{"id":45324,"date":"2022-09-09T08:40:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-09T12:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=45324"},"modified":"2022-09-18T23:32:42","modified_gmt":"2022-09-19T03:32:42","slug":"under-the-c-founders-week-homecoming-week-bring-utc-students-and-alumni-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2022\/09\/under-the-c-founders-week-homecoming-week-bring-utc-students-and-alumni-together\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Under the C:\u2019 Founder\u2019s Week, Homecoming Week bring UTC students and alumni together"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Volunteer

Volunteer diver Jimmy Lowrey holds a UTC football helmet in the Secret Reef at the Tennessee Aquarium. Photo courtesy of Doug Strickland\/Tennessee Aquarium.<\/p><\/div>\n

Oh, what a week!<\/p>\n

Every September, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga celebrates Founder\u2019s Week to commemorate the University\u2019s establishment in 1886.<\/p>\n

Every fall, Homecoming Week brings alumni back to campus for events, activities and football\u2014and to join current UTC students in showcasing their \u201cBlue and Gold\u201d school pride.<\/p>\n

The two pillars of University tradition coincide this week.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith Founder\u2019s Week and Homecoming occurring at the same time, this is a tremendous opportunity for our alumni to connect with the new class of Mocs and for people to get involved, engaged and appreciate how far we\u2019ve come as an institution,\u201d said UTC Chancellor Steven R. Angle.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a chance for alumni to share some of the traditions that have meant a lot to them with our new students, and our current students can really benefit from getting to know our alumni and taking advantage of their experience and wisdom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Founder\u2019s Week<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Founder\u2019s Week <\/strong><\/a>is an annual weeklong celebration commemorating the first day in the University\u2019s history. On Sept. 15, 1886, Chattanooga University opened its doors for the first time with a teaching staff of seven and an enrollment of 118 students.<\/p>\n

Chancellor Angle will hold a State of the University address at noon on Friday, Sept. 16, on the Chamberlain Field Pavilion. Following the address, tours of the recently renovated Lupton and Hunter Halls will be available.<\/p>\n

\"Scrappy

Scrappy poses in front of the Indo-Pacific Reef exhibit at the Tennessee Aquarium. Photo courtesy of Doug Strickland\/Tennessee Aquarium.<\/p><\/div>\n

Homecoming Week<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The theme of Homecoming Week 2022 is \u201cUnder the C,\u201d which immediately connotes thoughts of underwater adventures.<\/p>\n

The Tennessee Aquarium has brought those thoughts to life.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the theme for Homecoming 2022 was unveiled, it was exciting to know that we had a community partner so close to campus that is not only an incredible backdrop for fun \u2018C\u2019-themed pictures but also one that provides such a benefit to our city and campus community,\u201d explained Amy Donahue, senior director of marketing for the Division of Advancement.<\/p>\n

Donahue said the Aquarium helped create photo opportunities involving Scrappy, the Power C football helmet and alumni.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the \u2018Under the C\u2019 theme, highlighting UTC alumni and current students who find themselves living out their degrees on the husbandry staff of the Tennessee Aquarium is a great way to relate the theme to what our students and alumni do day to day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Homecoming Week begins Saturday, Sept. 10, with the annual Day of Service<\/strong><\/a>, an event \u201cwhere we partner with organizations in the community and allow students to give back,\u201d said Chris Bridgers, assistant director for student engagement.<\/p>\n

For this year\u2019s community service project, UTC students will support Chattanooga Room in the Inn\u2014which assists women and children experiencing homelessness\u2014and the Chattanooga Community Kitchen.<\/p>\n

Also this weekend, banner painting will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 3-7 p.m. at the University Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the student organizations\u2019 way of showing their school spirit and combining that spirit with the homecoming theme of \u2018Under the C,\u2019\u201d Bridgers said. \u201cIt\u2019s a fun event, and we hang the banners over the UC to display them to the campus community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Kickoff Pep Rally and Alumni Mixer<\/strong><\/a> takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 12, on Chamberlain Field, featuring University and city officials, the UTC Spirit Squads and the Marching Mocs. The student Homecoming Court<\/strong><\/a> will be introduced as part of the festivities.<\/p>\n

Highlights of a busy week\u2019s worth of fun, games, food, music and swag include Water Games<\/strong><\/a> in the ARC swimming pool (Tuesday, Sept. 13), including a version of the board game \u201cBattleship\u201d in canoes\u2014with a goal of sinking the other team\u2019s battleship; a Lip Sync<\/strong><\/a> competition at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium (Wednesday, Sept. 14); the Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff event<\/strong><\/a> (Thursday, Sept. 15); and the Homecoming Yard Show<\/strong><\/a> (Friday, Sept. 16).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Yard Show is an opportunity for our Greek letter (National Pan-Hellenic Council) organizations to display their culture and history through step and strolling on campus,\u201d Bridgers said.<\/p>\n

The event will be held on Chamberlain Field following a UTC Divine Nine Heritage Park progress reveal at 5:15 p.m. at the on-campus intersection of Vine Street and T.O. Way, adjacent to the University Center.<\/p>\n

The progress reveal will update last year\u2019s announcement of the creation of UTC Divine Nine Heritage Park. The park will commemorate the impact of the historically African American fraternities and sororities\u2014known as the \u201cDivine Nine\u2019\u2019\u2014that came to UTC more than 50 years ago. Eight of the \u201cDivine Nine\u201d organizations are on the UTC campus.<\/p>\n

\"Prior

Prior to the opening kickoff, UTC freshmen and sophomores get to run across the Finley Stadium field during the annual Mocs Flock Finley event. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

Football<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The week culminates with football, of course, and the nationally ranked Mocs take on North Alabama at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Finley Stadium.<\/p>\n

If the combination of a football game and the crowning of the homecoming king and queen at halftime wasn\u2019t enough excitement, two annual student-centric events will be held as part of the day\u2019s Finley Stadium festivities.<\/p>\n

Mocs Flock Finley<\/strong><\/a>, a campus tradition introducing new UTC students to the Mocs football experience, will take place prior to kickoff. Freshmen and sophomore students are the guests of honor for food, fun and pregame tailgating before they run across the football field.<\/p>\n

The Marching Mocs will play host to the 15th<\/sup> annual Band Day<\/strong><\/a>, an event that brings area and regional high school band students to be VIP guests for a day. Approximately 250 high school band members will get a taste of what it\u2019s like to be in the UTC marching band.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h4>\n

Calendar of Events<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Information about Founder\u2019s Week<\/strong><\/a> and Homecoming Week<\/strong><\/a> activities can be found on their respective pages. Students should connect via MocSync<\/strong><\/a> for event updates. Alumni-related homecoming activities can be found by checking out the Division of Advancement\u2019s Alumni Affairs<\/strong><\/a> page.<\/p>\n

Saturday (Sept. 10)<\/strong><\/p>\n