Photos: Tennessee Tech celebrates 100 years of Golden Eagles
Tennessee Tech mascot Awesome Eagle is pictured at the university’s Feb. 13 celebration
honoring 100 years as the Golden Eagles.
Tennessee Tech University held a birthday bash Thursday that was 100 years in the
making.
Students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered over cupcakes, popcorn, prizes and the
sounds of a local D.J. to commemorate the university’s centennial anniversary as the
Golden Eagles and honor the birthday of Tech’s beloved mascot, Awesome Eagle.
Tech’s Athletic Association officially adopted the Golden Eagles moniker at a meeting
in 1925 that went through three rounds of selection, beating out other choices such
as the Tech Warriors, Mountain Eagles and Lions by a resounding vote of 139 to 18.
According to campus lore, the name was inspired by the eagles that were plentiful
above the upland forests of the Upper Cumberland region.
Ted McWilliams, the university’s interim director of admissions and a Tech alumnus,
served as emcee for the milestone birthday party.
“We're thrilled to have you here at the Roaden University Center to celebrate a century
of Golden Eagle spirit,” said McWilliams. “Over the past 100 years, Tennessee Tech
has soared to incredible heights … Today, we honor that legacy and look forward to
a future filled with even more achievements.”
Tech President Phil Oldham also delivered remarks encouraging audience members to,
“Take time to appreciate the Golden Eagle, what it means to us, and what it’s meant
to Tennessee Tech for 100 years.”
Later, Susan Luna-Hazlewood, director of Tech’s Crawford Alumni Center, shared about
the significance of the Golden Eagles identity for Tech’s vast alumni network.
While the Golden Eagles name has remained constant for a century, Tech’s mascot has
evolved over time.
The university’s first costumed mascot appeared on campus in the 1960s, while the
character of Awesome Eagle debuted in 1984. The modern version of Awesome Eagle that
students, faculty, staff and alumni recognize today traces its origins back to 1990.
The Golden Eagles’ centennial anniversary and the history of Tech’s iconic mascot
are also featured in the latest issue of Visions, Tech’s annual magazine for alumni and friends. Read more at www.tntech.edu/visions.