On November 4th, on top of hosting the Salute to Heroes Tailgate before the Furman vs. Chattanooga (Nov 4, 2023) game, we will be joining the infield activities with a memorable full-field American Flag experience!
We are needing 40+ students, staff, & faculty to help us with the Full Field American Flag experience.
If you are interested in being part of fun, please RSVP on Moc Sync by October 12th! If you are not a student/staff member or would rather RSVP via email, please feel free to RSVP as a reply to this email or to VMA@UTC.EDU. We will send reminders and follow-ups as the time grows closer and more information about the logistics of the America Flag experience.
Feel Free To Forward This Email to All Who May Be Interested Military-Connected Members! Additional communications about the UTC VMA Tailgating Experience will be sent at a later time.
At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (Tax ID/EIN: 620476521), the college experience for veteran and active-duty students is far from traditional, as we offer the tools to ease the transition processes each member experiences as related to social and educational programs, unique study spaces, guidance, and counseling. Each area of transitional support at UTC assists the student and community member’s idea of success whether towards a chosen degree program or as a volunteer in the community. Within UTC’s Veteran and Military Affairs (VMA), we regularly offer programs and events to the UTC community that offer increased awareness of the unique student veterans needs and vow to provide the best possible support services to all military connected members.
This year’s Annual UTC Holiday 4 Heroes Series features:
- The UTC Military Appreciation Game Tailgate (Salute to Heroes 2023 Series in partnership with UTC Athletics 11/4/23)
- Veterans Day Food Trucks on Campus (11/9/23)
- Thanksgiving Drive-Thru Meals and Food Drop (11/16/23)
- Christmas on Campus (12/1/23)
The events and programming provided have increased awareness, engagement, and assist in closing barriers faced by the military-connected student population. New for 2023, we are trying to not only provide warm meals and prizes to many of the armed forces (veterans, military, families) that may be away from home but also bring in an essence of home into what they now recognize as their new norm as a military-connected student. Many of our student veteran population are commuters and are experiencing military to civilian transition-related issues and concerns. Recent inflation issues have added to these stressors. It is our hope to pull enough support starting with our Military Appreciation Game on November 4th and provide these hard-working families a chance to feel more at home by providing donated holiday favors (in-kind donations), in-kind prizes, gift cards, and/or vouchers for use in the Holiday 4 Heroes Series. During our Military Appreciation Tailgate we will be giving away 200+ Limited Edition Hoodies and Thanksgiving, we plan to be able to provide a Turkey drive-thru which we are seeking support to provide up to 50+ Turkey vouchers/gift cards!
A new initiative for 2023, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Veteran and Military Affairs (VMA), understands that the holiday time is a sensitive time frame for many of the armed forces and military organizations we work with. Hopefully, through the generous donations from our partners and sponsors, UTC Veteran and Military Affairs (VMA) will host Veteran and Military Holiday Celebration for National Veterans and Military Families Month to include Military Appreciation Tailgates, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. As part of National Veterans and Military Families Month, with your support, Military Service Members, Veterans, and their families will receive support for Thanksgiving staples (Turkey, stuffing, etc.) and/or gift card/food voucher donations that can be either issued during our Holiday 4 Heroes Series starting as early as November 16th, 2023. Our estimated attendance is over 200 military-connected members, and the demographic make-ups of the participants will be extremely diverse to include female, male, dependents, spouses, active duty, veterans, and ROTC Cadets.
Please feel free to contact me at (423) 425-2388 or Sylvana-Matthews@UTC.EDU if you have questions, requesting partnership, making prize donations, or need additional information. If I can be of any further assistance, or provide you with any further information, please do not hesitate to reach out. If choosing to donate with a monetary value, we ask that you Give to The Veteran And Military Affairs Fund Online using the link as follows. Veteran Student Services Fund