College Quest invites high school students to explore UTC’s health, engineering and technology pathways

High school students at a past College Quest event getting a tour of an engineering lab

During College Quest, high school students will get the opportunity to go on lab tours and meet with UTC students, faculty and staff.

On Friday, Nov. 14, high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing careers in professional health care, engineering, computer science and technology—along with their families—are invited to College Quest at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Co-hosted by UTC’s Pre-Health Professions Advising, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and UTC Admissions, College Quest combines targeted academic sessions, lab experiences, and a student panel with a parent track that covers financial aid, housing, career services and academic support. The half-day event takes place from noon to 5 p.m. at the Wolford Family Athletic Center.

The event is free and complimentary parking is available in Lot 31. Registration for College Quest is required by Nov. 4 and is available online by visiting go.utc.edu/college-quest.

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Why I chose UTC: College Quest student panelists to share their UTC stories

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Families traveling from outside of Chattanooga can pair College Quest with Blue and Gold Preview Day, UTC’s comprehensive open house scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15. Blue and Gold gives prospective students a broad introduction to campus life, admissions, housing, scholarships and more.

To learn more and register for Blue and Gold Preview Day, visit go.utc.edu/blue-and-gold.

Last year, nearly half of the College Quest student participants applied to UTC.

“As an engineer, I know firsthand how transformative it is when complex theories and ideas come alive in a lab or design space,” UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce said. “Future Mocs who explore our engineering programs will experience that same excitement—seeing how electrical, mechanical, civil and chemical engineering, and computer science and automation turn ideas into solutions. Engineering is about creativity, problem-solving and making a difference, and College Quest gives high school students an early glimpse into that world.”

College Quest participants will hear from UTC faculty and students about academic programs, tour campus labs and explore resources designed for student success.

“In pre-health, students want to understand not just the ‘what,’ but the ‘why.’ They want to know, for example, what chemistry has to do with preparing for a career in pharmacy school,” Bruce said. “Through College Quest, we connect those dots. High school students can stand inside a UTC lab, meet the faculty who will teach them and see the relevance of what they’re learning. It’s a powerful way to show how UTC supports their journey into medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy or other health professions.”

Highlights of College Quest include chemistry and biology demonstrations, clinical presentations with medical assistants, hands-on physical therapy and occupational therapy activities, engineering lab tours, and experiences with robotics, automation and computer programming.

A student panel, featuring pre-health alums Shelby Alford and Lukas Wise and engineering students Bentley Adkins and Tooba Tanveer, will share how UTC prepared them for advanced study and their careers.

Adkins, a senior computer science major from Rossville, Georgia, is a research assistant with UTC’s Center for Urban Informatics and Progress.

“Collaborating with classmates in study rooms, working through difficult coursework together and building relationships with lab partners created a sense of community and mutual support,” Adkins said. “Those connections not only help you get through tough classes—they might even turn into valuable professional relationships later on.”

Alford, a first-year UTC physical therapy student from Clarksville, Tennessee, earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise and health sciences in May.

“Choosing UTC was a great decision because not only was I shown the world of physical therapy, but I was also provided with countless opportunities to expand my resume and gain more knowledge,” Alford said. “I was led to many shadowing opportunities, helpful resources, clubs/extracurricular involvements and a community of others on the same path.”

Tanveer is a senior double-majoring in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering and a member of the Innovations in Honors program in the UTC Honors College. Earlier this year, she presented her research on biomedical implants at Posters at the Capitol in Nashville—and is a co-author of the paper written on this topic for the upcoming International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition in Memphis.

“Through professional development programs like the CECS Mentorship Program and opportunities like building a high-powered rocket for NASA’s Student Launch Initiative, UTC gave me the space to pursue my aerospace dreams in ways I never imagined,” Tanveer said.

Wise, a third-year medical student at the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine-Chattanooga, graduated from UTC in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry: biochemistry.

“I loved every minute I spent at UTC, and I truly believe that I am where I am today because of the opportunities I was granted there,” Wise said. “The people, the place and the culture at UTC made for an experience that was more meaningful than I could have possibly imagined—and ultimately played a substantial role in getting me to my goal of becoming a medical student.”