1794honors

[1794honors]

Hi! I am Leslie Jessie! I am in my second year here at UT and in the 1794 Scholars Program. I am an English major with a double concentration in Rhetoric and Writing and Literature with a minor in Judaic Studies. As an English major, so many people ask you, “What do you think you can do with that?” without realizing that there are many job opportunities for English majors.

Back in November, I applied for an internship with the UT Press, eventually interviewed for it, and then was offered the internship! I was more than excited to accept the invitation and begin my work there. I have wanted to be a writer since I was little, and the chance to gain experience in the book publishing industry while still in college was a dream come true. 

My first day started with reading book proposals that had been sent into the Press and then writing evaluations on them. I made pros and cons lists, explained if I thought it would sell well and why, and gave my overall general thoughts. My supervisor, acquisitions editor Thomas Wells, told me my evaluations in particular were helpful, and it was so exciting to know that my input was meaningful and useful. 

After that first day, I performed miscellaneous jobs in the office. My personal favorite was getting to help edit one of the books the Press was looking at publishing. This job in particular made me realize I could definitely see myself being an editor in the future. Along with editing, I did many styling projects. Most people do not realize the many different tasks it takes to publish a book, one being styling the chapters, page numbers, paragraphs, etc. to look just right. I had to be very careful and pay close attention to what I was doing during styling projects.

As an intern, I interviewed someone within the different departments of the Press; I got to learn about marketing, editing, acquisitions, and design. With my internship getting cut short due to COVID-19, I am going to miss it, but most of all, I am going to miss the people I got to meet throughout my time at the Press. I am so thankful to 1794 and the UT Press for this opportunity to learn more about publishing and what I may want to do in the future with my degree.

- Leslie Jessie, 1794 Scholar, 2021

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An Experience in Research

Hello! My name is Ashlyn Hammonds and I am currently a sophomore studying at the University of Tennessee. I am majoring in Neuroscience with a Pre-Medicine Concentration and minoring in Biological Sciences. In being a member of the 1794 Honors Program, I have had the privilege of taking advantage of numerous opportunities that I otherwise would not have had access to; furthermore, one such experience was the ability to work as a research fellow under Dr. Andrew Steen, an assistant professor of Microbiology and Earth and Planetary Sciences.

In this research, we investigated the use of sulfur-containing lipids, or sulfolipids, within cyanobacteria, specifically prochlorococcus; furthermore, the reason for studying this topic is to understand the role of sulfur within cyanobacteria and how the bacteria use this process as an adaption to its surroundings. It is known that most cyanobacteria use phosphate, rather than sulfur to transform into energy; however, in phosphate deplete areas, sulfur is shown to be used, what we think, in its place.

Above shows an example of what cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) looks like in abundance

Within this research fellowship, I was responsible for growing cyanobacteria, which we would later extract sulfolipids from. With having this role, I was able to expand upon my basic set of laboratory skills, such as learning how to follow aseptic techniques for especially sensitive bacteria; additionally, I was able to properly culture bacteria and prepare the mediums in which they would grow. I also obtained knowledge of how an autoclave works and how to use instruments that would acquire number of bacteria within a set amount of medium as well as proper dilution techniques. Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of our control, the COVID-19 pandemic, our research had to be discontinued, resulting in being unable to proceed with the sulfolipid extraction from the previously cultured cyanobacteria; however, I am hoping to continue in this research once school has successfully resumed in the fall.

Overall, this experience, while cut short, has provided many opportunities for growth within the research field, specifically within the department of microbiology. Without the 1794 Honors Program, I would not have been able to take part in this fellowship, which has led to the strengthening of my abilities in both proper laboratory techniques as well as understanding biological processes.

- Ashlyn Hammonds, 1794 Scholar, 2021

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My Experience as a Research Fellow

My name is Morgan McGinn. I am a sophomore Neuroscience major, Psychology minor and am on the pre-med track. I have been involved with 1794 Honors and Scholars program throughout my two years here at the University of Tennessee. I have had the opportunity to go on excursions, participate in many events and organizations around campus, as well as attend seminars by amazing lecturers. Since it was my last semester as a 1794 scholar, I wanted to take advantage of all opportunities I was given as part of this program. When I saw that there were applications to be a research fellow for a professor on Campus, I was immediately intrigued. I wanted to be involved with something that would broaden my experiences and learning to subjects outside what I study regularly as part of my major.

I applied for and received a research fellowship concerning Public Health in the Holocaust Ghettos, which is led by Dr. Helene Sinnreich, a religious studies professor. I was so excited to learn more about history that I didn’t have much prior knowledge about, as well as exercise my medical and scientific knowledge by making connections between history, disease, and healthcare. I was honored to receive the position, and the experience has been nothing but beneficial.

We meet here every Tuesday to discuss the testimonies we have reviewed. We do this to get everyone on the same page with new discoveries and information we have uncovered. 

Throughout my time as a research fellow, I have become a better critical thinker, notetaker, and communicator. I have been able to parse out minute details from (often difficult to decipher) testimonies from Holocaust survivors, created by the USC SHOAH Foundation. I have drawn connections between survivor’s stories as well as highlighted questions about the ghetto conditions that may not have been answered before. As a team, we helped put together an article for an ethics journal that talks about the ethical issues of the time concerning reproduction and childbearing in the Ghetto period. We did this by discussing common themes that we have noted from our survivors that we have researched and documented. We collaborated ideas and new findings.

This is what a typical notetaking session looks like. I watch the testimonies, and then play them again to pick out specific details that align with what we are trying to research.

Overall, this research position has helped me broaden my thinking. It has introduced me to the world of research at a University and I am eager to explore more, as well as expand into other topics and interests.

- Morgan McGinn, 1794 Scholar, 2022

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Study Abroad in Wales

Hello! My name is Catrin Latham and I am a sophomore in the 1794 Scholars Program. I am a pre-law student minoring in political science! I am currently studying abroad at Swansea University in Wales. Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to spend an extended amount of time abroad. The 1794 Scholars Program has helped my dreams become a reality through the Global Experiences Grant. It has helped to make the financial burden less and has allowed me to travel more.  

I have now been studying at Swansea University in Wales for five weeks and have about four months left! My first course was with all international students, which made it a lot of fun meeting many Americans from all over the states during the two-week course. The first day I had the course, they took us all on a bus to the Gower Peninsula which was the first place in Britain to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The first picture below was taken at Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula! 

The next trip the course took us on was to the city of Bath in England where we went to see the historic Roman baths. Below I can be seen sitting next to the ancient Roman bath and before leaving I was even able to drink some of the water (that had been filtered of course). 

After my two week course, I took a trip to London to meet with a fellow UTK student who is studying abroad in Nottingham this semester. In the picture, you can see the two of us with Buckingham Palace in the background!

The following weekend, I went to Cardiff to the Millenium Stadium to watch Wales play Italy in the first match of the Six Nations. I have been a massive rugby fan since I was young and love watching the Six Nations so being able to see it live in the stadium was an unbelievable experience!

Most recently, I spent the weekend in Scotland seeing the amazing architecture and natural beauty of the country. I went to Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Loch Ness during the weekend!

I wouldn’t be able to write this post without mentioning my flatmates for this semester! They have made this transition so much easier as I moved from the States and immediately I had a “family” away from home! I was very lucky to move in with the people pictured below! 

Overall, this experience has already been an amazing learning experience and period of growth for me. I have experienced more things this past month than I ever could have imagined and look forward to bringing all that I learn back to the University of Tennessee with me!  

- Catrin Latham, 1794 Scholar, 2022

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Make My Mark: Study Abroad in Tokyo

As far back as I can remember, I have had a definitive purpose to strive towards; get into college. Last year I was able to do just that, but after a while I realized that I didn’t have a plan for what came next. All I knew was that I wanted to make my mark on the world.

This summer, thanks in no small part to the 1794 International Experience Grant, I travelled halfway across the planet to Tokyo, Japan, an experience I could never hope to forget. While in the program, I was able to study the Japanese language and business culture. As an electrical engineering major, I had hoped to gain skills from my courses and time abroad that I could use to penetrate the job market in TN, which is coincidentally inundated with Japanese foreign direct investment. Looking back on when I first started and my many, many embarrassing failed exchanges with locals, I’m glad I can say that I have at the very least gotten better at Japanese but also communication in general as I generally had to make do with only a limited vocabulary, often needing to break down concepts for either myself or my audience.

Of course, despite the language barrier, I had no problem making my way across the country. Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura, Osaka, Enoshima; I went to as many places as I could, but the highlight of my trip was the time I spent in Kyoto. The view from the top of Fushimi Inari shrine was gorgeous at sunset. The ambiance of Arashiyama’s bamboo forest in the early morning was beyond peaceful. The sheer number of temples and shrines I visited was enough to satisfy me for a lifetime. I had never before been on a trip like this, so it was somewhere along the line that I discovered my love for travelling. It didn’t matter where I went as long as it wasn’t where I was a moment ago. Now that I’m back in the states, I don’t have the freedom to do so as much as I would like, but in the future, I hope to make up for that by pushing the boundaries of where man has gone before.

I want to go to Mars. And then beyond

My experience abroad has helped steer me towards a career path in Electrical Engineering and develop a lifelong goal—electronic design for a Mars-directed shuttle for SpaceX or NASA—and that is where I define the turning point of my life. I no longer want to make a mark on just this world but others as well. While I will someday make it to Mars, for now, maybe I can settle for a return trip to Japan.

- Samuel Aba, 1794 Scholar, 2022

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Interning in the Knoxville Community

My name is McClain Daniel, and I am a sophomore at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. I am currently in the Haslam College of Business here at UT pursuing a major in Accounting with a minor in International Business. Before my junior year, I wanted to get more out of my undergraduate education by attaining work experience in a related business field. In the fall of 2018, I interviewed with several companies through the 1794 Internship Program in hopes of landing a position for the 2019 Spring Semester. After a long application and interview process, I received an offer from Leadership Knoxville Inc., a social-services organization, in which I eagerly accepted.

Leadership Knoxville is a local non-profit designed to inspire and connect servant leaders in the Knoxville community through leadership programs, community workshops, and various networking events. Leadership Knoxville's mission reads, "We build a stronger Knoxville by developing people and groups, leading to a greater community". During my application process, I was drawn to LK's mission and the passion LK's team showed during my interview. I had always wanted to learn more about non-profit business operations and leadership, so LK seemed like a perfect fit for me. While learning about the business functionalities, I would also be able to learn more about the Knoxville community, where the non-profit serves.

The above photo is a group shot of the Youth Leadership Knoxville Class of 2019. The class was meeting Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and went on a tour of the Loudon County Chamber of Commerce.

 My responsibilities included facilitating and promoting involvement of program's 3,500 alumni, while assisting the program's several directors to ensure ease of efficient productivity in the office space. I came into the office after class on Mondays and Wednesdays, and I have enjoyed learning more about the Knoxville community and gaining skills in office management. I assisted in board meeting preparation, mailed and addressed letters, helped in event planning and preparation, and completed many organization tasks.

 The above photo is from the Strong Communities Workshop on March 22nd, 2019. The event took place in the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce and was sponsored by Leadership Knoxville. The Workshop hosted leaders from various organizations in the Knoxville community including the Humane Society, East TN PBS, and Autumn Care Assisted Living, to name a few.

Leadership Knoxville has taught me so many things, from the hard work and grit required to run a small office, effective leadership, and teamwork. I believe I will continue to benefit from this internship even after I finish my time here, because Leadership Knoxville has the potential to connect me with influential leaders around the Knoxville area who all believe in the non-profit's message of the importance of servant leaders. I have learned about the importance of community, even in a professional business setting, and how networking can help push a community towards greatness. I am so thankful for the opportunities 1794 Scholars Program and Leadership Knoxville has given me this semester, and I know I will benefit from this experience for years to come.

-McClain Daniel, 1794 Scholar, 2021

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1st experience with Research

As my first year of attending the University of Tennessee comes to a close (or maybe a screeching halt), I am reflecting on the opportunities I have had that allowed me to embrace an attitude of intellectual curiosity and by far the most impactful has been working as a research fellow with Dr. James Martinez. In this research, we explored the effects that administration has on early-career teacher retention.

As part of the research process, we composed a systematic review of the literature regarding the effects administrators have on teacher retention, as well as performed original research with secondary math and science teachers in Knox County Schools where first or second year teachers had a very brief intervention (10 minutes) with his or her principal. The teachers completed a pre and post survey, and we are able to see teachers’ attitudes and even compare it to other research we had evaluated.

I had various responsibilities and opportunities throughout the semester that allowed me to develop as a researcher, communicator, and student. My most prominent responsibility was analyzing our sources for the systematic review. Because of this, I learned the details and guidelines that accompanies a research project. Moreover, I noticed that I was not only utilizing a analytical mindset while doing research but also while studying for my courses. As a major in biological sciences an analytical approach for understanding the material is crucial, so this experience enhanced my performance as a student overall. Additionally, I had the opportunity to meet with prominent people in the Knox County school system. I realized how useful it is to establish relationships with people and how much more efficient the process becomes you’re in contact with the right people.

The results of this research have enormous implications for teachers, administrators, school districts, and legislation. Even as a daughter of parents in the education field I had not realized the complexity. Teacher retention is one component of the educational system that is much like a bird cage: it is not one single bar that makes the cage effective; instead, it is the integrated working of all the bars together.

In addition to strengthening my research and writing skills and becoming more involved on campus, this experience showed the value of saying “yes” when opportunities arise. I am thankful for the 1794 Scholars Program and the time Dr. Martinez dedicated to this project as well as my role in it. There was not a day where I left and had not learned anything new, I one hundred percent encourage any student of any major to participate and actively seek an opportunity in research.

-Sydney Mcabee, 1794 Scholar 2022

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Service, Service, & More Service

The 1794 Scholars program interested me because I am a transfer student who; 1) wanted to be involved in an honors program, and 2) wanted to make new friends. Before transferring to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in the fall of 2018 I attended Walters State Community College. As you can imagine WSCC is incredibly different from UTK in many ways including size and campus culture. However, after getting involved with the 1794 Scholars program and a few other campus organizations, I have finally started to call Rocky Top my home, sweet home!

I have always enjoyed volunteering but have sometimes found it challenging to work this activity into my hectic life as a college student. However, this semester I had the fantastic opportunity to work with Dr. Matt Blaylock as the Student Engagement Intern for the Honors and Scholars program. This internship gave me the opportunity to make new friends while also helping our greater Knoxville community. Dr. Blaylock and I have worked diligently since January to book community service events that are close to campus, enjoyable for students, and help enhance students’ desire to serve the community.

This semester I attended events hosted by organizations such as the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries (KARM), Keep Knoxville Beautiful, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the University of Tennessee Gardens. My favorite of these organizations would have to be KARM because for every hour you volunteer a person is provided with four meals. After leaving KARM and these other organizations, I always felt like I had accomplished something and was a part of something greater than myself. For each of these activities, I was responsible for contacting the organization, booking a time, creating a signup sheet, and then attending the event. At the events, one of my responsibilities was to make sure all of our students remembered to log their community service hours with the Center for Leadership and Service. I also served as a point of contact if there were any questions or concerns involving an event. Lastly, I was tasked with taking photos of the volunteers participating on site which can be seen throughout this blog.

One of the things that I most enjoyed about this opportunity was the ability to gain feedback from organizations on how they felt about our volunteers. I am happy to say that every organization we have worked with this semester was pleased with the students and eager to ask if we would volunteer with them again!

The 1794 Scholars program has allowed me to meet a variety of people and experience so many things that I would not have been able to do if I was not involved. It has been an amazing few months, and I am beyond grateful to Dr. Blaylock for the opportunity to have been his intern!

Logan Craft, 1794 Scholar, 2022

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Blount Mansion Intern

As my internship at the Blount Mansion finishes up for the semester, I am wrapping up everything we have worked on so far. Looking back, I am grateful for this experience and the things that it has allowed me to accomplish. I spent Wednesdays at the Blount Mansion Visitor’s Center working on several projects over the course of the semester. We were able to create resource outlines for educators, plot out a timeline of William Blount’s life in North Carolina and Tennessee, and brainstorm a brand-new exhibit showcasing the family tree of the immediate family of William Blount and family tree(s) of the enslaved population at the Mansion. It was definitely an irreplaceable experience – thanks to the 1794 Scholars Program and the Blount Mansion Association.

When I first spoke to Executive Director David Hearnes he asked why I chose to apply for the internship at Blount Mansion. At that time, I had just switched my major to Cultural Geography and I had no idea what I wanted to do in that field, I just knew I was interested in culture. As the ‘Birthplace of Tennessee’, Blount Mansion is a cultural cradle for Tennessee and the Knoxville area and as such, the perfect place to research Tennessee culture (and it has been). Dave promised that we could flush out what I wanted to narrow my focus on (and we have).

For starters, I had to skim through the journal of William Blount and other publications to create a timeline of his life in North Carolina and Tennessee. Below is a sampling of what I had to read through! Besides the insane amount of reading through primary sources associated with William Blount, I also gathered information from online archives. One thing I learned that is really interesting is that William Blount was the first Congressman to be impeached.

On February 2nd, I was invited to attend the Blount Mansion Association Luncheon. During the lunch, not only was I able to hear from the board members of the association, but I also met many people in the community who love to learn about culture and history just as much as I do.

Before my last week at Blount Mansion, I attended the 1794 Honors and Scholars Internship Dinner. I was just expecting to enjoy a nice dinner with other scholars, but as it turns out, I actually received the honor of being named 1794 Intern of the Year! It was definitely the perfect way to end a great semester and internship.

Finally, I want to give a huge thanks to David Hearnes and Michael Jordan of Blount Mansion for pushing me to be my best this semester and also to everyone involved in making 1794 a success.

-Mary Bennett, 1794 Scholar, 2021

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1794 Scholars Fellow

Over the past three months, I have worked with Dr. Kimberly Gwinn on measuring the efficacy of bioactive plant extracts as fungicides, in hopes to serve as an improvement for current fungicides and pesticides, as some can be potentially harmful to plants when applied to them. This opportunity was given to me by the 1794 Scholars program, which introduced me to fellowships and internships across all kinds of academic fields, facilitating connections with many researching professors.

The different plants we used extracts from included red Aztec spinach and Mexican Market dysphania, which were cultivated strains, and Chenopodium berlandieri 803 and dysphania, which were wild strains. With agar plates, fungi spores were exposed, and we measured their growth after a certain period of time.

Pictured above: Red Aztec spinach magnified (threads are the fungal growth)

Pictured above: Magnified view of dysphania fungal growth

Pictured above: (from left to right) water, Mexican Market, dysphania, and red Aztec spinach extracts, with fungal growth on each.

To ensure that our experiment was successful and accurate, Dr. Gwinn taught us many lab techniques, such as using an autoclave and fume hood. These practices allow the samples used in the lab to be sterile, so that our results can be trusted.

Ultimately, this experience to conduct research with Dr. Gwinn has shown me the foundation of the scientific community, and the significance of the work it does. Focusing upon the important, big picture issues, such as this project, which supports the food supply for the world’s growing population by testing newer and better fungicides, is integral for the scientific community, as well as for the general population. Attention to carefulness when conducting this research is also relevant, as other people rely on this data in other manners. Specifically, to work with Dr. Gwinn, I have been able to learn many things, from simple lab techniques to conversing with other professionals and peers. This fellowship has also shown me some of the potential career paths I may pursue in the future after graduation, including performing research in the laboratory setting.

Kenneth Liao, 1794 Scholar, 2022

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Hands-on Experience in an Agricultural Lab

I have always loved science—especially biology…I took extra science classes in high school back home in Pennsylvania. So, it probably doesn’t come to a surprise that I am majoring in biology at UTK!

The 1794 Scholars program made me even more excited to start school last August since I was already a part of something even before I began my freshman year!  I have loved every aspect of the program so far, and I had no idea that I would be offered an internship position. I was so excited to apply and interview.

I am so honored for this particular internship with Dr. Gwinn, it was definitely a no-brainer for me. I couldn’t wait to get in the lab. I didn’t mind doing whatever is was that Dr. Gwinn needed, I just wanted to be learning hands-on and doing research. But, luckily for me, I have found our project extremely interesting. 

Since January, Dr. Gwinn and I have been researching the preservative properties of the plants dysphania and cb803 versus red Aztec spinach and Mexican market spinach (wild versus cultivated). We are currently trying to find out if, when it is cultivated for produce, it loses any of its preservative qualities.

Through our experiments, I have learned how to use a lot of the lab equipment, like the spectrophotometer, the fume hoods, pipettes, different types of microscopes, and so much more.

After our experiments run, we take pictures of the trials under a microscope. Here is one of our dishes where we tested the different treatments and the mold growth.

(Can you see how the treatment in the fourth column has a lot more growth than the others?)

I have been told many times that experience is extremely important for graduate school and for future employers, and I am so thankful for this internship during my freshman year. I feel comfortable knowing that this experience will help me with other undergraduate internships and post-grad opportunities. It feels like the perfect head start!

The 1794 program is undoubtedly the reason I have this internship and have been able to feel like I have this “head start.” It has been an amazing experience so far, and it is something I look forward to every week. Being able to learn hands-on in a small, three person group makes it very easy to gain a lot from this experience. It is not something I would get in a classroom setting.

The 1794 Scholars program is the reason why I am involved with things I absolutely love on campus—this being one of those things. I am so grateful for it.

Hannah Boback, 1794 Scholar, 2022

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Behind the Scenes: Interning at Dogwood Arts

I transferred to UT in the Fall of 2018. I had just graduated from Pellissippi State with my general Associate of Science degree. I was scared coming to UT because as a junior I knew I wouldn’t be connected with anyone. I was searching for an honors organizations to be involved in when I found the 1794 Scholars Program. I reached out to Ms. Hunter and she scheduled an interview with me. I was ecstatic to be accepted into the program because it meant I had a point of connection on campus.

Being a transfer student was already hard enough, so I knew it would be difficult for me to secure an internship since I was just starting my major. I felt so behind compared to everyone else. Ms. Hunter told me about the special internships through the program and it excited me knowing that I could have a chance to do it.

I was honored to be chosen by Dogwood Arts. I grew up in Knoxville so having the opportunity to intern with a non-profit that means so much to me was a no-brainer. Dogwood Arts is responsible for so much of what goes on behind the scenes in Knoxville. They are behind events like Rhythm N’ Blooms, the Dogwood Arts Festival, the Chalk Walk, and First Friday Events.

My career goal is to be an arts community outreach coordinator or an arts education special projects coordinator, so this internship fits perfectly.

The biggest thing I have done so far in my internship has been arranging for Dogwood to be featured at two volunteer events in Knoxville. I also helped with the Student Guitar Design Contest, where local high school students submit guitar designs to be displayed during the Rhythm N’ Blooms Festival. I helped pick the winning artists. Also, I helped with the Dogwood House and Garden Show, an event that draws hundreds of gardening and home improvement vendors. I helped by stuffing over 400 vendor information packets. Rhythm N’ Blooms, Knoxville’s music festival, is fast approaching and I expect to be busy with that! Besides events, I have done work with social media and editing.

Since starting in January, I have learned so much about community arts programming. Most of what you do is behind the scenes, which is why all of my photos are in the office. Behind the scenes people do all the work without the glory! I have also learned how difficult it is to work at a non-profit.

Without the 1794 program, I would not have had this opportunity. This has become a jump start for my career and for that I will be eternally grateful!

-Donna Mitchell, 1794 Scholar 2020

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Art Adventure: My Experience Interning at Dogwood Arts

Coming to The University of Tennessee I knew that I would have many great opportunities presented to me. However, I did not realize the abundance of things that are available. As a freshman in mechanical engineering, I’ve enjoyed being a member of the Society of Women Engineers and going to events put on by the International House. I’ve also been active in the Knoxville community through volunteering at places like Ijams Nature Center and the Emporium downtown. However, out of all of the activities I have done in my freshman year, interning at Dogwood Arts has been my favorite.

I have always been interested in making art. In high school, I created a portfolio of 2D art for an AP Art portfolio, and was the vice president of my high school’s art club. I also sold my artwork to my teachers and friends over those four years. Even though I am studying mechanical engineering now at UT, I still want to keep up with my interest in making art. I also wanted to explore downtown Knoxville, so I knew that interning at Dogwood Arts through the 1794 Honors and Scholars Program was a great opportunity.

As an intern, I’ve worked with Dogwood Arts to help organize parts of their many arts and culture events that they put on throughout the year. During the beginning of my internship, I helped organize things for the House & Garden Show, which happened February 1 – 3, 2019 at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Pictured: A photo I took of the Knoxville Convention center, empty, when I helped set up the show a few days before it began.

There were hundreds of companies present at the House & Garden Show, and the displays were impressive. In many of the gardening and lawn care displays, there were live fish.

Pictured: Clownfish in a company’s home display.

Pictured: Live Koi and running water at a garden company’s display.

I also enjoyed looking at the work that the artists displayed by their booth. I recognized a lot of them from photographs I had documented back at Dogwood Art’s office, so it was interesting to see them with my own eyes during the show. My favorite pieces were smooth, marble sculptures made by Bill Cook Jr. pictured below.

By interning at Dogwood Arts, I have had many opportunities to look at art and engage with different artists in Knoxville. This alone has been a beneficial experience. Before interning, I knew that it would help me maintain my interest in art while also engaging me with the Knoxville community. However, my actual experience went above my expectations. The people that I am working with at Dogwood Art’s office have really made the experience worthwhile. Everyone I have met at Dogwood Arts is very interesting and nice, so I am happy to spend my afternoons there. I encourage other students to intern while in college, since it gives many opportunities to learn things and meet people in the fields that you’re interested in.

-Corinne Gerhold, 1794 Scholar 2022

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Showing Pride as a Member of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band

Marching as a member of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band is one of the most rewarding experiences at the University of Tennessee. Performing with Season 12 winner of The Voice, Chris Blue, at halftime, and singing the Tennessee Waltz at the end of every game are some of the most rewarding moments I’ve had while marching in The Pride. This year, my junior year, has been slightly different because I have taken on such an important leadership role- a squad leader. In past years, I have always done my best to lead by example and take the initiative that is necessary in order to help others. This year my role as a leader is more pristine and critical. I applied to be a squad leader because I wanted to be that person I needed as a first-year member of the Pride. The first year can be such an exciting, yet intimidating and confusing time in one's college career, and it certainly was for me. I was very grateful to have had such a strong, impactful squad leader who critiqued me, helped me, and gave me advice that I have carried with me during my academic career here at the university.  As a first-generation college student, this advice is something that I could not necessarily receive from my family, so I was thankful for my squad leader.

It has been such a pleasure to provide that same advice for other first and second-year members of the pride. To me, this role embodies the spirit of being a volunteer in the way of sacrificing myself for the betterment of others. I am truly passionate about making their transition from high school to UTK as smooth as possible considering the fact that I understand the feeling of not having such a smooth transition. My current role as a squad leader extends past the boundaries of the marching band. Many of my responsibilities are synonymous with my role as a resident assistant. I strive to be a part of the support system for first-year students as well as a mentor that I needed when I was in their shoes. I want to positively impact younger students who may be faced with obstacles that threaten their success during this meaningful time in their life. This is my way of giving back in honor of those who have helped me mature in the past three years as both a Vol and simply Uriah!

As a 1794 Scholar, the importance of being active and serving our UT community is greatly emphasized. Because of that, I chose to accomplish both of those goals in an organization close to my heart. Being a member of the Pride of the Southland Color Guard is a great way to build memorable bonds with people who share a love of performing in Neyland Stadium together every Saturday! Going into my senior year, I am most excited for my last opportunity to make memories that I will look back on. I am excited to sing the Tennessee Waltz again. I am excited for those 7-8 minutes on the field at halftime. I am most excited for my final round as a Tennessee Vol!

-Uriah Richey, 1794 Scholar 2020

[1794honors]

Student Media Matters

Working with a media outlet on campus has been one of the best decisions I’ve made, besides my decision to attend the University of Tennessee. I knew I wanted to go into a media outlet before the first day of classes started- I was a journalism major with absolutely no experience. I had been researching clubs on campus and immediately knew I wanted to join the Tennessee Journalist (TNJN). I wanted to write for them because they have an Arts and Culture section. The Arts and Culture section cover things such as lectures and events downtown, such as Movies on Market Square.

The events I have covered have definitely impacted me as a person. I covered the vigil held for the Pittsburgh shooting, and it was an event that moved me to tears. I have also gotten to attend and cover many events that I would not have originally gone to, such as the Homecoming carnival.

I also got the chance to cover a lecture given by Adam Savage. Adam Savage was a co-host for the show MythBusters. His lecture resonated with a lot of students because he discussed how fear of failure has become too much of a pivotal point instilled into children and young adults. He encouraged students to not only be afraid of failure, but to welcome it. I was also given the opportunity to speak with him one on one during a media session before the actual lecture. I cannot even begin to describe what it feels like to publish. It’s such an experience to see words I had written in a published piece!

However, this journey is not all excitement and giddiness. Sometimes you write a piece and it is not published. Still, I take those unpublished stories, learn from them, and I become determined to do better the next time. I like covering lectures because the lecturers discuss things happening today, issues people are not ready to address. This generates more to discuss with students and other members of the community during interviews that I conduct after events. Students care about these issues- they want to talk about them and discuss them and they want their voices heard on certain matters. It is so exciting when I interview a student or anyone at a lecture, and I can tell the lecture meant something to them and impacted them in some way. This writing is like an outlet to share students' views. At first, I was scared. I still am, but now I can be proud when I do well. I want to do well for TNJN, and I want to do my best every time to make my story content as solid and accurate as possible. 

The culture on campus is evident when I am discussing events with attendees. Students at The University of Tennessee are making a difference. They go to lectures, they take what they learn, and they become more determined than ever to help. During another lecture Major Taylor Opel discussed topics such as how dogs should be used to help soldiers with their mental health as they come home from tours. Some soldiers have trouble doing every day chores, such as leaving the house, and the dogs help them to do those things. A woman was there with her husband who served, and when I interviewed her she stated that she has seen the difference her dogs have made for her husband. Major Opel mentioned that the UT College of Veterinary Medicine has already made more progress in getting concrete research in order to reach the goal of using dogs for our men and women coming home. It truly is amazing to see the difference UT students are making. They are not just ranting about issues, they are going out and providing ways to stop the issues from continuing, and I’m glad to be a part of this atmosphere.

Because of the 1794 Scholars Program, I have been able to contribute to the campus environment and demonstrate to other communities what UT is all about and the differences other people can make as well. It has truly been a great experience talking with people in our community at lectures and other events and seeing the culture brighten and show itself on campus.

-Grace Goodacre, 1794 Scholar 2022

[1794honors]

Best(est) Buddies Ever

I am Catrin Latham a freshman from Springfield, Ohio in the 1794 Scholars program studying Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology with a concentration in Pre-Medicine. As a 1794 Scholar I was encouraged to get involved on campus immediately after I arrived here. I chose to join Best Buddies because it was a program that I felt I really connected with and wanted to give it a try. As a new student on campus, having 1794 weekly update emails really helped me learn how to get involved. Best Buddies' objective is to pair college students with a person with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a one-to-one friendship. This organization has given me the opportunity to not only meet new people, which is extremely important for me as a freshman, but has also taught me more about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

As an organization, we host plenty of events. These include a buddy match party where buddies are matched with their peer. We’ve also held a friendship fest, a Halloween party, and a friends-giving celebration. The friendship fest was a big fall festival on campus with many games to play including a bounce house and even a caramel apple station. For the Halloween party everyone dressed up and played a game where we passed around a ball of candy. Friends-giving was an opportunity to come together and talk about what we were all thankful for while celebrating inclusivity. During these events I get to play games and have some of the best conversations with the other students. I help with setting up and tearing down events. I also walk around during events, help people get food, and just talk about life in general.

One of the best parts of my Best Buddies experience has been one of the buddies, Alex. Recently, there was a friendship fest and I was able to spend more time with Alex. At the friendship fest we made balloon hats together and it was such a fun activity for the both of us. Alex, his buddy Charles, and I have also gone to an International Festival in World’s Fair Park. I text and communicate with Alex almost every single day and he tells me how his day is going and what he plans to do in the following week. Most recently, I went to dinner at Alex’s favorite restaurant, Texas Roadhouse, with him, Charles, and another buddy from the program, Collin. We all met for dinner on a Tuesday night, which is when the balloon artist is at the restaurant. Balloon twisting is Alex’s favorite part and the artist always recognizes Alex when he sees him. It was really great to see something that Alex really enjoys to do and share that experience that with him.

At the Halloween party I met Katie who is also buddy in the group. Katie asked me my name and asked me all about my life, this drew me in immediately because she was so compassionate and excited to hear each new thing. I learned all about Katie’s collection of 32,000 marbles and heard the story of how she acquired these marbles. Which she has collected from all over the world thanks to many generous people who have sent them to her.  Katie is so full of energy she definitely brings light into any room. 

I look forward to Best Buddies’ events more than any other club I am a part of on campus. It is such a positive and fun environment, and I feel like this program impacts me as much as it impacts the people around me. I have learned more about the Future program while being in this program which has taught me more about how we are all truly Vols for Life in this program. The Future program helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to transition from high school to adult life, this includes specialized classes and career preparation.

Best Buddies’ biggest mission is to promote inclusivity, it is why I joined the organization to begin with. We all attend the same university and this inclusivity needs to be spread and shown to the rest of the university. I hope to go on from this experience and show others what inclusivity really means on our campus. I want to shift the campus culture to being more about the fact that while we are all at the same university, we all should concentrate more on our similarities rather than focusing on our differences. I want all people to feel welcome and included on this campus. The 1794 scholars program encourages diversity and cultural awareness; being a part of this program and Best Buddies has allowed me to be apart of that work.

-Catrin Latham, 1794 Scholar 2022

[1794honors]

Dinner for two...Argentinian and American Students

Here in the United States, it is quite common to eat dinner in the evening around six o’ clock. Students here at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville know the struggle of hiking up and down the Hill, in rain and snow. In February of 2018, I had the amazing opportunity to have dinner with students from Argentina who were finishing their semester here at UT. At this dinner, I learned some very interesting cultural differences that contradict the aforementioned facts we Americans regard as common knowledge. This dinner was an exclusive opportunity for 1794 Scholars and I was excited. Upon arriving, I didn’t know what to expect. Though I was excited, I was a little nervous too. Would there be a language barrier? Would we have anything in common with each other? After all, most of the students were a few years older than me. We started the evening with a speed friending game. We were given a list of general questions about interests and fields of study to discuss in five-minute intervals. As this activity progressed, my worries about a language barrier subsided and the conversations flowed effortlessly.

I enthusiastically talked about my pets at home and the best restaurants in Knoxville. Our shared love of food and animals was a very popular topic of discussion.

We then transitioned to dinner. As we sat down to a meal of southern comfort foods, we discussed many interesting differences between Argentinian and American culture. The students from Argentina informed us it is common to have dinner around nine o’clock at night. Concerning college, all classes are in one building. Lectures can be hours long, with different professors rotating in and out of the classroom. The struggle of hiking to class in all types of weather is something the Argentina students do not even have to deal with. Our conversations transitioned from pets, to travels, then to food, and I was sad to see the night end. All of my previous concerns had dissipated and now my only worry was if I was ever going to see them again.

I hope to study abroad next year and experiences like these make me even more excited for the journey. I have learned to be more open to new experiences and to step out of my comfort zone. Invaluable experiences like these, especially 1794 events specifically,  have contributed to me having my best UT experience. At first, it feels like going through the motions to fulfill a pillar, but what is gained from the experience provides lifelong knowledge and a better understanding of the world. College is full of new and exciting opportunities. A free meal with a group of strangers might just turn into a memorable learning experience with new friends.

-Mollie Black, 1794 Scholar (2nd Year Representative) 2021