With the May 1 college admission deadline looming, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions is preparing to hold its second Declaration Day live broadcast.
The one-hour show, which can be viewed online or on Facebook, will celebrate a record number of applications received, highlight some of the students who will be part of UT’s Class of 2022, entice last-minute confirmations, showcase the UT campus, and generate interest among high school students beginning to consider their college choice.
In addition, a special announcement is planned about an upcoming event that will spotlight the Volunteer spirit by harnessing the energy of current and prospective students as well as alumni nationwide.
The admissions office is once again teaming up with VFL films, the UT Athletics broadcasting group, for the event, which is meant to celebrate college confirmation in the style of National Football Signing Day. The live broadcast, from 6 to 7 p.m. EDT, will be hosted by Tennessee Titans announcer Mike Keith with help from Justin Crawford, a senior in journalism and electronic media, who was recently honored with the university’s highest student accolade, a Torchbearer award.
Students who will be enrolling at UT in the fall are encouraged to use the hashtags #newvols and #utk22. Students can also share the graphics found on the Declaration Day page.
“Declaration Day is a fun celebration of all of the things that make UT great—from academics to extracurricular activities to service opportunities. Incoming students who watch will see how exciting it is to be part of the Volunteer family, and prospective students see what all this campus has to offer,” said Fabrizio D’Aloisio, assistant vice provost for enrollment management and director of undergraduate admissions. “The campus community and alumni will also enjoy the stories of our outstanding students, faculty, and staff, our beloved traditions, and that Volunteer spirit that sets us apart from others.”
UT has received a record number of applications for the 2017–18 academic year, with confirmed students representing all of Tennessee’s 95 counties and at least 43 states. That comes on the heels of record enrollment, with a total of 28,231 students in fall 2017 making up UT’s largest student body on record.
The Declaration Day broadcast—which was viewed by thousands last year—also will feature live and recorded interviews with current UT students, admissions staff, faculty, and alumni.
Among the stories to be featured during the broadcast:
- Chancellor Beverly Davenport presenting a Chancellor’s Scholarship to a local high school senior
- The story of Chicago twins Callie and Caroline Canfield, who will be coming to UT in the fall—following in the footsteps of their older brother, Kevin Canfield, who is graduating in May
- The story of Katie Cyphers, a 2007 alumna of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, who will explain how UT prepared her to start her own business helping parents assess their child’s learning to foster success in the classroom
- A look at John C. Hodges Library and other campus venues
- An examination of the academic experience and how it can be enriched through undergraduate research opportunities and other forms of hands-on study available through UT’s Experience Learning initiative
- Advice from a current student about overcoming the first-year challenges
- Interviews with students at various locations around Knoxville, including Mead’s Quarry and downtown, to highlight some of the recreational and cultural venues that are easily accessible from campus
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CONTACT:
Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, ablakely@utk.edu)