Surrounded by students, faculty, staff, and alumni, Chancellor Beverly Davenport of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, led the official launch of the university’s $1.1 billion Join the Journey campaign.
A crowd gathered at Strong Hall on Friday, September 22, to celebrate the historic milestone.
Davenport, who was joined by campaign co-chairs and alumni John and Ann Tickle, announced that $814 million has been raised since the campaign began its silent phase in January 2012.
“Because of the generosity and commitment of so many Volunteers, we are here and at this very point in time in our university’s history,” she said. “We are now focused on what it is going to take to get us over the finish line. I am certain that we will not only meet our goal, we will exceed it.”
So far 82,000 individual and corporate donors have given to the Join the Journey campaign. More than half of all gifts have been $100 or less.
“We have been fortunate to be a part of and bear witness to the phenomenal growth going on around campus, from dorms to new class spaces and facilities,” said John Tickle. “Those additions help attract the best and brightest students and faculty to the university, but they are only made possible by the generosity of those who have given back.”
The campaign focuses on undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, faculty support, athletics, and strategic unit priorities centered on each of the colleges’ large initiatives.
“An effort of this magnitude will forever change the university,” said Davenport. “It provides us all a chance to reconnect and engage with our alumni and friends and raise our profile for the great work that happens here every day. And it also gives us a chance to shine the spotlight on our students who want to change the world.”
Davenport said private funds are critical to fulfilling UT’s mission as a land-grant public research university.
“Private support helps us keep the overall cost of earning a degree affordable. It provides us with the resources we need to help our students graduate on time and land good jobs,” she said.
1,625 orange mortarboard decals will be placed on the Student Union windows facing the pedestrian bridge to represent the undergraduate scholarships awarded last year from 613 new scholarships created because of private giving since 2012.
132 folding chairs on the Ayres Hall South Lawn represent the faculty awards, professorships, and named chairs that have been established since 2012.
These 236 hanging lights on the second floor of Hodges Library represent new graduate fellowships and scholarships established since 2012.
This set of tumbling tower blocks at Torchbearer Plaza, and other sets at the Pedestrian Walkway, the Fred Brown Residence Hall Plaza, and at the College of Law, represent college and unit-based priorities.
More than 500 pieces of sports equipment placed at Neyland Stadium’s Gate 21 Plaza represent comprehensive athletic excellence and UT’s 558 student-athletes, one of the campaign’s key priorities.
The entrance to Strong Hall is adorned with balloons to mark the Join the Journey campaign launch on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
Students take selfies with Chancellor Beverly Davenport at the Join the Journey campaign launch at Strong Hall on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
Posing with Smokey was a highlight of the Join the Journey launch at Strong Hall on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
Student Cody Sain speaks to attendees at the Join the Journey campaign launch at Strong Hall on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
Chancellor Beverly Davenport speaks to attendees of the community launch of the Join the Journey campaign at Strong Hall on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
John D. Tickle speaks to attendees of the Join the Journey campaign launch at Strong Hall on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
John Tickle talks with a student as Chancellor Beverly Davenport looks on during the Join the Journey launch at Strong Hall on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
Al Hazari, professor of chemistry, conducts experiments at the Join the Journey kick-off event on September 22, 2017, at the Knoxville Convention Center. Photo by Steven Bridges
Adam Brown Social Media Command Center exhibit at the Join the Journey kick-off at the Knoxville Convention Center on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
The Pride of the Southland Band marches through the Join the Journey kick-off event at the Knoxville Convention Center on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
The Pride of the Southland Band fills the room with the sounds of Rocky Top at the Join the Journey kick-off event at the Knoxville Convention Center on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
The College of Nursing’s interactive display at the Join the Journey kick-off event at the Knoxville Convention Center on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
UT Athletics’s interactive display featured Bob Kesling, voice of the Vols, at the Join the Journey kick-off event at the Knoxville Convention Center on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
David Dupper pets a therapy dog who was as part of the College of Social Work’s interactive display at the Join the Journey kick-off event at the Knoxville Convention Center.
College of Law display at the Join the Journey kick-off event at the Knoxville Convention Center on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
Alumnus John D. Tickle speaks to attendees of the Join the Journey kick-off event at the Knoxville Convention Center on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
Humanities Center display at the Join the Journey kick-off event at the Knoxville Convention Center on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
Tickle College of Engineering display at the Join the Journey kick-off event at the Knoxville Convention Center on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
Cruze Farm, a business launched by Colleen Cruze Bhatti (’11), displayed for the Haslam College of Business.
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam speaks to attendees of the Join the Journey kick-off event at the Knoxville Convention Center on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
Alumnus Peyton Manning speaks to event attendees during the Join the Journey kick-off event at the Knoxville Convention Center on September 22, 2017. Photo by Steven Bridges
Chancellor Beverly Davenport addresses the crowd at the Knoxville Convention Center on Friday evening. Photo by Steven Bridges http://stevenbridges.com
Fireworks explode over the Sunsphere to end the Join the Journey launch event.
Since the silent phase began, UT Knoxville has grown its endowment from $442 million to $642 million.
“When you think how the university was 218 years old in 2012 and had $440 million in its endowment, raising it to $642 million through this effort demonstrates how much Volunteers care about their university and its future,” said Chip Bryant, vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs for UT Knoxville.
Other campaign achievements reached to date include:
Designating the university’s first two named colleges—the Haslam College of Business and the Tickle College of Engineering—through landmark transformational gifts
Completing three of the four most successful fundraising years in the university’s history
Increasing the average annual number of donors by 10,000
Awarding 1,625 new undergraduate scholarships
Awarding 236 new graduate fellowships
Providing 132 new faculty awards to recruit and retain top scholars
Davenport said the campaign provides vital private resources and noted that the effort extends beyond fundraising.
“This journey is an exciting adventure for all Volunteers. It creates a momentum that unites us all,” she told event attendees.
The celebration continued at a private event at the Knoxville Convention Center. The event featured interactive experiences featuring faculty and student projects and remarks from alumnus and honorary chair Peyton Manning.
