{"id":77078,"date":"2026-05-12T10:54:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T14:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/?p=77078"},"modified":"2026-05-29T17:37:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T21:37:10","slug":"university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/","title":{"rendered":"University High graduation highlights creativity, independence and student talent"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A

University High launched in fall 2023 and is aimed at Hamilton County students who can earn college credit hours. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Fine Arts Center\u2019s Roland Hayes Concert Hall was filled with proud parents, excited students and a genre-spanning soundtrack on Friday, May 8, as the second-ever University High graduating class prepared to receive diplomas.<\/p>\n

UTC Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jerold L. Hale explained the origin of University High. It was created to encourage students to attend college, to demonstrate student success in college-level coursework through dual enrollment, and to provide an affordable option while working toward a degree.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese graduates were fully embedded on our campus,\u201d he told the audience. \u201cAs far as most people knew, you were just like every other UTC student as you were completing your high school studies and taking some college classes.\u201d<\/p>\n

With those goals in mind, University High offers students greater freedom to explore their interests and discover what they are most passionate about.<\/p>\n

That freedom was on display when four graduates\u2014electric guitarist Andrey Ramirez, bass guitarist Landon Thomas, acoustic guitarist Jackson Allen and drummer Gavin Chamberlin\u2014performed at the ceremony as members of the University High Music Club.<\/p>\n

Ramirez, Thomas and Allen founded the club after the trio approached science teacher Juney Shober\u2014who played electric guitar at the ceremony\u2014to propose starting it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always wanted to start a club here,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cI didn\u2019t know what I wanted to start, and I was like, \u2018Oh shoot.\u2019 We could always start a music club. We could perform because I always thought it\u2019d be really fun in past lessons. I didn\u2019t really have an opportunity to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

The club also performed at the 2025 University High graduation at the last-minute request of a teacher.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a week before graduation, and another teacher was like, \u2018Hey, why don\u2019t you all play \u201cPomp and Circumstance\u201d?\u2019\u201d Shober recalled. \u201cThey\u2019re like, \u2018We\u2019ll probably need some other stuff.\u2019 And credit to these guys because we\u2019ve put in a lot of work together. They\u2019ve put in even more work on their own outside of the times that I\u2019ve been present. They were saying they\u2019re more confident this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Five

The University High Music Club practices before the graduation ceremony begins.<\/p><\/div>\n

This year\u2019s setlist included the 2000 alternative rock song \u201cTeenage Dirtbag\u201d by Wheatus, and Bill Withers and George Washington Jr.\u2019s classic \u201cJust the Two of Us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shober said the songs came from the students, even though they were already among his personal favorites. The freedom to choose songs was again a way to highlight the autonomy University High offers its students.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe allow kids to be themselves, give them empowerment and independence to be on a campus,\u201d said University High Principal Arielle Hayes. \u201cWe really trusted them in this process. We handpicked each student, and by the first semester of their junior year, they had already transformed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rest of it was just an enhancement. They have been enhancing themselves and refining themselves as individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Club members praised the independence they were granted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI probably wouldn\u2019t get the chance to play a graduation at a regular high school, be able to start a club or get the space to practice,\u201d Thomas said.<\/p>\n

Jackson emphasized that a college schedule offers an opportunity to explore one\u2019s passions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s given me freedom to get to know those around me,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely nice having a college schedule with more space in between classes. We\u2019ve been able to practice pretty much every day, and we wouldn\u2019t be able to get that at a normal high school.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ramirez appreciated the club\u2019s community and willingness to add new students.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt changed my life completely because I have done things that I don\u2019t think I could have done if I stayed in the old public school,\u201d Ramirez said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a change of environment that I\u2019m really happy with. I\u2019ve met amazing people and am really proud of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hayes ended the graduation ceremony by telling the graduating class how much she loves them and how much she looks forward to seeing their success in the next phase of their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so proud of them,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re the second graduating class of this program. We had no idea what it was going to be, how it was going to operate or what was going to happen, but with UTC support and partnership, it\u2019s been absolutely amazing. I know they\u2019re going to go to college and excel because of the experience they\u2019ve had here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

University High<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Visit UTC<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Photo Gallery by Angela Foster<\/h4>\n
\"A <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Jerold <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Members <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Jerold <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"University <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Fine Arts Center\u2019s Roland Hayes Concert Hall was filled with proud parents, excited students and a genre-spanning soundtrack on Friday, May 8, as the second-ever University High graduating class prepared to receive diplomas.<\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2058,"featured_media":77098,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_slider":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_featurette":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[64,70,123864,15,3,12659,7712,661,123143],"tags":[127106,122936,127105,123827,123826,127108,127112,127070,127069,127109,127111,123059,127110,123828,124776,123829,127107],"class_list":{"0":"post-77078","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-academics","8":"category-advancement-and-alumni","9":"category-campus","10":"category-community","11":"category-events-entertainment","12":"category-faculty-and-staff","13":"category-news","14":"category-students","15":"category-university-high","16":"tag-andrey-ramirez","17":"tag-arielle-hayes","18":"tag-bill-withers","19":"tag-creating-the-mocs-experience","20":"tag-cultivating-a-culture-of-innovation","21":"tag-gavin-chamberlin","22":"tag-george-washington-jr","23":"tag-goal-1-1-expand-utcs-educational-footprint-strategic-plan-2030","24":"tag-goal-1-2-enhance-learner-success-strategic-plan-2030","25":"tag-jackson-allen","26":"tag-jerold-l-hale","27":"tag-juney-shober","28":"tag-landon-thomas","29":"tag-leveraging-our-special-place-as-chattanoogas-university","30":"tag-mocs-learn-mocs-do-mocs-lead","31":"tag-operating-with-excellence","32":"tag-wheatus","33":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nUniversity High graduation highlights creativity, independence and student talent | UTC News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Fine Arts Center\u2019s Roland Hayes Concert Hall was filled with proud parents, excited students and a genre-spanning soundtrack on Friday, May 8, as the second-ever University High graduating class prepared to receive diplomas.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"University High graduation highlights creativity, independence and student talent | UTC News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Fine Arts Center\u2019s Roland Hayes Concert Hall was filled with proud parents, excited students and a genre-spanning soundtrack on Friday, May 8, as the second-ever University High graduating class prepared to receive diplomas.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UTC News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UTChattanooga\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-12T14:54:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-29T21:37:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/UNIHFEAT.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Carter Graham\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@UTChattanooga\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@UTChattanooga\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Carter Graham\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Carter Graham\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/1b0f2dbb1c380cadad48feb10729eebb\"},\"headline\":\"University High graduation highlights creativity, independence and student talent\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-12T14:54:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-29T21:37:10+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":829,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/app\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/9\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/UNIHFEAT.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"Andrey Ramirez\",\"Arielle Hayes\",\"Bill Withers\",\"Creating the Mocs Experience\",\"Cultivating a Culture of Innovation\",\"Gavin Chamberlin\",\"George Washington Jr.\",\"Goal 1.1 - Expand UTC\u2019s Educational Footprint - Strategic Plan 2030\",\"Goal 1.2 - Enhance Learner Success - Strategic Plan 2030\",\"Jackson Allen\",\"Jerold L. Hale\",\"Juney Shober\",\"Landon Thomas\",\"Leveraging Our Special Place as Chattanooga\u2019s University\",\"Mocs Learn Mocs Do Mocs Lead\",\"Operating with Excellence\",\"Wheatus\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Academics\",\"Advancement and Alumni\",\"Campus\",\"Community\",\"Events and Entertainment\",\"Faculty and Staff\",\"News\",\"Students\",\"University High\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\\\/\",\"name\":\"University High graduation highlights creativity, independence and student talent | UTC News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/app\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/9\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/UNIHFEAT.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-12T14:54:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-29T21:37:10+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/1b0f2dbb1c380cadad48feb10729eebb\"},\"description\":\"The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Fine Arts Center\u2019s Roland Hayes Concert Hall was filled with proud parents, excited students and a genre-spanning soundtrack on Friday, May 8, as the second-ever University High graduating class prepared to receive diplomas.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/app\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/9\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/UNIHFEAT.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/app\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/9\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/UNIHFEAT.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1\",\"width\":600,\"height\":400,\"caption\":\"Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"University High graduation highlights creativity, independence and student talent\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/\",\"name\":\"UTC News\",\"description\":\"Official news releases of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/1b0f2dbb1c380cadad48feb10729eebb\",\"name\":\"Carter Graham\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/a3d61df1fee2e9ca6aa937a72b1155dd60503f86eb0efe8ecb7f8e0f1f718ce8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/a3d61df1fee2e9ca6aa937a72b1155dd60503f86eb0efe8ecb7f8e0f1f718ce8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/a3d61df1fee2e9ca6aa937a72b1155dd60503f86eb0efe8ecb7f8e0f1f718ce8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Carter Graham\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/author\\\/dfl237\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"University High graduation highlights creativity, independence and student talent | UTC News","description":"The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Fine Arts Center\u2019s Roland Hayes Concert Hall was filled with proud parents, excited students and a genre-spanning soundtrack on Friday, May 8, as the second-ever University High graduating class prepared to receive diplomas.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"University High graduation highlights creativity, independence and student talent | UTC News","og_description":"The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Fine Arts Center\u2019s Roland Hayes Concert Hall was filled with proud parents, excited students and a genre-spanning soundtrack on Friday, May 8, as the second-ever University High graduating class prepared to receive diplomas.","og_url":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/","og_site_name":"UTC News","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UTChattanooga","article_published_time":"2026-05-12T14:54:40+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-05-29T21:37:10+00:00","og_image":[{"width":600,"height":400,"url":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/UNIHFEAT.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Carter Graham","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@UTChattanooga","twitter_site":"@UTChattanooga","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Carter Graham","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/"},"author":{"name":"Carter Graham","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/1b0f2dbb1c380cadad48feb10729eebb"},"headline":"University High graduation highlights creativity, independence and student talent","datePublished":"2026-05-12T14:54:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-29T21:37:10+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/"},"wordCount":829,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/UNIHFEAT.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1","keywords":["Andrey Ramirez","Arielle Hayes","Bill Withers","Creating the Mocs Experience","Cultivating a Culture of Innovation","Gavin Chamberlin","George Washington Jr.","Goal 1.1 - Expand UTC\u2019s Educational Footprint - Strategic Plan 2030","Goal 1.2 - Enhance Learner Success - Strategic Plan 2030","Jackson Allen","Jerold L. Hale","Juney Shober","Landon Thomas","Leveraging Our Special Place as Chattanooga\u2019s University","Mocs Learn Mocs Do Mocs Lead","Operating with Excellence","Wheatus"],"articleSection":["Academics","Advancement and Alumni","Campus","Community","Events and Entertainment","Faculty and Staff","News","Students","University High"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/","url":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/","name":"University High graduation highlights creativity, independence and student talent | UTC News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/UNIHFEAT.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1","datePublished":"2026-05-12T14:54:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-29T21:37:10+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/1b0f2dbb1c380cadad48feb10729eebb"},"description":"The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Fine Arts Center\u2019s Roland Hayes Concert Hall was filled with proud parents, excited students and a genre-spanning soundtrack on Friday, May 8, as the second-ever University High graduating class prepared to receive diplomas.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/UNIHFEAT.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/UNIHFEAT.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1","width":600,"height":400,"caption":"Students, family and friends attend the University High graduation on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Fine Arts Center."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/university-high-graduation-highlights-creativity-independence-and-student-talent\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"University High graduation highlights creativity, independence and student talent"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/","name":"UTC News","description":"Official news releases of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/1b0f2dbb1c380cadad48feb10729eebb","name":"Carter Graham","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a3d61df1fee2e9ca6aa937a72b1155dd60503f86eb0efe8ecb7f8e0f1f718ce8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a3d61df1fee2e9ca6aa937a72b1155dd60503f86eb0efe8ecb7f8e0f1f718ce8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a3d61df1fee2e9ca6aa937a72b1155dd60503f86eb0efe8ecb7f8e0f1f718ce8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Carter Graham"},"url":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/author\/dfl237\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/UNIHFEAT.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/UNIHFEAT.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"Carter Graham","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/author\/dfl237\/"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/UNIHFEAT.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2058"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77078"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77078\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77442,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77078\/revisions\/77442"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77098"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}