More eyes than ever before are on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Take a look back at some of the most memorable moments and photos from 2024. There’s never been a better time to be a Volunteer.
January
On New Year’s Day, the Vols triumphed over the University of Iowa with a decisive 35-0 victory at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. More than 2,700 undergraduate students and 200 graduate students took classes during this year’s winter mini-term.
February
Nine students from the Big Orange Combine had an opportunity to go behind the scenes at Super Bowl LVIII in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, seeing firsthand the collaboration of professionals in business, sports and marketing. Five faculty entrepreneurs had their innovative projects selected for the inaugural Chancellor’s Innovation Fund, a program to strengthen East Tennessee’s entrepreneurship pipeline and provide a pathway for faculty to commercialize their technology. Throughout the month, the campus community celebrated Black History Month with a variety of events, exhibits and activities.
March
Leaders marked a significant milestone with the groundbreaking for two new residential communities that are expected to open in fall 2025. Men’s basketball defeated South Carolina, 66-59, to win the Southeastern Conference championship. J. Wesley Hines, Postelle Professor, Chancellor’s Professor and head of the Department of Nuclear Engineering, was honored as the 2024 Macebearer, the university’s highest faculty accolade. Renee Thomas of the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development received the prestigious Volunteer Spirit award, the highest honor bestowed upon a staff member.
April
Seven outstanding seniors were named Torchbearers, the highest recognition for the university’s top-achieving undergraduate students. A FIFA delegation visited as part of the FIFA Pitch Management Research Field Day event. The delegation inspected the state-of-the-art turf research and development facility and met the teams from UT and Michigan State University collaborating to perfect natural grass pitches for FIFA World Cup 2026. The university celebrated the naming of the Denbo Center for Humanities and the Arts in honor of alumnus and former Vol football star Don Denbo, who is committed to advancing education in the humanities. University leaders and campus partners celebrated the dedication of the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Chancellor Donde Plowman joined Arizona State University President Michael Crow to discuss a groundbreaking digital learning partnership between the two institutions, aimed at expanding access to higher education.
May
Annual honors banquets recognized the exceptional research, teaching and contributions of faculty, staff and students to campus life. The Class of 2024 gathered for Torch Night: A Farewell to Thee, one of UT’s oldest traditions. Seven faculty members were elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Twelve students and recent graduates were offered Fulbright scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year. Eleven commencement ceremonies were held May 16-18, welcoming more than 5,300 graduates into UT’s alumni family. The class included approximately 811 first-generation college students, 276 honors students and 119 international students. Thirteen Air Force ROTC cadets and 28 Army ROTC cadets were commissioned.
June
The baseball team made history in Omaha, Nebraska, winning the program’s first national title with a victory over No. 3 Texas A&M at the Men’s College World Series. UT achieved the distinction of being one of only two schools ever to earn three consecutive SEC All-Sports titles from USA Today Network. Select students from the College of Communication and Information traveled to Paris to cover the Paralympics for USA Today Network. UT announced that the College of Music would be renamed the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music.
July
UT was named the lead institution for a $25 million cooperative agreement awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy to support research essential to nuclear security and nonproliferation missions. More than 69,000 donors contributed a record-breaking $332 million in support of the university during the 2023-24 fiscal year. UT and the City of Knoxville announced a partnership to provide enhanced parking and transportation options for UT students, faculty and staff. Thirty-one current, former and future Vols and Lady Vols represented 18 countries in the Summer Olympic Games, placing UT sixth nationally among NCAA programs and second overall in the SEC.
August
UT Athletics and Pilot announced a transformative partnership to preserve the iconic name of Neyland Stadium while enhancing the stadium experience for future generations. In the fall, the university welcomed more than 37,000 students, including more than 6,700 first-year students and the largest in-state first-year population in its history. The Army ROTC program celebrated a record enrollment of 270 cadets and anticipates commissioning over 50 lieutenants, one of the largest groups in its history. Peyton Manning honored the newest recipients of the Peyton Manning Scholarship. University leaders and community partners celebrated the ceremonial groundbreaking for a new building supporting the Haslam College of Business, and the new Agriculture and Natural Resources Building was dedicated with state-of-the-art facilities for the Herbert College of Agriculture and the College of Veterinary Medicine. The College of Communication and Information announced the establishment of the Alan and Wendy Wilson Communication and Leadership Academy. The university premiered a new halftime spot to highlight its world-class academics and championship athletics.
September
To better support its growing veteran student population, UT launched enhanced veteran support initiatives. The university announced that 14 additional high schools would join its Flagship Scholarship program. Two senior nursing students served as volunteer escorts for more than 140 military veterans on HonorAir Knoxville’s Flight 35 to Washington D.C. During her annual Flagship Address, Plowman committed to leading the university for an additional five years.
October
The Vol community came together to support those affected by Hurricane Helene, which struck the region at the end of September. Among the many volunteer, collection and fundraising efforts were Tennessee Athletics’ Mountain Strong campaign and the College of Veterinary Medicine’s disaster veterinary services clinic, which led animal-related supply requests. UT announced a partnership between the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to enhance UT’s curricular offerings in nuclear policy and national security while supporting ORNL’s technical staff capabilities. Leaders dedicated the Innovation South Facility in UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm, featuring 40,000-square-foot space for collaborators to conceptualize, prototype and test sustainable composite materials for advanced manufacturing. UT hosted the Student Success US conference, attracting more than 500 attendees from 200 colleges and universities to explore strategies for helping students succeed in college and beyond.
November
Homecoming united past, present and future Vols in celebration. This year’s theme was Neyland Night Lights with Todd Helton as the parade grand marshal. UT and Lockheed Martin signed a new five-year master research agreement. The campus community honored Veterans Day with a series of events recognizing those who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. armed forces. The university’s annual day of giving, Big Orange Give, exceeded its $1.5 million goal, with more than 9,800 alumni and donors contributing to an impressive total of $2.5 million for the day.
December
High school seniors were surprised with early admission and Flagship scholarships. More than 2,100 graduates were welcomed into the UT alumni family during fall commencement Dec. 13. The university awarded approximately 1,412 undergraduate degrees and 709 graduate degrees and certificates. Eight cadets from Army ROTC and three from Air Force ROTC were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. armed forces.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Cindi King (865-974-0937, cking126@utk.edu)