News_______________________________ The University of Tennessee at Martin has more than 8,000 students for the first time and continues to set all-time enrollment records in seven categories, based on fall 2009 enrollment figures. A total of 8,101 students are enrolled for the fall semester, an increase from 7,578 recorded for fall 2008. More... The University of Tennessee Interim President Jan Simek brought his fall campus tour to UT Martin on Tuesday, September 30, with words of praise for the university but tempered with caution about the state's budget situation. The stop at Martin was his next-to-last in a month-long tour that began September 2 at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis and ended October 6 in Knoxville. Simek's comments were made to a group of community leaders, elected officials and university supporters at a noon luncheon in the Boling University Center. Read more of Dr. Simek's remarks... The University of Tennessee at Martin is again listed among America's 100 Best College Buys, a listing compiled by Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc. Lewis Lindsey Jr., IRE president, made the announcement. The listing in America's 100 Best College Buys is UT Martin's third major recognition for the current academic year. Earlier, UT Martin continued its top-tier ranking for southern master's institutions in the 2010 edition of America's Best Colleges, compiled by U.S.News & World Report. Also, The Princeton Review named UT Martin “A Best Southeastern College” for 2010. The final preview day is set for November 21 at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Preview days are opportunities for high school students and their families to visit and learn about the university. Each event is designed to enable future college students to become familiar with the Martin campus and to get that all-important first impression of university life. Visit www.utm.edu for more information. What does a University of Tennessee at Martin engineering professor, two engineering alums, and the Tennessee Technology Center at McKenzie have in common? Each contributes to a 12-member team that has built a Baja car to race, November 19, in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, a 24-hour off-road race in Ensenada, Mexico. Dr. Bob LeMaster leads the team with assistance from UT Martin engineering grads Brian Boggs, of Martin, and Ashley Owens, of South Fulton. A third graduate, Jonathan Kolwyck of Dyersburg, assisted with the car through August but is now attending graduate school at the University of Tennessee Space Institute and won't attend the race. Jimmy Kee, who teaches welding at the McKenzie technology center, has also played a major role in car construction. Because of the car's size and noise output, the vehicle is being stored at the Fuqua Farms near Martin. The car is certified and paperwork is completed for the race, which will feature cars from 20 countries. Read more... 2009 West Tennessee Technology Symposium - Concurrent sessions dealing with technology on campus and in the classroom will be the focus of The University of Tennessee at Martin 2009 West Tennessee Technology Symposium from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Nov. 18, in the Boling University Center. There will also be a vendor showcase located in Duncan Ballroom of the center. For more information or to register online, visit http://www.utm.edu/wtts/registration.php. Dyersburg State Community College and UT Martin offer new dual-admission programs in agricultural science, K-6 and early childhood education. The official signing of a dual-admission agreement between DSCC and UT Martin for new Agricultural Science, Kindergarten – 6, and Early Childhood Education programs took place in the Learning Resource Center on the DSCC Dyersburg campus on October 12. UT Martin Chancellor Tom Rakes and DSCC President Karen Bowyer each signed the agreement as representatives of their institutions. Dual-admission programs allow a student to complete an associate degree at DSCC and then finish a bachelor's degree at UT Martin. The five people honored with awards during the University of Tennessee at Martin annual Homecoming Alumni Awards Banquet share the common goal of better preparing UT Martin students to achieve, but each has chosen a special means to give back to the university. Read more about the awards honorees... SKYHAWKS SOCCER TEAM EARNS SHARE OF FIRST OVC CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 1-0 WIN OVER EIU Freshman Kendyl Wilson converted on her team-leading fourth goal of the 2009 season in the 81st minute against Eastern Illinois, leading the University of Tennessee at Martin women's soccer to a share of its first Ohio Valley Conference championship in program history and a 1-0 win at Memorial Stadium. With the win, the Skyhawks improve to 9-6-0 (6-2-0 OVC), and will receive the first-round bye in next week's OVC Tournament at Jayne Stadium in Morehead, Ky. UT Martin now will play on Friday, November 6 at 7 p.m. Central Standard Time, facing the winner of the No. 3 Murray State and No. 6 Eastern Kentucky match. The Skyhawks went 2-0 against Murray State and Eastern Kentucky during the regular season, defeating both teams by 2-0 margins. Follow the Skyhawk soccer team at www.utmsports.com. Events______________________________  Friday, November 6 - Nashville Alumni Reception, Home of Ron (UTM 1962) and Sandy Pace Friday, November 6 - UTM Soccer OVC Championship Tournament, 7:00 p.m. in Morehead, Ky. Saturday, November 7 - UT Martin vs. Tennessee State Football 5:00 p.m. in Nashville at LP Field Monday, December 14 - UT Martin Alumni Reception in Memphis for Boston Celtics vs. Memphis Grizzlies NBA Basketball Game. Celtics' guard and UTM alumnus Lester Hudson will be available for autographs. More information to be posted on www.utmforever.com. The university and the alumni office will be closed from Friday, December 25 - Monday, January 4.