Why Give
Because Mocs Soar Together
Your support for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has the power to change lives. Your generosity enables students to pursue their aspirations and helps create a brighter future for our Moc community by providing them with exceptional learning experiences, access to renowned faculty, top-ranked academic programs and improved learning environments.
We express our heartfelt gratitude for your thoughtful demonstration of what it means to be a Moc.
Your Impact
A Chorus of Impact
“Education is a lifelong process, as is generosity.” For more than two decades, Dr. Lee Harris has invested in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in more ways than one through his teaching, his leadership in the arts and, quietly, through his consistent generosity. As he prepares to retire in July 2026, Harris leaves behind not only a rich legacy …
Why One Faculty Member Never Stopped Giving Back
“Giving is a habit”—and for Joanie Sompayrac, it started here. Joanie Sompayrac’s (’87, ’02) connection to UTC started long before she became a faculty member—it started in the stands, on campus with her family and through the opportunities that shaped her as a student. Today, she’s paying that forward in a way that’s both personal and powerful. A Brock Scholar …
John “Art” Phillips Sales Institute established at UTC with gift from Phillips family
“Let’s double it.” — John Arthur “Art” Phillips Sr. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga announced that its sales institute in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business will be named the John “Art” Phillips Sales Institute, honoring the late entrepreneur, extraordinary salesman and business leader. Guided by his motto, “Let’s Double It,” John Arthur Phillips Sr. helped a small …
UTC Advancement Team Recognized for Fundraising Excellence
Changing the world with a giving heart The UTC Advancement team was honored as the 2025 recipient of the Excellence in Fundraising award from the AFP (Association for Fundraising Professionals) TN, Southeastern Chapter. This award is presented to a non-profit organization in the Chattanooga area that has demonstrated philanthropic growth over the past three fiscal years. Organizations can win this …
Students and Donors Connect at Annual Scholarship Luncheon
“I definitely would not have been able to go to college without a scholarship.” — Sara Mathews, a business analytics major and recipient of the O’Brien Family COBA Scholarship for Study Abroad As Katie Collins didn’t come to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga expecting to lead anything. Now, as a senior, she’s the president of the Society of Women …
Max Fuller (’75) Names Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
“This gift is entrepreneurial, too.” — Max Fuller (’75) The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga received an exceptional gift from alumnus and successful local entrepreneur Max Fuller to name the center at the Gary W. Rollins College of Business, the Max Fuller Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This $5 million gift will further …
A Game-Changing Gift for UTC Women’s Athletics
“Supporting UTC and its student-athletes has been a privilege for our family.” — Movita Steiner A trailblazing gift for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s women’s athletics, the Steiner family has committed to a seven-figure contribution to explore a women’s athletics complex at UTC. This new complex will include new competition and practice facilities for women’s soccer, new locker rooms …
An Investment in Honors – Richard Zhang (’92)
“This is the best investment I could possibly make.” — Richard Zhang (’92) As a triple-major and Honors College graduate, Zhang knows firsthand how transformative an honors education can be—and now he’s paying it forward in a big way. Now, with a seven-figure gift to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Honors College, Zhang is helping future Mocs access the …
Deep Discoveries: Raccoon Mountain Caverns Donated to UTC
“Raccoon Mountain Caverns opens up research possibilities that we’ve only dreamed of.” — Gretchen Potts, UTC Biology, Geology and Environmental Science Department Head and UC Foundation Professor Written by Chuck Wasserstrom Approximately 15 minutes southwest of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus sits Raccoon Mountain Caverns, a complex cave system known for its extensive underground formations, diverse ecosystem and …
