r\n“I’m awfully proud of him and I am lucky to have worked with him as much as I did,” Coffey said. “He’s a once-in-a-generation kind of talent. He just does everything right.”\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Grad turns lifelong love of history into promising future','','inherit','closed','closed','','3270-revision-v1','','','2021-05-14 14:08:16','2021-05-14 19:08:16','',3270,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/14/3270-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3276,2,'2021-05-14 14:08:39','2021-05-14 19:08:39','For Samuel Walgren, graduating from college with a degree in history is the realization of a lifelong dream.\r\n\r\n“I was about 10 when I knew I wanted to do something in history,” said the Milan native, who received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Tennessee in Martin on May 8. “It’s the only subject to me that makes sense, because it’s got everything – anything you want to learn about you can learn in a history class.”\r\n\r\nWalgren credits his family with getting him started on the road to becoming a historian.\r\n\r\n“My parents would tell me all these fascinating oral histories of their parents and grandparents, which drove my imagination at an early age,” Walgren said. “My grandpa would tell me stories of my Civil War ancestors, and my passion for studying the Civil War started in about fourth or fifth grade. It’s the truth – I was obsessed.”\r\n\r\nHe was still passionate about history in 2016, when he met Dr. David Coffey, UT Martin professor and department chair of history and philosophy at South Gibson High School’s junior-senior career day.\r\n<blockquote>“My grandpa would tell me stories of my Civil War ancestors, and my passion for studying the Civil War started in about fourth or fifth grade. It’s the truth – I was obsessed.”</blockquote>\r\n“I got to talking with (Coffey) about history, particularly military history,” Walgren said. “He is a true historian of the American Civil War, and I knew I wanted to study with him, and that’s one of the big reasons I chose UT Martin.”\r\n\r\nCoffey recalls meeting Walgren, and being initially impressed with the student’s maturity, his passion for military history, and the breadth of his knowledge.\r\n\r\n“He was a serious student from the very start, and I really hoped that we could attract him to UTM,” Coffey said. UT Martin’s department of history and philosophy did not disappoint.\r\n\r\n“I have been impressed with every single professor I’ve had at UTM,” said Walgren, listing no fewer than 10 professors, instructors and lecturers in a variety of disciplines he has studied with over the past four years. “Some were tougher than others, but all of them were approachable and every single one of them answered my questions and were happy to do so.”\r\n\r\nAn English minor, Walgren dabbled in poetry during two workshop courses led by UTM adjunct instructor of English Pamela Johnson Parker.\r\n<blockquote>“I have been impressed with every single professor I’ve had at UTM.”</blockquote>\r\n“I really enjoyed her class, and she held several virtual office hours that were helpful to my creativity,” Walgren said.\r\n\r\nBut history has been, is, and will always be Walgren’s true love, and as a student of history, he didn’t disappoint UTM, either. From recruiting him to acting as his advisor and then having him in four classes, including an independent study, Coffey said Walgren proved to be one of the best students he has had in 20 years at UT Martin.\r\n\r\n“From the start, he soaked up everything presented to him,” Coffey said. “He is thirsty for knowledge, and always thinking of the next step, the next level. That can be a challenge for (professors), but when you get someone like Samuel in class it’s a real treat, because we’re building the next generations of historians.”\r\n\r\nTom Elam Distinguished Professor of History at UTM Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls made an exception for Walgren, allowing him to take her “Europe from War to War 1914-1945” class, a course typically reserved for upperclassmen, and a prerequisite for students wishing to take its corresponding European field trip in the summer of 2018.\r\n\r\n“Usually, I don’t let freshmen take that class, but Samuel really wanted to go on that trip,” Carls said. A joint venture with the history department of Union University, the 12-day trip included stops in England, Belgium and France, and commemorated the centennial of the end of the Great War in 1918.\r\n\r\n“To see Flanders Fields in Belgium, the actual trenches, to walk through the (Forest of) Argonne (France), it was an amazing experience,” Walgren said. One highlight was a day-long excursion to sites relating to the Battle of Verdun, France, renown as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War I. Lasting 10 months, the battle resulted in the death of more than 300,000 French and German soldiers. “The destruction is still visible. It’s incredible to see all of the bomb craters still there, entire towns just leveled.”\r\n\r\nStudents were also treated to a surprise stop – while heading to Varennes, France, the coach detoured near the German Crown Prince’s bunker, where they walked through some of the German army’s World War I trenches. “That was not even on the itinerary, but our bus driver knew about it and took us there,” Walgren said. “To see a German trench, that was pretty much a dream come true.”\r\n\r\nCourse lectures, special projects and assignments at UT Martin led to Walgren’s deeper appreciation for the subject of history.\r\n\r\n“I was assigned citation exams, close readings, and a research paper in my (History) 299 (History for Historians) course, which helped cultivate my skills. (History) 499 (Senior Seminar: Historical Research and Writing) put everything I had learned for three years into a cohesive senior paper, and I also had the opportunity to study abroad and do a public history internship – all of that helped with my understanding of history and the world around me,” Walgren said.\r\n\r\nThe C.E. Weldon Public Library in downtown Martin benefitted from Walgren’s skills as a student archivist, where he worked to update obituary records in Weakley county. As vice president and president of the UTM history club, Walgren organized history field trips, movie nights, and trivia events. As president of the UTM Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta (history honor society), his conference paper, presented virtually in March 2021, received special recognition.\r\n<blockquote>“Samuel’s knowledge is not all book knowledge,” she said. “Legitimate reenactors know the value of historical details down to the shape of a button or type of rifle you’re carrying or where the helmet strap goes. He is attentive to those details, and that makes him a better historian.”</blockquote>\r\nWalgren’s passion for history fuels his hobby as a historical reenactor. Also known as living history, reenactments place modern volunteers in simulated historical situations with the goal of enlightening the public to conditions of life in the past. Historians differ on the efficacy of reenactment, as too often the participants are more focused on entertainment than on scholarship.\r\n\r\n“Some people see it as a game; they put on a costume and have a good time without much thought to authenticity,” Coffey said. “Done wrong, reenactment gives history a bad name.”\r\n\r\nBy contrast, Walgren looks at reenactment as a teaching opportunity. “He’s got a level of specialty there that is pretty admirable,” Coffey said. “He started out with the Civil War, but he is doing WWII performances now and even Vietnam, and his preparation and attention to detail is something I can’t fault.”<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-3272 size-full\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/US-Walgren.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1800\" />\r\n\r\nCarls said Walgren’s experience as a reenactor aids in his understanding of the past.\r\n\r\n“Samuel’s knowledge is not all book knowledge,” she said. “Legitimate reenactors know the value of historical details down to the shape of a button or type of rifle you’re carrying or where the helmet strap goes. He is attentive to those details, and that makes him a better historian.”\r\n\r\nWalgren’s maturity, writing ability, and natural curiosity make him one of the department’s favorite graduates.\r\n\r\n“I knew when he came to me in September with a six-page outline that he was going to be a joy to work with,” said Carls, Walgren’s senior paper advisor. “It wasn’t me just teaching him, it was more a dialogue, a fluid conversation between two people interested in history. It was fantastic.”\r\n\r\nWalgren will pursue a master’s degree in history at Oklahoma State University, where he will study 19<sup>th</sup> Century American history, public history, and the history of Latin America.\r\n\r\n“I’m awfully proud of him and I am lucky to have worked with him as much as I did,” Coffey said. “He’s a once-in-a-generation kind of talent. He just does everything right.”\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Grad turns lifelong love of history into promising future','For Samuel Walgren, graduating from college with a degree in history is the realization of a lifelong dream.','inherit','closed','closed','','3270-revision-v1','','','2021-05-14 14:08:39','2021-05-14 19:08:39','',3270,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/14/3270-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3277,2,'2021-05-17 10:09:39','2021-05-17 15:09:39','Vietnam War veterans who are alumni of the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Alpha Upsilon Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity were honored Saturday during the chapter’s annual Founders Day celebration held the Martin Parks and Recreation Complex. Fourteen of the 17 living alumni returned for the event that included the presentation of Vietnam War veteran pins as part of the Founders Day luncheon program. Twenty-one AGR alumni served in Vietnam.\r\n\r\nThe event, which fell on Armed Forces Day, was delayed a year by the COVID-19 pandemic and attracted an enthusiastic crowd that participated in an alumni meeting, heard several recognitions and speakers and were treated to optional helicopter rides. The UT Martin Army ROTC Color Guard posted the colors and also presented taps at the event’s conclusion in honor of the four deceased veterans.\r\n\r\nThe program included recognition of Cindy Kent, biographer and editor of the book Better Men: Alpha Upsilon in Vietnam released in 2020. The book includes her interviews with each of the 14 veterans about his Vietnam War experiences. “It’s been the honor of my life to do this,” Kent said. “We all want to do something that matters to somebody else that we know. … These men that you read about (in the book), they’re my brothers.” A Friday night reception held in honor of the 14 veterans provided opportunities for each to collect signatures for personal copies of the book and to share college and war memories.\r\n<blockquote>“I believe the greatest tragedy of war is not just that the soldier dies, and we would not have been able to live the fulfilling lives that we lived. Our children would not exist. Our beloved grandchildren would not exist, and any contribution that that lineage would make to the world would not exist.”</blockquote>\r\nThe pinning ceremony was conducted by three retired generals who are UT Martin graduates: John “Glad” Castellaw, U.S. Marine Corps; Dennis Cavin, U.S. Army; and Dr. Ron Sholar, U.S. Army Airborne. A composite photograph of the honorees was then unveiled that will hang near the chapter room in the AGR house located on 225 University Street. Buddy Mitchell acknowledged the recognitions on behalf of his fellow Vietnam War veterans and called his friends a “band of brothers” for the bond they share.\r\n\r\n“Certainly, the wonderful thing here today is we all came home, and but for inches we would not have,” Mitchell said. “I believe the greatest tragedy of war is not just that the soldier dies, and we would not have been able to live the fulfilling lives that we lived. Our children would not exist. Our beloved grandchildren would not exist, and any contribution that that lineage would make to the world would not exist.”\r\n\r\nDennis Cavin offered the event’s keynote remarks and expressed appreciation for his part in honoring those who served. “It’s the most humbling and a sincere privilege for me to acknowledge the lives, the service and the sacrifice of 21 men, brothers – 19 soldiers, one Marine, one sailor – who served our nation during possibly the most difficult time in our nation’s history.”\r\n\r\nCavin thanked veterans and their families but acknowledged that gratitude for their sacrifices was delayed. “Today’s recognition, belated though it may be, is designated as corrective effort to make sure you know how much your service and sacrifice are appreciated,” he said. “… Freedom more often than not comes cloaked in uncertainty. The cost of independence remains high, but we’re willing to pay it. We do not pay it gladly, but we pay it in deep reverence and thanks to those who shoulder the burdens, the pain, the loneliness of separation for us.”\r\n\r\nCavin said he closes many of his presentations by quoting Isiah 6:8 that says, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us’?” He used the verse to honor the courage of those who responded to the call of service in Vietnam. “For 19 soldiers, one Marine, one sailor – their response was, ‘Here am I, Lord, send me,’” Cavin said.\r\n\r\n“Through your presence today, you have chosen to honor America’s soul, this generation of Vietnam warriors. A hardy welcome home, brothers. Stand tall, be proud, and we salute you.”\r\n\r\nThe Alpha Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho was established in 1963 at UT Martin. More than 1,100 members have been initiated since the chapter’s installation.','UT Martin AGR Fraternity chapter honors Vietnam War veterans','Vietnam War veterans who are alumni of the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Alpha Upsilon Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity were honored Saturday during the chapter’s annual Founders Day celebration held the Martin Parks and Recreation Complex.','publish','closed','closed','','ut-martin-agr-fraternity-chapter-honors-vietnam-war-veterans','','','2021-05-17 10:09:39','2021-05-17 15:09:39','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3277',0,'post','',0),(3278,2,'2021-05-17 10:06:35','2021-05-17 15:06:35','','05152021_AGRVietnamWarVeterans002','Foreground) Retired Army Lt. Gen. Dennis Cavin and retired Marine Lt. Gen. John “Glad” Castellaw present Vietnam War veteran pins to alumni of UT Martin’s Alpha Upsilon Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. The recognition was part of Founders Day held on May 15 at the Martin Parks and Recreation Complex.','inherit','closed','closed','','05152021_agrvietnamwarveterans002','','','2021-05-17 10:07:36','2021-05-17 15:07:36','',3277,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05152021_AGRVietnamWarVeterans002.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3279,2,'2021-05-17 10:09:39','2021-05-17 15:09:39','Vietnam War veterans who are alumni of the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Alpha Upsilon Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity were honored Saturday during the chapter’s annual Founders Day celebration held the Martin Parks and Recreation Complex. Fourteen of the 17 living alumni returned for the event that included the presentation of Vietnam War veteran pins as part of the Founders Day luncheon program. Twenty-one AGR alumni served in Vietnam.\r\n\r\nThe event, which fell on Armed Forces Day, was delayed a year by the COVID-19 pandemic and attracted an enthusiastic crowd that participated in an alumni meeting, heard several recognitions and speakers and were treated to optional helicopter rides. The UT Martin Army ROTC Color Guard posted the colors and also presented taps at the event’s conclusion in honor of the four deceased veterans.\r\n\r\nThe program included recognition of Cindy Kent, biographer and editor of the book Better Men: Alpha Upsilon in Vietnam released in 2020. The book includes her interviews with each of the 14 veterans about his Vietnam War experiences. “It’s been the honor of my life to do this,” Kent said. “We all want to do something that matters to somebody else that we know. … These men that you read about (in the book), they’re my brothers.” A Friday night reception held in honor of the 14 veterans provided opportunities for each to collect signatures for personal copies of the book and to share college and war memories.\r\n<blockquote>“I believe the greatest tragedy of war is not just that the soldier dies, and we would not have been able to live the fulfilling lives that we lived. Our children would not exist. Our beloved grandchildren would not exist, and any contribution that that lineage would make to the world would not exist.”</blockquote>\r\nThe pinning ceremony was conducted by three retired generals who are UT Martin graduates: John “Glad” Castellaw, U.S. Marine Corps; Dennis Cavin, U.S. Army; and Dr. Ron Sholar, U.S. Army Airborne. A composite photograph of the honorees was then unveiled that will hang near the chapter room in the AGR house located on 225 University Street. Buddy Mitchell acknowledged the recognitions on behalf of his fellow Vietnam War veterans and called his friends a “band of brothers” for the bond they share.\r\n\r\n“Certainly, the wonderful thing here today is we all came home, and but for inches we would not have,” Mitchell said. “I believe the greatest tragedy of war is not just that the soldier dies, and we would not have been able to live the fulfilling lives that we lived. Our children would not exist. Our beloved grandchildren would not exist, and any contribution that that lineage would make to the world would not exist.”\r\n\r\nDennis Cavin offered the event’s keynote remarks and expressed appreciation for his part in honoring those who served. “It’s the most humbling and a sincere privilege for me to acknowledge the lives, the service and the sacrifice of 21 men, brothers – 19 soldiers, one Marine, one sailor – who served our nation during possibly the most difficult time in our nation’s history.”\r\n\r\nCavin thanked veterans and their families but acknowledged that gratitude for their sacrifices was delayed. “Today’s recognition, belated though it may be, is designated as corrective effort to make sure you know how much your service and sacrifice are appreciated,” he said. “… Freedom more often than not comes cloaked in uncertainty. The cost of independence remains high, but we’re willing to pay it. We do not pay it gladly, but we pay it in deep reverence and thanks to those who shoulder the burdens, the pain, the loneliness of separation for us.”\r\n\r\nCavin said he closes many of his presentations by quoting Isiah 6:8 that says, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us’?” He used the verse to honor the courage of those who responded to the call of service in Vietnam. “For 19 soldiers, one Marine, one sailor – their response was, ‘Here am I, Lord, send me,’” Cavin said.\r\n\r\n“Through your presence today, you have chosen to honor America’s soul, this generation of Vietnam warriors. A hardy welcome home, brothers. Stand tall, be proud, and we salute you.”\r\n\r\nThe Alpha Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho was established in 1963 at UT Martin. More than 1,100 members have been initiated since the chapter’s installation.','UT Martin AGR Fraternity chapter honors Vietnam War veterans','Vietnam War veterans who are alumni of the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Alpha Upsilon Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity were honored Saturday during the chapter’s annual Founders Day celebration held the Martin Parks and Recreation Complex.','inherit','closed','closed','','3277-revision-v1','','','2021-05-17 10:09:39','2021-05-17 15:09:39','',3277,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/17/3277-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3280,2,'2021-05-17 15:31:19','2021-05-17 20:31:19','On Thursday, May 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines related to mask wearing and social distancing for individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  Simply put, if you are fully vaccinated you can return to most activities that you enjoyed prior to the pandemic.\r\n\r\nEffective immediately, people on the main campus and five regional centers who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks or social distance on campus. This change applies to summer activities and classes, as well as the 2021 fall semester. In keeping with new CDC guidelines, individuals who are not vaccinated are encouraged to wear a mask on campus and at the centers and continue to keep socially distanced from others. Any individual is welcome to wear a mask at the university, whether vaccinated or not.\r\n\r\nVaccines are available locally at the Weakley County Health Department and at pharmacies and health departments all across West Tennessee. CDC research has shown that the COVID-19 vaccines will reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission and are effective at preventing the spread of the virus.\r\n\r\nWe will proceed with our full return to work plan, starting June 1, 2021.\r\n\r\nI want to continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated for maximum protection and prevention of illness. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our university as safe as possible during the past year.','Chancellor’s Corner: Update on Masks','On Thursday, May 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines related to mask wearing and social distancing for individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.','publish','closed','closed','','chancellors-corner-update-on-masks','','','2021-05-17 15:32:59','2021-05-17 20:32:59','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3280',0,'post','',0),(3281,2,'2021-05-17 15:30:07','2021-05-17 20:30:07','','10222020_FallMarketing164','','inherit','closed','closed','','10222020_fallmarketing164','','','2021-05-17 15:30:07','2021-05-17 20:30:07','',3280,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/10222020_FallMarketing164.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3282,2,'2021-05-17 15:31:19','2021-05-17 20:31:19','On Thursday, May 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines related to mask wearing and social distancing for individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  Simply put, if you are fully vaccinated you can return to most activities that you enjoyed prior to the pandemic.\r\n\r\nEffective immediately, people on the main campus and five regional centers who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks or social distance on campus. This change applies to summer activities and classes, as well as the 2021 fall semester. In keeping with new CDC guidelines, individuals who are not vaccinated are encouraged to wear a mask on campus and at the centers and continue to keep socially distanced from others. Any individual is welcome to wear a mask at the university, whether vaccinated or not.\r\n\r\nVaccines are available locally at the Weakley County Health Department and at pharmacies and health departments all across West Tennessee. CDC research has shown that the COVID-19 vaccines will reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission and are effective at preventing the spread of the virus.\r\n\r\nWe will proceed with our full return to work plan, starting June 1, 2021.\r\n\r\nI want to continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated for maximum protection and prevention of illness. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our university as safe as possible during the past year.','Chancellor’s Corner: Update on Masks','','inherit','closed','closed','','3280-revision-v1','','','2021-05-17 15:31:19','2021-05-17 20:31:19','',3280,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/17/3280-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3283,2,'2021-05-17 15:32:59','2021-05-17 20:32:59','On Thursday, May 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines related to mask wearing and social distancing for individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  Simply put, if you are fully vaccinated you can return to most activities that you enjoyed prior to the pandemic.\r\n\r\nEffective immediately, people on the main campus and five regional centers who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks or social distance on campus. This change applies to summer activities and classes, as well as the 2021 fall semester. In keeping with new CDC guidelines, individuals who are not vaccinated are encouraged to wear a mask on campus and at the centers and continue to keep socially distanced from others. Any individual is welcome to wear a mask at the university, whether vaccinated or not.\r\n\r\nVaccines are available locally at the Weakley County Health Department and at pharmacies and health departments all across West Tennessee. CDC research has shown that the COVID-19 vaccines will reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission and are effective at preventing the spread of the virus.\r\n\r\nWe will proceed with our full return to work plan, starting June 1, 2021.\r\n\r\nI want to continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated for maximum protection and prevention of illness. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our university as safe as possible during the past year.','Chancellor’s Corner: Update on Masks','On Thursday, May 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines related to mask wearing and social distancing for individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.','inherit','closed','closed','','3280-revision-v1','','','2021-05-17 15:32:59','2021-05-17 20:32:59','',3280,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/17/3280-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3285,2,'2021-05-23 19:50:30','2021-05-24 00:50:30','The University of Tennessee at Martin will hold its annual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony virtually at 9 a.m., Friday, May 28, in lieu of the traditional in-person service. The ceremony will be livestreamed on <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/utmartin/\">UT Martin’s Facebook</a> and <a href=\"https://youtu.be/CfVJ9VaW1Ns\">YouTube</a> and will be archived for later viewing. The program will also be broadcast on WUTM FM 90.3 “The Hawk.”\r\n\r\nCol. Ardis Porter, a retired U.S. Army military officer, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. In his last assignment, he served as deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Army Human Resources Command at Fort Knox in Kentucky. He received his commission as a second lieutenant through Vanderbilt University’s ROTC program. With more than 30 years of experience in human resources, he has been recognized for his extensive leadership in the military.\r\n\r\nPorter currently works at the Agricenter International in Memphis as the program manager for Veterans Employed in Technology and Service in Agriculture (VETSA), a program designed to prepare transitioning military personnel and veterans for civilian careers in the agricultural service and support sectors.\r\n\r\nLt. Col. Rodric McClain, UT Martin professor of military science, will serve as the master of ceremonies, and UT Martin student DaeShuana Aldridge will sing the national anthem at the start of the program. Porter will speak following the invocation by Chaplin Debra McGuire and comments by UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver. At the conclusion of the ceremony, U.S. Rep. David Kustoff will speak, Dale Willis of the UT Martin Physical Plant will offer the benediction, and UT Martin student Aaron MacDonald will play taps.\r\n\r\nMemorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday in May and honors those who have died in the protection of the United States of America. Originally known as Decoration Day, the observance was renamed upon becoming a federal holiday in 1971.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact Joyanne Gansereit, UT Martin coordinator of public occasions, at ganserei@utm.edu.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin to hold virtual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony','The University of Tennessee at Martin will hold its annual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony virtually at 9 a.m., Friday, May 28, in lieu of the traditional in-person service.','publish','closed','closed','','ut-martin-to-hold-virtual-memorial-day-commemoration-ceremony-2','','','2021-05-27 09:23:52','2021-05-27 14:23:52','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3285',0,'post','',0),(3286,2,'2021-05-23 19:47:17','2021-05-24 00:47:17','','05232018_MemorialDayFlags01','A UT Martin file photo shows a field of Memorial Day flags on the university’s main campus.','inherit','closed','closed','','05232018_memorialdayflags01','','','2021-05-23 19:48:56','2021-05-24 00:48:56','',3285,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05232018_MemorialDayFlags01.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3287,2,'2021-05-23 19:50:30','2021-05-24 00:50:30','The University of Tennessee at Martin will hold its annual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony virtually at 9 a.m., Friday, May 28, in lieu of the traditional in-person service. The ceremony will be livestreamed on <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/utmartin/\">UT Martin’s Facebook</a> and <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/user/utmartin\">YouTube</a> and will be archived for later viewing. The program will also be broadcast on WUTM FM 90.3 “The Hawk.”\r\n\r\nCol. Ardis Porter, a retired U.S. Army military officer, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. In his last assignment, he served as deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Army Human Resources Command at Fort Knox in Kentucky. He received his commission as a second lieutenant through Vanderbilt University’s ROTC program. With more than 30 years of experience in human resources, he has been recognized for his extensive leadership in the military.\r\n\r\nPorter currently works at the Agricenter International in Memphis as the program manager for Veterans Employed in Technology and Service in Agriculture (VETSA), a program designed to prepare transitioning military personnel and veterans for civilian careers in the agricultural service and support sectors.\r\n\r\nLt. Col. Rodric McClain, UT Martin professor of military science, will serve as the master of ceremonies, and UT Martin student DaeShuana Aldridge will sing the national anthem at the start of the program. Porter will speak following the invocation by Chaplin Debra McGuire and comments by UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver. At the conclusion of the ceremony, U.S. Rep. David Kustoff will speak, Dale Willis of the UT Martin Physical Plant will offer the benediction, and UT Martin student Aaron MacDonald will play taps.\r\n\r\nMemorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday in May and honors those who have died in the protection of the United States of America. Originally known as Decoration Day, the observance was renamed upon becoming a federal holiday in 1971.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact Joyanne Gansereit, UT Martin coordinator of public occasions, at ganserei@utm.edu.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin to hold virtual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony','The University of Tennessee at Martin will hold its annual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony virtually at 9 a.m., Friday, May 28, in lieu of the traditional in-person service.','inherit','closed','closed','','3285-revision-v1','','','2021-05-23 19:50:30','2021-05-24 00:50:30','',3285,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/23/3285-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3288,2,'2021-05-24 14:00:22','2021-05-24 19:00:22','The last 12 years haven’t been the easiest for Kyle Carter, but the last two have been the best of his life.\r\n\r\nThe Troy, Tennessee native first came to the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2009 to pursue a music degree. But despite trying a variety of majors and academic programs, Carter struggled.\r\n\r\n“I really hadn’t found anything I was passionate enough about to turn into a career,” Carter recalled. “As a result of that, I didn’t feel motivated to do my best. I did eventually pursue biology and chemistry as a major (in 2013), because I had Chemistry 121 with Dr. Shelton and it just clicked with me, but by that time I was still lacking motivation, and that played a huge part in me not being able to succeed at that time in my life.”\r\n\r\nDr. Abigail Shelton, UT Martin associate professor of chemistry, recalls having Kyle as a student in her general chemistry lecture and lab in fall 2012.\r\n\r\n“Kyle was figuring out who he was and what he wanted to study,” Shelton said. “He occasionally skipped lecture and labs… and had some bumps in the road soon after.”\r\n\r\nCarter eventually withdrew in Spring 2014, under a cloud of incompletes and poor academic performance. Convinced he needed a fresh start, he moved to Murfreesboro and enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University in the fall of 2017.\r\n<blockquote>“Kyle was figuring out who he was and what he wanted to study,” Shelton said. “He occasionally skipped lecture and labs… and had some bumps in the road soon after.”</blockquote>\r\n“I’d never lived outside of this area, and I thought maybe I might do better without the baggage of my past performance,” Carter said. For a short while he did excel, doing undergraduate research and earning a 4.0 GPA. But it wasn’t long before his past caught up with him. After one semester, his financial aid was pulled due to his past academic performance, and Carter moved back to Martin, regained his prior job doing property maintenance, and considered his next move.\r\n\r\n“One thing I did have was the experience of meeting (Shelton), as well as that one semester at Middle Tennessee State that allowed me to prove to myself that I was ready to be a good student,” Carter said. “I looked into different career paths before coming back and I distinctly remembered I enjoyed chemistry. I enjoy the theory, the classroom setting, I have a personal aptitude for it. Working in the lab stresses a lot of students out, but for me, it’s relaxing. I thought chemistry could be something I enjoy enough to make a career out of.”\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3290\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05122021_KyleChemistryPortraits005.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\r\nShelton was happy to see him return to UT Martin. “Kyle found that the two general chemistry courses he had taken, along with the labs, had sparked something in him worth coming back for.”\r\n\r\nRe-enrolling in spring 2019 and with only enough financial aid for three semesters, he “worked my butt off to graduate in that time frame,” Carter said, taking 18 upper-division courses in fall 2019, 20 credits in spring 2020 and 19 credits in fall 2020 to wrap up his chemistry degree.\r\n\r\nUT Martin Associate Professor of Chemistry Genessa Smith, as Carter’s advisor, also had some concerns about his heavy course load and met with him to discuss it.\r\n\r\n“I learned that his choice of classes was not borne out of ignorance or naiveté,” Smith said. “He had given careful thought to every detail of his plan. He explained to me about the three semesters of financial aid, and made it clear he wanted to take as many classes as possible to improve his GPA enough to go to graduate school. Although the odds did not seem in his favor, I was compelled by his determination.”\r\n\r\nCarter admits he likes to stay busy and thrives under pressure.\r\n\r\n“(My professors) were really unsure about my course load at first, but they let me make that decision, and were flexible with me in a way that helped me succeed,” he said.\r\n\r\nAs the semester unfolded, Smith and Shelton watched Carter launch himself into his studies.\r\n<blockquote>“(My professors) were really unsure about my course load at first, but they let me make that decision, and were flexible with me in a way that helped me succeed.”</blockquote>\r\n“To my delight, he set the pace in every single one of his courses,” Smith said. “I observed his classmates seeking out his help on assignments. I overheard him asking intelligent, informed questions of his professors. He was quick to learn from mistakes and did not shy away from asking for help or clarification when needed.”\r\n\r\nIn his last two semesters, Carter’s upward trend continued. He completed 27 additional credit hours of upper-division chemistry and physics courses, and significantly raised his cumulative GPA.\r\n\r\nHe scored above the 90th percentile on his organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry (thermodynamics) American Chemical Society final exams.\r\n\r\n“While it’s not uncommon to do well in one of those, it’s rare to do well in all three,” Smith said. “That is almost unheard of.”\r\n\r\nCarter took the Medical College Admission Test in 2020 and scored in the 94th percentile, and when he took the Chemistry Major Field Achievement Test, Carter scored in the 98th percentile – the highest score ever recorded in the history of the UT Martin chemistry department.\r\n\r\n“The field test is the exit exam all graduating chemistry majors take,” Shelton explained. “We expected Kyle to do well, but the shock came from him outperforming all previous chemistry students.”\r\n\r\nNot surprisingly, he received both the Outstanding Chemistry Major award and the Outstanding Chemistry Student award.\r\n<blockquote>“It feels good to know I’m doing what I need to do to prepare for my success.”</blockquote>\r\n“My first time in college, I never came close to deserving anything like that,” Carter said. “It feels good to know I’m doing what I need to do to prepare for my success.”\r\n\r\nHe was elected by his peers to become president of the Student Members of the American Chemical Society student organization, a challenging position during the COVID-19 pandemic.\r\n\r\n“There were a lot of restrictions on the student organizations, and it was not easy trying to keep the group going,” Carter said. Group meetings moved to a virtual platform, but events were trickier. “We made up boxes, little care packages, and sent them out to members and then opened them all up together over Zoom. That made us feel a little bit like we were together.”\r\n\r\nCarter graduated in December 2020 with an American Chemical Society-approved bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a minor in physics.\r\n\r\n“The ACS-approved major is more rigorous than the regular chemistry degree; the department and the student have to meet certain requirements,” Smith said.\r\n\r\nBut Carter wasn’t done yet. Having been accepted into the doctoral program in chemistry at Mississippi State University in the fall of 2021, Carter chose to do an additional semester at UT Martin to complete a biology minor and an additional biochemistry specialization. To bridge the gap financially, Carter was offered a continuation of his prestigious teaching assistant position in UT Martin’s chemistry department, allowing him to stay for a post-baccalaureate semester after officially graduating.\r\n\r\n“Teaching (Chemistry 121 lab) has been my absolutely favorite job I’ve ever had,” Carter said. “I really enjoy the opportunity to work with other students and communicate with them, but it also helps me to further hone my skills. I do my best to leave no question unanswered. If I don’t know, I try to find out. Then that is something I learn myself, and that strengthens my chemistry knowledge.”\r\n\r\nSmith called Carter “a model of grit,” whose performance at UT Martin has been nothing less than exceptional.\r\n\r\n“It can be difficult to come back as a non-traditional student, but it’s not impossible,” said Carter, who will turn 30 in August. “I’ve gotten more out of my experience at UTM than I ever thought I could, and it has been 100 percent worth the work.”\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Non-trad grad excels as chemistry standout','The last 12 years haven’t been the easiest for Kyle Carter, but the last two have been the best of his life.','publish','closed','closed','','non-trad-grad-excels-as-chemistry-standout','','','2021-05-23 21:19:22','2021-05-24 02:19:22','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3288',0,'post','',0),(3289,2,'2021-05-23 20:40:32','2021-05-24 01:40:32','','05122021_KyleChemistryPortraits004','','inherit','closed','closed','','05122021_kylechemistryportraits004','','','2021-05-23 20:40:32','2021-05-24 01:40:32','',3288,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05122021_KyleChemistryPortraits004.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3290,2,'2021-05-23 20:40:59','2021-05-24 01:40:59','','05122021_KyleChemistryPortraits005','','inherit','closed','closed','','05122021_kylechemistryportraits005','','','2021-05-23 20:40:59','2021-05-24 01:40:59','',3288,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05122021_KyleChemistryPortraits005.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3291,2,'2021-05-23 20:41:25','2021-05-24 01:41:25','','05122021_KyleChemistryPortraits009','UT Martin chemistry major, Kyle Carter, overcame many obstacles to eventually graduate with his bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a minor in physics. ','inherit','closed','closed','','05122021_kylechemistryportraits009','','','2021-05-23 20:44:40','2021-05-24 01:44:40','',3288,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05122021_KyleChemistryPortraits009.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3292,2,'2021-05-23 20:41:46','2021-05-24 01:41:46','','05122021_KyleChemistryPortraits003','','inherit','closed','closed','','05122021_kylechemistryportraits003','','','2021-05-23 20:41:46','2021-05-24 01:41:46','',3288,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05122021_KyleChemistryPortraits003.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3293,2,'2021-05-23 20:44:11','2021-05-24 01:44:11','The last 12 years haven’t been the easiest for Kyle Carter, but the last two have been the best of his life.\r\n\r\nThe Troy, Tennessee native first came to the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2009 to pursue a music degree. But despite trying a variety of majors and academic programs, Carter struggled.\r\n\r\n“I really hadn’t found anything I was passionate enough about to turn into a career,” Carter recalled. “As a result of that, I didn’t feel motivated to do my best. I did eventually pursue biology and chemistry as a major (in 2013), because I had Chemistry 121 with Dr. Shelton and it just clicked with me, but by that time I was still lacking motivation, and that played a huge part in me not being able to succeed at that time in my life.”\r\n\r\nDr. Abigail Shelton, UT Martin associate professor of chemistry, recalls having Kyle as a student in her general chemistry lecture and lab in fall 2012.\r\n\r\n“Kyle was figuring out who he was and what he wanted to study,” Shelton said. “He occasionally skipped lecture and labs… and had some bumps in the road soon after.”\r\n\r\nCarter eventually withdrew in Spring 2014, under a cloud of incompletes and poor academic performance. Convinced he needed a fresh start, he moved to Murfreesboro and enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University in the fall of 2017.\r\n<blockquote>“Kyle was figuring out who he was and what he wanted to study,” Shelton said. “He occasionally skipped lecture and labs… and had some bumps in the road soon after.”</blockquote>\r\n“I’d never lived outside of this area, and I thought maybe I might do better without the baggage of my past performance,” Carter said. For a short while he did excel, doing undergraduate research and earning a 4.0 GPA. But it wasn’t long before his past caught up with him. After one semester, his financial aid was pulled due to his past academic performance, and Carter moved back to Martin, regained his prior job doing property maintenance, and considered his next move.\r\n\r\n“One thing I did have was the experience of meeting (Shelton), as well as that one semester at Middle Tennessee State that allowed me to prove to myself that I was ready to be a good student,” Carter said. “I looked into different career paths before coming back and I distinctly remembered I enjoyed chemistry. I enjoy the theory, the classroom setting, I have a personal aptitude for it. Working in the lab stresses a lot of students out, but for me, it’s relaxing. I thought chemistry could be something I enjoy enough to make a career out of.”\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3290\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05122021_KyleChemistryPortraits005.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\r\nShelton was happy to see him return to UT Martin. “Kyle found that the two general chemistry courses he had taken, along with the labs, had sparked something in him worth coming back for.”\r\n\r\nRe-enrolling in spring 2019 and with only enough financial aid for three semesters, he “worked my butt off to graduate in that time frame,” Carter said, taking 18 upper-division courses in fall 2019, 20 credits in spring 2020 and 19 credits in fall 2020 to wrap up his chemistry degree.\r\n\r\nUT Martin Associate Professor of Chemistry Genessa Smith, as Carter’s advisor, also had some concerns about his heavy course load and met with him to discuss it.\r\n\r\n“I learned that his choice of classes was not borne out of ignorance or naiveté,” Smith said. “He had given careful thought to every detail of his plan. He explained to me about the three semesters of financial aid, and made it clear he wanted to take as many classes as possible to improve his GPA enough to go to graduate school. Although the odds did not seem in his favor, I was compelled by his determination.”\r\n\r\nCarter admits he likes to stay busy and thrives under pressure.\r\n\r\n“(My professors) were really unsure about my course load at first, but they let me make that decision, and were flexible with me in a way that helped me succeed,” he said.\r\n\r\nAs the semester unfolded, Smith and Shelton watched Carter launch himself into his studies.\r\n<blockquote>“(My professors) were really unsure about my course load at first, but they let me make that decision, and were flexible with me in a way that helped me succeed.”</blockquote>\r\n“To my delight, he set the pace in every single one of his courses,” Smith said. “I observed his classmates seeking out his help on assignments. I overheard him asking intelligent, informed questions of his professors. He was quick to learn from mistakes and did not shy away from asking for help or clarification when needed.”\r\n\r\nIn his last two semesters, Carter’s upward trend continued. He completed 27 additional credit hours of upper-division chemistry and physics courses, and significantly raised his cumulative GPA.\r\n\r\nHe scored above the 90th percentile on his organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry (thermodynamics) American Chemical Society final exams.\r\n\r\n“While it’s not uncommon to do well in one of those, it’s rare to do well in all three,” Smith said. “That is almost unheard of.”\r\n\r\nCarter took the Medical College Admission Test in 2020 and scored in the 94th percentile, and when he took the Chemistry Major Field Achievement Test, Carter scored in the 98th percentile – the highest score ever recorded in the history of the UT Martin chemistry department.\r\n\r\n“The field test is the exit exam all graduating chemistry majors take,” Shelton explained. “We expected Kyle to do well, but the shock came from him outperforming all previous chemistry students.”\r\n\r\nNot surprisingly, he received both the Outstanding Chemistry Major award and the Outstanding Chemistry Student award.\r\n<blockquote>“It feels good to know I’m doing what I need to do to prepare for my success.”</blockquote>\r\n“My first time in college, I never came close to deserving anything like that,” Carter said. “It feels good to know I’m doing what I need to do to prepare for my success.”\r\n\r\nHe was elected by his peers to become president of the Student Members of the American Chemical Society student organization, a challenging position during the COVID-19 pandemic.\r\n\r\n“There were a lot of restrictions on the student organizations, and it was not easy trying to keep the group going,” Carter said. Group meetings moved to a virtual platform, but events were trickier. “We made up boxes, little care packages, and sent them out to members and then opened them all up together over Zoom. That made us feel a little bit like we were together.”\r\n\r\nCarter graduated in December 2020 with an American Chemical Society-approved bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a minor in physics.\r\n\r\n“The ACS-approved major is more rigorous than the regular chemistry degree; the department and the student have to meet certain requirements,” Smith said.\r\n\r\nBut Carter wasn’t done yet. Having been accepted into the doctoral program in chemistry at Mississippi State University in the fall of 2021, Carter chose to do an additional semester at UT Martin to complete a biology minor and an additional biochemistry specialization. To bridge the gap financially, Carter was offered a continuation of his prestigious teaching assistant position in UT Martin’s chemistry department, allowing him to stay for a post-baccalaureate semester after officially graduating.\r\n\r\n“Teaching (Chemistry 121 lab) has been my absolutely favorite job I’ve ever had,” Carter said. “I really enjoy the opportunity to work with other students and communicate with them, but it also helps me to further hone my skills. I do my best to leave no question unanswered. If I don’t know, I try to find out. Then that is something I learn myself, and that strengthens my chemistry knowledge.”\r\n\r\nSmith called Carter “a model of grit,” whose performance at UT Martin has been nothing less than exceptional.\r\n\r\n“It can be difficult to come back as a non-traditional student, but it’s not impossible,” said Carter, who will turn 30 in August. “I’ve gotten more out of my experience at UTM than I ever thought I could, and it has been 100 percent worth the work.”\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Non-trad grad excels as chemistry standout','','inherit','closed','closed','','3288-revision-v1','','','2021-05-23 20:44:11','2021-05-24 01:44:11','',3288,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/23/3288-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3294,2,'2021-05-23 20:44:58','2021-05-24 01:44:58','The last 12 years haven’t been the easiest for Kyle Carter, but the last two have been the best of his life.\r\n\r\nThe Troy, Tennessee native first came to the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2009 to pursue a music degree. But despite trying a variety of majors and academic programs, Carter struggled.\r\n\r\n“I really hadn’t found anything I was passionate enough about to turn into a career,” Carter recalled. “As a result of that, I didn’t feel motivated to do my best. I did eventually pursue biology and chemistry as a major (in 2013), because I had Chemistry 121 with Dr. Shelton and it just clicked with me, but by that time I was still lacking motivation, and that played a huge part in me not being able to succeed at that time in my life.”\r\n\r\nDr. Abigail Shelton, UT Martin associate professor of chemistry, recalls having Kyle as a student in her general chemistry lecture and lab in fall 2012.\r\n\r\n“Kyle was figuring out who he was and what he wanted to study,” Shelton said. “He occasionally skipped lecture and labs… and had some bumps in the road soon after.”\r\n\r\nCarter eventually withdrew in Spring 2014, under a cloud of incompletes and poor academic performance. Convinced he needed a fresh start, he moved to Murfreesboro and enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University in the fall of 2017.\r\n<blockquote>“Kyle was figuring out who he was and what he wanted to study,” Shelton said. “He occasionally skipped lecture and labs… and had some bumps in the road soon after.”</blockquote>\r\n“I’d never lived outside of this area, and I thought maybe I might do better without the baggage of my past performance,” Carter said. For a short while he did excel, doing undergraduate research and earning a 4.0 GPA. But it wasn’t long before his past caught up with him. After one semester, his financial aid was pulled due to his past academic performance, and Carter moved back to Martin, regained his prior job doing property maintenance, and considered his next move.\r\n\r\n“One thing I did have was the experience of meeting (Shelton), as well as that one semester at Middle Tennessee State that allowed me to prove to myself that I was ready to be a good student,” Carter said. “I looked into different career paths before coming back and I distinctly remembered I enjoyed chemistry. I enjoy the theory, the classroom setting, I have a personal aptitude for it. Working in the lab stresses a lot of students out, but for me, it’s relaxing. I thought chemistry could be something I enjoy enough to make a career out of.”\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3290\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05122021_KyleChemistryPortraits005.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\r\nShelton was happy to see him return to UT Martin. “Kyle found that the two general chemistry courses he had taken, along with the labs, had sparked something in him worth coming back for.”\r\n\r\nRe-enrolling in spring 2019 and with only enough financial aid for three semesters, he “worked my butt off to graduate in that time frame,” Carter said, taking 18 upper-division courses in fall 2019, 20 credits in spring 2020 and 19 credits in fall 2020 to wrap up his chemistry degree.\r\n\r\nUT Martin Associate Professor of Chemistry Genessa Smith, as Carter’s advisor, also had some concerns about his heavy course load and met with him to discuss it.\r\n\r\n“I learned that his choice of classes was not borne out of ignorance or naiveté,” Smith said. “He had given careful thought to every detail of his plan. He explained to me about the three semesters of financial aid, and made it clear he wanted to take as many classes as possible to improve his GPA enough to go to graduate school. Although the odds did not seem in his favor, I was compelled by his determination.”\r\n\r\nCarter admits he likes to stay busy and thrives under pressure.\r\n\r\n“(My professors) were really unsure about my course load at first, but they let me make that decision, and were flexible with me in a way that helped me succeed,” he said.\r\n\r\nAs the semester unfolded, Smith and Shelton watched Carter launch himself into his studies.\r\n<blockquote>“(My professors) were really unsure about my course load at first, but they let me make that decision, and were flexible with me in a way that helped me succeed.”</blockquote>\r\n“To my delight, he set the pace in every single one of his courses,” Smith said. “I observed his classmates seeking out his help on assignments. I overheard him asking intelligent, informed questions of his professors. He was quick to learn from mistakes and did not shy away from asking for help or clarification when needed.”\r\n\r\nIn his last two semesters, Carter’s upward trend continued. He completed 27 additional credit hours of upper-division chemistry and physics courses, and significantly raised his cumulative GPA.\r\n\r\nHe scored above the 90th percentile on his organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry (thermodynamics) American Chemical Society final exams.\r\n\r\n“While it’s not uncommon to do well in one of those, it’s rare to do well in all three,” Smith said. “That is almost unheard of.”\r\n\r\nCarter took the Medical College Admission Test in 2020 and scored in the 94th percentile, and when he took the Chemistry Major Field Achievement Test, Carter scored in the 98th percentile – the highest score ever recorded in the history of the UT Martin chemistry department.\r\n\r\n“The field test is the exit exam all graduating chemistry majors take,” Shelton explained. “We expected Kyle to do well, but the shock came from him outperforming all previous chemistry students.”\r\n\r\nNot surprisingly, he received both the Outstanding Chemistry Major award and the Outstanding Chemistry Student award.\r\n<blockquote>“It feels good to know I’m doing what I need to do to prepare for my success.”</blockquote>\r\n“My first time in college, I never came close to deserving anything like that,” Carter said. “It feels good to know I’m doing what I need to do to prepare for my success.”\r\n\r\nHe was elected by his peers to become president of the Student Members of the American Chemical Society student organization, a challenging position during the COVID-19 pandemic.\r\n\r\n“There were a lot of restrictions on the student organizations, and it was not easy trying to keep the group going,” Carter said. Group meetings moved to a virtual platform, but events were trickier. “We made up boxes, little care packages, and sent them out to members and then opened them all up together over Zoom. That made us feel a little bit like we were together.”\r\n\r\nCarter graduated in December 2020 with an American Chemical Society-approved bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a minor in physics.\r\n\r\n“The ACS-approved major is more rigorous than the regular chemistry degree; the department and the student have to meet certain requirements,” Smith said.\r\n\r\nBut Carter wasn’t done yet. Having been accepted into the doctoral program in chemistry at Mississippi State University in the fall of 2021, Carter chose to do an additional semester at UT Martin to complete a biology minor and an additional biochemistry specialization. To bridge the gap financially, Carter was offered a continuation of his prestigious teaching assistant position in UT Martin’s chemistry department, allowing him to stay for a post-baccalaureate semester after officially graduating.\r\n\r\n“Teaching (Chemistry 121 lab) has been my absolutely favorite job I’ve ever had,” Carter said. “I really enjoy the opportunity to work with other students and communicate with them, but it also helps me to further hone my skills. I do my best to leave no question unanswered. If I don’t know, I try to find out. Then that is something I learn myself, and that strengthens my chemistry knowledge.”\r\n\r\nSmith called Carter “a model of grit,” whose performance at UT Martin has been nothing less than exceptional.\r\n\r\n“It can be difficult to come back as a non-traditional student, but it’s not impossible,” said Carter, who will turn 30 in August. “I’ve gotten more out of my experience at UTM than I ever thought I could, and it has been 100 percent worth the work.”\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Non-trad grad excels as chemistry standout','The last 12 years haven’t been the easiest for Kyle Carter, but the last two have been the best of his life.','inherit','closed','closed','','3288-autosave-v1','','','2021-05-23 20:44:58','2021-05-24 01:44:58','',3288,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/23/3288-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3295,2,'2021-05-23 20:45:28','2021-05-24 01:45:28','The last 12 years haven’t been the easiest for Kyle Carter, but the last two have been the best of his life.\r\n\r\nThe Troy, Tennessee native first came to the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2009 to pursue a music degree. But despite trying a variety of majors and academic programs, Carter struggled.\r\n\r\n“I really hadn’t found anything I was passionate enough about to turn into a career,” Carter recalled. “As a result of that, I didn’t feel motivated to do my best. I did eventually pursue biology and chemistry as a major (in 2013), because I had Chemistry 121 with Dr. Shelton and it just clicked with me, but by that time I was still lacking motivation, and that played a huge part in me not being able to succeed at that time in my life.”\r\n\r\nDr. Abigail Shelton, UT Martin associate professor of chemistry, recalls having Kyle as a student in her general chemistry lecture and lab in fall 2012.\r\n\r\n“Kyle was figuring out who he was and what he wanted to study,” Shelton said. “He occasionally skipped lecture and labs… and had some bumps in the road soon after.”\r\n\r\nCarter eventually withdrew in Spring 2014, under a cloud of incompletes and poor academic performance. Convinced he needed a fresh start, he moved to Murfreesboro and enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University in the fall of 2017.\r\n<blockquote>“Kyle was figuring out who he was and what he wanted to study,” Shelton said. “He occasionally skipped lecture and labs… and had some bumps in the road soon after.”</blockquote>\r\n“I’d never lived outside of this area, and I thought maybe I might do better without the baggage of my past performance,” Carter said. For a short while he did excel, doing undergraduate research and earning a 4.0 GPA. But it wasn’t long before his past caught up with him. After one semester, his financial aid was pulled due to his past academic performance, and Carter moved back to Martin, regained his prior job doing property maintenance, and considered his next move.\r\n\r\n“One thing I did have was the experience of meeting (Shelton), as well as that one semester at Middle Tennessee State that allowed me to prove to myself that I was ready to be a good student,” Carter said. “I looked into different career paths before coming back and I distinctly remembered I enjoyed chemistry. I enjoy the theory, the classroom setting, I have a personal aptitude for it. Working in the lab stresses a lot of students out, but for me, it’s relaxing. I thought chemistry could be something I enjoy enough to make a career out of.”\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3290\" src=\"https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05122021_KyleChemistryPortraits005.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\r\nShelton was happy to see him return to UT Martin. “Kyle found that the two general chemistry courses he had taken, along with the labs, had sparked something in him worth coming back for.”\r\n\r\nRe-enrolling in spring 2019 and with only enough financial aid for three semesters, he “worked my butt off to graduate in that time frame,” Carter said, taking 18 upper-division courses in fall 2019, 20 credits in spring 2020 and 19 credits in fall 2020 to wrap up his chemistry degree.\r\n\r\nUT Martin Associate Professor of Chemistry Genessa Smith, as Carter’s advisor, also had some concerns about his heavy course load and met with him to discuss it.\r\n\r\n“I learned that his choice of classes was not borne out of ignorance or naiveté,” Smith said. “He had given careful thought to every detail of his plan. He explained to me about the three semesters of financial aid, and made it clear he wanted to take as many classes as possible to improve his GPA enough to go to graduate school. Although the odds did not seem in his favor, I was compelled by his determination.”\r\n\r\nCarter admits he likes to stay busy and thrives under pressure.\r\n\r\n“(My professors) were really unsure about my course load at first, but they let me make that decision, and were flexible with me in a way that helped me succeed,” he said.\r\n\r\nAs the semester unfolded, Smith and Shelton watched Carter launch himself into his studies.\r\n<blockquote>“(My professors) were really unsure about my course load at first, but they let me make that decision, and were flexible with me in a way that helped me succeed.”</blockquote>\r\n“To my delight, he set the pace in every single one of his courses,” Smith said. “I observed his classmates seeking out his help on assignments. I overheard him asking intelligent, informed questions of his professors. He was quick to learn from mistakes and did not shy away from asking for help or clarification when needed.”\r\n\r\nIn his last two semesters, Carter’s upward trend continued. He completed 27 additional credit hours of upper-division chemistry and physics courses, and significantly raised his cumulative GPA.\r\n\r\nHe scored above the 90th percentile on his organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry (thermodynamics) American Chemical Society final exams.\r\n\r\n“While it’s not uncommon to do well in one of those, it’s rare to do well in all three,” Smith said. “That is almost unheard of.”\r\n\r\nCarter took the Medical College Admission Test in 2020 and scored in the 94th percentile, and when he took the Chemistry Major Field Achievement Test, Carter scored in the 98th percentile – the highest score ever recorded in the history of the UT Martin chemistry department.\r\n\r\n“The field test is the exit exam all graduating chemistry majors take,” Shelton explained. “We expected Kyle to do well, but the shock came from him outperforming all previous chemistry students.”\r\n\r\nNot surprisingly, he received both the Outstanding Chemistry Major award and the Outstanding Chemistry Student award.\r\n<blockquote>“It feels good to know I’m doing what I need to do to prepare for my success.”</blockquote>\r\n“My first time in college, I never came close to deserving anything like that,” Carter said. “It feels good to know I’m doing what I need to do to prepare for my success.”\r\n\r\nHe was elected by his peers to become president of the Student Members of the American Chemical Society student organization, a challenging position during the COVID-19 pandemic.\r\n\r\n“There were a lot of restrictions on the student organizations, and it was not easy trying to keep the group going,” Carter said. Group meetings moved to a virtual platform, but events were trickier. “We made up boxes, little care packages, and sent them out to members and then opened them all up together over Zoom. That made us feel a little bit like we were together.”\r\n\r\nCarter graduated in December 2020 with an American Chemical Society-approved bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a minor in physics.\r\n\r\n“The ACS-approved major is more rigorous than the regular chemistry degree; the department and the student have to meet certain requirements,” Smith said.\r\n\r\nBut Carter wasn’t done yet. Having been accepted into the doctoral program in chemistry at Mississippi State University in the fall of 2021, Carter chose to do an additional semester at UT Martin to complete a biology minor and an additional biochemistry specialization. To bridge the gap financially, Carter was offered a continuation of his prestigious teaching assistant position in UT Martin’s chemistry department, allowing him to stay for a post-baccalaureate semester after officially graduating.\r\n\r\n“Teaching (Chemistry 121 lab) has been my absolutely favorite job I’ve ever had,” Carter said. “I really enjoy the opportunity to work with other students and communicate with them, but it also helps me to further hone my skills. I do my best to leave no question unanswered. If I don’t know, I try to find out. Then that is something I learn myself, and that strengthens my chemistry knowledge.”\r\n\r\nSmith called Carter “a model of grit,” whose performance at UT Martin has been nothing less than exceptional.\r\n\r\n“It can be difficult to come back as a non-traditional student, but it’s not impossible,” said Carter, who will turn 30 in August. “I’ve gotten more out of my experience at UTM than I ever thought I could, and it has been 100 percent worth the work.”\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Non-trad grad excels as chemistry standout','The last 12 years haven’t been the easiest for Kyle Carter, but the last two have been the best of his life.','inherit','closed','closed','','3288-revision-v1','','','2021-05-23 20:45:28','2021-05-24 01:45:28','',3288,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/23/3288-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3296,2,'2021-05-24 10:00:29','2021-05-24 15:00:29','Kayla Brooks, of Dickson, Alexis Millsaps, of Columbia, and Bailey Radnitzer, of Des Plaines, Illinois, received the Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Award during the University of Tennessee at Martin spring 2021 commencement Saturday, May 8. The Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Award is presented to graduating seniors who demonstrate outstanding campus and community service during their time at UT Martin.\r\n\r\nBrooks, a communications graduate, served as the TISL Times Newspaper Editor for the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature, is currently president of the Radio, Television and Digital News Association, and rose to the role of program director at WUTM 90.3 “The Hawk” radio station. She performed in the Vanguard’s production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” and served on the SOAR staff welcoming incoming freshmen. In her work in the Office of Campus Recreation as group fitness instructor, Brooks led more than 300 yoga classes for students, faculty and staff and is certified by the Fitour Fitness Group. During COVID-19, Brooks led these courses through Instagram, teaching two classes per week with more than 1,900 students in attendance. Additionally, under COVID-19, Brooks became an essential worker and produced daily newscasts for WUTM.\r\n\r\n“Kayla raises the bar when it comes to being a role model for students because she genuinely values teamwork and is highly motivated to succeed in everything she does,” said Kimberly Olive-Milligan, office of campus recreation. “We greatly appreciate her contributions to our programs.”\r\n\r\nMillsaps, communications graduate and transfer student, has had a sizeable impact on UTM in a short amount of time. As a SOAR orientation leader, she traveled to conventions and attended numerous leadership seminars. As a Transfer Boot Camp mentor, she called on her own experiences as a transfer student to help her fellow students transition. That opportunity led Millsaps to create the Transfers for Life student organization. She has also held leadership roles in the Black Student Association and on the Civil Rights Conference Planning Committee. She has been a vocal leader in the push for a mandatory African American history class on campus.\r\n\r\nA nomination letter in support of Millsaps noted her outstanding leadership abilities and her proven record for fighting for causes she believes in.\r\n\r\nRadnitzer, a bachelor of fine arts graduate, has been involved in service, scholarship and leadership from her very start at UT Martin. She served as SOAR orientation leader for her first three years and as a First Year Initiative PEP leader for the last three years. She has received several registered student organization awards, including the University Service Award and the Emerging Leader Award. She has held three leadership positions of the League of Striving Artists student art group, including president. She is an active volunteer both on-campus and off, working with Red Fern Animal Shelter in Dresden, where she photographs animals, updates their biographies, and promotes them on social media to aid in their adoption.\r\n\r\n“Bailey is an amazing recipient for the Meek Award, as she has lived every part of it and continues to push the values behind its conception,” said Jason Stout, professor of art. “She is the best of what we strive for here, and the best example of what we try to get other students to be a part of.”\r\n\r\nDr. Paul Meek served the UT Martin campus as executive officer, dean, UT vice president/chancellor from 1934 to 1967. This award was originally established and funded by the three Meek children to honor their parents. The Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Award is the only award given during commencement each semester.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the UT Martin Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Brooks, Millsaps, Radnitzer receive Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Awards','Kayla Brooks, of Dickson, Alexis Millsaps, of Columbia, and Bailey Radnitzer, of Des Plaines, Illinois, received the Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Award during UT Martin\'s spring 2021 commencement.','publish','closed','closed','','brooks-millsaps-radnitzer-receive-paul-and-martha-meek-leadership-awards','','','2021-05-23 21:24:49','2021-05-24 02:24:49','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3296',0,'post','',0),(3297,2,'2021-05-23 21:21:14','2021-05-24 02:21:14','','05082021_SpringCommencement10AM124','(l-r) Dr. Andy Lewter, UT Martin vice chancellor for student affairs, is pictured with Alexis Millsaps, of Columbia, Kayla Brooks, of Dickson, and Bailey Radnitzer, of Des Plaines, Illinois, recipients of the Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Awards during the University of Tennessee at Martin’s spring 2021 commencement exercises May 8.','inherit','closed','closed','','05082021_springcommencement10am124','','','2021-05-23 21:21:55','2021-05-24 02:21:55','',3296,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05082021_SpringCommencement10AM124.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3298,2,'2021-05-23 21:24:49','2021-05-24 02:24:49','Kayla Brooks, of Dickson, Alexis Millsaps, of Columbia, and Bailey Radnitzer, of Des Plaines, Illinois, received the Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Award during the University of Tennessee at Martin spring 2021 commencement Saturday, May 8. The Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Award is presented to graduating seniors who demonstrate outstanding campus and community service during their time at UT Martin.\r\n\r\nBrooks, a communications graduate, served as the TISL Times Newspaper Editor for the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature, is currently president of the Radio, Television and Digital News Association, and rose to the role of program director at WUTM 90.3 “The Hawk” radio station. She performed in the Vanguard’s production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” and served on the SOAR staff welcoming incoming freshmen. In her work in the Office of Campus Recreation as group fitness instructor, Brooks led more than 300 yoga classes for students, faculty and staff and is certified by the Fitour Fitness Group. During COVID-19, Brooks led these courses through Instagram, teaching two classes per week with more than 1,900 students in attendance. Additionally, under COVID-19, Brooks became an essential worker and produced daily newscasts for WUTM.\r\n\r\n“Kayla raises the bar when it comes to being a role model for students because she genuinely values teamwork and is highly motivated to succeed in everything she does,” said Kimberly Olive-Milligan, office of campus recreation. “We greatly appreciate her contributions to our programs.”\r\n\r\nMillsaps, communications graduate and transfer student, has had a sizeable impact on UTM in a short amount of time. As a SOAR orientation leader, she traveled to conventions and attended numerous leadership seminars. As a Transfer Boot Camp mentor, she called on her own experiences as a transfer student to help her fellow students transition. That opportunity led Millsaps to create the Transfers for Life student organization. She has also held leadership roles in the Black Student Association and on the Civil Rights Conference Planning Committee. She has been a vocal leader in the push for a mandatory African American history class on campus.\r\n\r\nA nomination letter in support of Millsaps noted her outstanding leadership abilities and her proven record for fighting for causes she believes in.\r\n\r\nRadnitzer, a bachelor of fine arts graduate, has been involved in service, scholarship and leadership from her very start at UT Martin. She served as SOAR orientation leader for her first three years and as a First Year Initiative PEP leader for the last three years. She has received several registered student organization awards, including the University Service Award and the Emerging Leader Award. She has held three leadership positions of the League of Striving Artists student art group, including president. She is an active volunteer both on-campus and off, working with Red Fern Animal Shelter in Dresden, where she photographs animals, updates their biographies, and promotes them on social media to aid in their adoption.\r\n\r\n“Bailey is an amazing recipient for the Meek Award, as she has lived every part of it and continues to push the values behind its conception,” said Jason Stout, professor of art. “She is the best of what we strive for here, and the best example of what we try to get other students to be a part of.”\r\n\r\nDr. Paul Meek served the UT Martin campus as executive officer, dean, UT vice president/chancellor from 1934 to 1967. This award was originally established and funded by the three Meek children to honor their parents. The Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Award is the only award given during commencement each semester.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the UT Martin Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','Brooks, Millsaps, Radnitzer receive Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Awards','Kayla Brooks, of Dickson, Alexis Millsaps, of Columbia, and Bailey Radnitzer, of Des Plaines, Illinois, received the Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Award during UT Martin\'s spring 2021 commencement.','inherit','closed','closed','','3296-revision-v1','','','2021-05-23 21:24:49','2021-05-24 02:24:49','',3296,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/23/3296-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3299,2,'2021-05-25 18:06:52','2021-05-25 23:06:52','The University of Tennessee at Martin Advisory Board met Friday, May 21, in the Boling University Center for the first in-person meeting of the board since January 2020. The board approved the recommended 2021-2022 operating budget that now moves forward to the UT Board of Trustees for consideration at the June 24-25 meeting in Memphis. Art Sparks, of Union City, currently chairs the seven-member advisory board that includes Hal Bynum, Sharon; Dr. Philip Smartt, Dresden; Emma Hilliard, student member, Bells; Monice Hagler, Memphis; Julia Wells, Jackson; and Johnny Woolfolk, Madison County.\r\n\r\nDr. Charley Deal, vice chancellor for university advancement, offered the first of two primary board reports by reviewing university fundraising. He noted that fundraising challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t delay new initiatives, including a college-specific fundraising strategy that addresses individual academic college needs and a new UT Martin Telefund program. One success amid the pandemic was the annual Captain’s Challenge that raised just over $431,000 in 24 hours in April, up from $121,000 when the event began in 2014.\r\n\r\nFiscal year-to-date giving as of May 9 stood at $7.3 million raised toward an $8.9 million goal, which appears within reach with other gifts pending. The university will also launch its largest capital campaign in history Sept. 11 at the UT Martin-Samford University football game in Hardy Graham Stadium. Deal said that a key to continued fundraising success is a stewardship plan designed to keep donors involved.\r\n\r\n“Our goal in stewardship, when someone makes a gift, that’s not the end,” Deal said. “When they receive their receipt, when they receive their thank you, or they get a video from us saying ‘thank you,’ we want to keep that going. We want … to bring them back into the cultivation stage so that we can solicit them again.” Deal’s vision is to build the current $43 million UT Martin endowment to $100 million by 2030.\r\n\r\nPetra McPhearson, vice chancellor for finance and administration, then presented the 2021-2022 operating budget recommendation, which includes a $3 million increase, including $2 million from state appropriations and $1 from tuition and fees. The tuition request is a 2% increase but includes a decrease in tuition for international students who would begin paying out-of-state rates under the revised structure. Student fees will not increase, and the total increase is within the range approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.\r\n\r\nMcPhearson said that tuition represents about 60% of the university’s revenue, state appropriations account for 35% of revenue, and the remainder comes from grants and contracts, sales and service, and miscellaneous revenue. More than $47 million of the expenditure budget would support instruction. Tuition and fees are compared and monitored annually with tuition and fees at other peer higher education institutions.\r\n\r\nMcPhearson also provided a COVID-19 relief funding update and reported approximately $5.3 million received from the Coronavirus Air, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act; $8.9 million received from the CARES Act’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund; and $15.5 million from the American Rescue Plan. “Overall, we’re looking at $29.7 million that we will have in funds available to us, with at least $13 million available to directly go to students,” she said.\r\n\r\nUT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver expanded on McPherson’s budget presentation and highlighted graduation-rate progress since the Soar in Four tuition model was approved by the UT Board of Trustees and began at UT Martin in fall 2016. The tuition model encourages students to take at least 15 hours per semester in order to graduate in four years.\r\n\r\n“Since that program was implemented, UT Martin’s six-year graduation rate has gone up 14.4%,” Carver said, making the current rate 54%. “Now is 54% (six-year graduation rate) good enough? No, it’s not, but if we jumped 14.4 (percent) in the last six years, we’re going to continue on that trend, and we’ll make sure of that.”\r\n\r\nIn other business, the board formally welcomed Johnny Woolfolk, of Woolfolk Farms in Madison County, as Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s most recent appointee to the group. He will serve a four-year term ending June 30, 2024. Also introduced was the board’s next student member, Kelsea Koonce, of Newbern. Koonce is a junior majoring in agricultural business, and her term will run from July 1 to June 30, 2022. She replaces Emma Hilliard, of Bells, whose term ended. Hilliard will attend the UT Health Science Center this fall.\r\n\r\nThe meeting is archived at www.utm.edu/advisory. The next UT Martin advisory Board meeting will be held Friday, Sept. 17.','Advisory Board Approves 2021-2022 budget recommendation','The University of Tennessee at Martin Advisory Board met Friday, May 21, in the Boling University Center for the first in-person meeting of the board since January 2020. ','publish','closed','closed','','advisory-board-approves-2021-2022-budget-recommendation','','','2021-05-25 18:06:52','2021-05-25 23:06:52','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3299',0,'post','',0),(3300,2,'2021-05-25 18:03:49','2021-05-25 23:03:49','','05212021_AdvisoryBoardMeeting003','The UT Martin Advisory Board met Friday, May 21, in the Boling University Center for the first in-person meeting of the board since January 2020. The board approved the recommended 2021-2022 operating budget that now moves forward to the UT Board of Trustees for consideration at the June 24-25 meeting in Memphis. Pictured at the meeting are (l to r) Art Sparks, of Union City, advisory board chair, and UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver. ','inherit','closed','closed','','05212021_advisoryboardmeeting003','','','2021-05-25 18:04:18','2021-05-25 23:04:18','',3299,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05212021_AdvisoryBoardMeeting003.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3301,2,'2021-05-25 18:06:52','2021-05-25 23:06:52','The University of Tennessee at Martin Advisory Board met Friday, May 21, in the Boling University Center for the first in-person meeting of the board since January 2020. The board approved the recommended 2021-2022 operating budget that now moves forward to the UT Board of Trustees for consideration at the June 24-25 meeting in Memphis. Art Sparks, of Union City, currently chairs the seven-member advisory board that includes Hal Bynum, Sharon; Dr. Philip Smartt, Dresden; Emma Hilliard, student member, Bells; Monice Hagler, Memphis; Julia Wells, Jackson; and Johnny Woolfolk, Madison County.\r\n\r\nDr. Charley Deal, vice chancellor for university advancement, offered the first of two primary board reports by reviewing university fundraising. He noted that fundraising challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t delay new initiatives, including a college-specific fundraising strategy that addresses individual academic college needs and a new UT Martin Telefund program. One success amid the pandemic was the annual Captain’s Challenge that raised just over $431,000 in 24 hours in April, up from $121,000 when the event began in 2014.\r\n\r\nFiscal year-to-date giving as of May 9 stood at $7.3 million raised toward an $8.9 million goal, which appears within reach with other gifts pending. The university will also launch its largest capital campaign in history Sept. 11 at the UT Martin-Samford University football game in Hardy Graham Stadium. Deal said that a key to continued fundraising success is a stewardship plan designed to keep donors involved.\r\n\r\n“Our goal in stewardship, when someone makes a gift, that’s not the end,” Deal said. “When they receive their receipt, when they receive their thank you, or they get a video from us saying ‘thank you,’ we want to keep that going. We want … to bring them back into the cultivation stage so that we can solicit them again.” Deal’s vision is to build the current $43 million UT Martin endowment to $100 million by 2030.\r\n\r\nPetra McPhearson, vice chancellor for finance and administration, then presented the 2021-2022 operating budget recommendation, which includes a $3 million increase, including $2 million from state appropriations and $1 from tuition and fees. The tuition request is a 2% increase but includes a decrease in tuition for international students who would begin paying out-of-state rates under the revised structure. Student fees will not increase, and the total increase is within the range approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.\r\n\r\nMcPhearson said that tuition represents about 60% of the university’s revenue, state appropriations account for 35% of revenue, and the remainder comes from grants and contracts, sales and service, and miscellaneous revenue. More than $47 million of the expenditure budget would support instruction. Tuition and fees are compared and monitored annually with tuition and fees at other peer higher education institutions.\r\n\r\nMcPhearson also provided a COVID-19 relief funding update and reported approximately $5.3 million received from the Coronavirus Air, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act; $8.9 million received from the CARES Act’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund; and $15.5 million from the American Rescue Plan. “Overall, we’re looking at $29.7 million that we will have in funds available to us, with at least $13 million available to directly go to students,” she said.\r\n\r\nUT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver expanded on McPherson’s budget presentation and highlighted graduation-rate progress since the Soar in Four tuition model was approved by the UT Board of Trustees and began at UT Martin in fall 2016. The tuition model encourages students to take at least 15 hours per semester in order to graduate in four years.\r\n\r\n“Since that program was implemented, UT Martin’s six-year graduation rate has gone up 14.4%,” Carver said, making the current rate 54%. “Now is 54% (six-year graduation rate) good enough? No, it’s not, but if we jumped 14.4 (percent) in the last six years, we’re going to continue on that trend, and we’ll make sure of that.”\r\n\r\nIn other business, the board formally welcomed Johnny Woolfolk, of Woolfolk Farms in Madison County, as Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s most recent appointee to the group. He will serve a four-year term ending June 30, 2024. Also introduced was the board’s next student member, Kelsea Koonce, of Newbern. Koonce is a junior majoring in agricultural business, and her term will run from July 1 to June 30, 2022. She replaces Emma Hilliard, of Bells, whose term ended. Hilliard will attend the UT Health Science Center this fall.\r\n\r\nThe meeting is archived at www.utm.edu/advisory. The next UT Martin advisory Board meeting will be held Friday, Sept. 17.','Advisory Board Approves 2021-2022 budget recommendation','The University of Tennessee at Martin Advisory Board met Friday, May 21, in the Boling University Center for the first in-person meeting of the board since January 2020. ','inherit','closed','closed','','3299-revision-v1','','','2021-05-25 18:06:52','2021-05-25 23:06:52','',3299,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/25/3299-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3302,2,'2021-05-27 09:23:52','2021-05-27 14:23:52','The University of Tennessee at Martin will hold its annual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony virtually at 9 a.m., Friday, May 28, in lieu of the traditional in-person service. The ceremony will be livestreamed on <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/utmartin/\">UT Martin’s Facebook</a> and <a href=\"https://youtu.be/CfVJ9VaW1Ns\">YouTube</a> and will be archived for later viewing. The program will also be broadcast on WUTM FM 90.3 “The Hawk.”\r\n\r\nCol. Ardis Porter, a retired U.S. Army military officer, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. In his last assignment, he served as deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Army Human Resources Command at Fort Knox in Kentucky. He received his commission as a second lieutenant through Vanderbilt University’s ROTC program. With more than 30 years of experience in human resources, he has been recognized for his extensive leadership in the military.\r\n\r\nPorter currently works at the Agricenter International in Memphis as the program manager for Veterans Employed in Technology and Service in Agriculture (VETSA), a program designed to prepare transitioning military personnel and veterans for civilian careers in the agricultural service and support sectors.\r\n\r\nLt. Col. Rodric McClain, UT Martin professor of military science, will serve as the master of ceremonies, and UT Martin student DaeShuana Aldridge will sing the national anthem at the start of the program. Porter will speak following the invocation by Chaplin Debra McGuire and comments by UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver. At the conclusion of the ceremony, U.S. Rep. David Kustoff will speak, Dale Willis of the UT Martin Physical Plant will offer the benediction, and UT Martin student Aaron MacDonald will play taps.\r\n\r\nMemorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday in May and honors those who have died in the protection of the United States of America. Originally known as Decoration Day, the observance was renamed upon becoming a federal holiday in 1971.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact Joyanne Gansereit, UT Martin coordinator of public occasions, at ganserei@utm.edu.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin to hold virtual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony','The University of Tennessee at Martin will hold its annual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony virtually at 9 a.m., Friday, May 28, in lieu of the traditional in-person service.','inherit','closed','closed','','3285-revision-v1','','','2021-05-27 09:23:52','2021-05-27 14:23:52','',3285,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/27/3285-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3303,2,'2021-05-27 17:14:53','2021-05-27 22:14:53','The Tennessee Department of Education and the University of Tennessee at Martin announced this week that all Tennessee high school students and teachers have access to free, virtual workshops, office hours and classes on how to succeed on the ACT, one of the most important college entrance exams offered to high school students across the country.\r\n\r\nThe ACT is a comprehensive college entrance exam covering a wide range of subjects that assess students\' mathematical skills, grammar usage and reading comprehension.\r\n\r\nBeginning this summer, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, UT Martin is providing the <a href=\"https://www.utm.edu/departments/nondegree/courses/children/actprep.php\">ACT Success Tactics Workshops and Mastery Classes</a> for free via Zoom to all Tennessee high school teachers and students, designed for rising 11<sup>th</sup> and 12<sup>th</sup> graders, to gain knowledge and skills to prepare for and be successful on the ACT.\r\n\r\n“We are excited to partner with UT Martin to focus on ACT readiness and college and career success for all Tennessee high school students,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “These workshops and classes are tremendous free resources that will help better prepare our students for postsecondary success while equipping our teachers with tools for focused classroom instruction on college readiness and career pathways.”\r\n\r\nBeginning June 1 and continuing through the fall of 2022, the series of workshops, office hours, and classes are being held via Zoom for free and accessible <a href=\"https://www.utm.edu/departments/nondegree/courses/children/actprep.php\">interaction</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>For all Tennessee high school students:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>The ACT Success Tactics Workshop </strong>is designed to help students develop new strategies for how to manage exam questions, receive a detailed plan for practice opportunities to improve performance, learn crucial time-saving tips, and familiarize themselves more generally with higher education.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>The virtual office hours</strong> are offered in one-hour increments and provide students with the opportunity to do a deeper dive into areas where additional assistance is needed.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>The ACT Mastery Classes</strong> are available upon completion of the Success Tactics Workshop for a deeper dive into a certain section of the exam where additional assistance is needed.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>For all high school Tennessee teachers: </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>The ACT Workshop</strong> is offered via Zoom during subsequent semesters, with the first session on Monday, Aug. 2, and open to all Tennessee high school teachers to learn how to build ACT curriculum into their instruction and how to use ACT data to inform teaching strategies. The two-hour workshop may be used for professional development points (PDPs) upon completion.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n“The Tennessee Department of Education’s work to ensure every student across the state has access to free student success ACT workshops and mastery classes, as well as provide professional development opportunities for school districts, is admirable,” said UT System President Randy Boyd. “The University of Tennessee at Martin is always willing to go the extra mile to serve Tennessee students and teachers, and I applaud them for their dedication, hard work and partnership with the Department on this important initiative.”\r\n\r\nThe funding for the workshops and classes is from the Governor\'s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER).\r\n\r\nInterested students and educators can click <a href=\"https://www.utm.edu/departments/nondegree/courses/children/actprep.php\">here</a> to learn more about the workshops, office hours and classes.\r\n\r\nTo learn more about the department’s college readiness testing resources and materials, click <a href=\"https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/education/assessment/act-sat.html\">here</a>. For Tennessee Department of Education media inquiries, contact <a href=\"mailto:Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov\">Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>###</em></p>','UT Martin partners with Tennessee Department of Education to offer free ACT Prep','The Tennessee Department of Education and the University of Tennessee at Martin announced this week that all Tennessee high school students and teachers have access to free, virtual workshops, office hours and classes on how to succeed on the ACT.','publish','closed','closed','','tdoe-ut-martin-offer-free-act-prep-workshops-and-classes','','','2021-05-27 17:18:15','2021-05-27 22:18:15','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3303',0,'post','',0),(3307,2,'2021-05-27 17:10:47','2021-05-27 22:10:47','','ACTStoryGraphic','','inherit','closed','closed','','actstorygraphic','','','2021-05-27 17:10:47','2021-05-27 22:10:47','',3303,'https://www.utm.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ACTStoryGraphic-2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3308,2,'2021-05-27 17:14:53','2021-05-27 22:14:53','The Tennessee Department of Education and the University of Tennessee at Martin announced this week that all Tennessee high school students and teachers have access to free, virtual workshops, office hours and classes on how to succeed on the ACT, one of the most important college entrance exams offered to high school students across the country.\r\n\r\nThe ACT is a comprehensive college entrance exam covering a wide range of subjects that assess students\' mathematical skills, grammar usage and reading comprehension.\r\n\r\nBeginning this summer, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, UT Martin is providing the <a href=\"https://www.utm.edu/departments/nondegree/courses/children/actprep.php\">ACT Success Tactics Workshops and Mastery Classes</a> for free via Zoom to all Tennessee high school teachers and students, designed for rising 11<sup>th</sup> and 12<sup>th</sup> graders, to gain knowledge and skills to prepare for and be successful on the ACT.\r\n\r\n“We are excited to partner with UT Martin to focus on ACT readiness and college and career success for all Tennessee high school students,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “These workshops and classes are tremendous free resources that will help better prepare our students for postsecondary success while equipping our teachers with tools for focused classroom instruction on college readiness and career pathways.”\r\n\r\nBeginning June 1 and continuing through the fall of 2022, the series of workshops, office hours, and classes are being held via Zoom for free and accessible <a href=\"https://www.utm.edu/departments/nondegree/courses/children/actprep.php\">interaction</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>For all Tennessee high school students:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>The ACT Success Tactics Workshop </strong>is designed to help students develop new strategies for how to manage exam questions, receive a detailed plan for practice opportunities to improve performance, learn crucial time-saving tips, and familiarize themselves more generally with higher education.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>The virtual office hours</strong> are offered in one-hour increments and provide students with the opportunity to do a deeper dive into areas where additional assistance is needed.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>The ACT Mastery Classes</strong> are available upon completion of the Success Tactics Workshop for a deeper dive into a certain section of the exam where additional assistance is needed.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>For all high school Tennessee teachers: </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>The ACT Workshop</strong> is offered via Zoom during subsequent semesters, with the first session on Monday, Aug. 2, and open to all Tennessee high school teachers to learn how to build ACT curriculum into their instruction and how to use ACT data to inform teaching strategies. The two-hour workshop may be used for professional development points (PDPs) upon completion.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n“The Tennessee Department of Education’s work to ensure every student across the state has access to free student success ACT workshops and mastery classes, as well as provide professional development opportunities for school districts, is admirable,” said UT System President Randy Boyd. “The University of Tennessee at Martin is always willing to go the extra mile to serve Tennessee students and teachers, and I applaud them for their dedication, hard work and partnership with the Department on this important initiative.”\r\n\r\nThe funding for the workshops and classes is from the Governor\'s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER).\r\n\r\nInterested students and educators can click <a href=\"https://www.utm.edu/departments/nondegree/courses/children/actprep.php\">here</a> to learn more about the workshops, office hours and classes.\r\n\r\nTo learn more about the department’s college readiness testing resources and materials, click <a href=\"https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/education/assessment/act-sat.html\">here</a>. For Tennessee Department of Education media inquiries, contact <a href=\"mailto:Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov\">Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>###</em></p>','TDOE & UT Martin Offer Free ACT Prep Workshops and Classes','','inherit','closed','closed','','3303-revision-v1','','','2021-05-27 17:14:53','2021-05-27 22:14:53','',3303,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/27/3303-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(3339,7,'2021-06-08 14:40:00','2021-06-08 19:40:00','College of Business and Global Affairs students at the University of Tennessee at Martin will experience three professional NASCAR racing events during the weekend of June 18-20 at Nashville Superspeedway. The 17 students scheduled to attend will be assigned race-day duties all three days and learn about the inner workings of hosting professional racing.\r\n\r\nThe events include the “Rackley Roofing 200” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race on Friday, June 18; the “Tennessee Lottery 250” NASCAR Xfinity Series Race on Saturday, June 19; and the “Ally 400” NASCAR Cup Series Race on Sunday, June 20. Billed as Middle Tennessee’s first NASCAR Cup Series race in nearly four decades, the “Ally 400” is officially sold out, but tickets remain for the other two races of the weekend and can be purchased by calling 866-RACE-TIX.\r\n\r\nDr. Dexter Davis, associate professor of sport management, regularly takes university students to personally experience college and professional sports events and will lead the UT Martin group for the NASCAR races. Davis worked with Nashville Superspeedway’s Ashley Shores and Greg Herring to arrange for the students to attend. Shores is a 2018 UT Martin communications graduate and works as the public relations and community engagement coordinator for the track.\r\n<blockquote>“When I was tasked with the volunteer program, I knew I wanted to get Dr. Davis and his students involved,” Shores said. “They do such great work at the Super Bowl, and I want to support UTM in any way I can.”</blockquote>\r\n“When I was tasked with the volunteer program, I knew I wanted to get Dr. Davis and his students involved,” Shores said. “They do such great work at the Super Bowl, and I want to support UTM in any way I can.”\r\n\r\nIn January, Davis accompanied students to work with the Host Committee at the NFL Experience during Super Bowl LV week in Tampa, Florida. That marked the eighth time for Davis to take UT Martin students to the largest single-day sporting event in the United States. Students who graduate from the Sport Business Program are prepared for positions throughout the sport industry.\r\n\r\nAccording to <a href=\"http://www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com\">www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com</a>, the facility hosted its first NASCAR-sanctioned race in April 2001. Racing continued through 2011, at which time the facility closed, but plans to reopen Nashville Superspeedway were announced in 2020. The June events will welcome professional racing back to the track.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###</p>','UT Martin students to work NASCAR races June 18-20 at Nashville Superspeedway','College of Business and Global Affairs students at the University of Tennessee at Martin will experience three professional NASCAR racing events during the weekend of June 18-20 at Nashville Superspeedway.','publish','closed','closed','','ut-martin-students-to-work-nascar-races-june-18-20-at-nashville-superspeedway','','','2021-06-08 15:14:46','2021-06-08 20:14:46','',0,'https://www.utm.edu/news/?p=3339',0,'post','',0),(3309,2,'2021-05-27 17:15:11','2021-05-27 22:15:11','The Tennessee Department of Education and the University of Tennessee at Martin announced this week that all Tennessee high school students and teachers have access to free, virtual workshops, office hours and classes on how to succeed on the ACT, one of the most important college entrance exams offered to high school students across the country.\r\n\r\nThe ACT is a comprehensive college entrance exam covering a wide range of subjects that assess students\' mathematical skills, grammar usage and reading comprehension.\r\n\r\nBeginning this summer, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, UT Martin is providing the <a href=\"https://www.utm.edu/departments/nondegree/courses/children/actprep.php\">ACT Success Tactics Workshops and Mastery Classes</a> for free via Zoom to all Tennessee high school teachers and students, designed for rising 11<sup>th</sup> and 12<sup>th</sup> graders, to gain knowledge and skills to prepare for and be successful on the ACT.\r\n\r\n“We are excited to partner with UT Martin to focus on ACT readiness and college and career success for all Tennessee high school students,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “These workshops and classes are tremendous free resources that will help better prepare our students for postsecondary success while equipping our teachers with tools for focused classroom instruction on college readiness and career pathways.”\r\n\r\nBeginning June 1 and continuing through the fall of 2022, the series of workshops, office hours, and classes are being held via Zoom for free and accessible <a href=\"https://www.utm.edu/departments/nondegree/courses/children/actprep.php\">interaction</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>For all Tennessee high school students:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>The ACT Success Tactics Workshop </strong>is designed to help students develop new strategies for how to manage exam questions, receive a detailed plan for practice opportunities to improve performance, learn crucial time-saving tips, and familiarize themselves more generally with higher education.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>The virtual office hours</strong> are offered in one-hour increments and provide students with the opportunity to do a deeper dive into areas where additional assistance is needed.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>The ACT Mastery Classes</strong> are available upon completion of the Success Tactics Workshop for a deeper dive into a certain section of the exam where additional assistance is needed.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>For all high school Tennessee teachers: </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>The ACT Workshop</strong> is offered via Zoom during subsequent semesters, with the first session on Monday, Aug. 2, and open to all Tennessee high school teachers to learn how to build ACT curriculum into their instruction and how to use ACT data to inform teaching strategies. The two-hour workshop may be used for professional development points (PDPs) upon completion.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n“The Tennessee Department of Education’s work to ensure every student across the state has access to free student success ACT workshops and mastery classes, as well as provide professional development opportunities for school districts, is admirable,” said UT System President Randy Boyd. “The University of Tennessee at Martin is always willing to go the extra mile to serve Tennessee students and teachers, and I applaud them for their dedication, hard work and partnership with the Department on this important initiative.”\r\n\r\nThe funding for the workshops and classes is from the Governor\'s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER).\r\n\r\nInterested students and educators can click <a href=\"https://www.utm.edu/departments/nondegree/courses/children/actprep.php\">here</a> to learn more about the workshops, office hours and classes.\r\n\r\nTo learn more about the department’s college readiness testing resources and materials, click <a href=\"https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/education/assessment/act-sat.html\">here</a>. For Tennessee Department of Education media inquiries, contact <a href=\"mailto:Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov\">Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov</a>.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>###</em></p>','TDOE & UT Martin Offer Free ACT Prep Workshops and Classes','The Tennessee Department of Education and the University of Tennessee at Martin announced this week that all Tennessee high school students and teachers have access to free, virtual workshops, office hours and classes on how to succeed on the ACT, one of the most important college entrance exams offered to high school students across the country.','inherit','closed','closed','','3303-revision-v1','','','2021-05-27 17:15:11','2021-05-27 22:15:11','',3303,'https://www.utm.edu/news/2021/05/27/3303-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0);
