When the UTC chancellor met the executive principal of The Howard School in Chattanooga, Steven Angle, Ph.D., asked Mr. Zac Brown how the University could help the high school achieve its goals. Mr. Brown said he was immediately interested and appreciative that Dr. Angle wanted to find ways to partner with the University’s neighbor.

Then Mr. Brown met Robert Fisher. Mr.  Fisher, a Rhodes Scholar, a Truman Scholar, a Brock Scholar, and the second-term president of the Student Government Association at UTC, began to meet with a core group of students at The Howard School to establish a student government.  He asked them what the structure would look like if they could decide.  He asked them to talk about their goals and aspirations.  They didn’t know it, but Mr. Fisher was leading them through a strategic planning process and the high school students responded with enthusiasm.

“It is important for kids who look like Robert to get to know him.  Our students who are in key roles and positions think, ‘that could be me,’” Mr. Brown said.

Students decided The Howard School would focus on marketing and communication, community engagement, internal leadership development, and diversity and inclusion.

Both Mr. Brown and Mr. Fisher were especially keen for the students to explore diversity and inclusion.  The Howard School, historically African American, is now welcoming many Hispanic students, some of whom are just learning English.  As the SGA brainstorming sessions began, it was clear both sets of students wanted everyone to be involved.  Fisher encouraged a cultural ambassadors program, so that Spanish-speaking students could develop friendships.

Mr. Fisher invited another UTC student, Ronald Elliot to engage with the Howard students and their advisors. Mr.  Elliot, who is from Nashville, helped craft the details of student government constitutions at Two Rivers Middle School as well as at McGavock High School, where he served as class president for three years and student body president.  The Honors College student has served as president of Freshman Senate at UTC in 2014-15.

“Most people think constitutions are boring, but I find them fascinating,” said Mr. Elliot, who is a political science major with a concentration in public policy and a minor in chemistry. His focus is pre-med—he would like to become an orthopedic surgeon.

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