Vol. 2 No. 1Winter 2015

gratitude.

D avid Herberich, a junior in the College of Engineering, is an exemplary case of how legacy, values, and even a unique approach to

the world can be passed along to a future generation by an endowed scholarship. In his first semester at UT, Herberich signed up for Introduction to Engineering Entrepreneurship, taught by Professor H. Lee Martin (’78, ’86), and Herberich has been reaping the benefits ever since.

Listening to Martin, who holds twenty-one US patents and co-invented the technology that is used in Google Street View, Herberich was quickly hooked on finding and seizing entrepreneurial opportunities. “Dr. Martin is all about developing future leaders,” says Herberich, “It’s his passion.” At one point during the semester, Martin told his class about the Roy B. Martin Scholarship in Entrepreneurship. The scholarship was created by Martin’s uncle, Roy B. Martin, at the age of ninety-six.

An Endowed Scholarship Nurtures the Entrepreneurial Spirit

Every day on this campus your generosity changes the lives of our students, faculty, and staff.

He stated at the time of his gift, “I can help students through this scholarship and support an emerging program.”

“He talked about the legacy that his uncle had wanted to leave behind,” says Herberich. “He wanted to encourage those who were going to apply engineering to the business world.”

Inspired by his professor, Herberich applied for the Roy B. Martin Scholarship and got it. “Dr. Martin said he wanted the scholarship to be a mentor-mentee relationship,” says Herberich. “He wanted to mentor students the way many people had mentored him throughout his career.”

Herberich grew up in Chattanooga as the youngest of five siblings. He was the first child in his family to attend UT and pursue a degree in engineering.

“I enjoyed math and science. I chose industrial engineering because I want to start a business. I like the idea that you can always improve things.” Martin was the inspiration Herberich needed to guide him throughout his UT education.

Engineering professor Lee Martin (left) carries on a family tradition of giving back to UT. Martin’s uncle created the Roy B. Martin Scholarship in Entrepreneurship, and now Lee mentors scholarship recipients such as David Herberich (right).

“I see the help that I get from scholarships and the professors trying to assist me as an investment in me for the future. It all makes me want to make sure that

their investment in me pays off. Someday I hope to do the

same for someone else.”— David Herberich,

class of 2015

Little Family, Big ImpactFor four generations, the Little family of Knoxville has built a great tradition of giving

back to UT, culminating with the creation of the Joe P. Little Scholarship

Giving and serving is a tradition with the Little family, one that began with the contributions of UT’s co-captain of the 1938 football team—Joe P. Little Sr. —and has continued through the generations.

Little graduated with a BS in agriculture and married Mary Alice England. Together, they began their support of their beloved university. Little

served as president of UT’s National Alumni Association and as a member of the Development Council. In 1986, his family honored him and his lifetime of giving back to the university by establishing the Joe P. Little Scholarship.

Continuing in his father’s footsteps, Little’s son, Joe Jr., earned his BS and MS degrees in nuclear engineering (’63, ’66). During his sophomore year, he started dating his future wife, Becky Ford (’62) of Smithville, Tennessee.

Throughout the years, Joe Jr. and Becky have made a point of giving back. “We first got involved because President Emeritus Joe Johnson invited us to become involved with the UT Alumni Association,” says Becky, who has served as chair of the UTAA Women’s Council and currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. “Often it takes somebody reaching out and opening the door.”

After one stretch of giving for twenty-six consecutive years, Joe Jr. and Becky are now back on a twelve-year donation streak. “Education has always been important in our family,” says Joe Jr. “We feel very comfortable with the quality, effort, and vision of the university.”

All three of Joe Jr. and Becky’s children—Mary Helen Story, John Little, and Ford Little—have UT degrees and have carried on the practice of alumni involvement and giving. “The habit of giving, regardless of amount or time, has not only been taught but demonstrated by our parents and grandparents,” says Mary Helen Story, former UTAA chapter officer.

“They’ve just seen us do it,” says Becky. They all have an appreciation for the faculty, staff, and facilities in their respective colleges that were in place to provide the springboard to their careers. “We have all benefited greatly from the education that we received through the University of Tennessee. We use what we’ve been taught on a daily basis, and it all started in those lecture halls and labs,” says John Little, UT Health Science Center Medicine Board member.

Ford Little, past president of the Alumni Association and chair of the Past President’s Alumni Council, is now a UT parent himself and understands the importance of scholarships to provide students with opportunities to succeed. “Scholarships reward students who have worked very diligently in high school to prepare for college. They also help families who do not have the resources by opening the door for their children to attend college and prepare for their careers,” says Ford.

Ford’s son, James F. Little, the first member of the fourth generation to attend UT, is a freshman studying supply-chain management in the Haslam College of Business. James hopes to continue the family loyalty to UT that has lasted throughout the generations.

“When we choose a university for continuing our education, we choose a lifetime relationship,” says Becky. “Our family is grateful for the opportunities available to each of us at the University of Tennessee. Our gratitude enhances an appreciation of those opportunities.”

Photographed in the 1939 UT Yearbook are the members of the varsity football team. Joe Little Sr., wearing number 20, helped lead the team to a National Championship that year under coach Robert Neyland.

Joe P. Little Sr., Class of ’39

Members of the Little family, from left to right: On the back row are twins Matthew

and John Grant Little, James Little, Joe Little, John Little, and Ford Little. On the

3rd row are Becky Little, Malinda LIttle, and Mary Helen Story. On the second row

are Jennifer Little and Carlen Little, and on the front row are Sarah Little, Rebecca Story, and Stacy Story.

“I appreciate the example that my parents and grandparents have set by investing in education. I hope to do the same after I graduate from the

University of Tennessee.” — James Little, Class of 2018

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Tyson Alumni House1609 Melrose AvenueKnoxville, TN 37996-3011volsconnect.com

VOLstarter SuccessHere are examples of recent student projects that have been funded through VOLstarter, UT’s new crowdfunding website:

1 Donations to the SYSTERS project, which encourages teen girls to consider careers in engineering, paid for professional filming of a video to help share stories of female UT grads who are successful in the field.

2 The Ignite Scholarship made it possible for students who could not otherwise afford membership to join this leadership and tradition-building program. Membership is open to all undergrads; however, fees are charged to cover activity costs.

3 Funding for a UT Ad Club trip enabled students majoring in advertising to visit New York City and tour various advertising firms.

4 Donations allowed the UT Debate Team, who were last year’s national debate champions, to host a fundraiser to help pay for the team’s travel to the 2015 nationals, where they will defend their title.

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Visit volsconnect.com to read more alumni stories, and go to volstarter.utk.edu for information about other exciting student and faculty projects that are going on right now!