The Volunteer spirit is a well-respected and quite visible aspect of UT culture. This week, the importance and significance of being a Volunteer came out full-force.
On Friday afternoon, under sunny skies and the warmest temperatures of the week, over one hundred UT students set out to participate in the Chancellor’s Day of Service. The event was the Clay and Debbie Jones Center for Leadership and Service’s last VOLServe day of the semester.
At the commencement of the event, participating students gathered in Strong Hall to hear opening remarks from Chancellor Donde Plowman and the Jones Center staff.
Students help clean up the UT Gardens during the Chancellor's Day of Service on Friday, November 16, 2019.
Plowman donned a UT orange athletic jacket, leggings and tennis shoes, and, respecting her promise to remain a visible chancellor, she walked among the rows of student volunteers, asking their names and introducing herself simply as “Donde.”
Mandie Beeler, the director of the Jones Center, explained how thankful she feels to have a chancellor like Plowman, who is willing and committed to participating in the university’s service events.
“We are so lucky to have a chancellor here at Rocky Top that supports service and has the energy and enthusiasm that we do,” Beeler said. “She’s really excited to help us make it a part of everybody’s experience.”
Next, Plowman herself addressed the crowd. She emphasized the true meaning behind being a Volunteer and the power “T” symbol, comedically comparing Tennessee’s mascot to that of other universities.
“I get a laugh when I say this, but I love to say the following: what does it mean to be a Gator? Nothing. What does it mean to be a Dog? Nothing. What does it mean to be a Husker? … It doesn’t mean anything, but being a Volunteer means something,” Plowman said.
She explained the literal embodiment of being a Volunteer, in the context of the origins of the name.
“Our history is that the president, back in the day, needed 2,800 soldiers, and Tennessee sent 30,000,” Plowman said. “That’s how Tennesseans are, that’s what we do. We step forward and say, I’ll go, I’ll serve, so that’s what we’re doing this afternoon. I’m going with you. I’ll serve.”
Plowman then discussed the success of this year’s Big Orange Give. The annual fundraising event, which benefits student scholarships and other student resources, took place Wednesday, and UT set a goal to raise $2.25 million in 24 hours in honor of UT’s 225th anniversary. Big Orange Give met that large goal and even surpassed it by several million dollars.
Plowman expressed her gratitude for the funds raised and explained that during the Chancellor’s Day of Service, students had the opportunity to give back to the Knoxville community, just as the many donors had given back to them during Big Orange Give.
“They’ve given money, you’re giving time today, so we’re all in this together … We’re so fortunate, because that money went to benefit you,” Plowman said.
Students then split into groups to board buses or walk across campus to their service sites. The groups were each assigned a separate service project, including Zoo Knoxville, Smokey’s Closet, UT Gardens, Beardsley Community Farm, Ladies of Charity, Keep Knoxville Beautiful, UT Office of Sustainability and others.
As each group’s project was announced, students whooped and yelled with excitement, bustling out the doors to get on the road in anticipation of giving back to the community.
Chancellor Donde Plowman speaks at an opening remarks ceremony for the Chancellor's Day of Service in Strong Hall on Friday, November 15, 2019.
