Held at East Campus, the annual event brought together more than 80 athletes from across Giles County Schools and the surrounding community for track and field competitions. The games also included adult participants with intellectual disabilities, reinforcing the inclusive nature of the event and its reach across age groups.

Hosted in partnership with Special Olympics Tennessee Area 34, the Spring Games provided athletes the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, build confidence and compete in a supportive environment. Special Olympics offers year-round sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities, creating opportunities for physical fitness, leadership and community engagement.

“We are proud to host the Special Olympics at East Campus. These athletes are incredibly deserving of a day that celebrates their hard work,” said Dr. Claire Paul, program coordinator of special education and assistant professor in the Grissom School of Education. “It is meaningful to partner with Special Olympics and to create opportunities for our campus community to be part of that experience.”

The event was supported by volunteers from across the ������� campus and community, including faculty, staff, students and partner organization KBG. Volunteers assisted with event operations, athlete support and coordination throughout the day. 26 athletes will move on to the Tennessee Summer Games in Nashville in May.

������� continues to strengthen its connection to the region while supporting opportunities that promote inclusion, engagement and community impact though events like the .

Jessica Powers, EdD

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The Rural Disability Resource Network Rural Disability Mini-Conference brought together campus and community stakeholders for a half-day of learning, connection and practical strategy sharing. The event highlighted �������’s role as a convener for regional impact, linking education, workforce readiness and community-based support.

The Rural Disability Resource Network, a UT System–wide collaboration, is focused on increasing awareness of and access to services for families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in rural Tennessee. The network brings together partners across multiple UT campuses, state agencies and nonprofit organizations to better connect resources, identify gaps and develop solutions that support long-term success.

The conference featured a keynote from disability advocate Madelyn “Midge” Smith, who shared insights on building stronger, more inclusive communities through collaboration and authentic partnership. Smith, who leads community and partnerships for the Wable app, emphasized the importance of visibility, connection and sustained advocacy in rural spaces.

Attendees participated in breakout sessions led by state and regional experts, covering topics including dyslexia and structured literacy, multi-tiered systems of support and behavior strategies, postsecondary transition, family engagement and community-based programming. Sessions focused on evidence-based approaches designed to equip educators and families with tools they can immediately apply.

In addition to professional development, the conference created opportunities for direct connection with organizations providing critical disability resources across Tennessee. Supported in part by the Grand Challenges Grant Program, the network is also working to expand access to information, develop distributable resource materials and host additional workshops to support families as students transition into adulthood.

The day’s focus on connection and access continued into the evening with �������’s annual F.I.R.E. Resource Fair, held at the Curry Athletic Center. The event featured more than 40 agencies and organizations offering services, support and career opportunities for students across disciplines. Together, the conference and resource fair reinforced �������’s commitment to building stronger communities, expanding access to opportunity and supporting individuals and families across southern Middle Tennessee.

Jessica Powers, EdD

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We are pleased to confirm that the ������� Commencement Ceremony will take place on the Campus Green as planned. Thank you for your patience as we monitored the weather conditions this week.

For your added convenience, the ceremony will also be streamed live on the ������� Roku app and our  channel. We look forward to celebrating this momentous occasion with you, in just a few short hours!

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