This year marks the 100th anniversary of Torch Night: A Farewell to Thee. Torch Night is one of UT’s oldest and most meaningful traditions, with the first ever Torch Night being held in 1926, and now remains a signature program of the Division of Student Life. This celebration marks a meaningful farewell to graduates, honoring them with an evening to reflect, reconnect, and celebrate their journey up to this point.
During Torch Night, graduating students have the opportunity to take in the moment with the peers who helped shape their UT experience. As students don their gowns at the pre-ceremony celebration, they can enjoy food, reminisce over shared experiences, and take pictures together before the torch lighting ceremony. During the ceremony, students symbolically receive the Torch of Service as they pledge to serve the university and their communities as alumni, upholding the Volunteer spirit beyond their time on Rocky Top.
“Torch Night marks more than a beginning or an end to this chapter on Rocky Top,” says student body president Chase Darwin. “It embodies the creed every Volunteer carries forward: to bear the light for others, and to build a community where every Vol can call Rocky Top home.”
“It embodies the creed every Volunteer carries forward: to bear the light for others, and to build a community where every Vol can call Rocky Top home.”
Chase Darwin
Student Body President
Torch Night brings an intentional end to our students’ journey here at UT. As we celebrate a century of this storied tradition, we invite graduates to participate in a meaningful farewell that generations of Volunteers fondly remember.
For graduates, we look forward to hosting you on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Ayres Lawn. Learn more about the event at commencement.utk.edu/torch_night.
