The Scholars in Residence ceremony recognized first-year and graduating residential students who made the Dean’s List. Photo by Angela Foster.
More than half of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s residential students made the fall 2025 Dean’s List—2,026 students in total, representing 55% of those living on campus.
The achievements were celebrated Monday, Feb. 16, during the 36th annual Scholars in Residence ceremony, a tradition started by a resident assistant to recognize academic achievement in the residence halls. The event honors first-year and graduating residential students and allows them to bring guests for a ceremony and reception.
Chancellor Lori Bruce addressed the crowd, challenging a common assumption about living on campus.
“The myth is that you get on campus and you get busy, get distracted and it will bring your grades down. The research shows that the opposite is true,” Bruce said. “The more engaged you are on campus, the higher you’re more likely to have a higher GPA.”
She added that students who lean into campus life both academically and socially often see the payoff in the classroom.
“I want to say thank you to the students for making smart choices, prioritizing your time, managing your time, putting academics first and making sure that you’re putting yourself on the road to success,” she said.
Erical Beasley, interim assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, said academic recognition proves daily discipline.
“Tonight is about you, your focus, your persistence, and the choices you’ve made day after day to succeed,” she said. “Academic achievement takes commitment, time and sacrifice.”
Senior chemistry major and student in the UTC Honors College Neel Patel spoke at the Scholars in Residence event in the University Center auditorium.
Dr. Jason Harville, assistant director of academic initiatives in Housing and Residence Life, introduced senior chemistry major Neel Patel as the student speaker.
Patel shared his own experience navigating college life. When he first arrived at UTC, he said he thought success meant doing well in his classes and earning his degree.
“What I didn’t realize at the time was that UTC had much more in store for me than just a major in diploma,” said Patel, a member of the UTC Honors College’s Innovations in Honors program.
He described how getting involved early shaped his college experience.
“Success here wasn’t only about what happened in the classroom; it was also about saying yes to opportunities,” he said.
Patel acknowledged that juggling labs, classes and meetings was not always easy, but he found it important to make the most of it.
“I made academics and engagement a priority from the very beginning,” he said. “Because of that, I didn’t see them as competing parts in my life. Those pieces strengthened each other.”
He also emphasized the importance of asking for help.
“I could not do this alone,” Patel said. “I reached out to professors, advisors, mentors and most importantly, friends.”
Stacie Grisham, assistant vice chancellor of student success, addressed both first-year students and seniors, giving perspective from her own experience as a first-generation college student.
To freshmen, she stressed the importance of everyday decisions.
“Your decisions matter,” Grisham said. “Even the little ones.”
She also spoke about setbacks.
“Failure is a part of feedback and learning,” she said. “It is not your identity.”
To graduating seniors preparing for what comes next, she told them: “There is no single right pathway forward for this moment. Careers are typically not linear, pivots are simply just a normal part of the process.”
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Photo gallery by Angela Foster
