Over the past weekend, a lively throng estimated at 8,000 descended on downtown Cookeville's WestSide district, not just for carnival fun, but to catch multi-platinum artist Flo Rida bring the house down. The occasion was Tennessee Tech University's third-annual College Town Kickoff, whose aim to welcome back students seemed to succeed in spades. The Tennessee Tech hosted a free block party culminating in a concert that had students, parents, alumni, and locals of the Upper Cumberland region swaying to the hits under the late summer sky.
From the afternoon's high, perched on a Ferris wheel seat, attendees could oversee a scene buzzing with all the hallmarks of campus life rebooting: free carnival games, sounds of laughter weaving through music, and a zip line cutting across an expanse eclectically dotted with merry-go-rounds and axe-throwing stations. The climax of this revelry was Flo Rida's 8 p.m. gig, which, according to Tennessee Tech’s news release, pulled the largest crowd in the event’s history.
"The unmistakable message of this event is that Cookeville is truly Tennessee’s College Town," Phil Oldham, Tech President, told Tennessee Tech, expressing pride over the record turnout. With participation from the Division of Student Affairs and local partners, Oldham believes they have raised the bar for future university events.
Meanwhile, Amy New, the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce's president and CEO, hailed the kick-off as more than just a good time. Bringing thousands to the downtown, she emphasized the economic windfall the occasion represents, "While the full economic impact of this event will take some time to assess, it reaffirms that Tennessee Tech is a leading economic driver for not only Cookeville, but the entire Upper Cumberland region," New mentioned in a statement covered by Tennessee Tech’s news release. The event was seen as a boost for local commerce, with New warmly welcoming the influx of patrons to local businesses.
The university is also celebrating a diverse incoming class of over 2,000 freshmen, hailing from various corners of the country and the globe. Tech awaits the final tally of its new students, representing 89 Tennessee counties, 31 states, and 17 countries, with final figures expected after the completion of the annual fall census. This, as detailed in Tennessee Tech's announcement, underscores the university's role as a melting pot of academic pursuits and demographic inclusiveness.
