Carrying the Torch: How Two UT Haslam MBA Students Turned a Service Requirement into a Passion

At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the Volunteer spirit has long been embodied by the Torchbearer, an iconic statue representing leadership, service and the illuminating power of knowledge. For more than 50 years, students at the university have been encouraged to take up the torch, carrying Volunteer values out into the community through acts of generosity.

In some cases, they wind up carrying the torch longer and further than first anticipated.

That’s been true for Harrison “Harry” May and Jacob Howard (UT, ’25), both of whom are pursuing MBAs from the UT Haslam College of Business, with Howard on the joint MBA/M.S. Engineering track. As part of Haslam’s full-time MBA program, students are asked to complete a Torchbearer service project, completing eight hours of volunteerism with a Knoxville-area non-profit.

Howard and May, both sports enthusiasts, joined a group of volunteers at the Emerald Youth Foundation, which provides after-school athletic opportunities for underserved kids throughout the area. For both graduate students, what started as a short-term community service project quickly became a labor of love and an ongoing commitment.

Learning to Lead

According to Laura Williams, director of student services for Haslam’s graduate business programs, the Torchbearer project provides students with an opportunity to give back, but also to further hone their leadership skills – embodying the core values of excellence, relevance and impact.

“The Torchbearer project is designed not just to allow students to show their Volunteer spirit, but also to engage with the leadership at a nonprofit,” she explains. “What we typically recommend is they treat it like they’re a board member, having conversations with the leadership of the nonprofit, learning how the organization works.”

While the project only requires an eight-hour commitment, to be served over the course of a school semester, students occasionally choose to go above and beyond.

“With this particular class, a couple of folks decided to keep volunteering with their organizations, even after they were finished with school requirements,” Williams says.

Those students, Howard and May, completed their required hours months ago, yet they keep showing up to serve, with no end in sight.

Investing in Youth

The men’s work with Emerald Youth Foundation is a textbook example of community service aligned with personal passion.

While other students in their MBA cohort chose roles supporting veterans, local food banks and even horse therapy, Howard and May were both drawn to youth sports. The ability to connect with kids more directly, not just coaching but mentoring and inspiring them, resonated with both.

For Howard, the chance to serve at Emerald Youth harmonized with his own Christian faith; he arrived at the foundation eager to help however possible, which initially meant serving food.

“At first, I wasn’t working with the kids quite as much, but honestly, I really enjoyed it,” he recalls.

As he’s stayed on with Emerald, his role has transitioned, allowing him to spend more time playing basketball, volleyball and other sports with some of the high school participants. According to Howard, this time has been transformative.

“It’s been really cool to get to hear their stores — how God has impacted their lives, the aspirations they have and what they want to go on to do,” he says.

Meanwhile, May, a lifelong competitive golfer, immediately found a role at Emerald that was right up his alley: coaching the student golf team.

“It quickly turned into less of a teaching opportunity and more a matter of kids appreciating spending time outside and getting attention from some older folks,” says May.

May led his team through a complete season and was eager to sign on for another. For this second season, interest in the golf program surged to the point that participation had to be capped. While the kids had a lot of fun out on the fairway, May says they also made meaningful improvements to their game.

“Most of them showed up with no previous golf experience, but by the end of the season they were showing good swings, not just whacking the ball around,” he says.

Manifesting the Volunteer Spirit

Both Howard and May say they plan to continue working with Emerald indefinitely, potentially staying on even after their MBAs are complete. According to Williams, this is the Volunteer spirit as its best.

“They’re invested,” she says. “They’re really enjoying it, but they also see how much it matters to the kids and families they’re serving.”

Contact

Josh Hurst

[email protected]

Haslam College of Business - Carrying the Torch: How Two UT Haslam MBA Students Turned a Service Requirement into a Passion