_{Erik Oliver celebrates receiving his degree from the College of Emerging and Integrative Studies during Tech's fall 2023 commencement ceremony.}

Tennessee Tech University will celebrate its spring commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 3, in the Hooper Eblen Center.

The morning ceremony, which starts at 9:00 a.m., will include the following colleges and schools: graduate studies, agriculture and human ecology, business, engineering and fine arts. The afternoon ceremony, which starts at 2:00 p.m., will include the following colleges: graduate studies, arts and sciences, education, interdisciplinary studies and the Whitson-Hester School of Nursing.

More than 1,350 degrees are expected to be awarded to women and men who came to Tech from 80 counties throughout Tennessee, 24 states and 17 other countries. Those earning undergraduate degrees represent 52 fields of study, and those receiving graduate degrees represent 32 fields of study.

The birth dates of students from the class of 2024 range from 1962 to 2005, evidence that an education at Tech can be for everyone, regardless of age.

As noted by Tech President Phil Oldham earlier this semester, “As data shows, ‘students first’ is more than a slogan at Tennessee Tech, it’s a commitment that our faculty and staff put into practice each day. Tennessee Tech has always been about providing a quality education at an affordable cost that prepares students for impactful, real-world careers. That is our mission and mandate, and we are the best at doing it of any place I know.”

Retired Associate Dean of the College of Business Ramachandran Natarajan will serve as the official macebearer for both ceremonies. Natarajan previously served as the W.E. Mayberry Professor of Management with research and teaching interests in the areas of management of operations, technology and innovation, quality and performance management, supply chain management and global aspects of operations. He retired in 2023 after 35 years of service to the university. 

The spring commencement ceremonies will also feature several pre-recorded addresses from Tech students and alumni, including remarks from Addison Dorris, a graduating marketing and human resource management senior from Portland, Tenn. who was recently awarded with the prestigious Derryberry Award, the university’s highest student honor. Graduates will also hear from alumna Amelia Greer, a 2023 communications graduate who serves as the morning anchor at WDEF-TV, the CBS affiliate in Chattanooga.

They will additionally hear from alum Rev. W. Antoni Sinkfield who serves as the Associate Dean for Community Life at the Washington, D.C.-based Wesley Theological Seminary and is an ordained Itinerate Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Sinkfield holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Tennessee Tech, as well as a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University and a Doctor of Philosophy in ethical and creative leadership with a specialization in the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Union Institute and University. For his decades of community leadership, Sinkfield was honored last fall with Tech’s Distinguished Alumnus Award, the university’s highest alumni honor.

Sinkfield noted in his pre-recorded remarks, “Today, we celebrate not only your academic accomplishments, but also the enduring spirit and resilience that each of you have demonstrated to arrive at this milestone. Throughout my career, from pastoral work across the various states of this country to my advisory roles on the national stage, my foundation established and laid here at Tennessee Tech has been instrumental to me."

“My time at this institution taught me the values of dedication, community and leadership lessons that I have carried with me throughout my life,” continued Sinkfield. “The education I received was not just academic, it was a holistic experience that prepared me to face the world with confidence and a commitment to making a positive impact.”

Tech will also recognize seven students who will be commissioned to serve in the armed forces as second lieutenants: Sierra Alexander from Dyersburg, Julia Hall from Hendersonville, Colin McCrary from Jamestown, Luke McGill from Knoxville, Anna Stout from Kingston, David Villalobos from Hendersonville and Matthew Wager from Sunset Beach, North Carolina.

To watch the livestream of the commencement ceremonies, visit tntech.edu/commencement.

Tennessee Tech is ranked as a “Best National University” by U.S. News & World Report. The university offers more than 200 programs of study, and Tech grads leave with the least debt of all public universities in the state. In fact, based on total cost and alumni earnings, Tech provides students with the highest return on investment for any public university in Tennessee, according to PayScale. Find out more at tntech.edu.

 

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