MARTIN, Tenn. – More than 600 students earning their degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels crossed the stage to receive those degrees in the two commencement ceremonies held May 3 in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Miles Adcox, a 1998 UT Martin graduate with a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance, gave the commencement address at both ceremonies.
Adcox is the chairman and proprietor of Onsite Wellness Group, a globally-renowned brand offering self-development and personal growth workshops, leadership retreats, digital master classes and residential mental-wellness care.
His work at Onsite has been featured on “20/20,” “Good Morning America,” “Dr. Phil,” The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Adcox told the graduates that there is an essential ingredient for overall success and well-being.
“You can’t build the life you love without holding the steering wheel,” he said. “I spent a long stretch in a (mental) story loop that said I’m falling behind and will never catch up. There was a season in my life when nothing seemed to be working out. My career was shaky; relationships a little stalled; confidence, basically, was MIA (missing in action). I remember waking up one morning and thinking I don’t even recognize who I’m looking at in the mirror.
“But, here’s the sneaky thing about story loops: They feel like protection at the time – and if we believe we are stuck, we don’t have to risk failing again. We don’t have to try when we already believe it’s too late. But, this story just didn’t serve me. It didn’t heal me; it actually just held me hostage. Eventually, I realized that the story was not going to change unless I changed it.”
Adcox said he stopped waiting for confidence to show up and started “doing small, brave things imperfectly and inconsistently, but with heart.” Most importantly, he said, he learned to ask for help.
“Slowly, the loop broke and I started to rewrite the story,” he said. “Here is the truth: You can’t control everything that happens to you, but you can control the story you tell yourself about it. You also might not be responsible for everything that happens to you, but you are responsible for how you respond to it.”
Chancellor Yancy Freeman is drawing a close to his second year as the university’s 12th chancellor, and he congratulated the graduates on hand.
“Everyone graduating today has faced unique challenges and disruptions in their daily lives,” he said. “Yet, they persisted, and they made it through those trying times to reach this very day and this very moment.
“Congratulations, graduates. Your commitment, your consistency and your willingness to complete the journey is finally here.”
The Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Award was given to Isabella Walker of Bartlett, who earned her degree in veterinary science and technology, and Charlie Shipman of Memphis, who earned her degree in political science.
The Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Award was established to recognize graduating seniors who have demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership while pursuing their education. It was named for former chancellor Dr. Paul Meek and his wife and was first presented in 1970.
Chancellor Meek served as the university’s executive officer from 1934 to 1951 and its dean from 1951 to 1967 before being named its first chancellor in 1967.
The award was originally established and funded by the Meeks’ three children to honor their parents and to honor students who embody the same spirit of leadership.
UT Martin’s spring 2025 graduates came from 59 counties in Tennessee as well as from 27 other states and five other countries: Australia, Canada, France, Jamaica and Vietnam.
Maymester classes begin May 12 and will run through May 30. Summer full-time classes and Summer I classes begin June 2. Summer I classes end July 3. Summer II classes begin July 8, and summer full-time classes and Summer II classes end Aug. 8.
The fall 2025 semester begins Aug. 25 and runs through Dec. 12.