Today, I am writing to you from the Alumni Center, a place that you can call “your” home. The alumni staff truly loves the new space, and we encourage you to visit with us any time you are in the area. I am pleased to also introduce a new member of our alumni family, Kelley Trevathan. Kelley joined our office in March and will oversee the online community, special reunions and events. She joins the veteran alumni staff member, Sarae Seratt (‘77).

When I watch the commencement program, I get choked up listening to the commencement march. I find myself thinking back to my college days. It is always a pleasant trip down memory lane. One that leads me to recall the faculty who teach, not preach –a memory of staff who care, not just working to draw a check. This is our university, our alma mater! As I witnessed my nephew walking across the stage at commencement, I could not help but smile. He has a whole new life ahead of him. He gets out of it what he puts into it. And that’s what UT Martin teaches – you can be successful if you work toward your goal.

How many of us can say we are successful? How many of us can help others with no obligation of repayment or recognition? As UT Martin continues to make giant leaps in reaching its $40 million campaign goal, your help is needed. Not only does your financial support encourage others to give back, but you are helping this generation of students achieve higher goals. We are not looking for armchair quarterbacks during this remarkable era for alumni; we are looking for alumni to be active and involved. We need you to visit campus. We need you to host events in your area for students and alumni. We need your financial support. We need you! Alumni like Bill Hoy (‘77), who purchased a large tent for outdoor functions at the center, know the importance of supporting UT Martin and our mission; alumni like Tim Taylor (‘84, ‘85) and Jean Phebus (‘92) and countless others, who give so freely of their time to volunteer for leadership roles within our organization. If you are like me, you might be waiting for someone to ask you to help. I am asking for your help and support.

I close this article with a sincere “thank you” to everyone who has taken time to visit with us since we changed locations. I also would like to thank Chancellor Tom Rakes and Len Solomons for their support in our mission in providing services to UT Martin alumni. These are monumental times for alumni of UT Martin. I hope you, too, are proud to call the University of Tennessee at Martin your alma mater.