Torchbearer is the highest honor the university gives to its undergraduate students. Recognition as a Torchbearer reminds us all that those who bear the Torch of Enlightenment shadow themselves to give light to others.
Daniel Dassow
Daniel Dassow is an English and religious studies major who served as editor-in-chief of the Daily Beacon, UT’s student newspaper, and as a tutor in the Jane Anderson Herbert Writing Center. He is an interdisciplinary writer and editor who loves to apply his passion for writing and mentorship in community spaces.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“As former UT professor and US poet laureate Joy Harjo said so beautifully last spring in her commencement address to the College of Arts and Sciences, every role we take up is an act of service: ‘I say serve, because that is what each of us is charged with when we take on breath, when we take on this story.’ Being a Volunteer to me means that every role I have, whether as a leader, brother, friend, student, partner, or mentor, is a chance to serve. The Volunteer is not just a mascot or a symbol but rather a way of living in relation with others every day. I could not imagine a better creed for my college years.”
Diba Seddighi
Diba Seddighi is a senior pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in global health equity through the College Scholars Program. Following graduation, she will complete a fellowship year in which she will conduct health disparity research at the National Institutes of Health. Seddighi is excited to continue pursuing her passion for health equity in all her future endeavors.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“As a Volunteer at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, I am part of a community that values diversity, leadership, and service. The university has provided me with countless opportunities to engage in research, community service, leadership opportunities, academic development, peer mentoring, and so much more. I have received so much guidance and support from faculty, staff, and students alike. Knowing that I am part of a community that cares deeply about making a positive impact and encouraging others to do the same through service leadership has helped me tremendously grow as both an academic and a community member. I couldn’t imagine a better place to have spent the last four years, and I will always be a Vol for Life.”
Diego Lourenco
Diego Lourenco, a senior studying data science and analytics from Chattanooga, has participated in various academic and community involvement, including the re-establishment of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity,, mentoring students in the UT Success Academy, and conducting undergraduate research in the School of Information Sciences
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“Being a Volunteer to me means using your voice to better represent the campus community and being a part of something bigger. UT has empowered me to make a difference by creating an environment which continuously supports me in striving for excellence and gives me the opportunities to take initiative on campus and in the greater community.”
Emily Morgan
Emily Morgan is from Maryville, Tennessee, and studies Appalachian community wealth development with minors in honors leadership studies, social entrepreneurship, and geography. She is a proud aunt, serves as chair of the Leadership Studies Advisory Board, and will be pursuing a Master of Public Policy this fall.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“I am proud to be a Volunteer. As a Vol, I am consistently empowered to consider the impact of my words, actions, and presence on the communities that I interact with. We are an institution of character that encourages students to pursue whatever impact they can imagine. The mentorship and care that I received while at UTK were the most formative factors in making me who I am today. Regardless of whether those peers or mentors are still at UTK today, they are still an active part of my life. The Volunteer spirit goes beyond the boundaries of our campus.”
Evan Mays
Evan Mays is a graduating senior in the College of Social Work. He is from Church Hill, Tennessee. Along with his studies, Mays is currently an intern for the City of Knoxville’s Office of Neighborhood Empowerment. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in law with concentrations in civil rights and international human rights.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“To me, being a Volunteer means being willing to make sacrifices for the greater good of those around you. The campus community on Rocky Top is so wonderfully strong in value and tremendously accomplished, not just because of the people here but because of their readiness to help their fellow Volunteer. When I first arrived at UT, one of my main goals over the next four years was to help create a campus I would be proud to pass down to the next generation of Volunteers. Because I have had the privilege of having so many amazing role models who taught me the true intrinsic value of servant leadership, and because this campus has afforded me so many incredible leadership opportunities, I am confident in saying I accomplished that goal.”
Jordan Brown
A Memphis native, Jordan Brown studies psychology and sociology. Her impact has touched Minority Enhancement for UT, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Jones Center for Leadership and Service, and the Student Government Association. This impact culminated in assisting the successful Student Code of Conduct reform efforts and being elected student body president. After graduation, Brown will be pursuing a PhD in counseling psychology to study community healing and social policy.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“In college, and in life, there are so many unknowns. To be a Volunteer means bearing the torch and braving this uncertainty to be of service to anyone who needs it. The torch of leadership represents all of the knowledge, lessons, and resources that you gain throughout your life and must be used to guide others as they navigate their own challenges. Being a Volunteer means not just putting others above yourself but taking responsibility for helping those around you grow so that they may bear that torch one day themselves. It is not just about what you accomplish in the present but rather those who came before you to lay the foundation and those who will come after to continue the work that needs to be done. UT has empowered me to make a difference because it has given me my support system. Outside of my family, the University of Tennessee has given me friends, mentors, and professors who have poured into me so I could do the same for my campus community. I could not imagine having this impact anywhere else because I would not have the same Big Orange family that has supported me since I stepped foot on this campus.”
Juliet Gear
Juliet Gear, from Franklin, Tennessee, has an influence and authentic spirit that reach beyond the university. While studying communications and political science, she dedicates her time to the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy. She co-created the center’s Knoxville Fellows program, which places undergraduates in government internships. Gear’s efforts positively impact on- and off-campus organizations including the Student Government Association, VolsVote, Leadership Knoxville, Chi Omega, the state senate, and national park internships.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“[Being a Volunteer means] listening more often than you speak, following when necessary, and always leading with civility and integrity. I will intentionally carry these values learned at the University of Tennessee. With the mentorship of countless faculty, the motivation of impactful peers, and the time spent with supportive UT programs, I am now the confident, aspiring individual I am today. Entering my senior year of high school, as someone who thought they would be anywhere but the University of Tennessee following in the footsteps of the two generations before her, I am forever grateful that I chose orange and white.”
Kiara Robinson-Milloy
Kiara Robinson-Milloy is a senior from Woodinville, Washington, studying neuroscience. She has been a member of the UT softball team, serving as the captain for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. She has also been a part of the VOLeaders program, learning how to use sports as a platform to create positive social change within the Tennessee athletic department, Knoxville campus, and within the local and global communities.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“Being a Volunteer is using the platform that many others have set for you and using it to help make an impact for the people around you, no matter how small or how big. Coming to the University of Tennessee as a student-athlete, I knew that I had a built-in family who would act as a support system to help me create social change. The presence of women’s athletics in today’s day and age is tied to the many trailblazers here at the University of Tennessee and with the Lady Vols. Without coming to UT, I would’ve never known that I could use my sport to help my community around me and internationally. Sport is a universal language and thanks to the University of Tennessee, I was able to understand that I am more than an athlete and I can do more with my sport than just play it. Throughout my time here at the University of Tennessee, I have been surrounded by many leaders who have empowered me to take on everything that I do with full steam with the Volunteer spirit.”
Michael Rodriguez
Michael Rodriguez, of Knoxville, graduated in December 2022 with a degree in marketing. As a student, Rodriguez took on the role of inaugural vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion for UT’s Interfraternity Council and helped develop the council’s DEI commitment plan, the first of its kind in the country. He was a Dean of Students Fellow, a Diversity Scholar, and a 2019 Emerging Leader. Rodriguez currently works as a sales consultant for the Breakthru Beverage Group in South Florida as part of E. & J. Gallo Winery’s Sales Leadership Development Program.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“Being a Vol means more than showing up to sporting events, wearing orange on Friday, or knowing the words to ‘Rocky Top.’ It’s proven by how you act when no one is watching and how you uplift and positively influence your circles and communities. It’s both words spoken and unspoken. Actions thought of and actions put forth. Being a Vol means that you are willing and ready to serve others before yourself.”
Patrick Angelaccio
Patrick Angelaccio came to the University of Tennessee to be a Volunteer. Over his academic career he found positions to best serve others in an authentic and empathetic way, including leading in the Ignite program, the College of Social Work, the Student Government Association, Ambassadors, and more. After graduating, he will return to UT for his master’s degree.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“Being a Volunteer means doing the best you can to bring out the light in others. Here at UT, everyone has the ability to wake up and actually be their mascot—a volunteer. They can do it in their everyday lives, in their major, and in the greater Knoxville community. Especially as a social work student, I am on the front line of helping students fulfill their potential regardless of insurance, income, or emotional ability. I came to this school without even getting a tour because of the greater Volunteer community that is based on serving others, and I found a home getting involved in departments centered on this principle. The Jones Center for Leadership and Service has shaped me as a leader and shown me how to best serve others using my own strengths and abilities.”.
Pilar Garcia
Pilar Garcia is an English and journalism student. They have devoted their time on campus to promoting and educating others on Indigenous presence through the Native American Student Association. Pilar is also the president of the English honors society and assists in Writer’s Block open mics for students in creative writing.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“Being a Volunteer means speaking for others who have trouble finding a voice, empowering the voices of those who came before, and making things easier for those who will come after you. UT has empowered me to make a difference by providing incredible faculty and staff who inspired me to continue speaking up on representation issues.”