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Tennessee Tech welcomes class of 2028 to SOAR
Student Orientation Assistant Meredith Foster, at left, leads a group of incoming
students during a SOAR session on May 30.
Tennessee Tech University welcomed its newest class of Golden Eagles to campus for
the first Student Orientation, Advisement and Registration (SOAR) sessions of the
summer.
The two-day, high-energy sessions kicked off on May 28-29 and will continue throughout
the summer, concluding with the final session on July 29-30. Registration for remaining
SOAR sessions is still available, but space is limited and admitted students are encouraged
to sign-up quickly to lock in their preferred dates.
During SOAR, admitted freshmen can finalize information for their academic major,
set a class schedule for the fall semester, connect with new friends and learn about
student life on campus. 
Student Orientation Assistant Lexie Western, at left, gives a “Wings Up” hand signal
with her tradition group during a SOAR session on May 30. 
An incoming student and parent are greeted at the kickoff of Tech’s SOAR session on
May 29.
“SOAR is always a highlight of our year and an exciting way to immerse incoming students
and their parents in all that Tech has to offer,” said Karen Lykins, vice president
for enrollment and communication at Tech. “Our New Student & Family Programs team
works hard to deliver a SOAR experience that is both informative and engaging. Each
year, we hear feedback from students who trace some of their closest college friendships
or relationships with faculty mentors to a SOAR session they attended as an incoming
freshman.”
SOAR sessions are led in part by a group of 17 student orientation assistants (SOAs),
current Tech students who help guide incoming freshmen through the orientation process
and stay connected to them even after their SOAR session ends.
Incoming Tech students and their parents attend a kickoff session during the first
SOAR on May 28. 
Incoming students pose at a light-up TN TECH display in the Roaden University center
during SOAR on May 28. 
Student Orientation Assistant Whitney Robinson leads her tradition group onto Centennial
Plaza during SOAR on May 30.
Incoming Tech freshmen can learn more and can still register for SOAR at www.tntech.edu/soar.
Tech is ranked as a “Best National University” by U.S. News & World Report and offers
more than 200 programs of study. 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.