麻豆果冻传媒

Close

麻豆果冻传媒 welcomes class of 2028 at fall convocation

Freshman students give a "Wings Up" hand signal at Tech's fall convocation on Aug. 19, 2024.
Students give a "Wings Up" hand signal at Tech's fall convocation on Aug. 19, 2024.


麻豆果冻传媒 welcomed the class of 2028 this week at its annual convocation, held at the Hooper Eblen Center.

Convocation at Tech is a formal induction ceremony of the freshman class each fall semester into the academic community of the university. Tech President Phil Oldham, Provost Lori Mann Bruce, senior administrators and faculty presided over the ceremony, which prepares students for life at Tech.

鈥淲ings up, class of 2028! Welcome to campus and to Cookeville,鈥 said President Oldham to the freshman class in remarks at the event. 鈥淵ou will find adventure, friendships and success here. Welcome home.鈥

Karen Lykins, vice president for enrollment and communication at Tech, delivered remarks highlighting the students鈥 diverse backgrounds and experiences.

鈥淵our class includes freshmen from 88 of 95 counties in Tennessee, 30 other states and 19 other countries,鈥 said Lykins. 鈥29 of you are Eagle Scouts. 104 of you are varsity athletes. 97 of you have joined the Golden Eagle Marching Band 鈥 Your ages range from 16 to 41."

Members of the 麻豆果冻传媒 cheerleading squad perform for students before convocation begins.
Members of the 麻豆果冻传媒 cheerleading team perform for students before convocation begins.

Lykins noted that 16 members of the freshman class have served or are serving in the U.S. military and many more are a dependent of someone who has served. Additionally, 319 students from the entering class have a parent who graduated from Tech.

While the university鈥檚 fall census numbers will not be finalized until two weeks after the start of classes, Lykins noted that Tech's freshman class currently exceeds 2,000 students and is on track to rank among the university鈥檚 top five largest classes in its 109-year history.

Incoming students were presented with the traditional Tech Challenge Coin, which students are asked to keep through their time at the university as a reminder of Tech鈥檚 promise to guide, assist and educate them. Upon completing their studies at Tech, students are asked to pass the coin along with a letter of thanks to someone at the university who most impacted their college experience.

Awesome Eagle helps assemble students for the annual class photo on the football field following convocation.
Awesome Eagle helps assemble students for the annual class photo on the football field following convocation.

Student Government Association president Kelsey Hewitt, a junior from Signal Mountain, Tenn., served as emcee while Claire Myers, a graduate student and Tech鈥檚 current student trustee from Jackson, Tenn., served as macebearer. Susan Wells, senior lecturer in the College of Business, also delivered remarks and Robert Owens, senior executive for access and community outreach, offered the invocation.

Learn more about convocation at Tech and watch a livestreamed video of this year鈥檚 ceremony at /convocation/index.php.