Student Stories

Caribbean Student Association President Highlights Caribbean Culture Through Art Exhibit

During April, a special art exhibit was hosted by the Office for Campus Culture and Community at the Frieson Black Cultural Center at the University of Tennessee. The exhibit was named Caribbean Currents with a theme of “Take Me Home” and featured cultural artifacts and student contributions along with musical and visual works from artists…
A Vol’s Story of Finding Community through the Center for Student Engagement

When walking through the University of Tennessee’s bustling campus, most students will find themselves throughout the school year stopping at a handful of events. The Center for Student Engagement frequently hosts events in the Student Union, 21st Mortgage Plaza, or elsewhere on campus to bring students together and provide spaces for Vols to balance their…
Make the Most of Your On-Campus Experience

Are you living on campus? Getting ready to move in this fall? We want to help so you feel prepared to come to campus and excited to join us on Rocky Top! Contact Your Roommate Once you have selected your room, we recommend reaching out to your new roommate to get to know them! It’s…
Student Channels Disability Awareness into Leadership Growth

Every student strives to find their place on Rocky Top. While many spend their first few weeks at the University of Tennessee looking for ways to get connected to the campus community, senior Hayley Gibson’s arrival was met not only with finding ways to get involved but also with unexpected challenges. Having experienced an injury…
Three Student Health Ambassadors Present at National Conference

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville was well-represented at March’s Southern College Health Association Annual Conference. Three ambassadors from the Student Health Center presented their work to college and university health practitioners from across the Southeast, promoting public health and deepening their own professional skills. Emma Miyamoto, Gracie Hitchcock, and Emma Butler, who are each studying…
The Road to Commencement: Paved with Resilience and Community

Content Warning: The following story mentions suicide.If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please seek help. You are not alone.If you are a UT student, faculty, or staff in need of assistance, call or text 865-974-HELP. When Bri Swindell enrolled at the University of Tennessee in the fall of 2018,…
Finding the Volunteer Experience She Thought She Missed

When Sarah Carmichael signed up for a VOLbreaks trip to serve in Memphis, Tennessee, she had no idea that the other students she would meet and the conversations she would have would change the course of her Volunteer experience. VOLbreaks is a program operated by the Jones Center for Leadership and Service at UT that…
Be a Part of a Team with RecSports

If you’ve been looking to jumpstart, continue a fitness journey, and find your community, you have to check out RecSports! RecSports has several programs for you to get involved in including fitness classes, aquatics, intramurals, outdoor pursuits, and sports clubs. Intramural Sports Wiffleball, football, cornhole, and ultimate frisbee are just a few of the many…
Your UTK Bucket List

Cecilia Demoski ’23 The start of a new semester can be filled with new things to try, as well as a lot of firsts. Everything will be new and exciting, and maybe even a little nerve-racking during this time of transition. If it’s your first or even your fourth year here at UT, there are…
Things I Wish I Knew When I Was a Freshman

When you first arrive at UT, there can be a lot of questions and things to figure out, managing your first year may seem a little intimidating! From figuring the quickest route to classes to finding a student organization to join, there are a lot of different decisions to make during your first few weeks.…