Downtown shows school spirit
Jennifer Pukenas
Issue date: 4/15/10 Section: Features
Imagine standing in a sea of blue and gold among thousands of screaming fans, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the football team and barely being able to find a parking space half a mile from the stadium.
This is the vision UTC alumnus Kim White has pictured in her mind for years.
White, the CEO of RiverCity Co., is determined to transform Chattanooga into a college town.
Her first step was to get downtown stores and restaurants involved. She has already been in contact with 30 businesses, which have agreed to hang banners and display UTC's logo in their storefronts.
White said the feedback was phenomenal, and said the businesses loved the idea of getting involved with the university.
In addition to the decorations, merchants have agreed to have their employees wear blue and gold on Fridays to show their school spirit and remind customers of Saturday's football game.
White mentioned some universities have an area or a strip associated with their campus, and she thinks it would be great if Chattanooga did too. She said she envisions a corridor filled with banners and a row of mockingbird feet leading to the stadium.
A graduate of the '82 class, White said UTC is close to her heart. Having grown up in Chattanooga, White has seen the city's transformations firsthand. She said she thinks a large percentage of students come to UTC because they love the town.
White conducted a survey for students and the results concluded that most UTC students do not discover downtown until their junior year. White said she also believes that downtown businesses are unaware of UTC's enrollment of more than 10,000 students. She said she would love to see the two come together, resulting in a big impact on Chattanooga's economy.
Ashli Skiles, a UTC graduate and the university's cheer and dance coach, said she is very excited to hear of White's progress.
Skiles, a former cheerleader for the university, can still recall how loud and energetic the games used to be when she cheered.
She said she remembers the men's basketball games at McKenzie and how the arena was always packed with fans.
As the university's main spirit promoter, Skiles says she and her spirit squads will do whatever it takes to increase attendance at the sporting events.
"As a whole, we are going to try to wear game day shirts so students will be reminded of the game," she said.
White shares the same enthusiasm.
"There could be a parade where the students walk to the game with the band and the cheerleaders," White said.
She said she also thinks it would be fun if there were blue and gold trolleys to transport students to and from the game.
White is already brainstorming ideas for the fall semester. She said she would love to see a pep rally at Miller Plaza before the Mocs' first football game against Appalachian State.
This is the vision UTC alumnus Kim White has pictured in her mind for years.
White, the CEO of RiverCity Co., is determined to transform Chattanooga into a college town.
Her first step was to get downtown stores and restaurants involved. She has already been in contact with 30 businesses, which have agreed to hang banners and display UTC's logo in their storefronts.
White said the feedback was phenomenal, and said the businesses loved the idea of getting involved with the university.
In addition to the decorations, merchants have agreed to have their employees wear blue and gold on Fridays to show their school spirit and remind customers of Saturday's football game.
White mentioned some universities have an area or a strip associated with their campus, and she thinks it would be great if Chattanooga did too. She said she envisions a corridor filled with banners and a row of mockingbird feet leading to the stadium.
A graduate of the '82 class, White said UTC is close to her heart. Having grown up in Chattanooga, White has seen the city's transformations firsthand. She said she thinks a large percentage of students come to UTC because they love the town.
White conducted a survey for students and the results concluded that most UTC students do not discover downtown until their junior year. White said she also believes that downtown businesses are unaware of UTC's enrollment of more than 10,000 students. She said she would love to see the two come together, resulting in a big impact on Chattanooga's economy.
Ashli Skiles, a UTC graduate and the university's cheer and dance coach, said she is very excited to hear of White's progress.
Skiles, a former cheerleader for the university, can still recall how loud and energetic the games used to be when she cheered.
She said she remembers the men's basketball games at McKenzie and how the arena was always packed with fans.
As the university's main spirit promoter, Skiles says she and her spirit squads will do whatever it takes to increase attendance at the sporting events.
"As a whole, we are going to try to wear game day shirts so students will be reminded of the game," she said.
White shares the same enthusiasm.
"There could be a parade where the students walk to the game with the band and the cheerleaders," White said.
She said she also thinks it would be fun if there were blue and gold trolleys to transport students to and from the game.
White is already brainstorming ideas for the fall semester. She said she would love to see a pep rally at Miller Plaza before the Mocs' first football game against Appalachian State.
