Spirit Alumni Council
Founded in July 2025, the Spirit Alumni Council serves as the official alumni organization for UT cheer, dance, and mascot (Smokey and Davy) alumni.
We’ve participated in the best game day experience in the country. We’ve served the community as ambassadors of the University. We’ll always be ALL VOL!
Activities
Provide leadership and influence as an advocate for the UT Spirit Teams with alumni, the university, and the public
Develop programs of special interest to alumni, faculty, staff, and current members of the Spirit Teams
Encourage greater financial participation by the alumni of the Spirit Teams, university alumni, and the public to support current Spirit Team members
Develop supplemental athletic scholarships for the current members of the Spirit Teams
Participate in the university’s Office of Alumni Relations programs and activities
We Are a Group of National Champions!
The UT Spirit Program currently holds 13 National Championships from the Universal Cheerleaders Association/Universal Dance Association National Championships, held annually in Orlando, Florida.
In 2007, Smokey and the dance team both won national titles, with the cheer team securing the national runner-up spot in traditional routine, making Tennessee the first school in competition history ever to produce two national championships and a national runner-up placement in the same year. The cheer team captured its first national title in 2020. That championship was especially significant because it made UT the first UCA/UDA Division 1A school in the country to claim at least one national championship in every spirit category—cheer, dance, and mascot—in UCA/UDA competition history.
- 2007 — Jazz Champions
- 2008 — Jazz Champions
- 2009 — Jazz Champions
- 2015 — Jazz Champions
- 2016 — Jazz Champions
- 2020 — Jazz Champions
- 2021 — Jazz Champions
- 2020 — Game Day
- 2021 — Game Day
- 2024 — Game Day
- 2000 — Smokey
- 2001 — Smokey
- 2007 — Smokey
Join Our Council
Our goal is to support current members of the Spirit Teams, create and maintain a community with Spirit Team alumni, partner with the Spirit Program director and Spirit Program coaching staff, and give back to the program that has given us so much.
General membership as a Spirit Alumni Council member shall be granted to all persons who have completed at least 24 semester hours at UT and have completed at least two consecutive semesters as a member of the cheer team, dance team, and/or mascot (Smokey or Davy) team. Individuals who do not meet these criteria may be added to the organization at the discretion of the Spirit Program Director.
General membership applications are accepted year-round.
Questions? Email spiritalumnicouncil.utk@gmail.com or Phyllis Moore, senior director of alumni relations, phyllismoore@utk.edu
- Daron Porter (’97), Cheer Alumni, President
- Sierra Garvin (’17), Dance Alumni, Vice President/President Elect
- Kelley Tafazzoli (’04)_Dance Alumni, Spirit Program Director
- Anthony Oakley (’21), Cheer Alumni, Secretary Director
- Amy Kile Edwards (’93), Cheer Alumni, Treasury Director
- Laura Willingham (’00), Cheer Alumni, Communications Directors
- Kenzie Couch (’23), Cheer Alumni, Communications Directors
- Andra Hutchins (’94), Cheer Alumni, Membership Director
- Lee Rogers (’92), Cheer Alumni, Cheer Advocacy Director
- Reggie Coleman (’88), Cheer Alumni, Cheer Advocacy Director
- Holly Martinez (’01), Cheer Alumni, Cheer Advocacy Director
- Kerissa Stott (’00), Dance Alumni, Dance Advocacy Director
- Laura Warrington (’20), Dance Alumni, Dance Advocacy Director
- Faymie Link (’14), Dance Alumni, Dance Advocacy Director
- Chris Broyles (’95), Smokey, Mascot Advocacy Director
- Andy Carlton (’00), Smokey & Davy, Mascot Advocacy Director
- Joe Pitts (’98, ‘00), Davy & Cheer Alumni, Mascot Advocacy Director
- Adam DeVault (’98, ‘00), Smokey, Mascot Advocacy Director
