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MocBlog is a publication of the UTC Office of Alumni Affairs.

We would LOVE to hear from you. Please browse through our blog and add your thoughts on any of the stories you find interesting.  Happy writing… and GO MOCS!

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Leaving Home, Feeling At Home

November 5th, 2009

socon xc 09 015Fall break presented a startling realization: it took this visit home to realize I had left it in Chattanooga. My friends and I returned with a newfound appreciation for the life we enjoyed on campus and in the community. Home was a paradox because everything was the same, but noticeably different. Visiting friends and others seemed almost like an obligation or homage to our past. Although I treasured relaxing with my parents in the comfort of my home, I felt out of place in my old favorite spots.

I’ve caught myself casually referring to my dorm as home. It seems inevitable; the past three months have been Read the rest of this entry »

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Holding on for the Ride!

October 23rd, 2009

Hey Everyone! I feel that it has been forever since I last wrote. So much has gone on I hope I can remember everything. Last time I wrote it was homecoming week. It was such a great success. My favorite part was definitely tailgating with Sigma Kappa and taking so many pictures!! We also tied for the Spirit Award which is awesome!

As I mentioned in my previous post Read the rest of this entry »

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It’s gonna be a BRIGHTER DAY!

October 16th, 2009

This post is going to be shorter than the last one, soooo here it goes….

We finally got cable in our residence hall. In fact, we have better channels now that we were required to have the digital box for Comcast’s system.

The Color Purple was AAAAAAAMMMMMMMAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIIINNNNNGGGG!

I cried when Fantasia sang my favorite song from that musical which is “I’m Here”. I would encourage everyone to go see it in Atlanta! I met other UTC students from that trip as well! SSS is the best! Shouts out to Mrs. G… you are one fabulous woman!

As far as classes go, my midterms were good… the only ones that I’m declaring are going to get better are math and western humanities, which I had predicted from the beginning of DAY ONE! LOL! But all my other classes.. ARE A’S AND B’S! That education from GPS truly prepared me. So all those late nights and many research papers weren’t in vain! Can’t wait for FALL BREAK! IT’S HERE!! YESS. PRAISE THE LORD. A BREAK!

What’s been going on at PNEUMA (my church)? Well, we recently had Family and Friends Sunday which was part of our Change Crusade! The member that brought the most family and friends was awarded the choice of either a furniture set or a 42″ plasma TV; and the runner-up was awarded with whichever they didn’t choose. I wasn’t the winner, but I was awarded the 42″ TV. I brought the second highest amount of people! I took the TV to my grandma’s SOOOO SUPERBOWL PARTY OVER THERE?

At my church, two of my friends, Lauren and Carla, and I take this group of younger girls out every month. We call the little girls the DIVAS-IN-TRAINING. Why? Because Lauren, Carla, and I are true divas ourselves. We’ve found that these girls need those big sister role models in their lives so we take them out to the movies, the mall, and other fun outtings. This month we’re going to GG’s Cupcakes and to see Finding Nemo on Ice at McKenzie Arena. I’M EXCITED ABOUT IT! I love the movie!

October’s becoming better for me to handle. It’s the month that my mother was born (20th), and my father was born (6th) and it’s also the month that my mama died (6th). Yes my mom died on my dad’s birthday.. Kinda eerie huh? It’s getting better to cope with but it still causes tears to be shed when I sit down and think about them. In the end, I’m just really determined to make them proud. :) Happy Birthday Mama & Daddy!

Okay, so let’s talk about why it’s been monsooning in the Tennessee valley. All I can say is SUN SHINE SOON please?!?! I’ve found that rain keeps students in their dorms… not gonna lie, I’ve been there once or twice but after a while you get a grip on what’s important. We’re all here, living on campus to go to SCHOOL.. so GO TO CLASS! Wonder if past Mocs felt the same way we do about walking in the rain?!?!? Comments please. What are/were your feelings about traveling on the wet, muddy pathways to class? I remember the day it monsooned during the day after I had left home… I HAD NO UMBRELLA! SO I’m late to class because I had to go to the bookstore to buy a little umbrella for $14… Let’s just say, I was not a happy camper..

I’ll leave you with this story of three people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. It’s about the concept of TEAMWORK:

“There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it.

Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job.

Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.”

Until next time ya’ll, please
LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE! <3

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Baby Moc: Samuel Charles Buchanan

October 12th, 2009

Buchanan, SamuelCharlie Buchanan (’02) and his wife Melissa announce the birth of their son, Samuel Charles Buchanan, on May 31, 2009. Read the rest of this entry »

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Vote for Coach Huesman for Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year

October 7th, 2009

coachoftheyear_large_cropped

Vote for Coach Russ Huesman for Liberty Mutual’s Coach of the Year honors.

Huesman3What Is Coach of the Year?

Liberty Mutual realizes that academic standings mean as much as divisional standings. And that how you win is just as important as winning itself. Which is why the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award was created.

More than just a trophy, this Award provides each winning coach with $50,000 to donate to the charity or charities of his choice, as well as a $20,000 grant to donate to his school’s alumni association.

What Does It Take to Win?

Fans can vote now through December 6 and can vote once a day for as many days as they like. The finalists in each division will be selected by December 14 and then a final round of voting will take place to pick the winning coach. The winning coach will be announced on January 6, 2010.

Coach Huesman is listed under the Division 1AA.

Click here to vote for Coach Huesman.

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Rising From Trial and Tribulations.

October 7th, 2009

You may write me down in history
with your bitter, twisted lies,
you may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

I have had some struggles recently. See in high school I was well known, well liked, and kind of well… important. It is harder to feel the same here, because it is so much bigger than high school (about 8000 more people). See I come from a small town of Mount Juliet, Tennessee where I knew everyone and everyone knew me. And that drove me insane! So I sunk into that freshman depression… yeah we have all heard about it or experienced it in some way. I felt abandoned, unloved, and honestly I missed my mommy!! I just wanted to crawl into a hole and live there. Read the rest of this entry »

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Class Note: Roger Gibbens Named to Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities

October 5th, 2009

Roger Gibbens '91

Roger Gibbens '91

Roger Gibbens (’91) was named to the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities by Governor Phil Bredesen. Gibbens will serve a three year term beginning in September 2009 and ending in 2012.  The goal of the council is to advocate for Tennesseans with disabilities and to work with the governor’s office and the Tennessee legislature on bills that would strengthen the efforts to support disability awareness and advocacy.

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“Miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep…”

October 1st, 2009

The course narrowed and curved uphill as the finish line slowly came into view. Though my reception was dramatically less enthusiastic than the frontrunners received, the spectators’ cheers revived my spirits. I exhausted myself trying to catch two opponents, a thrill that stirred fond memories of my high school finishes. However, this particular finish was less than memorable; I staggered around in a daze trying to convince myself the race clock was wrong. I listened as our team leaders stretched and discussed the intense moments during the race, another familiar practice I witnessed wistfully.

Perhaps I perceived these similarities so readily because such few exist between high school and college. “The real world” threat, often foretold by parents and teachers, was fulfilled for me on the Tuesday following Fall Break. I shuffled into a morning class and noticed my classmates contributing to a thick pile of papers on the professor’s desk. My baffled expression caught another’s eye and she said sympathetically, “The paper was on the syllabus.”

Syllabus? My new life has emphasized words and expressions formerly dismissed as irrelevant. Whether it is time-management, attention to detail, responsibility or other buzz-words adults constantly promote, my newfound independence has introduced realizations that reaffirm the hype. Whenever friends ask how I am faring with classes and practice, I simply respond, “Just trying to keep up.” I quoted Robert Frost in the title of my post because I feel I must get so much work done each day before I allow myself to rest.

Time has also vindicated my “nagging” parents; I realize their pet peeves served a purpose. One day I startled myself when I heard myself quoting them when I noticed my bedroom needed a thorough cleaning. Other times I find myself asking one roommate to turn down his stereo because “others are trying to sleep.” My fridge and cupboards also make me homesick; I can no longer request groceries and expect them to magically appear after my father’s weekly Kroger trip.
Despite these occasional reflections, UTC continues to excite me with enjoyable experiences. I kayaked down the Hiwassee River with my team and continued their traditions of swimming in the safe rapids and leaping off a low bridge. Considering I shied away from such reckless abandon in high school, my Western Humanities professor would probably liken my water adventure to a metaphorical baptism, an initiation into my new personality.

My classes also intrigue me. We watched The Truman Show and A Streetcar Named Desire, but my professor delved past their obvious entertainment merits and revealed the remarkable philosophical theories in each film. Voltaire’s Candide prompted me to reconsider my personal beliefs concerning life, fate and other deep questions. My communications class continues to appeal to my appreciation for history, entertainment and culture.

The entertainment on campus provides a welcome escape from school. The homecoming lip sync contest was hilarious; Pi Kappa Alpha’s outrageous skit drew hysterical laughter and they claimed victory. The step-show, a popular dance/stomping performance at UTC, was less exciting, but much more spirited. I sat among the Chi Omegas and experienced their shrieking jubilation after they won the step contest.

My first college Homecoming introduced me to another first: funnel cake. UTC offered the delicious pastry and snow cones on Cardiac Hill for free, so I had the fortune to try the famous fried food. The weekend’s other events were spoiled by rain, but many energetic fans braved the conditions and cheered the Mocs to an incredible victory in football.

College has already changed me in a month. Initially everything’s sense of newness was overwhelming, and I nervously encountered new people and experiences. However, I am quickly growing more comfortable approaching others and enjoying the variety of fun across campus. Though I occasionally feel homesick or nostalgic, I realize my present situation presents far more opportunities to grow than I can possibly experience elsewhere. My cross country coach summed it up fittingly during a demanding workout when he reminded me, “Kid, this isn’t high school anymore.”

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Wordless Wednesday

September 30th, 2009

PlayerThankYou

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Get on the Bus – Bus Trip to Birmingham

September 28th, 2009

SamfordGraphic1Come watch the Mocs play in Birmingham versus Samford on October 10th. The UTC Alumni Office and UTC Mocs Club have arranged a bus, tailgate and ticket package for those who want to travel together to watch the game.  Tailgating will include a catered lunch including non-alcoholic beverages.

Package Prices:

  • Bus, Ticket & Tailgate: $50/person
  • Ticket & Tailgate: $25/person
  • Tailgate only: $10/person

To reserve your spot, please contact Patrick Miles at 423/425-4785 or email at Patrick-Miles@utc.edu.

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