Photos from Monday’s Homecoming Pep Rally Kickoff including the Heritage Plaza dedication and Founder’s Day celebration. For a complete list of Homecoming events, please visit www.utc.edu/homecoming.

The UTC Alumni Office has created several ways for alumni to stay connected to their alma mater (and to each other) through online communication.  With the rising interest in social networking, especially by those who have graduated in the last ten years, the University has joined in on the new way to stay connected.

The most popular site for today’s students and recent alums is the social site Facebook. UTC has created a UTC Alumni page, which allows the office to send updates to those who join the page as “fans.” In addition, we have also created a profile on MySpace and on the professional networking site LinkedIn.  Keep in mind though that if you wish to view some of the social network sites, you will need to create a profile or register for site membership.

But the most recent addition to the online services is the new social networking interface on the UTAA Online Community. Not only can you update your alumni information, add a class note and search for old college friends, now you can socialize with your old class mates and register for UTC Alumni and UTAA events online. One of the most useful tools on the community is a tool that allows alumni to create approved online affinity groups (i.e. SGA students of the 1990s or UTC Business School alumni). This will allow alumni to stay connected but also allow them to interact within their areas of interest.

In addition to the social networking sites, UTC has also created several blogs (Moc Blog, GOLD Alumni Blog, The FAMily News) that help to share important information on UTC news, events and happenings. Make sure to subscribe to the blog posts and stay up-to-date on current UTC news.

The 2008 Trisha Obear Memorial Tennis Tournament, sponsored by the UTC Alumni Board of Directors, will take place on May 30, 2008 at the UTC Tennis Courts and Manker Patten Tennis Center. The tournament is named after Trisha Obear, former wife and first lady of UTC Chancellor Emeritus Fred Obear, who always played in the UTC Alumni tennis tournament. Partial proceeds from the tournament will go to the Jimmy Jackson Memorial Scholarship Endowment, which is awarded each year to junior and senior students who demonstrate outstanding campus and community service.

Any person may register to play in the tournament, which includes a doubles, round robin mixed format in both a mens and womens division. The registration fee for the tournament is $25 and is due with the registration form no later than Monday, May 26.

For more information, please click here.

Each year the Alumni Board comes together to celebrate and recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the recipients of the two highest honors bestowed on a UTC alumnus at the annual Legends and Leaders dinner. The two honors are that of Outstanding Service Award and the Distinguished Alumnus Award. These awards are to recognize those who have made significant contributions to the community and society and whose accomplishments and career activities have reflected glory on UTC.  This year’s Legends and Leaders Banquet will take place on Friday, May 2, 2008 at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club.

 HAROLD McALISTER (UTC ‘71) - DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Dr. Harold A. McAlister has been named the 2008 UTC Distinguished Alumnus. After completing his bechelorís degree at UTC, McAlister attended the University of Virginia and received the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in astronomy. He joined the faculty of Georgia
State University in 1977, where he founded the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA). CHARA built the world’s most powerful optical interferometric telescope array.

McAlister has written numerous research publications and has served on review, advisory, and oversight panels for the NSF and NASA. He teaches and directs CHARA and serves as Director of the Mount Wilson Institute, a nonprofit organization which manages the Mt. Wilson Observatory.

FRED & RUTH OBEAR - OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

Chancellor Emeritus Fred Obear and Ruth Obear will be presented with the Outstanding Service Award, an honor given to recognize enthusiastic and committed service to the university. Dr. Obear is currently Chancellor Emeritus of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, following 16 years as chancellor of our campus. As UTC’s chancellor, he led the University in its development as a metropolitan campus, emphasizing its important role as a true partner with the community while taking full advantage of its unique blend of both public and private traditions.

At UTC, First Lady Ruth Obear organized support for the Lady Mocs basketball team with pre-game suppers and was an event organizer in support of UTC’s mission. The Obears demonstrate their love for the campus through their total dedication to UTC. They are actively involved with all athletics teams, academic programs, fine arts presentations, and alumni events and are UTC’s greatest fans, proudly wearing their blue and gold.

The Arts and Education Council presents the Chattanooga Festival of Writers Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29. This event, sponsored in part by UTC, is held during the off-years of the AEC Conference on Southern Literature.The Chattanooga Festival of Writers explores the craft of writing through specialized workshops and discussions.

The Alpha Delta Pi Chattanooga Alumni Association has recently submitted a new Charter form to the Alpha Delta Pi National Headquarters and is currently seeking local alumni to get involved. If you or someone you know is an Alpha Delta Pi Alum from any chapter, please let them know about this exciting time for Alpha Delta Pi alumni in the greater Chattanooga area!The Chattanooga Alpha Delta Pi Alumni Association is holding a meeting on February 16, 2008 at 2:00pm at Eastgate Town Center at Tennessee Community Counseling Services, Inc. on Brainerd Road. All alumni and active ADPi members are welcome to attend this meeting. The group will be focused on social and philanthropic endeavors, as well as providing support to Beta Beta Chapter at UTC.

Grab your UTC friends and head over to the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX for U2-3D!

DATE: Friday, February 29, 2008
Time: 9:00 p.m. show
Special Discount Admission: $8.95 + 10% off of concessions
Must show UTC ID or UTC alumni card at admission of the show

This Button to Order Tickets

You have the best seat in the house—and, even better, you are right there with Bono, The Edge, Larry, Adam and all of your UTC friends as you experience the music of U2.

U23D is a groundbreaking film that brings the world’s most popular band to theaters in a totally new and engaging way. The first ever live-action 3D concert film, it immerses the audience in an all-enveloping and thrilling cinematic experience. Advanced 3D imagery and cutting-edge surround sound technology are coupled for the first time, to bring a concert to life.

For more information, contact the UTC Alumni Office at 423/425-4785.

Help us decorate the Student Alumni Council Christmas tree at the UTC University Center.  Each winter the Student Alumni Council works with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services to collect gifts to donate to the children in their program.

To Participate…It’s Easy!

• STEP 1: Visit the UTC Alumni Office or the SAC table at the University Center and pick a name off the SAC Christmas Tree

• STEP 2: Decorate an ornament for each child you sponsor and place it on the SAC Angel Tree at the U.C.

• STEP 3: Donate and decorate a gift that meets the child’s need or interest

• STEP 4: Drop the gift and DONATION FORM off at the Patten Alumni House **

   *You will receive a donation form when you pick up a child’s name.
  ** DEADLINE FOR GIFTS IS DECEMBER 3rd! - Make sure the child’s code # is visible on the OUTSIDE of the gift.

For more information please visit www.utc.edu/sac/angeltree.htm.

Help make a child’s Christmas wish come true!