Drawing on tradition as well as the future vision of the university, the Senior Gift Steering Committee announced a three-part gift on behalf of the 2001 senior class Tuesday afternoon on the front steps of Ayres Hall.

The gift, as announced by chair Amy Youree, represents the theme of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

The first part, representing yesterday, will be the planting of orange and white daisies around the Hill, the same type of flower that inspired UT’s celebrated colors and identity. Today will be represented by placing a working clock on all four sides of the Ayres Hall tower. For tomorrow, the committee will put any exceeding funds after the flowers and the clocks are installed into a scholarship endowment fund, which future committees can add to.

This year’s committee wanted to leave a lasting legacy, Youree said.

President Wade Gilley said he was pleased with how the committee had chosen to represent the senior class.

It’s always important to look back at tradition, especially knowing who you are and knowing where you are from, Gilley said. It’s equally important to know where the future is going. The committee is showing this type of commitment at an early age.

Committee member English Rockholt said she hoped the senior class would lend their support for the gift.

It’s definitely something the students can take pride in, she said.

This sentiment was repeated by member Jarrod Cruz.

Now we can not only think back on our traditions, we can actually see them, Cruz said.