ChattState students at the Power C Tour had the opportunity to speak with people from all five UTC colleges, faculty, advisors, financial aid experts and current students. Photo by Kaylah Santos.
For transfer student Kameron Hampton, going from Chattanooga State Community College to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga meant adjusting to a vastly different environment.
Despite being raised in Chattanooga, she wasn’t sure what to expect from UTC.
Kameron Hampton
“I didn’t really know much about UTC and what all it has to offer,” said Hampton, who is now a freshman marketing major. “I just thought it was another college.”
To help other transfer students find their way at UTC, Hampton became a transfer tour guide. She was also in attendance at the Power C Tour visit on Tuesday, March 25, an event that brings UTC representatives to various Tennessee cities to connect with prospective students.
Its first stop of 2025 was at ChattState’s campus, where guests were able to speak with people from all five UTC colleges, faculty, advisors, financial aid experts and current students.
“Doing research and actually understanding what UTC has to offer made me really want to go here,” Hampton said. “It really changed my mind on what I wanted out of the culture.
“This is a great way to get students to understand and show all we have to offer at UTC.”
Last year’s Power C Tour at ChattState was Dr. Artanya Wesley’s first. After attending each stop—Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga—she fully understands how valuable the experience is for prospective students.
“The Power C tour is the opportunity to meet and greet the students, their families, their support systems and to be able to tell the UTC story,” said Wesley, vice chancellor of enrollment management and student affairs. “It’s to have faculty and staff show up and to show the different programs, different opportunities to be engaged in the pride that our faculty and staff have, as well as our students.”
She explained why the ChattState stop of the Power C Tour is especially important.
“ChattState is a special one that’s focused on our transfer students because we want to make sure that we’re giving them attention, the time and the care to make sure their transition from ChattState to UTC is a smooth one,” she said. “We want them to feel informed, empowered and that they understand exactly what process they have to work through to make that transition—and that we can support them along the way.”
Though Dr. Robert Dooley attended several Power C Tour stops as dean of the Gary W. Rollins College of Business, this was his first as interim chancellor.
“This is a great turnout,” Dooley said. “To see all the blue and gold here is outstanding and I’m so glad we have this relationship with Chattanooga State. Literally, in terms of the two schools working and cooperating together, this is a perfect opportunity for students from ChattState to continue their degree.
“We’re glad to be here to share what UTC has to offer.”
He also shared the significance of the event for transfer students, especially at a time when enrollment is a key focus.
“Transfers are a big part of that enrollment strategy and looking at how we can generate more transfer students and enroll them at UTC, Chattanooga State has been a great partner for us,” he said.
One of Dooley’s roles during the ChattState Power C Tour was presenting $1,000 scholarships to ChattState students.
Winners included Asha Lee, Roland Smith and India Studyvent.
“I am surprised. It felt great,” said Studyvent, an art major from Chattanooga who is planning to come to UTC in the fall. “I was just saying, ‘I need this, I need this.’ I was basically manifesting it without even knowing I manifested it.”
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ChattState student India Studyvent received a $1,000 scholarship to UTC.
