Founder’s Week 2018 was a tremendous success, and I want to thank our staff, faculty and students whose hard work ensured that each event went off smoothly. It was a very busy, but inspiring week. Many UTC alums came back to campus and talked about their time here being instrumental in their life and the successes they have had.
During the celebration to recognize the $40 million gift that Gary W. Rollins and his wife, Kathleen, made to our College of Business, Mr. Rollins credited UTC with starting him on the path that eventually led to his current role as Vice Chairman and CEO of Rollins, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange corporation with extensive holdings including Orkin, the world’s-largest pest control company. His confidence in the University and the quality of its education led to the gift, the largest in school history, and the naming of the Gary W. Rollins College of Business.
During our Legends and Leaders banquet on Friday, two of the honorees — Tim Arnold and Kino Becton — spoke about the enormous difference their time at UTC made in their lives, not just a difference in their professional life, but in their personal life as well. Both the wife and daughter of Tim Arnold, CEO of Colonial Life and recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, are UTC graduates. Kino Becton, director of National Government and Regulatory Affairs at American Water and winner of the first Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, met his wife when they were students at UTC.
Gary Rollins, Tim Arnold, and Kino Becton are exemplary of the impact that UTC has on our students. Each of these men should serve as a huge inspiration for us. We all need to appreciate that what we do makes a difference in the lives of our students.
As you may know, the UTC e-mail system was recently the target of hackers. As part of a “phishing” expedition, some faculty and staff received fake emails that appeared to come from legitimate sources and asked the recipient to click on a weblink. The hack was quickly discovered and our IT Department blocked the e-mails and web link. If you receive an email that asks you to click on a link and you are the least bit suspicious, forward it immediately to security@utc.edu. Under no circumstances should you click on the link.
Our Mocs football team is off to a tremendous 3-0 start. Please come cheer them on to their fourth victory Saturday when they play Southern Conference rival Samford University. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. at Finley Stadium. It’s also Academic Night and intercollegiate student-athletes, cheerleaders and Sugar Mocs will be honored at halftime for having a 3.0 grade point average or higher in spring semester 2018.
Our campus has turned its attention to a very important subject, suicide prevention. From now until September 27, we are hosting workshops, book discussions and guest speakers to focus on the terrible reality that claims the lives of about 1,100 college students each year. To learn more, go to: https://blog.utc.edu/news/2018/09/suicide-awareness-month-at-utc.
UTC’s Theatre Company kicks off its new season with A Doll’s House, Part 2, running from Tuesday, October 2, through Saturday, October 6. The 2017 play picks up where Henrik Isben’s original A Doll’s House ended. Upcoming plays in the Theatre Company’s season include Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats and Tartuffe by Moliere. If you have not attended a theatrical performance by the Company, I highly recommend you do. You will not be disappointed. For information on this season, visit: https://www.utc.edu/theatre/index.php.