Tennessee Tech Launches $125 Million Campaign
September 5, 2026

Tech President Phil Oldham speaks to alumni and donors gathered at the Aug. 28 event to launch the public phase of the university's $125 million fundraising effort, titled "It's Personal: The Campaign to Elevate Tennessee Tech." Image by Tennessee Tech

COOKEVILLE, TN - Tennessee Tech University has officially launched the public phase of It’s Personal: The Campaign to Elevate Tennessee Tech, a bold $125 million fundraising effort designed to invest in the people, programs and opportunities shaping the university’s future.

The campaign was publicly unveiled Friday, Aug. 28, during Tech’s Celebration of Philanthropy gathering, where university leaders announced that donors have already committed more than $94 million toward the total goal.

"'It's personal' is more than just a slogan; it’s more than just something we say,” Tech President Phil Oldham said during the event. “It’s something we really do mean. We’re in the people business here at Tennessee Tech. We’re investing in people, and we’re glad that you’re participating in that.”

Launched in 2020, It’s Personal focuses on five key pillars: student experience, faculty support, scholarships, athletics and university excellence. Together, these priorities are intended to strengthen the Tech experience while creating new opportunities for students, faculty and the university as a whole.

The goal includes $25 million in funding for student experiences, supporting experiential learning, student wellness, career development and other programs that help students thrive; $25 million for athletics, including a new football operations building and tennis center, as well as planned investments in baseball and track and field; $15 million for faculty support, including endowed chairs and professorships, research and professional development; $35 million for scholarships and emergency grants; and $25 million for university excellence.

“Tech has incredible momentum and great optimism for the future,” said John Smith, interim vice president for University Advancement in remarks to donors. “Because of you, students facing financial challenges will have the support they need to come to Tech, remain enrolled, and finish the degree they started.”

Smith said philanthropic support also helps students gain experiences beyond the classroom and enables the university to respond to new opportunities.

“Because of you, students will move beyond the textbook and solve real-world problems alongside faculty who care about them and are invested in their success,” Smith added. “Because of you, Tennessee Tech will be able to act when new opportunities arise."

The campaign reflects the personal connections that bring students to Tech and the relationships that help them succeed.

Whitney Robinson, a Tech junior majoring in special education and serving as student representative on the university’s Foundation Board of Directors, explained how philanthropic support, including donor-funded scholarships, can make a lasting difference in a student’s college experience.

“Scholarships aren’t just financial help; they’re relief. They’re confidence. They’re the difference between ‘I hope I can do this’ and ‘I know I belong here,’” Robinson said in a video package that aired at the event. “More students want a Tech education than ever before, and I believe we can build a future where every student who earns a place at Tennessee Tech can afford to be here.”

Trudy Harper, a two-time Tech graduate, philanthropist and former chair of Tech’s Board of Trustees, also shared her personal connection to the university during the celebration.

Harper came to Tech from Soddy Daisy in 1979, becoming the first person in her family to attend college and leave Hamilton County. She said Tech provided more than an education – it gave her a community and a place where she found her people.

“I have found such joy in this place. I have found such joy in this community,” Harper said. “There’s going to be a whole lot more little Trudys coming along ... They’re looking for their dreams and their future, and we can give them that.”

Harper is among the supporters who have made a significant commitment to Tech’s future. The university recognized 33 members of its President’s Circle Society, donors who have committed at least $1 million outright, as well as 140 members of the Visionary Society, which recognizes those who have included Tennessee Tech in their estate plans.

Oldham said the campaign represents both the university’s progress and its aspirations for the years ahead.

“This weekend represents one of those transformational moments, reflecting Tech’s rise to the top,” Oldham said. “As good as we are now, as good as we’ve been in the past, we’re going to get a lot better.”

The Aug. 28 event also featured Tech student Joshua Washington performing on a Steinway piano provided by Steinway Piano Gallery Nashville. His performance highlighted another one of the campaign’s goals: becoming an All-Steinway Institution, a designation recognizing universities that provide students with access to Steinway pianos throughout their music education.

“At Tennessee Tech, it is personal – every student, every story, every future made possible by your support,” Oldham said as he officially launched the campaign’s public phase.

To learn more about It’s Personal: The Campaign to Elevate Tennessee Tech and how to support the university’s vision for the future, visit www.tntech.edu/itspersonal.