NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans presented a check for $150,000 to Tennessee State University on Friday night during the university's Scholarship Gala at Gaylord Opryland Resort.
Tina Tuggle, Director of Community Relations for the Titans, presented the scholarship endowment on behalf of Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk and her co-owners, Kenneth S. Adams, IV, Barclay Adams and Susan Lewis.
TSU's Scholarship Gala is a fundraising initiative designed to meet scholarship needs and ensure the university provides an enriched, highly technical, academic environment which successfully educates and prepares students for the global marketplace.
"We sincerely appreciate this partnership with the wonderful Tennessee Titans,'' said Dr. Glenda Glover, TSU's president. "It's moments like this that make the banquet worthwhile. I want to thank Titans ownership and the foundation as we want to continue to enhance this partnership that's equally as beneficial to the Titans and TSU. So excited and can't thank you enough."
The Scholarship Gala is annually a big part of TSU's homecoming weekend.
During Friday night's event, Tuggle recognized Dr. Glover, in addition to former Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Barbara Merrill, in her speech, when she discussed the long relationship between the Titans and the university.
"Our history with the university is both extensive and profound,'' Tuggle said. "We first became involved with TSU when the school offered its campus to us as a home for our training camp in 1998 when we left Memphis to play at Vanderbilt University. As part of our relocation from Houston, the state of Tennessee offered TSU and its football program as a means of showing its support for our move to Tennessee. Within this agreement, the university received the opportunity to play all or some of its home games at our new stadium, and we entered into a long-term lease for what is now Nissan Stadium among ourselves, TSU, the State of Tennessee's Board of Regents and the metropolitan Sports Authority.
"Nissan Stadium is not only home of the Tennessee Titans, but also the Tennessee State University Tigers where the team has its own state of the art locker room and meeting space. Tomorrow, TSU's homecoming will be held at Nissan Stadium, and the Titans are thrilled to be a part of the University's history and traditions."
"TSU plays an integral role in the Nashville community," Tuggle continued, "and we appreciate what it and our partnership adds to our great city."
Tuggle also reminded those on hand that founding owner, the late Mr. K.S. "Bud" Adams Jr., was a benefactor of TSU and an honoree at its Scholarship Gala many years ago. Dr. James Hefner, the former President of TSU, forged a relationship with Adams, and that's where the partnership began.
The theme of this year's annual scholarship game was "Celebrating a Legacy of Pride and Progress."
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