Panelists at the State of Our Youth event spoke to students in the University Center Tennessee Room. Photo by Angela Foster.
More than 400 middle school and high school students from Hamilton County visited the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Thursday, Feb. 6, for “State of Our Youth.”
The event, a collaborative effort between the UTC Division of Access and Engagement, UTC Admissions, the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County Schools, featured remarks from dignitaries, a moderated panel discussion, breakout sessions, a middle school scavenger hunt and a University tour for high school students.
Travis Smith, a 2024 UTC graduate and victim service advocate at the Chattanooga Office of Community Safety and Gun Violence Prevention, delivered the welcoming remarks.
“‘Our lives begin to end the day that we become silent about the things that matter,’” Smith said. “That’s from the late Dr. Martin Luther King. This summit is not about staying silent, it’s about raising our voices.”
A panel discussion brought professionals and high school students from the Chattanooga area to share their success stories. Moderators included Chris Sands, executive director of the city’s Office of Community Safety and Gun Violence Prevention, and UTC Vice Chancellor for Access and Engagement Stacy Lightfoot.
Breakout sessions, with titles ranging from “Who Can I Become?” to “Who Cares About Me?” to “Who Am I?” to “What is Important?” took place in numerous rooms around the University Center.
UTC personnel involved in bringing the “State of Our Youth” event to campus included the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, the Multicultural Center and MOC Academy. In addition, UTC students were in attendance to help support the high school students.
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Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
Students danced to music before the event.
