College Quest introduces future students to UTC’s health, engineering and technology programs

A group of students listens as an instructor gives a demonstration in a workshop filled with equipment and stacked tires.

College Quest students listen to Dr. Trevor Elliott during a demonstration in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Photo by Angela Foster.

On Friday, Nov. 14, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga held an event for incoming college students interested in health care, engineering, computer science and technology known as College Quest.

This event kicked off at noon in the Wolford Family Athletic Center, where the high school students and their families were greeted by UTC faculty and staff.

UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce greeted the students and families when the presentation began, explaining what it means to be a Moc. When describing how the University functioned as a community, Bruce said, “We are big enough to matter, but small enough to care.”

Other speakers included College of Arts and Sciences Dean Pam Riggs-Gelasco; College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean Kumar Yelamarthi; and Assistant Director of Pre-Health Student Services Theresa Blackman.

“College Quest is a specialized campus tour directed at students who are interested in professional health care, medical school, dental school, PA school, and engineering and computer science,” Blackman said. “It’s a co-sponsored event between the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

“College Quest provides students and their families an opportunity to see the campus, but also has a specialized focus on those particular areas.”

As the presentation portion of the event came to a close, a student panel—hosted by Interdisciplinary Pre-Professional Advisor Jamie Newberg—provided pre-health alumni Shelby Alford and Lukas Wise, as well as CECS students Bentley Adkins and Tooba Tanveer, with the opportunity to share how UTC had prepared them for advanced study and their careers.

Adkins is a senior computer science major; Alford is a first-year physical therapy student, having earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise and health sciences; Tanveer is a senior double-majoring in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering; and Wise is now a third-year medical student at the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine in Chattanooga. He graduated from UTC in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry: biochemistry.

A professor speaks to a group of high school students seated at lab tables during a science demonstration in a UTC laboratory.

Biology Professor Jose Barbosa meets with College Quest students interested in pursuing careers in professional health care.

Following this segment and a campus tour, the high school students were given the opportunity to explore the UTC community and participate in experiments and activities led by UTC professors. During this time, parents stayed at the Wolford Family Athletic Center to learn more about subjects such as scholarships, financial aid, tutoring, housing and career connections for their children.

Prospective engineering students went to the Engineering and Computer Science building to meet with instructors.

CECS recruiter and outreach specialist Chris Moreland said, “We want to be able to provide a more detailed experience of what it’s like to be a College of Engineering and Computer Science student at UTC.

“Today, we’re doing lab rotations. Students will be in a classroom setting with a real professor at UTC and get a micro lesson and hands-on experience.”

Department of Civil Engineering Labs Director Christopher Frishcosy created an activity for students to participate in called “playing with plasticity.”

“This activity is a subset within civil engineering called geotechnical engineering, which involves all the foundation designs, any kind of retaining walls or any slope stabilization projects,” Frishcosy explained.

UC Foundation Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Trevor Elliott presented to students the UTC Racing Mocs Baja Society of Automotive Engineers competition vehicle and an activity for students to participate in.

“The current team lead, Noah McAlister, assisted the tour with design details about the current vehicle design,” Elliott said. “Similarly, the UTC Rocket Mocs activities were presented from the NASA University Student Launch Initiative competition to World Record activities.

“Finally, the UTC Flying Mocs American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Design/Build/Fly Competition was presented and the participants then built their own paper airplane for a mini competition.”

At the same time as the CECS events, students interested in pre-health were participating in activities at Holt Hall.

“This is a great opportunity for high school students who are interested in the pre-health portion of college, said Dr. Gretchen Potts, head of the Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science. “They get to interact with students and faculty who are in pre-health majors and see what it might be like to be here.”

Potts helped to explain how professors and faculty were getting these students involved.

“Students get to ask them questions so they hear about the department,” she explained. “We give them a handout and hopefully get them excited about coming here in the future. We want them to show them that our programs are going to help them be successful in the goals that they have.”

As events came to a close, students touring UTC rejoined their parents and were sent off after a successful day of activities.