UT’s extended orientation program called Ignite is the alternative way to be welcomed into the Big Orange Family. Geared toward incoming freshmen or transfer students, Ignite seeks to show new members of UT what it truly means to be a Vol. Hard work, leadership and fun Rocky Top traditions are just the beginning.
When freshmen sign up for orientation and meet with their advisors, adding Ignite into the mix is a helpful option.
Ignite offers four different programs: Summit, 865, Outdoors and Evolve.
Ignite Summit is held off campus, and it spans three days. Its focus is leadership development and learning UT traditions.
Ignite 865 is held on campus, and it also lasts for three days. It drives students to see Knoxville as their true home, with community service opportunities in the city but a welcoming place back on UT’s campus in the evenings. Those who participate in Ignite 865 can move into their housing assignments early.
Ignite Outdoors is a four day outdoor adventure. Trained staff take students on wilderness trips with activities like rock climbing, hiking and whitewater paddling.
And finally, Ignite Evolve is typically geared toward transfer students with focus on the spirit of UT, Knoxville community and leadership skills. It lasts for two days and takes place on campus.
Andrew Perry, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering, participated in Ignite Evolve in 2023, where he volunteered at a Knoxville children’s museum. Alongside fellow students, he spent time working for the museum staff in any way that was beneficial to them.
“This specific museum … is amazing for teaching kids while giving them a space where they can enjoy themselves,” Perry said. “Being able to volunteer there and do as much work for the staff as possible was an amazing opportunity.”
Ignite puts the hard work behind the bold talk, but it also connects new students to current students and staff, people who truly understand the Volunteer spirit and what it means to be a part of the school.
“ … It really helped me get accustomed to the school, the people and the Vol mentality as I began my very first semester,” Perry said. “I made some amazing friends during that time, and those relationships are still important to me today.”
Ignite is under the Division of Student Life, and it falls within the Clay and Debbie Jones Center for Leadership and Service. What used to be just a “campus hub” for student leadership was given an official title and name in 2019 when Clay Jones and his wife Debbie gave a landmark gift of $5 million to UT.
“In the future, UT can become a primary source for leadership talent who are educated and prepared to take on some of the world’s toughest challenges. That’s what Volunteers do,” Jones said in a news release in 2019.
Jones graduated from UT in 1971 and was named a Torchbearer. He went on to serve in both the Air Force and the White House.
The University of Tennessee is truly set apart by volunteer work. In 2022, Chancellor Donde Plowman put into action a policy allowing employees up to eight paid hours of volunteer work. Volunteers are taught that leadership is selfless and sometimes hard.
“When I signed up, I looked at Ignite as just a way to make friends and learn more about campus before I officially started the semester,” Perry said. “However, Ignite ended up being a much deeper experience.”
Some students, however, came away with different thoughts.
“The reality of the program differed from my impression,” Leah Pruter, a student who attended Ignite 865 in 2023, said. “I wished that there was more time set aside for service activities … since Ignite is advertised as an extended orientation centered around service learning.”
Pruter emphasized that she made lasting friendships during Ignite and the program helped push her outside of her comfort zone. But she would hesitate to recommend Ignite to freshmen seeking a major community service program.
“I did really enjoy the event we were able to do,” Pruter said. “If they are looking for leadership-building opportunities and the chance to make some new friends, Ignite may be a great option for them.”
By welcoming students with classic Volunteer hospitality and showing them first-hand what it means to be a student at UT, Ignite is paving the way for bright, successful leaders who truly understand the meaning of the expression, “Rocky Top, you’ll always be home sweet home to me.”
