On Thursday evening, September 15th, at the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy, recipients of fellowships through the UT Graduate School and government funding agencies were celebrated for their achievement. Dixie L. Thompson, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School, was on hand to offer her congratulations to the fellows gathered in the rotunda. Jimmy Cheek, Chancellor of UT, and John Zomchick, Interim Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor also provided words of inspiration, encouragement, and enthusiasm for the exciting days ahead for these outstanding students.

In a lovely autumn-inspired atmosphere with delicious refreshments and hors d’oeuvres, these fellows had the opportunity to speak with each other, Graduate School staff, and UT faculty who joined the celebration. They spoke about their research interests, their backgrounds, and their new experiences so far this fall. Thompson, Cheek, and Zomchick delightedly joined these conversations, and there was an air of camaraderie as these students made connections with colleagues from diverse backgrounds.

The Graduate School offers multiple fellowships each year for graduate students who demonstrate successful academic and professional performance, for returning adult women students, and outstanding doctoral students during the dissertation process. Also, this year, UT and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission instituted the Tennessee Doctoral Scholars Program, designed to provide financial and academic support for three doctoral fellows over a three-year period. The three recipients of the first fellowships under this program come from Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, and Philosophy. All three were able to attend the festivities. Applications for the 2017-2018 fellowships will be opening soon; keep an eye on the Graduate School website for an announcement.

Please join the Graduate School in congratulating this year’s Graduate School fellows. We look forward to hearing more about their experiences at UT!

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