addenda The University of Tennessee at Martin Faculty and Staff Newsletter | April 5, 2021 Captain’s Challenge - Jeopardy! Edition set for April 14 UT Martin is hosting its seventh-annual Captain’s Challenge fundraising event April 14, with a goal to raise $350,000 in 24 hours. This year’s theme is “Captain’s Challenge – Jeopardy! Edition,” and UT Martin community members can follow along as Captain competes in the trivia competition for a chance to help the university achieve its fundraising goal. Contributors can direct their donations toward any campus office, department, athletic organization, regional center, Follow along during Captain’s Challenge on April 14 to see if Captain can make it to Final Jeopardy and win scholarship fund, special $350,000 for UT Martin! program or another fundraiser McWherter Institute fund if their gift. at UT Martin.” at challenge.utm.edu. Each unsure of which program to “Many times, alumni think Those interested in helping college will have a meter to track donate to specifically. the size of their donation to promote the event on social its real-time fundraising progress Last year, with the goal of isn’t enough to help make a media and through other on the donation website. $325,000, UT Martin raised difference,” Johnson said. “But channels are encouraged to Donors are asked to consider over $401,000 in 24 hours. we’ve seen how small gifts can register as “Captain’s Challenge the Student Assistance fund, Jackie Johnson, assistant make a huge impact. We started Pilots” at alumni.utm.edu/ the Athletics-Victory fund, vice chancellor of the Office of off the first year with a $25,000 pilot. the Northwest Tennessee Arts Alumni Relations and Annual goal, and last year, we raised For more information, Center fund, the Innovation Giving, encourages all alumni over $400,000. So as you can contact the UT Martin Office and Product Realization to donate during Captain’s see, any donation can make an of Alumni Relations at 731-881- Building fund, or the Ned Ray Challenge no matter the size of impact on a student’s life here 7610 or [email protected]. WestStar to host 22nd-annual African American Leadership Conference The UT Martin WestStar West Tennessee, will serve as Leadership Program is this year’s keynote speaker. He hosting the 22nd-annual currently serves as the chair of African American Lead- the Anti-Poverty Task Force for ership Conference, the City of Jackson, the chair themed “Challenges and of the Jackson-Madison County Opportunities,” virtually from 8 Equity Project, as well as a team a.m. – 2 p.m., April 20. member of the City of Jackson Cost of attendance for this Recovery Court and the Jackson- year’s conference is $10 per Madison County School System person, and the deadline to Parent Council. He also serves register is Monday, April 12. as the Young Adult Pastor at the Matt Marshall, president Historic First Baptist Church. executive director and head Preschool, and spent eight and CEO of United Way of Marshall is the former of school at Hands Up! Continued on page 2 page 2 | addenda | April 5, 2021 highlighting the excellence of our YoUTMs faculty and staff Public Safety Upcoming Events hosts second •April 5-6: Voluntary pay-it-forward COVID-19 testing on campus; event •April 5-9: Summer and Fall registration; The UT Martin Department •April 5-11: I Heart UTM week; of Public Safety Traffic Office •April7: SGA Faculty/Staff vs. is partnering with Lifeline Students softball game; 7 p.m., Blood Services to sponsor its Bettye Giles Softball Field; second pay-it-forward event this •April 8-9: Dance spring spring that will allow university ensemble “Deliver us Peace,” 7 Dr. Keith Carver, UT Martin In a partnership with Van’s students, faculty and staff p.m.; chancellor, is serving as a Institutional Pharmacy, Dawn members with a current parking •April 10: Spring Preview Day; board member for the Mid- Lattus, lecturer of nursing, citation to donate blood during •April 10: Live from the Tent: West Tennessee chapter of the and Level II nursing students the April 13-14 blood drive in Northwest TN Arts Festival, 11 American Red Cross. Carver will administered more than 150 exchange for one voided ticket. a.m. - 2 p.m.; serve a three-year appointment COVID-19 vaccinations at the In order to have the citation •April 14: Captain’s Challenge; on the board. Martin Church of Christ clinic. voided, proof of donation or •April 16: Engage the Times: attempted donation will need Pandemic Fatigue; to be turned in at the traffic •April 16-17: “The New Ridder named 12th head coach in office in public safety. Only Normal,” Spring opera, 8 p.m.; men’s basketball history one citation will be eligible for •April 23: Engage the Times: consideration per pay-it-forward Environmental Health Check; Athletic director Kurt UT Martin Chancellor Dr. event per individual. Handicap •April 30: Classes end; McGuffin has announced Keith Carver said. “He is a tickets are not eligible for •April 30: Coon Creek grand the hiring of Ryan Ridder as basketball lifer who has vast dismissal. opening; the UT Martin head men’s experience in building up For more information, contact •May 3-7: Final exams; basketball coach. programs. I am impressed by his the traffic office at 731-881-7778. •May 7-8: Commencement. A formal meet-and-greet event vision he has set for UT Martin, Continued from Page 1 with Ridder, his wife, Jen, and and we are confident that he is a Phillips, West Tennessee daughters Brixton and Remi will great fit for not just the Skyhawk years at Union University as Healthcare director of be held on campus next week athletic department but for the the director for the Center for information technology security with more details to follow. entire community.” Racial Reconciliation, as well as and networking. “I am beyond thrilled to Ridder joins the Skyhawks student success, and service and The African American welcome Ryan, Jen and their after four successful seasons diversity initiatives. Leadership Conference is young family to Martin,” as head coach at Bethune- The African American sponsored by the WestStar McGuffin said. “Ryan is the son Cookman University, a NCAA Leadership Conference will Leadership Program, the City of a highly successful coach and Division I member of the Mid- also feature presentations by of Brownsville, Simmons Bank- has grown up in the business. Eastern Athletic Conference. Dr. Marlon King, Jackson- Brownsville, West Tennessee I am confident that he has the During his tenure in Daytona Madison County School System Healthcare, Hardin County, game plan to take our program Beach, Fla., Ridder set numerous superintendent; Dr. Doris Conner Real Estate, WestStar to another level. He has shown school records, posted a .646 Battle, National Institute for graduate Mark Heaston and the to be a builder of programs winning percentage in league School Leadership Tennessee UT Institute for Public Service. and does this with the highest play and won the 2017-18 MEAC and Alabama state coordinator; To register for the African integrity – getting all he can out regular season championship. Tennessee Senator Raumesh American Leadership of his players in every situation A Lexington, Kentucky, Akbari, District 29; J.C. Shelley, Conference, visit utm.edu/ his career has led him. I believe native, Ridder owns a 143- First Horizon Bank in Jackson; weststarevents. the Skyhawk fan base will enjoy 73 record as a collegiate head Derick Tisdale, Jackson Police For more information or his energy and passion – he is coach, which also includes Department deputy chief; registration assistance, contact simply a winner.” four seasons at Daytona State Tennessee Senator Katrina Virginia Grimes, WestStar “Ryan’s track record as a College. He boasted the most Robinson, District 33; Evelyn program coordinator, at 731- proven winner speaks volumes,” Lake-Harris, adult-care nurse 881-7298 or [email protected]. Continued on page 3 practitioner; and Clayton page 3 | addenda | April 5, 2021 Continued from Page 2 wins (48) in the first three years in Bethune-Cookman history before the school opted out of all sports for the 2020- 21 campaign. From 2017-20, Ridder’s Wildcat squads posted a winning MEAC record for three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history, going 31-17 during that span. “First, I would like to thank our chancellor, Dr. Keith Carver and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Kurt McGuffin for their trust in me and the opportunity to lead the men’s basketball program at UT Martin,” Ridder said. “Our family is excited and RPI rating by over 60 points that signed the highest ranked Ridder began his collegiate looking forward to building while in charge of the program. recruiting class (64th nationally) playing career at the College relationships with the campus Ridder, 36, began his head in the ASUN Conference in of Wooster in 2003-05 before and community. We are fired coaching career in 2013-14 2013-14. finishing up under his father at up to work together to build a at Daytona State College – By the time Ridder departed Embry-Riddle. After graduating program that reflects the special accumulating a 95-28 overall to accept his first head coaching with a degree in aerospace people of Martin and the record at the NJCAA level. gig, Campbell was tabbed as studies in 2008, he moved to university.” He brought home Mid-Florida the Big South Conference North Carolina to embark Ridder’s debut season as Conference championships in preseason favorite and had on a coaching career. He was a Division I head coach was each of his four seasons after defeated Power 5 opponents an assistant at North Raleigh historic as he helped guide inheriting a program that went such as Iowa and Auburn.