The Rocket Mocs have done it again! The Tripoli Rocketry Association, a nonprofit that focuses on amateur rocketry, announced this week that the Rocket Mocs — all of whom are from the College of Engineering and Computer Science — launched a rocket that set a world record. The rocket traveled 17,267 feet, or about 3.3 miles, and surpassed the previous mark of 15,101 feet. Congratulations to team members Andrew Byrd, Sean Conway, Jonathan De Guzman, Mason Gregoire and Alex Trotter, as well as Dr. Trevor Elliott, their faculty advisor in the UTC mechanical engineering department.
The UTC celebration of Black History Month continues with more than 20 special events scheduled for February. The commemoration includes panel discussions, guest speakers, workshops, documentary screenings and the Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels — a traveling gallery showcasing a collection of art, collectibles and memorabilia from the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Africa and Europe. The complete list of events and sponsors can be found here.
The Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, the Provost’s Office, and the Office of Equity and Inclusion are hosting a luncheon for faculty and staff on equity and inclusion Thursday, February 27, in the Tennessee Room at the University Center. The featured speaker is Dr. Kecia Thomas, the founding director of the Center for Research and Engagement in Diversity at the University of Georgia.
Kudos to the newest inductees into the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame. The Class of 2020 consists of Derrick Kirce (basketball), Lara Newberry (volleyball), Ronnie Powe (football) and Cary Waller (wrestling). The Hall of Fame Award honorees are Movita Steiner (Gordon Davenport Award), Henry Dickerson (Joe Morrison Award), Lakelyn Bouldin (Scrappy Moore Award) and Dr. Debbie Ingram (Harold Wilkes Award). Tickets for the February 28 Hall of Fame Banquet are available to the public, but the reservation deadline is Friday, February 21. For more information, please email Jayne-Holder@utc.edu.
It is always exciting to pass on the accomplishments of students after graduation. Dr. Noelle Currey, who received her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UTC in 1991, recently received TVA’s highest engineering honor – the 2020 Ike Zeringue Engineer of the Year award – after creating a computer program that reduces design problems before electric panels are built. This program will make TVA more efficient while potentially saving the company several million dollars. This is a tremendous honor for Noelle. Congratulations!
The Coalition Advocating for Student Empowerment is looking for recommendations for the Inspiring Women in Lifelong Leadership (I WILL) Award, which recognizes female UTC students who exhibit exemplary leadership skills by incorporating social justice and gender equity in all they do. Please click this link for more information.
March is Women’s History Month, and more than one dozen events will take place on campus to celebrate, including discussions, panels and luncheons. A calendar of events can be found here.