When Evan Scannapiego arrived at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as a freshman in fall 2019, he wasn’t sure what to expect. It was the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and like many students, he chose UTC for its convenience and proximity to home.
“I’m from Cleveland, Tennessee, so UTC was a close and practical choice,” he said. “But once I toured the campus and explored downtown, it started to feel like home.”
Evan graduated with a degree in Mechatronics Engineering, a program that blends mechanical, electrical and computer science. He said his academic journey wasn’t a straight line—but the challenges along the way shaped his resilience.
During his first year, Evan joined the Engineering Residential Learning Community, where he met three randomly assigned roommates, two of whom are still close friends. “Some of my best memories are with those guys,” he said. “Learning how to longboard, playing video games late at night and just being open to trying new things.”
“One of my earliest experiences where I felt involved was May of my freshman year,” he said. “It was me and two other guys trying to finish the car from the year before. We’d order meals and sleep in the lab just to get it done.”
Evan later served as an officer for the organization and became a College of Engineering and Computer Science student ambassador — a role he held for four years.
But junior year brought a turning point. Evan faced personal and academic struggles that nearly derailed his progress. “I struggled to the point of failure,” he said. “If it weren’t for my advisor, the career outreach coordinator and a few close friends, I wouldn’t have made the changes that brought me back.”
One of those changes was switching his major from mechanical engineering to mechatronics. The shift opened the door to a new career path in industrial automation. He landed an internship that led to a full-time job offer and slowly rebuilt his academic standing, making the Dean’s List and earning Scholar in Residence recognition as a senior.
Evan also received multiple scholarships during his time at UTC, including the Brown Stove Works Scholarship, Jenks Fain Parker Memorial Scholarship and others through the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
“I worked throughout college, so I never really had downtime before or after class,” he said. “Now, I’m looking forward to having time to explore new hobbies, volunteer and just do random things.”
He credits UTC’s support system and the people in it for helping him find his footing.
“When I faced an unexpected medical emergency, struggled mentally and fell behind academically, it was the belief and support of my advisors, peers and the resources made possible by donors that gave me the strength to come back stronger,” he said.
His advice to future Mocs?
“Get involved. Find your people. Don’t be afraid to fail,” he said. “Engineering is hard, but it’s not about being perfect. It’s about what you do next. That’s what makes the difference.”
When asked what he’ll miss most about UTC, Evan didn’t hesitate.
“The people,” he said. “Whether it’s the folks in the CECS or the random conversations with classmates—those are the things that made UTC special for me.”