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Tennessee Tech announces 2024 Homecoming theme
This year's Homecoming theme honors a beloved campus tradition and a symbol said to bring good luck to the team it represents. This year's theme, "100 Years of Golden Eagles," commemorates the 100th anniversary Tennessee Tech's mascot.
Make plans to join us on Nov. 2 for the annual Homecoming parade, football game and Evening of Excellence honoring the 2024 recipients of the Outstanding Alumni Awards! Many colleges and departments will be hosting events as well. More details will be shared in the coming months, so keep an eye on your email inbox, visit the Crawford Alumni Center events website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Alumni represent Tennessee Tech in Greenland and Canada
Ronda Roberts (`00 multidisciplinary studies) and Elizabeth Hess Schaad (`12 mechanical engineering) recently returned from a cruise to Canada and Greenland. Of course, Awesome Eagle tagged along and enjoyed posing with the two alumni in beautiful locations.
If you are traveling this summer, send pictures with Awesome Eagle (if you have a little Awesome) or of you wearing Tennessee Tech shirts and hats to alumni@tntech.edu. We love to see alumni represent their alma mater!
Where's the strangest place you've run into a fellow Tech alum?
We frequently hear stories about Tech alumni running into one another. There have been random meetings in London, Ukraine, Belize, Costa Rica, Alaska, St. Croix and more! One of our favorite stories comes from Michael Campana, the son of retired Tennessee Tech German professor Dr. Phillip Campana. Michael shared the following with us:
"I was traveling with my father [in Germany], and as we were standing up on the overlook above Heidelberg Castle, a person approached and said, 'Dr. Campana?' It was indeed one of his former students! I am used to people recognizing my dad around Cookeville, but it was quite the fun surprise to meet someone randomly while touring Europe!"
The map shows locations where alumni have bumped into one another. If you have a similar story, email alumni@tntech.edu. We will randomly select one person to receive some Tech SWAG!
Tech soccer releases 2024 fall slate
As August will soon come into focus, the Golden Eagles and new head coach Corey Boyd have announced the club's upcoming fall schedule.
Nineteen regular-season affairs, an exhibition home contest, nine Ohio Valley Conference clashes and a slew of sturdy non-conference competitions are all in the cards for the purple and gold in 2024.
Golden Eagles unveil 2024 volleyball schedule
The Tennessee Tech volleyball team is geared up and ready to attack another season under the direction of head coach Jeannette Phillips, as the seventh-year leader of the Golden Eagles unveiled the program's 2024 schedule.
Tennessee Tech Alumni Association to host event before Tech vs. MTSU game Aug. 31
On August 31, Tennessee Tech will open its 2024 football season in Murfreesboro when the Golden Eagles take on the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders.
Join the Tennessee Tech Alumni Association at a pre-game gathering on MTSU's campus which will include a catered meal and optional game ticket. The event begins at 2:30 p.m. followed by the football game at 6 p.m. Whether you plan to attend the game or just live in the Murfreesboro area and want to meet fellow alumni, we hope you'll join us.
Tennessee Tech Alumni Association to host event before Tech vs. Georgia game Sept. 7
Your Golden Eagle football team will take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Sept. 7 in Athens! The Tennessee Tech Alumni Association will host a pre-game event including a catered buffet at The Classic Center from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET for alumni, donors, friends and fans. The Tech vs. GA football game begins at 2 p.m. ET.
We hope you'll join us on Sept. 7 even if you do not plan to attend the game. We'll have a great meal together, and you'll have the chance to meet fellow alumni -- both from the Athens area and beyond!
Join fellow alumni on a trip to San Antonio December 2025
Tennessee Tech's Crawford Alumni Center has partnered with group travel company Premier World Discovery to offer a holiday-themed trip to San Antonio for alumni and friends!
From Dec. 4-8, 2025, we'll spend four nights in San Antonio, Texas. We'll enjoy a city tour of San Antonio, visit the Alamo, watch the IMAX docudrama "The Price of Freedom," visit the Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum and see the State Capitol Building. On the last evening, we'll experience the Fiesta de las Luminarias where thousands of candles illuminate the Riverwalk for the magical holiday season.
Click the link below to view the full itinerary or to sign up using web code 184639.
Shockey-Blanchford Returning Student Scholarship established for currently enrolled Tennessee Tech students with financial need
While they came to Tennessee Tech for different reasons and to pursue different career paths, four members of the Shockey and Blanchford families say the high-quality, practical and affordable education they received from Tech led to enriching careers.
David and Donna Shockey, along with their daughter Tonya Blanchford and her husband Art, say they established the Shockey-Blanchford Returning Student Scholarship to help students with an intense desire for an education but who cannot afford college without financial aid.
"One of the things I love about Tech, and one of the reasons I wanted to establish this scholarship, is because Tech gives you the opportunity to work hard and apply yourself, and it doesn't matter what circumstances you were raised in," Art said. "The thing that attracted me to Tech was the value: high quality and low cost combined. It definitely served me well."
Tennessee Tech baseball alumnus makes gift to hack shack indoor training facility
Jim Wilhoite (`79 industrial technology) knows what quality baseball facilities can
do for players, coaches and a program. Wilhoite, who played baseball for the Golden
Eagles under Coach David Mays, recently made a significant commitment to Tennessee
Tech's indoor hitting facility or "hack shack."
"As I've gotten older, I've started reflecting on the past," Wilhoite said. "And I realized that baseball has done a lot for me. It was the best four years of my life. The friendships that I built, the comradery I had with the other players -- that was what made my college experience outstanding. Athletics made me feel like I was part of something. It instantly gives you a family. In college, it's not easy to walk in and be around 10,000 people you don't know. But baseball gave me friends right off the bat. The minute you make the team, you have 25 friends who are pulling for you and have the same aspirations as you do."
Alumni invited to participate in monthly Tech Trivia question
Last month we asked the following trivia question:
Beginning in 1960, whenever Tech played Middle Tennessee State University, an Alaskan totem pole called Shinny-Ninny was presented to the winner. In 1998, MTSU moved to a different athletic division, so the rivalry ended. Where did the name Shinny-Ninny come from?
The name Shinny-Ninny was a dance -- of sorts. It's reported that football player Joe Mac Jaquess would perform a "shinny-ninny fit" after a Tech touchdown. Congratulations to Billy Jackson (`07 professional studies) who guessed correctly and won some Tech SWAG. And thank you to the alumni who shared your favorite memories of Shinny-Ninny on social media!
Now for this month's question:
This year's Homecoming will honor 100 years of Tech's mascot, the golden eagle. In 1924-25, a committee suggested mascots to the Alumni Association, and the Association voted between the two most popular. Golden eagle won, but what was the other mascot being considered?
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.
follow the Crawford alumni center on facebook
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.
Jesse Filoteo
Jesse Galvez Filoteo passed away on July 4 at the age of 25.
He was born July 19, 1998, in Crossville, Tenn.
An innate creator and avid outdoorsman, Jesse found a love for hiking and nature through his upbringing in Scouts. His passion for art flourished under the guidance of his teachers in middle school and high school.
Besides traditional illustration media, his artistic proficiencies extended to sculpture, bookbinding, music and even creative writing. Jesse made waves his senior year of high school with "Do it for Mom," a poem about the urgent need for action regarding climate change. He graduated magna cum laude from Tennessee Tech in 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design, minoring in English. He went on to work as a graphic designer for two and a half years before leaving the comfort of a design studio to reconnect with nature and find joy in the great outdoors with the Appalachian Conservation Corps.
Harold Freeman
Harold Freeman, 81, passed away on June 22 following a long illness.
Harold was born in 1943 in Nashville, Tenn., the son of the late Rev. Ralph Lexie Freeman and Edith Carlock Freeman. He attended Tennessee Tech, majoring in math and physics. He was also the editor of the student newspaper, The Oracle. Following graduation, he joined the Peace Corps and served two years in Eritrea, which at the time was part of Ethiopia.
Upon his return to the United States, he taught journalism for a year at Tech before being drafted into the U.S. Army. He served one tour of duty in Vietnam in 1970.
Harold was married in 1972 while working in journalism in Nashville. He accompanied his wife, Linda Holbrook Freeman, to Saudi Arabia for a temporary assignment in 1975. Upon returning to the U.S., he accepted a position as a reporter at the morning newspaper in Augusta, Ga., and later retired from The Courier-Journal. He worked as a copy editor for more than 30 years and assisted in the coverage of many impactful stories, including the paper's Pulitzer-prize winning reporting of the 1988 Carrollton bus crash.
Harold traveled extensively and enjoyed meeting people in other countries. One of his favorite trips included climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Another special trip was his return to Ethiopia for the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps. He enjoyed reading and volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, St. Matthews Area Ministries and Kentucky Refugee Ministries. He was also involved in activities of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and was a frequent volunteer at St. Matthews United Methodist Church, where he was a longtime member. He and his wife often hosted foreign visitors for the World Affairs Council Louisville.
Jim Rose
Jim Rose passed away on June 25 at his residence in Cookeville.
Jim's early years were spent in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Jim's academic journey led him to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where he earned both a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in nuclear engineering.
Jim's professional life was a testament to his love of education and his commitment to nurturing the minds of future generations. For more than four decades, he was a pillar of the Tennessee Tech University community, where he began teaching basic engineering and later ascended to the role of vice president of Admissions. His influence on the lives of countless students is a legacy that will endure for years to come.
Beyond his professional achievements, Jim was deeply involved in various associations that reflected his diverse interests. He was a proud member of the Cookeville Noonday Rotary, the Order of the Engineer and a faithful member of the Cookeville First United Methodist Church. His engagement in these organizations was not merely a pastime but a meaningful extension of his service to the community.
Bobby Young
Bobby Young, 83, of Adolphus, Ky., passed away on June 27.
The Adolphus, Ky., native was a 1960 graduate of Allen County High School where he played basketball and was inducted to the Allen County-Scottsville High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.
He graduated in 1964 from Tennessee Tech and was inducted into the TTU Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. Bobby was honored to have played in the NCAA tournament in 1963.
He worked for 25 years in road asphalt paving and was the co-owner of Microsurface Paving Company.
He was a member of the Scottsville Baptist Church, Gideon's International and Scottsville Rotary Club and served as Allen County Judge Executive from 2007-2010.
He was the son of the late Marlin Frank Young and Lillie Mae Dalton Young. He is survived by his wife, Denise Young, two sons and four grandchildren.
VISIT FRIENDS REMEMBERED webpage FOR FULL OBITUARIES
Tyler Asher (`14 business management) recently started a new position as regional director at Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
Dr. Deji Badiru (`79 industrial engineering, `81 M.S. and `82 M.S.) received the 2024 Donald G. Newnan National Engineering Economy Teaching Excellence Award from the American Society for Engineering Education's Engineering Economy Division. Badiru is a dean emeritus of the Graduate School of Engineering and Management at the Air Force Institute of Technology.
Kassam Bhegani (`11 civil engineering and `16 M.S.) was featured in the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce's Minority Business of the Week series. He is founder and president of Bhegani Engineering.
Matt Brown (`14 finance) of Raymond James Financial Services in Cookeville was named to the 2024 AdvisorHub's "100 Fastest-Growing Advisors to Watch" list.
Yvette Clark (`01 M.S. civil engineering) was recognized at the 2024 Tennessee Orbie Awards as one of Tennessee's top information technology leaders. She currently serves as the vice president for Information Technology and chief information officer at Middle Tennessee State University.
Nicholas Cox (`24 civil engineering) started a new position as a transmission line design civil engineer at Tennessee Valley Authority.
Patrick Cripps (`95 psychology, `99 M.A. and `04 Ed.S.) was named 2024-25 Tennessee Upper Cumberland Regional Superintendent of the Year by the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents. He currently serves as director of schools for DeKalb County.
Dr. Bert Geer ('87 psychology) was named to the Cookeville Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees.
Kyle Gregory ('15 exercise science, physical education and wellness) is the new head football coach at Trousdale County High School in Tennessee.
Mason Hilliard (`19 political science and `22 M.P.S.) started a new position as a research analyst in the Office of Research and Education Accountability for the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury.
James Hird (`89 psychology) was selected to speak at the National Wellbeing & Resilience Conference, which will take place in Tampa in October. Hird is an alternative school principal in Bradenton, Fla.
Jacob Hough (`24 civil engineering) recently started a new position as a civil engineer at Tennessee Valley Authority.
Angie (Duncan) Hyche (`87 biology) recently published her second book titled Uncluttered: Shaping Your Heart & Home for What Matters Most. It was co-authored with Liana George and published by Scrivenings Press.
Eric Ingram (`94 MBA) is the new chief financial officer for Magaya, a logistics and supply chain automation software provider.
Leon Johnson (`75 chemistry and `77 M.A.) announced his candidacy in the two-seat Bennington-2 House District in Vermont. He is a longtime school board member, youth sports official and retired engineer.
Sara Martinez ('07 civil engineering) was featured in a Mirage News article titled "Martinez Ensures Safety of Aging Structures at Oak Ridge Lab." She is a structural engineer in the Design Engineering group supporting the nonreactor Nuclear Facilities division of ORNL's Isotope.
David K. Morgan (`74 accounting) received the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) 2024 TSCPApex Lifetime Achievement Award. He is chairman of LBMC Financial Services, LLC, the largest professional solutions provider in Tennessee.
Amy Shapton ('03 multidisciplinary studies) was named principal at East Robertson Elementary School in Robertson County, Tenn.
William Sloan ('20 communication and '22 M.P.S.) is the new administrative services coordinator in Tennessee Tech's STEM Center.
Abbye Solis (`02 nursing) started a new position as an assistant professor at Georgetown University's School of Nursing.
Betsy Thompson ('17 business management) was promoted to director of Commercial Lending at Addition Financial Credit Union.
Peter Wasif (`23 mechanical engineering) started a new position as a process engineer at AESC, a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high-performance batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
Mike Wells (`86 accounting and `88 MBA) was inducted into the Macon County Sports Hall of Fame. He played both golf and basketball at Macon County High School and played golf for the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles.
Photo top left: Yvette Clark (`21 M.S. civil engineering) was recognized as one of the state's top information technology leaders at the 2024 Tennessee Orbie Awards
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!
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