Yancy Freeman presided over his first UT Martin commencement ceremonies as chancellor Dec. 9 at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Among the graduates honored was Hal Bynum of Dresden, who received his interdisciplinary studies degree following decades of working in the agriculture industry. Bynum was among the first members of the UT Martin Advisory Board.
Mural Campaign Includes Ripley Center
Lauderdale County received its first “Everywhere You Look, UT” mural in November on the city’s farmers market. This was the 43rd Tennessee county to welcome a mural in the statewide UT System campaign. The goal is to paint a mural in each of the state’s 95 counties by 2030 to remind residents and travelers of UT’s presence in their lives. In addition to the campaign mural on the south-facing roof of the farmers market, a second mural promoting the UT Martin Ripley Center is displayed on the north-facing wall of the structure.
Honorary Degree Conferred on Thomsen
UT Martin’s agricultural business program is among the top majors pursued by students. It’s only fitting that the program’s creator, Rodney “Doc” Thomsen of Dresden, was honored for his vision, and the university did so in notable fashion. Chancellor Yancy Freeman conferred an honorary doctorate of agricultural business degree on the retired faculty member. Among his other career honors were receiving the UT National Alumni Association Outstanding Teacher Award in 1996 and induction into the UT Martin Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2002.
Student Earns National FFA Recognition
UT Martin sophomore Lainey Hutchison of Gadsden was named the American Star in Agribusiness at the Future Farmers of America National Convention in Indianapolis. The farm- and ranch-management major and UT Martin rodeo team member participated in FFA throughout high school. Sixteen American Star Award finalists from across the U.S. were nominated by a panel of judges who then interviewed the finalists. Hutchison was among the four chosen for the national awards.
Deter Receives Second Grant
UT Martin has received a second U.S. Department of Agriculture De-Escalation Grant to continue the criminal justice program’s DETER project at the Bromley Training Center in downtown Martin. DETER is the acronym for De-escalation Techniques and Emergency Response Project, which will receive $407,000 in new funding to continue educating the public on safely interacting with police and understanding the police perspective in risky situations. The total investment for the two grants is just over $954,000.
