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New Alumni Association Board of Directors Chair Dontrell Baines shares message with Golden Eagle community
Dear fellow Tennessee Tech alumni,
I am honored and excited to serve as the chair of the Tennessee Tech Alumni Association. Since the first day I stepped on campus, I learned that anything is possible and I embraced every opportunity to grow and learn. This university equipped me with the tools to be successful in life and in business, and I will use those skills in my role as chairman. The main goal that I have given myself for this term is to make sure each undergraduate realizes there is an opportunity to network and excel after graduating from the university, while at the same time establishing relationships with seasoned alumni who could be beneficial. These opportunities may include internships, fellowships or future jobs.
The passion I have for our university is infectious, and it only grows as I see what changes and new opportunities are available at Tech each year.
With this platform as chairman, there are three things I want all alumni to remember:
First, decide how you can give back to your alma mater. This could be through a gift, volunteer work, speaking to a class or creating an opportunity.
Next, represent the university in your life. Wear a Tennessee Tech shirt or grab a coffee mug from the bookstore to have on your desk. The Tech Pride that you display will pique people's interest and make them want to know more about why we are such a great university.
Lastly, whenever time permits, attend Tech alumni events in your area. The Alumni Association is planning events in Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and beyond. We want to see our alumni and their families attend and enjoy themselves.
I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can.
Wings Up!
Dontrell Baines, `09 accounting
Chair, Alumni Association Board of Directors
read Tennessee Tech article about Dontrell Baines
Join fellow alumni at Main Event in Knoxville Aug. 4
Join the Tennessee Tech Alumni Association for dinner and an exciting arcade night at Main Event in Knoxville, Tenn., Friday, August 4!
The event includes dinner at 6 p.m. EDT followed by three hours of gameplay until 10 p.m. EDT. Dinner includes fajitas with all the fixings, cheese quesadillas, southwest rice, refried beans, house-made queso with chips and fire-roasted salsa and unlimited soft drinks, coffee, tea and water.
The Alumni Association is supplementing this event, so the event valued at $64 will cost just $35 for alumni and guests. Click the link below to register by July 31. After July 31, the price will increase to $64.
Bring your friends and family! The more the merrier!
"Make a gift, get an eagle" initiative raises $11,500 for University Memorial Scholarship
This summer, Tennessee Tech invited alumni to "make a gift and get an eagle." Alumni who made a gift of $35 or more to the University Memorial Scholarship received a six-inch stuffed Awesome Eagle to take on adventures or perch on a desk or bookshelf.
More than 200 alumni contributed $11,500 towards this initiative, and we have loved seeing your travel photos! Thank you to everyone who participated in this fundraising effort.
While this particular fundraising initiative has concluded, it's never too late to help a student in need. Click the link below to support any program or scholarship at Tennessee Tech.
Alumni represent Tennessee Tech at Denali National Park
Scott Wilson, `85 civil engineering and `98 M.S., and Becca Wilson, `97 M.A. higher education administration, recently visited Denali National Park in Alaska to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. And Scott showed his Tech Pride!
Are you traveling this summer? Take a photo of yourself wearing a Tech shirt or hat and send it to us! We love seeing alumni represent their alma mater all over the world.
Stadium construction outlined at Tech Football Alumni Reunion
Tucker Stadium has stood tall on the Tennessee Tech campus since 1966 as countless student-athletes have taken to the Overall Field turf. The stories the facility could tell as it has hosted championships and special events, while it's been the home of Golden Eagles for generations.
As University President Dr. Phil Oldham took the stage last week at the Tennessee Tech Football Alumni Reunion and Golf Classic, he said the words that excited the gathered alumni at the Leslie Towne Centre: "We're building a new football stadium."
It was official confirmation following years of planning and fundraising, all set to give the aging facility a facelift.
Judge Clarence E. Shattuck, Jr. Scholarship honors Tech education that prepared Hamilton County judge for 59-year career
As the longest-serving judge in one court in the history of Hamilton County, Tenn., Judge Clarence E. Shattuck, Jr. `57 accounting, credits Tennessee Tech for preparing him for his career. He and his wife recently established the Judge Clarence E. Shattuck, Jr. Scholarship Endowment to help others from his hometown earn a college degree.
"There is no question that the experience I had at Tennessee Tech was very important, both from an educational and social standpoint," Shattuck said. "Being a country boy, meeting people from all over the state and beyond was an eye-opener for me. Tech didn't have the diversity then that it has now, but there were many diverse personalities and backgrounds that I came in contact with which were beneficial to me throughout my career, both as a lawyer and a judge."
Photo: From left, Clarence E. Shattuck III (Judge Shattuck's son), Luke Shattuck (Judge Shattuck's grandson) and Judge Clarence E. Shattuck, Jr.
Alumni invited to participate in monthly Tech Trivia question
Last month we asked the following trivia question:
Twenty years ago, Tennessee Tech's first flag was introduced. Who designed it?
The official Tennessee Tech flag was designed in 2003 by then-First Lady Gloria Bell. The three main divisions of the flag represent the historic and idyllic characteristics of the university as well as its reputation for quality: 1) The golden eagle -- this magnificent bird, with wings outstretched, depicts the pride, honor, strength and spirit of our students, faculty and staff. 2) The bold pillar - this column of gold represents the pillar of knowledge, intellect and experience -- all qualities of our prestigious academic reputation. 3) The purple base -- this field of majestic purple represents the strong foundation of character, commitment and endurance indicative of our university's culture.
Congratulations to our winner, Karen Claypool, `91 electrical engineering.
And now for this month's question:
What beloved coach of not just one but THREE sports (football, baseball and basketball) began his coaching career at Tennessee Tech 100 years ago, in 1923?
Monthly trivia questions in The Alumnus are designed to test your knowledge of all things Tech! If you know the answer, email alumni@tntech.edu. We'll randomly select one of the correct answers to win some Tech SWAG! And if you have an idea for a trivia question, send it to us! You may see it in a future edition of The Alumnus.
Tech-themed games and activities
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Meet the new Archives Assistant!
The Archives is expanding, and with it comes a new Archives Assistant to help us increase our digital resources and online accessibility! Welcome the new Archives Assistant, Tammy George!
Tammy began her new role as an Archives Assistant in July 2023, but she is no stranger to the university or the campus library. Tammy has worked for Tennessee Tech for the past six years, and her previous role was in the Volpe Library's administration office. It was here that she had her first opportunity to work on a project for the Archives, during the summer of 2022.
According to Tammy, her project with the Archives quickly became one of the most interesting jobs she has participated in during the course of her employment with Tech. She reviewed the newly-digitized Eagle yearbooks and created metadata for the online digital content management system. This project was unique and she found herself learning facts and history about Tech that she had not known before, which revealed information about the campus, its buildings and notable places in Cookeville. History and social studies were always her favorite subjects in school, and she feels very fortunate to have joined the Archives team to further explore her interests.
University Archivist Megan Atkinson and the University Archives staff are responsible for collecting, preserving and making accessible materials of historical significance to the university and the Upper Cumberland. Follow Archives and Special Collections on Facebook, email their office with questions and watch for more "Archives with Atkinson" in future editions of The Alumnus.
Gerald Harvey
Gerald (Jerry) R. Harvey passed away on June 17, 2023, and is survived by his wife, Elke. They were married in Colorado Springs, Col., and recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. He is also survived by their sons, David and Steven, and six grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents, Roy and Ida Harvey, and his siblings, Douglas, Johnny, Donald, Kenneth and Beatrice.
Jerry was born in Livingston, Tenn. on April 18, 1937, and graduated from Livingston Academy in 1956. He attended Tennessee Tech University where he participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. In 1960, he received his bachelor's degree and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. His service with the U.S. Army's Medical Services Corps included duty assignments in Korea, Vietnam and Germany. While in the U.S. Army, he earned a master's degree from Ball State University. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1980 and later worked at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Following his retirement from the federal government in 1994, he enjoyed collecting coins and pocket watches, gardening, fishing and traveling. Jerry will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
VISIT FRIENDS REMEMBERED webpage FOR FULL OBITUARIES
Laura Barry, `20 M.S. nursing, was recently selected as a Tennessee Action Coalition Nurse Leader Rising Star. Barry is a clinical instructor at the University of Tennessee's College of Nursing.
Kaydn Brady, `21 electrical engineering and `23 M.S., was featured in an article titled "Tennessee Tech grad creates autonomous wheelchair prototype."
Margot Carter, `06 biology and `11 M.S., is the new tennis director at Vero Beach, Fla.'s Riverside Park Racquet Complex. Carter was a member of Tennessee Tech's tennis team.
Bryant Dunaway, `93 sociology, has been elected to serve as vice president of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference.
Weston Edmonds, `10 Ed.S. instructional leadership, is the new supervisor of assessments for Knox County Schools in Tennessee.
Dr. John D. Faulconer, `05 M.A. instructional leadership, is the new principal of Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy in Knox County, Tenn.
Cyril Focht, `17 computer science, announced his candidacy for Congress. Focht is an instructor in Tennessee Tech's Department of Computer Science
Karen France, `05 multidisciplinary studies, `12 M.A. and `14 Ed.S., is the new assistant principal at Smithville Elementary School in Smithville, Tenn.
Rob Frazier, `23 professional studies, launched the Signature Media Group, a complete marketing agency with business and change consulting services. Frazier will graduate from Tech again in spring 2024 with his master's in professional studies.
Angela Johnson, `10 multidisciplinary studies, is the new principal at Northside Elementary School in DeKalb County, Tenn.
Teresa Jones, `02 multidisciplinary studies and `21 M.A., is the new assistant principal at DeKalb Middle School in DeKalb County, Tenn.
Farhad "Fred" Khosravi, `83 mechanical engineering and `86 M.S., received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor which celebrates inspiring Americans who are selflessly working for the betterment of our country and its citizens. Khosravi is the managing director of Incept LLC, a health sciences and technology accelerator and development company.
Aaron Lay, `22 agriculture, was featured in a Tennessee Tech article titled "Tech alumnus set to attend Harvard Law School."
Teresa Patterson, `87 business management, joined Affinity Technology Partners as a cybersecurity analyst.
Anita Puckett, `97 multidisciplinary studies, `99 M.A. and `17 Ed.S., is the new principal at Smithville Elementary School in Smithville, Tenn.
Amber Spears, `05 multidisciplinary studies, `08 M.A., `09 Ed.S. and `14 Ph.D., was featured in an article titled "Tech professor wins National Literacy Award, spotlights Elinor Ross Freedom School."
Billy Townsend, `15 sociology, was named sergeant for the Brentwood, Tenn.'s Police Department second shift patrol.
Chelsea Workman, `15 M.A. curriculum and instruction and `17 Ed.S., is the new principal at Macon County Junior High in Macon County, Tenn.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation announced the appointment of 10 new managers as part of their EPIC (Empowering People, Influencing Culture) reorganization, and six of the new managers are Tennessee Tech civil engineering graduates! Jeff Blevins, `83, is the manager of region 2 alternative delivery; Matthew Chandler, `06, is the manager of materials and pavements; Michael Doran, `98, is the manager of laboratory operations; Curt Duncan, `98, is the manager of region 2 legislative projects; Travis Smith, `05, is the manager of geotechnical engineering; and Kimberly Welch, `05, is the manager of region 3 alternative delivery.
Photo top left: Cyril Focht, center, stands with his mother, retired Tennessee Tech mechanical engineering professor Corinne Darvennes, left, and campaign manager, Angel Monroe. (Photo: Herald-Citizen)
We love hearing about the successes of Tennessee Tech alumni. Email us your promotions, awards and other achievements, and we'll share in the next edition of The Alumnus!
Upcoming Tennessee Tech University bookstore sales
Check out the bookstore's Tennessee Tech University Spirit Shop featuring apparel, accessories and Tech-themed items for students and alumni.
The original bookstore website is still available and will focus mainly on textbooks and school supplies, while the Spirit Shop focuses more on Tech-themed gear.
The University Bookstore is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
