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Tennessee Tech welcomes more than 1,050 new graduates at fall commencement
Erik Oliver, a Tech basketball player from Cheyenne, Wyoming, celebrates receiving
his degree from the College of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Tennessee Tech University welcomed more than 1,050 students into the ranks of its
newest alumni today at its fall commencement ceremonies, held at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
at the Hooper Eblen Center.
The fall 2023 graduating class encompassed students from 71 counties throughout Tennessee,
21 states and 19 other countries – all with birth years ranging from 1958 to 2003.
Undergraduate degrees were awarded to students across 45 fields of study, while graduate
degrees were awarded to students representing 32 fields of study.
“You have clearly demonstrated those high value characteristics that are embodied
within the degree you receive today,” said Tech President Phil Oldham in remarks to
graduates. “You are and forever will be bold, fearless, confident and kind Golden
Eagles.”
Tech’s afternoon commencement ceremony included a special moment for Jennifer Duggin,
who earned a master’s degree from the College of Interdisciplinary Studies and serves
in the Tennessee National Guard. The university arranged for Duggin’s son, Sgt. Will
Bailey, to surprise her with a heartfelt video message while away on deployment with
the U.S. Army.
“I know I’m not there for graduation, so I figured I’d make you a video and tell you
I’m proud of you, congratulations and I love you,” said Bailey in the surprise video
(begins at 23:35 mark).
Jennifer Duggin reacts to a surprise video message from her son, who is deployed with
the U.S. Army.
During both the morning and afternoon ceremonies, Tech graduates heard video remarks
from M. Dianne Murphy, Ph.D., a two-time Tech graduate, Tennessee Tech Sports Hall
of Fame inductee and the former athletics director at both Columbia University and
the University of Denver.
“As you go forth into this world, I want to encourage you to continue to do the things
you learned at Tennessee Tech,” said Murphy. “Take advantage of your degree, come
back and visit often, and know that wherever you are in the world, you have a Tennessee
Tech family that cares deeply about you and always wants to welcome you back.”
Graduates also heard a video message from Tech alumna Tracy Church, who is set to
lead operations at Ford Motor Company's Blue Oval City battery plant division, opening
in 2025.
Church challenged graduates to “find a mentor and use that relationship to help become
a great listener,” adding that “the greatest leaders are almost always great listeners
as well.”
Rounding out the commencement speakers was Dontrell Baines, chair of the Tennessee
Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors and a graduate of Tech’s College of Business,
who provided the new graduates with a “welcome to alumni status.”
Graduates of Tech's College of Fine Arts prepare to receive their degrees.
“I’m proud to say that my education at this institution has aided in my success,”
said Baines, who now serves as a business transformation manager for Capgemini, a
global consulting company. “The people and the community helped shape me to grow to
heights I’d never known existed.”
Video of Tech’s morning commencement ceremony, which included the College of Agriculture
and Human Ecology, College of Business, College of Engineering and College of Fine
Arts, can be viewed here.
Video of Tech’s afternoon ceremony which included the College of Arts and Sciences,
College of Education, College of Interdisciplinary Studies and the Whitson-Hester
School of Nursing, can be viewed here.
Students from the College of Graduate Studies received degrees at both the morning
and afternoon ceremony based on their field of study.
Tennessee Tech is ranked as a “Best National University” by U.S. News & World Report.
The university offers more than 200 programs of study, and Tech grads leave with the
least debt of all public universities in the state. In fact, based on total cost and
alumni earnings, Tech provides students with the highest return on investment for
any public university in Tennessee, according to PayScale. Find out more at tntech.edu.
