Reflecting on 2020 can take a whole new year, redoing all the twists and turns that made it so hectic. The pandemic greatly influenced what the year ended up being, and helped to create some special moments for the UT community. Despite the challenges of 2020, Volunteers found the moment while having fun along the way. Review some of the favorite photos from an unforgettable year.
January
Students, teachers and staff joined the large Knoxville community for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade on January 21. This was one of several events held to honor MLK’s life and legacy. That same weekend, the Jones Center for Leadership and Service organized its annual MLK Service Day, where more than 400 volunteers gathered to give back to 22 different community partners in need – the largest participation ever at the event.
February
UT completed the 225th anniversary celebration in 2020. On February 25, February 25, the campus community celebrated with food-themed events, such as 225 ways to cover a pancake. The remains of food, which coincidentally amounted to exactly 225 pounds, were collected and donated to local pantries. Students, teachers and staff were encouraged to donate cans of food and to finish off purchases from campus restaurants to finance Smokey’s Pantry. Find out more about UT’s 225th anniversary.
march
Six senior students were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements, leadership and service with the Torchbearer award, the university’s highest honors. Emma Heins, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, was surprised in front of her closest friends and classmates at a Campus Events Council meeting in early March by vice president of student life Frank Cuevas and the president of Shea Kidd Houze students. Take a look at the 2020 Torchbearer surprises.
April
Spring is always a special season on Rocky Top, full of activities and a vibrant flowering scene. But by 2020 the campus was strangely quiet as students finished their semesters at home due to the coronavirus. This sudden change was difficult, but notable alumni like Peyton Manning and other university supporters guaranteed students felt the voluntary spirit through the VFL Class Crash series. These surprise drops in online classes were a huge boost during a challenging season.
Also in April, Neyland Stadium lit up the campus once again. Like senior students across the country, UT’s graduating class was particularly affected by the pandemic, so on April 17, Neyland Stadium turned on its lights for 20 minutes in honor of its hard work and achievements. The tribute was a small way of giving light to this year’s graduates.
May
In times of need, volunteers stand out. Students, teachers and staff collaborated to produce facial protectors for health professionals who work long hours on the front lines of the pandemic. The Innovation Collaboration Studio at Tickle College of Engineering and the Fab Lab 3D at the Faculty of Architecture and Design printed the light bandanas for the shields. Hundreds were donated to local health care providers and across Tennessee. Also in May, UT hosted online graduation ceremonies for 4,625 graduates. A special gift was sent to each new member of the UT alumni family.
June
During the summer, Facility Services staff worked hard to prepare the campus for students to return in the fall. More than 1,400 hand sanitizing stations have been installed across the campus, along with 337 new taps, 326 acrylic screens and 240 new classroom webcams. Other security updates for campYesus included antibacterial cleaning stations, as well as new campus health and wellness signs in high-traffic areas.
July
More than 200 UT teachers, staff and volunteer students gathered 50,000 wellness kits containing masks and gaiters to keep campus community members safe for the start of the semester. The volunteers gathered at the Thompson-Boling Arena for three days, packing what would become the new best way to use orange.
August
UT received a record number of new Vols in the fall for its first hybrid semester. More than 250 virtual and socially distant face-to-face events took place, including Slap the Rock, a drive-in film, a curiosity night at Student Union Plaza and a twist on the long-standing tradition of Torch Night. Check out our favorite Welcome Week moments.
On August 29, students, teachers and staff marched on campus to promote unity in the fight against systemic racism. The march was organized by three student-athletes who set out to make their voices heard and promote solidarity in the UT campus community. Participants wore masks and heard from several student leaders.
September
A sunrise in Knoxville lit up the Tennessee River in early fall. The campus also received new amenities, including outdoor study spaces and hammocks so that students can safely enjoy the beautiful landscape. Other construction projects continued during the fall.
October
UT scored its first Success Week Vol in October, a weeklong celebration of academic success for students. Throughout the week, campus partners hosted more than a dozen different events to recognize students’ achievements and highlight how their strengths make them valuable members of the volunteer’s family.
November
Ten in-person graduation ceremonies in honor of spring, summer and autumn 2020 graduates were held in the last week of the fall semester. To keep graduates and participants safe, the ceremonies featured improved health and safety measures, a limited number of guests, socially distant seats and mandatory masks. Even with these changes, the joy of the beginning was evident in lively eyes and proud steps across the main stage.
December
Students completed their final exams online, and a blizzard in early winter covered the campus with a beautiful layer of white.