Get ready Memphis...UT Martin is coming to town and you are invited! Parking lot on Southern Avenue near stadium beginning at 4:30 p.m Saturday, September 19. Blues music, great BBQ and lots of fun. Cost is $5 per person and includes food and drink. To make reservations, click here or call 731-881-7610.       News_______________________________   The University of Tennessee at Martin has again earned the designation as one of the best colleges and universities in the Southeast, according to The Princeton Review for 2010. The New York City-based education services company selected the school as one of 141 institutions it recommends in its “Best in the Southeast” section on its Web site feature, “2010 Best Colleges: Region by Region.” UT Martin has earned the designation for seven consecutive years. Dr. Tom Rakes, UT Martin chancellor, said the designation is further evidence that the university provides a high-quality learning experience for students. “Our students are among our best sponsors, and we appreciate being designated as among the Best in the Southeast,” Rakes said. Do you have a son or daughter beginning this fall as a freshman at UT Martin? If yes, please mark your calendar for Thursday, Aug. 27, at noon for the annual UT Martin Legacy Luncheon. The event is free and will take place in the Paul Meek Library. This year's guest speak will be Mary Vaughn Carpenter (UTM '77), the director of the library. Four scholarships worth $500 each will be awarded to legacies during the luncheon. You must be present to win them. One legacy scholarship will be awarded to a student from the three grand divisions of the state and one from out-of-state. To register, please click here or call 731-881-3610. Legacy scholarships have been made possible by the generosity of alumni contributing to the new UT Martin Campus Fund. Thank you to all who have made gifts to the fund this past year, and we hope you will consider making another gift this year. Little Texas and Sister Hazel will headline the 16th Annual Tennessee Soybean Festival, Sept. 5-13, in Martin. A mix of free musical entertainment, along with a car and bike show, pageants, talent contest, parade, barbecue cookoff and educational programs, also highlight this year's event. The theme is “The Crossroads of Good Livin'.” “This is our 16th year to promote agriculture and community through the Tennessee Soybean Festival,” said David Belote, festival chairman. He added that the festival continues to be a week packed with events to interest people of all ages throughout Martin and the region. “We try to offer the best possible entertainment while striving to provide a program of events that is diverse and exciting.” Read more about the festival by clicking here. Have you seen the video alumni are talking about? Take a campus tour with Chancellor Tom Rakes by going to www.utmforever.com and clicking on the video. Locations you will see include Ellington Hall, the new apartment style housing, new student recreation center and much more. An online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in management will be offered for the first time by the University of Tennessee at Martin. It is one of only four AACSB-accredited online BSBA in management programs in the nation and is targeting business professionals who want to advance their careers by expanding their knowledge and expertise while obtaining a degree. Learn more about this on line degree program. Dr. Sue Byrd, University of Tennessee at Martin family and consumer sciences professor, was named 2009-10 president-elect of the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences at the recent AAFCS 100th Annual Conference and Expo in Knoxville. Read more about Dr. Byrd. A travel-study trip to the Amazon, complete with a jungle walk through the Amazon rainforest, study of rainforest flora and fauna and challenges faced by the Amazonian people, will be led by Dr. Sue Byrd, professor of family and consumer sciences; Dr. Bradley Ray, assistant professor of fisheries; and Scott Pun, lecturer of health and human performance. The trip is scheduled for Jan. 2-12, 2010. Participants will travel to Manaus, Brazil and the Amazon and Rio Negro rivers (within the Amazon). A few spots remain, with faculty, staff, UT Martin students and community members invited to participate. UT Martin students participating must register for one of the following three-hour courses in fall 2009: FCS 470, NRM 230, or HLTH 485. Approximate cost for the trip is $2,700 plus passport, Visa and immunization costs. UT Martin students may apply for Student Government Association scholarships. For more information, contact Byrd at sbyrd@utm.edu, Ray at bray@utm.edu or Pun at spun@utm.edu. Events______________________________  Saturday, Aug. 15 - UT Martin Alumni Council Meeting Thursday, Aug. 27 - Legacy Luncheon - Noon Saturday, Sept. 19 - UTM Tailgate party prior to UTM/Memphis game Oct. 9-11 - Homecoming 2009...A Luau in Martin Click here for the official UTM Homecoming web site.