Graduation Brunch Honors Graduating Seniors
The inaugural Chancellor's Honors Program Graduation Brunch was held on Thursday, May 10, 2007. The University Center Ballroom was bursting with guests, including over one hundred newly-minted Chancellor's Honors Program alumni and their more than three hundred family members and friends. The brunch was
instituted to honor students as they reach the milestone of graduation from the University of Tennessee and from the Chancellor's Honors Program. Students completed challenging degree requirements that included a rigorous honors curriculum, independent, faculty-mentored scholarship, and exceptional academic performance over the span of their undergraduate experience. In recognition of their achievement, each graduate was awarded a Chancellor's Honors Program-designated diploma as well as an individually engraved, gold-plated Honors Key.
The brunch began with opening remarks from Associate Provost and Director, Dr. Steven Dandaneau. His remarks concluded with a toast (of orange juice!) to the Graduating Class of 2007.
Chancellor Loren Crabtree attended the brunch and took time to speak with students and their families to offer words of congratulations and encouragement. Senior Shanika Sanders recalled many of the Class of '07's fondest collective experiences. Sanders spoke of the good times shared by those who lived in the Honors Community in Melrose Hall as well as the late nights studying in Hodges Library. Shanika's stroll down memory lane was nothing if not witty and charming, and would have stole the show were it not for the next speaker.
Keynote speaker, Coach Pat Head Summitt, took the stage to congratulate "the best" and to motivate them to excel in their post-graduate endeavors. Coach Summitt reminded the students that, "attitude is everything," and that, as graduates of the Chancellor's Honors Program, they were obligated to accept the responsibilities of leadership and provide service to others when ever and where ever they could. That's the Volunteer Spirit.
Coach Summitt extended her tim e to speak with all in attendance who wished to meet her personally. Graduates took this opportunity to begin their alumni career by spending a little one-on-one time with the "Winningest" Coach in college basketball who can also boast an astounding 100% graduation rate over 33 years of coaching. Coincidentally, in 2007, Coach Summitt also notched her record-setting 7th NCAA Women's College Basketball National Championship.
Click here or on the program above to view the numerous leadership and service activities undertaken by our graduating students. From a Fulbright Scholar to Student Government Association President, from members of the College Scholars Program to the Math Honors and Baker Scholars Programs, from Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Beacon to President of Mortar Board, the Chancellor's Honors Program graduating class of 2007 was in the forefront of the University of Tennessee's growth and development.
