COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (April 28, 2008) — With a number of high-profile events planned at Tennessee Tech University between May 1 and 3, this coming weekend promises to be a busy one at the university.

Among the events that will be attracting students and their families, dignitaries and other visitors to campus are SAE Baja 2008 competition, groundbreaking for the construction of a new building and spring commencement ceremonies.

Baja
Nearly 100 teams from the United States, Canada, South Korea, Columbia, India, France, Venezuela and Mexico — about 1,000 people total — are signed up to compete in the race, which begins Thursday, May 1, and continues through Saturday, May 3.

The pond, jumps, trenches and other obstacles for the course — located between Ninth and 12th Streets, bordering on Pine Avenue — have been constructed, and shuttle buses will run from the Capital Quad area to the competition site to alleviate parking issues during the busy weekend.

Groundbreaking
Gov. Phil Bredesen, Congressman Bart Gordon and other dignitaries are expected on campus for the groundbreaking ceremony of Ray Morris Hall, future home of the Millard Oakley STEM Center, at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 2, and the public is also invited to attend.

Located at Seventh Street and Stadium Drive, the center will grow, improve and launch efforts to enhance the way teachers and professors — from preschool through college — teach science, technology, engineering and math-related subjects.

Commencement
This year’s spring commencement, set for 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, at the Hooper Eblen Center, is the largest in TTU history, with nearly 1,200 students earning their degrees.

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander will address graduates and their friends and family, and a closed-circuit broadcast of the ceremony in the Fitness Center will accommodate overflow attendance. Shuttle service is also planned to help alleviate parking issues.

--Tracey Hackett
This information posted 28 April 2008