This week is Veteran’s Appreciation Week at UTC. To celebrate, UTC has held various events including our first Veteran’s Day luncheon. The luncheon’s keynote speaker was Jim Foster, coach of UTC’s women’s basketball team. Coach Foster is an Army veteran who served two tours of duty in Vietnam in the 4th Infantry Division – one of those tours was on behalf of his younger brother, John.
The week continues with the Sergeant David “Alex” Stephens Scholarship Race this Saturday at 8:30 a.m. beginning at Finley Stadium. The race honors a UTC graduate who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country, and race proceeds benefit UTC’s student veterans. Saturday’s appreciation events continue with the Military Appreciation Day game versus The Citadel. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. in Finley Stadium. During halftime all branches of military service will be recognized, there will be a twenty-one gun salute honoring America’s fallen, a jump team will land on the field, and the City of Chattanooga Pipe Band will perform. Let’s pack the stands – Go Mocs!
I hope all of you have had an opportunity to view the new website created in order to keep the campus up-to-date on new construction, renovation and infrastructure projects (blog.utc.edu/construction/). UTC is in a dynamic time and, with so many changes being made, it is important for all of us to know and understand what is happening on our campus.
Speaking of construction projects, the West Campus Housing Complex groundbreaking has been rescheduled for Tuesday, November 17th at 4:00 p.m. at the corner of Vine and Houston streets. Please join us as we celebrate this important milestone for our University. I am truly excited for this new project and the connection it will create between our campus and the larger Chattanooga community.
UTC’s Service Awards luncheon will take place on Tuesday, November 24th at 11:30 in the Tennessee Room. At the luncheon, UTC will honor 213 people with 3,260 total years of service. I can’t say this often enough – UTC is people and I truly appreciate all that you do and your years of dedicated service.
Last but not least, UTC will hold its annual Holiday open House on Monday, November 30th from 2-4 p.m. in the University Center’s Chattanooga Rooms. All faculty, staff, students and retirees are invited to attend. More information will be forthcoming – but there will be some fun surprises this year.