The 11th UTC MLK Day celebration brought a pair of co-headliners to Chattanooga on Jan. 19—Bernice King, a minister, attorney and daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Ilyasah Shabazz, an award-winning author, educator, producer and daughter of Malcolm X. The event theme, “A Legacy of Leadership and Service,” was moderated by Vice Chancellor for Access and Engagement Stacy Lightfoot and Student Government Association President Chamyra Teasley.
Together, the daughters of the slain civil rights leaders sat on the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium stage and discussed the legacy of their fathers, their journeys to activism and carrying on their fathers’ missions for racial equality. Due to high demand, the event—open to community members—was held in an off-campus venue for the first time.
Marching Mocs March in London
Ninety-two members of the Marching Mocs marching band traveled to London during the holiday break to participate in the 38th annual London New Year’s Day Parade.
Billed as the “biggest New Year’s Day street event of its kind,” the parade attracted over 10,000 performers from the U.S. and Europe and a street audience of more than 500,000. The parade was streamed live worldwide and televised in the U.S. on PBS stations.
“The first band at the University of Chattanooga was in 1923, so receiving this invitation that tied into our 100th year was very cool,” says UTC Director of Bands Randall Coleman.
UTC Mourns Death of Former Chancellor Bill Stacy
Bill Stacy, UTC chancellor from 1997 to 2004, died Jan. 4 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was 85.
“After I first arrived at UTC in 2013, Dr. Stacy took me under his wing and was instrumental in introducing me to key members of the community,” UTC Chancellor Steven Angle says. “He was easy to get along with, always entertaining and committed to bettering the lives of those around him.”
Stacy worked hand in hand with the UC Foundation on building South Campus housing, changing UTC from a commuter campus to a residential institution; during his time as chancellor, over 1,600 beds were built. Just as significantly, he grew the stature of the university academically by establishing UTC’s first Ph.D. programs.
UTC Connected to Quantum Network
UTC became the first academic institution connected to EPB Quantum Network powered by Qubitekk, the nation’s first industry-led, commercially available quantum network for running equipment and applications in an established fiber optic environment. UTC is connected to the network via a node within a quantum technology laboratory on campus.
“Having UTC connected to EPB Quantum Network is integral to our strategy to prepare our community with the education they need to be successful in the quantum age,” says EPB CEO and President David Wade (Chattanooga ’04). “Amazing work is being done in universities across the country and here at UTC. Having a path to move research from academia and into practical application is possible with a quantum-prepared workforce like the one we’re developing in Chattanooga. This could put our city at the forefront when quantum companies consider where to locate their operations.”
