The Ned Ray McWherter Institute will host the sixth annual Igniting Innovation on April 23, in the Duncan Ballroom in the University Center.
The guest speaker for this event will be the current director of athletics and previous head football coach at UTK, Phillip Fulmer.
Fulmer will be speaking on “Life Lessons from a Coach”, where he will describe his life story and some of the achievements that he has accomplished.
Fulmer has worked with UTK for 40 years and has led the Volunteers to many victories. Fulmer was named Southeastern Conference “Coach of the Year” and “National Coach of the Year” in 1998.
He was inducted into the 2012 National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame the first time his name was presented on the ballot.
Fulmer was also inducted into the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.
Joyanne Gansereit, the coordinator of programs for the Ned Ray McWherter Institute, explained that Fulmer was chosen as the guest speaker because of his help recruiting Dave Ramsay for last year’s Igniting Innovation event.
This event will be hosted by the sophomore class of the Ned Ray McWherter Institute as an annual fundraiser.
“My favorite part of this event is seeing the excitement in [the innovators’] faces when they decide on a certain aspect of the event,” Gansereit said. “Whether it be designing the sponsor flyer or the parking pass, or just deciding what they want on the menu, they are all working as a team to accomplish a huge task and knowing at the end of this event, they have done a fantastic job.”
This organization works with these students throughout the remainder of their college career through building their strength, getting connected with mentors through their community and school, learning more about diverse culture, and getting involved with business and public service.
Igniting Innovation will honor a few of UTM’s alumni for being innovators in their workplace at the event.
Igniting Innovation will begin at 6:30 p.m. Those who wish to attend can sponsor a table for $1,000 or purchase individual tickets for $150.
For more information, contact Gansereit at gansereit@utm.edu or 731-881-3620.
