Impact Stories

Learn how gifts from generous VOLstarter donors are directly affecting the lives of UT students.

School of Interior Architecture Trip to Japan

Chamber Choir Trip: Sarah Kitts

Law Women Scholarship

VOLunteer Supported Agriculture

Chamber Choir Trip: Paul Davis

CSPS Intern

Wildlife Medicine

IISE Regional Conference

Engineering Mentor Program

School of Interior Architecture Trip to Japan

Thanks to support from you, along with other members of the Volunteer community, 21 students were able to participate in the School of Interior Architecture’s Spring 2023 trip to Japan.

For half of the students, this was their first opportunity to leave the state, and for two-thirds of the students, it was their first time leaving the country. Students were able to visit Koyasan, Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. With the money raised directly from VOLstarter, the Koyasan portion of the trip was almost completely funded including transportation expenses, access to the Mount Koya temple, and various other temples throughout Japan. The School of Interior Architecture, in conjunction with VOLstarter, was able to provide these students with a transformative global learning experience that will impact them for years to come.

Thank you again for your generous support!

Sincerely,
Milagros Zingoni Phielipp, Director

Chamber Choir Trip: Sarah Kitts

Thanks to your generous donation, I was able to take a skip over the pond to the UK and set out on an incredible trip. Your gift helped me pay for the travel costs of the trip and it means the absolute world to me.

Through your donation I was able to visit cities such as London, Edinburgh, and York which have now inspired me to travel around the world.

Once again thank you so much for contributing to this very special trip!

– Sarah Kitts

Law Women Scholarship

Thanks to everyone who helped us reach our fundraising goal for the 2021 Law Women Scholarship.

Because of your generous donations, our group was able to award scholarships to two deserving students, Tiffany Oliver and KineBritt Johnson. These scholarships are given to students who have chosen a public interest internship for the summer. Because many public interest internships are unpaid, students rely heavily on scholarships, loans, and other outside financial support. Thus, these scholarships have helped make it possible for our students to pursue public interest law over the summer!

VOLunteer Supported Agriculture

Thanks to you, the VOLunteer Supported Agriculture Program (VSA) at UT Knoxville is well on its way to establishing a successful perennial garden. Your funding has provided the necessary supplies to begin preparing the space and begin growing lavender, chives, and native coneflower in our greenhouse so they are ready to plant next Spring.

Your support has also allowed us to work with Dr. Jennifer Tsuruda, Apiculture Extension Specialist, to establish this area as a demonstrative plot that will feature select plants that house and attract honeybees and other pollinators. Thank you again for your generosity, and for contributing to a project that will continue to serve generations of students to come.

Chamber Choir Trip

Thanks to your support, I was able to embark on a trip of a lifetime to the United Kingdom and Scotland. Your donation allowed me to pay for all of the costs associated with the trip in full and I cannot be more grateful!

Your gift allowed me to perform in some of the United Kingdom’s oldest and most exhilarating cathedrals and take a dive deep into their culture and history.

Once again thank you so much for contributing to this amazing trip of a lifetime!

– Paul Davis

CSPS Intern

Thanks to everyone who helped us reach our fundraising goal for the Center for Sport, Peace, and Society (CSPS) Graphic Design Intern.

As a result, we’ve officially launched a Title IX @ 50: The Lady Vols Experience Oral History project and published our first illustrated book highlighting nine women’s stories from around the world – all using sport to promote gender equity and peace. The book is titled Strong Women. Better World: Title IX’s Global Effect and we couldn’t be more proud of the CSPS graphic design intern who helped us bring the project to life!

If you’d like to continue supporting CSPS, you can order our book here.

Fall 2016: Wildlife Medicine

Dear VOLstarter Donor,

I would like to sincerely thank you for your support of my VOLstarter project. The funds allowed me to take part in the Wildlife Medicine Conservation and Policy Study Abroad in Belize and Guatemala. While in Belize and Guatemala this past December, I was able to gain incomparable hands-on experience working with native wildlife, including iguanas, parrots, tamanduas, Howler monkeys, and many more species. I learned and practiced vital skills, such as collecting blood samples in iguanas and injecting medications in parrots, that will greatly benefit my future career in veterinary medicine. The most impactful part of my project was the experience I was able to gain. My dream is to one day address global animal and human health issues to help make the world a better place.

I believe my experience on this project aided in my acceptance to veterinary school; this August, I will be attending veterinary school at the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was the international experience from this project that set me apart in my application to veterinary school. Through your support of my project, you have greatly aided my academic journey and I cannot express how grateful and thankful I am.

View more photos from my study aboard experience.

Sincerely,
Emily Freeman
Class of 2017

Fall 2016: IISE Regional Conference

This past February, UT was honored to host the 2017 Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference. Using the generous donations raised through VOLstarter, we were able to host an extremely successful and educational conference. Our conference brought in 200 guests from 9 universities in the Mid-Atlantic region including Virginia Tech, Clemson, West Virginia, and others.

The funds provided through VOLstarter enabled us to lower the registration cost for UT students. The conference was 3 days long and included a corporate panel, a job fair, breakout sessions, plant tours, and a technical paper competition. All of the students that attended the conference left knowing more about the degree which they have chosen and their opportunities after graduation. Additionally, the students in attendance were able to network and make connections with corporate professionals and with IE students from other universities.

I hope you enjoy seeing a few photos from the conference at my Flickr album.

Sincerely,
Kylie White
2017 Regional Conference Co-Chair
Class of 2017

Fall 2016: Engineering Mentor

Dear VOLstarter Donor,

With the help of donors like you, the Engineering Mentor Program just finished up its third successful year on campus! In just three years, we have grown from an organization of approximately 50 students to over 300. The money raised during this year’s VOLstarter campaign was used to put on community building events with students across the college. Examples of these events are hiking/environmental clean-up trips to Ijams Nature Center, hosting the college administration and leaders to talk to students about engineering opportunities, and board game nights with 1st year students.

As the leader of this organization, I’m always amazed by the outpouring of support from the community for the Engineering Mentor Program. Your support is helping us reach our goal of creating a more unified community of engineering students. While there is still much more work to be done, I’m confident that we will continue to grow. The program is off to a great start and the future is brighter than ever.

Sincerely,
Matthew Herald
President, Engineering Mentor Program