Tennessee Tech welcomes class of 2028 at fall convocation
Students give a "Wings Up" hand signal at Tech's fall convocation on Aug. 19, 2024.
Tennessee Tech University welcomed the class of 2028 this week at its annual convocation,
held at the Hooper Eblen Center.
Convocation at Tech is a formal induction ceremony of the freshman class each fall
semester into the academic community of the university. Tech President Phil Oldham,
Provost Lori Mann Bruce, senior administrators and faculty presided over the ceremony,
which prepares students for life at Tech.
“Wings up, class of 2028! Welcome to campus and to Cookeville,” said President Oldham
to the freshman class in remarks at the event. “You will find adventure, friendships
and success here. Welcome home.”
Karen Lykins, vice president for enrollment and communication at Tech, delivered remarks
highlighting the students’ diverse backgrounds and experiences.
“Your class includes freshmen from 88 of 95 counties in Tennessee, 30 other states
and 19 other countries,” said Lykins. “29 of you are Eagle Scouts. 104 of you are
varsity athletes. 97 of you have joined the Golden Eagle Marching Band … Your ages
range from 16 to 41."
Members of the Tennessee Tech cheerleading team perform for students before convocation
begins.
Lykins noted that 16 members of the freshman class have served or are serving in the
U.S. military and many more are a dependent of someone who has served. Additionally,
319 students from the entering class have a parent who graduated from Tech.
While the university’s fall census numbers will not be finalized until two weeks after
the start of classes, Lykins noted that Tech's freshman class currently exceeds 2,000
students and is on track to rank among the university’s top five largest classes in
its 109-year history.
Incoming students were presented with the traditional Tech Challenge Coin, which students
are asked to keep through their time at the university as a reminder of Tech’s promise
to guide, assist and educate them. Upon completing their studies at Tech, students
are asked to pass the coin along with a letter of thanks to someone at the university
who most impacted their college experience.
Awesome Eagle helps assemble students for the annual class photo on the football field
following convocation.
Student Government Association president Kelsey Hewitt, a junior from Signal Mountain,
Tenn., served as emcee while Claire Myers, a graduate student and Tech’s current student
trustee from Jackson, Tenn., served as macebearer. Susan Wells, senior lecturer in
the College of Business, also delivered remarks and Robert Owens, senior executive
for access and community outreach, offered the invocation.
Learn more about convocation at Tech and watch a livestreamed video of this year’s
ceremony at https://www.tntech.edu/convocation/index.php.
