UTM Aero Team Shines

Six aero engineering students stand for a photo holding up their red and blue electric motor-propelled aircraft.
Members of the UT Martin aero engineering team, from left, are: Josiah Tingley of Cordova; Clint Southworth of Bagdad, Kentucky; Jack Nanney of Martin; president Haley Baker of Arlington; Alec Beaman of Franklin and Gavin Olson of Collierville. (PHOTO BY NATHAN MORGAN)

The UT Martin aero engineering team took fifth place among 26 international teams at the 2023-24 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aero Design Competition, the highest finish of any team from the United States in its class level. The team competed in the regular class in the East Group at the competition March 8-10 in Lakeland, Florida, and finished with a total score of 101.52 points. Teams are judged on design, presentation and mission performance of a team-built, 750-watt electric motor-propelled aircraft. Team members included team president Haley Baker of Arlington; Alec Beaman of Franklin; Jack Nanney of Martin; Gavin Olson of Collierville; Clint Southworth of Bagdad, Kentucky; and Josiah Tingley of Cordova. The team was led by J. Douglas Sterrett, retired professor of engineering, and Ashley Owens, assistant professor of engineering. All six team members were senior mechanical engineering students.

Investiture Honors Freeman

UT Martin Chancellor Yancy Freeman speaks from a podium during his investiture ceremony.
UT Martin Chancellor Yancy Freeman. (PHOTO BY NATHAN MORGAN)

UT Martin honored its 12th chancellor, Yancy Freeman, with its first investiture ceremony, held March 15 in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. The theme of the investiture was “Ready, Set, Soar!” The day of firsts was doubly significant, as Freeman is the first African American chancellor at an undergraduate University of Tennessee campus. Freeman was confirmed as UT Martin’s chancellor in July 2023, with his appointment effective Aug. 9, 2023. The event welcomed UT President Randy Boyd, five former UT Martin chancellors and dignitaries from across the UT System and Tennessee.

Student Media Recognized

Student staff members from UTM campus radio station WUTM 90.3.
UT Martin’s student newspaper, The Pacer, was represented at the annual Southeast Journalism Conference convention at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. Pacer staff members included front row, from left: Erika O’Brien of Adams, chief photographer; Payton Frimel of Cunningham, Viewpoints co-editor; Kate Pilcher of Obion, news editor; Bethany Collins of Dresden, editorial assistant; Tomi McCutchen, faculty adviser; back row, from left: Sophia Albers of Nolensville, editorial assistant; Marques Rice of Memphis, features editor; Sarah Cornwell of Benton, Kentucky, executive editor; Trenton Michon of Chapmansboro, Viewpoints co-editor; and Mekenzie Coleman of Jackson, graphic designer and assistant operations manager. (COURTESY PHOTO)

Student staff members from campus radio station WUTM 90.3 FM The Hawk and student newspaper The Pacer were recognized at the 2024 Southeast Journalism Conference at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. UT Martin was one of 24 schools that attended the conference. WUTM won five awards, and The Pacer won three for its work throughout the year. The Pacer also earned three awards during on-site competitions. WUTM 90.3 FM The Hawk was named the Best College Radio Station in the South, which is the 13th time in 20 years for the station to earn the top honor.

ROTC Building Named for Cavin

UTM Chancellor Yancy Freeman reveals the new ROTC center entrance sign, named after retired Lt. Gen. Dennis D. Cavin.
UT Martin honored retired Lt. Gen. Dennis Cavin by naming the ROTC center after him.

The ROTC building was officially named in honor of retired Lt. Gen. Dennis D. Cavin. Cavin is a 1970 UT Martin agriculture graduate and was commissioned as a distinguished military graduate in air defense artillery. Cavin served as a career Army air defense artillery officer in short-range and high-altitude air defense artillery for more than 20 years. He was the architect of several major Army outreach programs, including the U.S. Army High School All-American Bowl football game and the U.S. Army NASCAR and National Hot Rod Association programs connecting the Army to the target recruiting communities. Cavin joined Lockheed Martin in October 2004 after completing 34 years of Army service.

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