The most ambitious fund-raising effort in the university’s history, the campaign raised $1.3 billion over six years for the statewide system, placing UT in an elite group of less than thirty universities to achieve this goal. More than $860 million is dedicated to UT Knoxville programs.

“The generosity of more than 87,000 alumni and friends enhances our educational mission and improves the experience for our students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and fans,” said Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. “Every gift helps move us further along in our journey to become a Top 25 public research institution.”

The magnetic orange and white gift tags—some as large as 10 feet tall or wide—are being affixed to sixteen new and renovated facilities across the five hundred and fifty acre campus. The large tags can be seen on the Howard H. Baker Center Jr. for Public Policy, the James A. Haslam II Business Building, Neyland Stadium, Pratt Pavilion, Regal Soccer Stadium, the Min H. Kao Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building and Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, to name just a few.

Friday’s event will include more than 100 students who will be canvassing campus handing out stickers that say “Thank A Giver” and Moon Pies—that, yes, have been graciously donated.

By wearing the sticker, those on Rocky Top recognize how they have benefited from donations through the use of academic buildings, athletic facilities, professorships, scholarships and endowments made possible by alumni and friends.

The tags create a visual reminder of donors’ generosity but also tell a story of positive change to the physical landscape of the university, its caliber of education, and the lives of students and faculty, said Scott Rabenold, vice chancellor of development and alumni affairs.

“We have had students, faculty, staff, retirees, alumni, and friends give what they can so that others can have the experiences they’ve had and so that the university can continue to be a great place to learn, work and play,” Rabenold said.

For the UT system, the Campaign for Tennessee raised $1.3 billion. For UT Knoxville, the Campaign for Tennessee

• Raised $860 million
• Gifts came from 87,266 donors
• Gifts ranged from $1 to $50 million
• $60 million came from UT faculty and staff

The tags will stay up through the end of the semester. To view a list of the buildings with gift tags and an interactive map, visit www.utk.edu/maps, and click the checkbox for Campaign for Tennessee in right column and also the ‘detailed info’ link.

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C O N T A C T :

Whitney Heins (865-974-5460, wheins@utk.edu)

Beth Gladden (865-974-9008, beth.gladden@tennessee.edu)

Created in 1998, the Peyton Manning Scholarship Endowment is funded from gifts made to the university in honor of Manning’s academic awards while he was a UT student-athlete, the UT Athletic Department’s corporate matching grants program and other private gifts.

“The University of Tennessee holds a special place in my heart, and Ashley and I are excited about the opportunity to award more deserving UT students with the Manning Scholarship,” said Manning. “One of the most gratifying times for me each summer is meeting a phenomenal student who has been selected for the Manning Scholarship. Making a difference in the lives of young people is the greatest gift any of us can receive.”

To date, fifteen students have received awards from the scholarship. The Manning Scholarship covers the costs of tuition, room, and board. The award is granted to a first-year student on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, and community service. All Peyton Manning Scholarship recipients are part of the Haslam Scholars Program, UT’s premiere specialized honors program.

This isn’t the first gift Manning has made to his alma mater. In 1999, Manning made a gift of $100,000 to the Thornton Athletics Student Life Center, which is home to the Peyton Manning Study Lab. In 2006, Manning announced and has fully funded a $1 million contribution to The Campaign for Tennessee for the renovation of Neyland Stadium and the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center. In 2010, the Indianapolis Colts quarterback and his wife created the Peyton Manning Communications Enrichment endowment. The fund provides ongoing support for a variety of educational initiatives within the college’s School of Communication Studies, where Manning was the top Speech Communication graduate in spring 1997 and recipient of the college’s Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award in 2007.

“Peyton truly exemplifies the Volunteer spirit. He has always been a great supporter of the university with his time and his personal involvement with the students who have benefited from the Peyton Manning Scholarship as well as his investments in our university and our students,” said UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek.

The Mannings’ gift is part of the university’s $1 billion fundraising campaign, The Campaign for Tennessee, which came to a close in December. The most ambitious effort in the university’s history, the campaign placed UT among the ranks of the nation’s largest public and private institutions that have sought this level of private support. The campaign secured private gifts through contributions, pledges, and planned giving to advance the university’s strategic goals that include improving student access and success, research and economic development, outreach, and globalization. More than 98 percent of all gifts were designated for a specific purpose or program, such as scholarships or endowed professorships and helped provide the vital resources to advance key initiatives.

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C O N T A C T :

Tiffany Carpenter (865-974-1476, tcarpent@tennessee.edu)

“Educating tomorrow’s leaders is very important to Brian and me,” said Goldman. “It is absolutely critical to train Tennessee kids to compete in the global marketplace. My heart will always be on ‘Rocky Top,’ and I want to give kids the same opportunities I was given as a UT student.”

“Visionary alumni like Chad are ensuring that current and future students will be able to follow in their footsteps and achieve on a national and international scale,” said UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. “We are grateful for his and Brian’s support of our university.”

Half of the gift will be used to create the Chad Goldman and Brian Pendleton Endowed Language and World Business Scholarship, which will support UT students completing domestic internships and study abroad programs. UT is one of only a small number of US institutions with a major that allows students to specialize in both foreign language and international business.

“Students in the program often study abroad to complete the practical experience component of the program, and the Goldman/Pendleton Scholarship will help provide greater numbers of students with this opportunity,” said Gregory Kaplan, director of the UT Language and World Business Program.

“My experience with UT’s language and world business program really contributed to my professional success and character enrichment,” said Goldman. “It is a great program that can be even greater with more money.”

The other half will establish the Ayres Hall Excellence Endowment to fund faculty awards, undergraduate scholarships, teaching assistantships, and other academic support needs of the college. In recognition of their gift, a vestibule in Ayres Hall has been named for Goldman and Pendleton.

Goldman and Pendleton currently both serve as executives at CauseForce, a West Hollywood-based company that works with nonprofit organizations to help them raise money. As vice president of marketing, Goldman manages strategy, creative development, and execution of all collateral, advertising, web expressions, apparel, and event experiences. Pendleton, who is not an alumnus of UT, serves as president.

Goldman attended the Universidad del Salvador in Argentina and then came to UT. After graduating, he served as marketing director at ITS, a computer services provider in Buenos Aires. He led the company’s marketing initiatives, helping them to establish outsourcing and educational services for Argentina’s top multinationals.

After leaving ITS, he received his master’s degree in business administration specializing in international marketing from the American Graduate School of International Management.

Goldman also served as a brand specialist at Skilset, a Los Angeles consulting firm where he led the development and launching of brand identities, re-branding efforts, and marketing strategies for a wide array of industries.

Gifts to UT Knoxville are part of UT’s $1 billion Campaign for Tennessee, of which the Knoxville campus goal is more than $600 million. The campaign will continue through December 2011 with particular emphasis on increasing the campus endowment to create more student scholarships, professorships, research opportunities, and curriculum enhancements. Funds raised are being invested to help the campus reach its goal of becoming a Top 25 research university within ten years.

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CONTACT:

Beth Gladden, UT media relations (865-974-9008, bgladden@utk.edu)

URS Corp. is a fully integrated engineering, construction and technical services organization with an office in Oak Ridge. The company’s gift will enable the college to establish the Engineering Global Initiatives Fund, which will allow engineering honors students the opportunity to study abroad.

Engineering honors students are required to have an international experience, but with an increase of more than 100 percent in the number of freshman honors students this year, creating unique academic international opportunities for each student is challenging. The donated funds will be used for course development, faculty-led programs and general support of the global experience goals within the Engineering Honors Program.

“We are pleased that URS Corp. has joined the College of Engineering in our quest to provide our students with an outstanding global experience,” said College of Engineering Dean Wayne Davis. “We appreciate URS taking a leadership role in helping us fund this critically important endeavor, and we look forward to furthering our relationship with them.”

“URS has a global presence, and with the expansion of our international markets, we are increasingly aware of the need for engineers in our country to have opportunities to work abroad. In partnership with the University of Tennessee, we are proud to assist with the development of the Global Initiatives Fund,” said James Smith, president of URS’ Safety Management Solutions.

Smith will present the contribution to the college after the East Tennessee Economic Council (ETEC) meeting at 8:45 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2010. ETEC is located at 1201 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

URS Corp.’s gift is part of the university’s $1 billion fundraising campaign, the Campaign for Tennessee. The most ambitious effort in the university’s history, the campaign places UT among the ranks of the nation’s largest public and private institutions that have sought this level of private support.

The campaign secures private gifts through contributions, pledges and planned giving to advance the university’s strategic goals that include improving student access and success, research and economic development, outreach and globalization. More than 98 percent of all gifts are designated for a specific purpose or program, such as scholarships or endowed professorships, and help provide the vital resources to advance key initiatives.

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C O N T A C T :

Nathan Zipper (865-974-0323, nzipper@utk.edu)

Whitney Holmes (865-974-5460, wholmes7@utk.edu)

The event will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, at The Foundry at World’s Fair Park.

This year’s guest speaker is Knoxville News Sentinel columnist Sam Venable. Robin Wilhoit, co-anchor of WBIR’s Action 10 News, will serve as emcee. The evening will feature cocktail hour and dinner, silent and live auctions and musical entertainment. The fundraiser is open to the public. The cost is $100 per person and $150 per couple.

Funds will support the college’s programs and help UT continue to meet the growing need for nurses. Last year more than 230 alumni and friends gathered at the inaugural NightinGala fundraiser to show their appreciation and support for UT’s College of Nursing and helped raise more than $78,000.

“We want to increase awareness of the community about nursing education as well as celebrate what the nursing program has brought to the community and to health care in this area,” said Dean Joan Creasia.

Registration for the NightinGala is due by Sept. 20 at http://bit.ly/nightingala or by calling the Office of Alumni Affairs 974-3011. For information on becoming a corporate sponsor, purchasing a table, or donating auction items, please call the Office of Alumni Affairs.

The corporate underwriter of the event is Tennessee Donor Services. Other corporate sponsors include Regional Neonatal Associates, The Pilot Corporation, The University of Tennessee Medical Center and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

C O N T A C T :

Phyllis Moore (865-974-3011, phyllismoore@tennessee.edu)

Kristi Hintz (865-974-3993, khintz@utk.edu)

Leslie Murphy

KNOXVILLE – The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has hired a chief development officer for the Memphis area. Leslie Murphy has more than 10 years of fundraising experience, with most of her career spent in higher education.

“As the state’s flagship university, our alumni and friends live and work throughout Tennessee,” Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek said. “The support of our alumni and friends is crucial to the university’s goal to become a Top 25 research university. Having a development officer based in West Tennessee will help to better serve the entire state.”

Most recently, Murphy served as interim associate vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs for the UT Health Science Center (UTHSC). In that role, she oversaw the fundraising efforts of six development officers and was the chief major gifts officer.

Murphy joined the UTHSC staff in June 2009 and solicited more than $12 million in gifts in her first six months. She secured a $4.5 million for the College of Pharmacy, which was the largest private gift in the college’s history.

Prior to that, Murphy served in fundraising and management roles for Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science in New York, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Business and the American Heart Association. She has a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Auburn University and a master’s degree in arts education administration from UAB.

“Leslie’s experience in higher education and her familiarity with Memphis and the surrounding areas will be invaluable to our development goals,” said Linda Davidson, vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs. “She has a proven track record as a major gift officer, and we are confident she’ll be an important member of our fundraising team.”

Gifts to UT Knoxville are part of UT’s $1 billion Campaign for Tennessee, of which the Knoxville campus goal is more than $600 million. The campaign will continue through December 2011 with particular emphasis on increasing the campus endowment to create more student scholarships, professorships, research opportunities and curriculum enhancements. Funds raised will directly impact UT Knoxville’s goal of becoming a Top 25 research university within 10 years.

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C O N T A C T :

Beth Gladden (865-974-9008, bgladden@utk.edu)

Jim Brogan

KNOXVILLE — University of Tennessee, Knoxville, alumnus Jim Brogan of Brogan Financial has established the Beauchamp E. Brogan Investment Fellowship at the College of Business Administration in honor of his father. Beauchamp, a retired attorney in Knoxville, served as general counsel and secretary to UT’s Board of Trustees for 25 years.

“Being able to honor my father in this way means a great deal to me,” Jim Brogan said.

And Beauchamp Brogan said, “I’m overwhelmed in knowing that Jim named this fellowship after me.”

The Brogan Investments Fellowship also allows Jim Brogan to give help students interested in careers in the investment field; the gift benefits a full-time UT MBA student who is affiliated with UT’s Investments Learning Center.

Jim Brogan earned his MBA in finance in 1994. Although he did not come to UT Knoxville planning to pursue a career in investments, the teachings of one professor changed his life course.

“My undergraduate interest originally was in music, but during the second year of my MBA studies, I took an investments course from Professor Jim Wansley, and the rest is history. Professor Wansley profoundly influenced my future,” Jim Brogan said.

Jim Brogan is president and founder of Brogan Financial Retirement and Legacy Planning, a business dedicated to serving the needs of individuals near retirement. He is an expert in the IRS’s complex rules governing retirement account distributions.

Jim Brogan also is a financial educator, author and radio talk-show host. He teaches classes through the professional and personal outreach programs at UT Knoxville, and hosts the Sunday talk-radio show “More Living with Jim Brogan” on Newstalk 98.7 FM (formerly aired on WNOX 100.3 FM). His show addresses issues important to retirees or soon-to-be retirees.

Jim Brogan’s gift is part of the university’s $1 billion fundraising campaign, the Campaign for Tennessee. The most ambitious effort in the university’s history, the campaign places UT among the ranks of the nation’s largest public and private institutions that have sought this level of private support.

The campaign secures private gifts through contributions, pledges and planned giving to advance the university’s strategic goals that include improving student access and success, research and economic development, outreach and globalization. More than 98 percent of all gifts are designated for a specific purpose or program, such as scholarships or endowed professorships, and help provide the vital resources to advance key initiatives.

For more information about the College of Business Administration, visit http://bus.utk.edu.

C O N T A C T :

Cindy Raines (865-974-4359, craines1@utk.edu)

“Earning an accounting degree from UT Knoxville was a life-changing event for me,” Harmon said. “I have enjoyed a lot of personal success because of my degree and the opportunities it has afforded me. I hope to be able to provide the same opportunities for a deserving student through the creation of this scholarship.”

Harmon’s gift is part of the Campaign for Tennessee, UT’s $1 billion fundraising effort.

“I was a J. Fred Roddy Scholar when I went to UT Knoxville,” said Harmon, who graduated in 1976. “This scholarship helped finance my education. Today’s students are experiencing greater financial challenges than I did. My wife, Liza, and I are very happy to give back. Learn, earn and return is a great way to sum up our responsibilities.”

The Harmon Scholarship will be awarded annually beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year. This need-based scholarship will be offered to an undergraduate major or Master of Accountancy student who graduated from a public high school in Sullivan, Washington, Johnson, Carter, Unicoi, Hawkins, Greene or Hancock counties.

Harmon’s career has kept him in East Tennessee. After completing his undergraduate degree, he spent four years with Arthur Andersen in Chattanooga, leaving to join Park National Bank in Knoxville as CFO. Harmon then moved to Kingsport in 1989 and joined the Bank of Tennessee in Kingsport in 1991. He became CEO in 1994 at the age of 40, and 10 years later, added chairman to that title. He also serves on the board of directors of Paragon Commercial Bank in Raleigh, N.C., a bank founded in 1999 by the Bank of Tennessee.

Harmon’s community service includes being an alderman for the city of Kingsport, chairman of Fun Fest, founding board member of the Friends in Need Health Clinic and graduate of Leadership Kingsport. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Public Arts Committee of Kingsport. He is also a member of the World President’s Organization and TSCPA.

The Campaign for Tennessee is the most ambitious effort in UT’s 214 year history and places UT among the ranks of the nation’s largest public and private institutions that have sought this level of private support. The system-wide campaign supports the objectives of improved student access and success, research and economic development, outreach and globalization.

For more information about the UT College of Business Administration, visit http://bus.utk.edu.

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C O N T A C T :

Cindy Raines (865-974-4359, craines1@utk.edu)

“I hope that this endowment will help others have the same opportunities that my mother provided for me,” Bell said. “She would be very proud to know that she had a permanent legacy in her name at an institution for which she cared about so deeply.”

Bell’s gift, which benefits the college’s Department of Accounting and Information Management, is part of the Campaign for Tennessee, UT’s $1 billion fundraising effort.

Bell graduated in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He currently is a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Dallas and is the partner-in-charge of the firm’s North Texas Private Company Services practice.

“The University of Tennessee has been very important to my family. My grandmother, father and brother also received degrees from the Knoxville campus, “Bell said. “While my mother did not attend UT, she was one of the biggest Volunteer fans in the state. Because of her efforts and sacrifices, I was able to graduate from this great university.”

“I take great pride in being a graduate of UT’s College of Business Administration,” he said. “The quality of my education provided the foundation for the successes I have achieved.”

The fund’s proceeds will be allocated each year by the head of the Department of Accounting and Information Management to fulfill the department’s mission, such as funding faculty teaching and research awards, scholarships and teaching assistantships, and technology purchases, as well as supporting visiting faculty scholars and lecturers.

The Campaign for Tennessee is the most ambitious effort in the university’s 214-year history and places UT among the ranks of the nation’s largest public and private institutions that have sought this level of private support.

The campaign, which launched its silent phase in 2005, will secure private gifts that, in turn, will contribute substantially to the distinct, but linked, campuses in the UT system. Funds raised through the campaign will directly support the objectives of UT’s strategic plan. Among those objectives are improved student access and success, research and economic development, outreach and globalization.

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C O N T A C T:

Meredith Hulette (865-974-7392, mhulette@utk.edu)

“The effective use of technology is critical if you want to compete in today’s global marketplace,” Berlik said. “The Haslam Business Building is a tremendous facility, and we hope that our gift will enable the college to remain on the leading edge.”

The Berlik gift is part of the Campaign for Tennessee, the university’s $1 billion fundraising effort.

Len Berlik has strong ties to the College of Business Administration. Graduating in 1969 with honors, he credits the college with jumpstarting his business career.

“The most vivid memory of my college experience is being a co-op student,” he said. “At that time, co-op was fairly common in engineering, but not in business. UT had one of the few co-op programs in the country for business students.

“For three years, I worked with Supermarkets General Corp. in New Jersey, alternating work quarters with study quarters. The business experience was great, but the real benefit was in the experience of living and working on my own. The program also extended my horizons beyond Tennessee, resulting in a career that took me and my family all around the world.”

After graduation, Berlik served in the U.S. Army Reserve before starting his 40-year career in the chemical industry. He worked for Monsanto, National Starch and Imperial Chemical Industries PLC, living and working throughout Europe and Asia. Since 2007, he has been a management consultant, primarily working with private equity firms that invest in the chemical industry.

Berlik has returned to campus as a guest lecturer in international business and global strategy classes and in the college’s Executive-In-Residence program, which provides business professionals the opportunity to interact with the college’s top undergraduate and graduate students.

“It is my strong belief that graduates who have enjoyed successful careers should share that success with the institution that provided the basic skills to launch their journey,” Berlik said. “This is particularly important in a time when public funding is declining. I hope that our gift will inspire students to broaden their horizons and consider international business and manufacturing as a very rewarding career choice.”

The Campaign for Tennessee — the most ambitious effort in the university’s 214-year history — places UT among the ranks of the nation’s largest public and private institutions that have sought this level of private support.

The campaign, which launched its silent phase in 2005, will secure private gifts that, in turn, will contribute substantially to the distinct, but linked, campuses in the UT system. Funds raised through the campaign will directly support the objectives of UT’s strategic plan. Among those objectives are improved student access and success, research and economic development, outreach and globalization.

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C O N T A C T :

Cindy Raines (865-974-4359, craines1@utk.edu)

Joe Crafton

KNOXVILLE — Alumnus Joe Crafton, president of CROSSMARK, a leading provider of services to the consumer goods industry, has provided a gift to the College of Business Administration at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in recognition of the impact UT has had on his family.

His gift supports technology in the college’s new James A. Haslam II Business Building and shopper marketing efforts in the college’s Department of Marketing and Logistics. To commemorate his generosity, the college has named the Crafton Family Terrace in the Haslam Business Building in his family’s honor.

“It is especially meaningful to have the terrace named after my family,” said Crafton, a 1984 graduate of the College of Business Administration. “From the Crafton Family Terrace, there is a clear view of the alma mater colleges of my wife, Wendy, who graduated in 1984 with a humanities degree; father Joe Sr., who graduated in 1950 as an engineer and lived in the stadium dorm; mother, Patti, who was a Torchbearer, graduating in 1955 in education; my brother Nick, a graduate in engineering, and another brother Hugh, a business graduate. Not to mention the numerous extended family members who graduated from UT. The Crafton Family Terrace also provides an ideal view of where my wife and I first met — Neyland Stadium — and her beloved Smoky Mountains in the distance.”

By giving to the college, Crafton hopes to perpetuate its tradition of excellence in consumer goods sales and marketing education and encourage future students to pursue careers in the industry. His gift is part of UT’s Campaign for Tennessee $1 billion fundraising effort.

This gift was very personal for Crafton on several other levels.

“Before Haslam was built, business classes were held in the Glocker Business Administration Building. It was in Glocker where I developed my passion for marketing and supply chain management that led to my career in consumer goods marketing. Glocker, however, was technologically challenged to provide students with a state-of-the-art learning environment. I wanted to ensure that future generations kept pace with global advancements,” he said.

Crafton also sees shopper marketing as a way to differentiate college graduates in the workplace.

“The consumer goods industry is investing incremental time and dollars in reaching the consumer when he or she is in a shopping mode. As a founding member of UT’s Shopper Marketing Forum, my planned gift will go toward advancing superior student education in areas having greatest demand,” he said.

Richard “Dick” Reizenstein, emeritus associate marketing professor, was instrumental in reconnecting Crafton with the college.

“Dick was an associate dean of the college when I was a student. He re-involved me in the college through his Executive-in-Residence (EIR) program. On one of my EIR visits to meet with students, I saw the plans for Haslam and realized the exceptional leverage the building provided the college. I’m glad to be associated with it,” Crafton said.

The Campaign for Tennessee — the most ambitious effort in the university’s 214-year history — places UT among the ranks of the nation’s largest public and private institutions that have sought this level of private support.

The campaign, which launched its silent phase in 2005, will secure private gifts that, in turn, will contribute substantially to the distinct, but linked, campuses in the UT system. Funds raised through the campaign will directly support the objectives of UT’s strategic plan. Among those objectives are improved student access and success, research and economic development, outreach and globalization.

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C O N T A C T :

Cindy Raines (865-974-4359, craines1@tennessee.edu)

UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek (left) presents Clay Jones (right) with the Accomplished Alumnus Award.

KNOXVILLE – University of Tennessee, Knoxville, alumnus Clay Jones and his wife, Debbie, have donated $1 million to provide funding for the university’s student leadership program.

Jones, Rockwell Collins chairman, president, and chief executive officer, visited campus last week to discuss plans for the gift, which will fund the Jones Director of Leadership Programming in the student affairs division.

“I owe a big part of my success to the leadership roles I experienced while at UT,” Jones said. “I learned how to work with others and direct a team, how to manage my time, how to lead. I hope this program will enhance UT’s student leadership opportunities to give all students the experience I had.”

Funds from the new Jones Director of Leadership Programming Endowment will be allocated annually and will help expand current programming and encourage more students to participate in leadership activities on campus.

Jones received his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, now the College of Arts and Sciences, in 1971. As an undergraduate, he was a member of the Student Government Association, Air Force ROTC and Student Ambassadors, among other organizations. He also was named a university Torchbearer, the highest honor an undergraduate student can receive. He and his wife also have provided significant support to the Torchbearer Scholarship Endowment.

“Providing programming and instruction for leadership is an essential part of the growth and development of students,” said Tim Rogers, vice chancellor for student affairs. “Clay and Debbie Jones have given the university a tremendous gift that will have a significant and lasting impact on our students and campus for years to come.”

Examples of current UT programming to be expanded with this gift include:

• The Ignite Summit: A three-day leadership retreat for first-year students that shows them the social leadership opportunities across campus, while building a peer network for student success. The Jones’ gift will allow more students to attend the conference.
• Emerging Leaders Program: A class offered to those interested in student life, government and community service. It provides a base foundation of leadership skills, attitudes, theories, applications and an appreciation for diversity. The class includes an exchange trip and community service project. More class offerings will be available for this program because of the endowment.

Upon graduation from UT Knoxville, Jones served as a U.S. Air Force pilot and flew F-15 jets in the late 1970s. After he completed his service, he joined Rockwell International in 1979 and eventually led the successful spinoff of Rockwell Collins, a company specializing in communication and aviation technology. Jones was named president and chief executive officer in 2001. He has served as chairman of the board since 2002.

Jones serves as a director for Unisys Corp. and John Deere Co. He also serves on the boards for several organizations, including the Henry B. Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa, the Aerospace Industry Association and United Way of East Central Iowa. He also is a member of the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.

During his visit to Knoxville, Jones was presented with an Accomplished Alumnus Award. The program brings noteworthy alumni back to campus to honor their accomplishments and gives them an opportunity to share their stories, talents and career experiences with students and other alumni. The program is sponsored by the UT Knoxville Office of Alumni Affairs.

Jones and his family reside in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The gift is part of the university’s $1 billion fundraising campaign, the Campaign for Tennessee. The most ambitious effort in the university’s history, the campaign places UT among the ranks of the nation’s largest public and private institutions that have sought this level of private support.

The campaign secures private gifts through contributions, pledges and planned giving to advance the university’s strategic goals that include improving student access and success, research and economic development, outreach and globalization. More than 98 percent of all gifts are designated for a specific purpose or program, such as scholarships or endowed professorships, and help provide the vital resources to advance key initiatives.

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C O N T A C T :

Beth Gladden (865-974-9008, bgladden@utk.edu)

John Tickle Engineering Building

KNOXVILLE – The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, broke ground Tuesday on the John Tickle Engineering Building, a cutting-edge facility that will house two key departments in the university’s College of Engineering.

The five-story, 110,000-square-foot building, named for Tickle, president and owner of Strongwell Corp. and a 1965 alumnus of the college, will contain laboratory space, classrooms and offices. In addition, the building also will anchor a new gateway to campus and provide a new link between Neyland Drive and the Hill.

“This facility will play a vital role in our efforts to bring students into the engineering fields, and will greatly enhance the opportunities available to faculty and students as they work to shape the future of our state and our nation,” said UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. “We are all especially grateful to both John and Ann Tickle for their support for our university and its mission, and we’re proud that the building will bear John’s name.”

The Tickles have provided a generous donation toward the construction of the John Tickle Building, which will house the department of civil and environmental engineering and the department of industrial and information engineering.

“Education is the key for taking this state and our nation forward. In academics, like athletics, to get the best we have to have the best facilities,” Tickle said.

Facilities for each of the two departments are currently spread across several different buildings both on and off the main campus. The new space will include the American Society of Civil Engineers Project Lab/Student Project Lab, the GeoTech Lab and the Undergraduate Soils Laboratory, computer and senior design labs, a student study and seminar room, and faculty and graduate student offices.

A unique feature of the building is the pedestrian bridge that will connect the Tickle Engineering Building to the

John Tickle Engineering Building

heart of the campus. Easing pedestrian access for students, faculty and staff to the Hill, the bridge is a signature element that also will provide a visual link from the facility to the existing engineering buildings on the Hill.

Along with Cheek and the Tickles, those taking part in the groundbreaking included Jan Simek, UT interim president; Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam; Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale; Jim Porter, chair of the UT College of Engineering Board of Advisors; Mike Crabtree, representative, Campaign for Tennessee College of Engineering Executive Committee; Wayne Davis, UT Knoxville engineering dean; Dayakar Penumadu, professor and head, department of civil and environmental engineering; and Bruce Robinson, professor and interim head, department of industrial and information engineering.

The $23.1 million new facility is funded both by private support from the Tickles as well as funding from the State of Tennessee.

The Tickles also provided considerable support for the John and Ann Tickle Small Animal Hospital expansion within UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Their gift allowed construction to go forward on the $10 million, 32,000-square-foot addition in 2007. The facility was opened in the spring of 2008.

Tickle received his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in 1965 from the UT Knoxville. He served in positions with Owens Corning Tech Center, Justin Enterprises and Krueger Metal Products before returning to his hometown of Bristol, Va., to assume the presidency of Morrison Molded Fiber Glass Co. Tickle stayed with MMFG after its acquisition by Shell in 1985 and eventually purchased the company. He renamed the company Strongwell Corp. in 1997. Today, Strongwell is a worldwide operation, with the Bristol division serving as its headquarters.

Tickle is a member of the Campaign for Tennessee Engineering Executive Committee. He has been the recipient of a host of local, regional and national business and philanthropic awards, including having the mall at Bristol Regional Medical Center, which was dedicated in 2004, named for him; laureate in the Junior Achievements Business Hall of Fame in 2000; Virginia Chamber of Commerce Torchbearer Award for Western Virginia in 1999; and serving as Bristol Regional Hospital chairman from 1987 to 1992. He also was a member of the UT Athletics Board and has served on the College of Engineering’s Board of Advisors.

Ann Tickle graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the UT Knoxville College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. Tickle also has been extensively involved in philanthropic work.

The Campaign for Tennessee — the most ambitious effort in the university’s 214-year history — places UT among the ranks of the nation’s largest public and private institutions that have sought this level of private support. As of April 30, 2009, more than $577 million of the $610 million Knoxville campus goal had been received in both donations and pledges for future support.

The campaign, which launched its silent phase in 2005, will secure private gifts that, in turn, will contribute substantially to the distinct, but linked, campuses in the UT system. Funds raised through the campaign will directly support the objectives of UT’s strategic plan, including improving student access and success, research and economic development, outreach and globalization.

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C O N T A C T :

Jay Mayfield (865-974-9409, jay.mayfield@tennessee.edu)

Kim Cowart (865-974-0686, kcowart@utk.edu)

Michael Strickland

KNOXVILLE — Michael Strickland, founder and CEO of Bandit Lites Inc., the second-largest event lighting company in the world, has agreed to chair the annual giving campaign for the College of Business Administration at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Strickland is a 1977 graduate of the college.

The college’s annual giving program is part of the Campaign for Tennessee, the university’s $1 billion fundraising effort.

As a member of the University of Tennessee Development Council and UT College of Business Administration’s Campaign Leadership Committee, Strickland regularly emphasizes the importance of helping future business students. As part of his new role, he will educate fellow alumni and friends of the college on the importance of annual giving and the college’s newly created Dean’s Circle giving society, which recognizes donors who gift $1,000 or more to the College Fund for Business Administration. The College Fund is an unrestricted fund that provides the college with the flexibility to meet the current needs of the college that endowment earnings do not provide for. Unrestricted dollars are vital in providing for the continued success of the college.

“We are extremely appreciative of Michael’s support of the college and especially for this new role he is serving,” said Jan Williams, dean of the College of Business Administration. “Unrestricted annual giving allows us to continue providing value to our students despite the current economic conditions.”

“Each of us has an obligation to put the next generation in the best possible position to succeed,” Strickland said, “and gifts to the College of Business Administration ensure the success of this and future generations. It is a privilege to be able to assist others as we all work together to make the world a better place. I am very excited about chairing the annual giving campaign for the college.”

The Campaign for Tennessee — the most ambitious effort in the university’s 214-year history — places UT among the ranks of the nation’s largest public and private institutions that have sought this level of private support.

The campaign, which launched its silent phase in 2005, secures private gifts that, in turn, will contribute substantially to the distinct, but linked, campuses in the UT system. Funds raised through the campaign will directly support the objectives of UT’s strategic plan. Among those objectives are improved student access and success, research and economic development, outreach and globalization.

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C O N T A C T :

Cindy Raines, (865-974-4359, craines1@utk.edu)