Zak Henson, a mechanical engineering major slated to graduate in December 2025, is among the select group of Trailblazers for the 2023 – 2024 year. The Trailblazers program brings together top Tech students to lead personalized campus tours for prospective students and their families.
“Trailblazers represent the best of our campus community. They are dedicated students who exude Tennessee Tech’s spirit of hospitality and welcome and are an integral part of how we communicate Tech’s story to future Golden Eagles,” said Karen Lykins, vice president for enrollment and communication at Tech. “By leading personalized campus tours, Trailblazers foster genuine connections with prospective students and their families, helping them discover all that Tech has to offer.”
Henson says that the best part of being a Trailblazer is “being able to share my love for the university with prospective students along with meeting new friends within the Trailblazer team.”
Recalling his own journey to campus, Henson says Tech’s “welcoming environment” and supportive faculty most impacted his decision.
“In addition, the university’s willingness to help me ease the financial burden of college helped tremendously,” added Henson. Indeed, U.S. News & World Report rankings show that Tech graduates leave with the least debt of all public universities in the state.
As a student, Henson is quick to take advantage of all Tech has to offer. “My favorite parts are getting involved in different campus organizations, such as SGA [student government] and Greek life, along with the communities that come with these groups,” he said.
Henson plans on pursuing a Master of Business Administration after completing his undergraduate studies.
“Becoming a student at Tennessee Tech is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I have loved every minute of it,” he added.
Trailblazers now play an integral part in the admissions process and new student recruitment at Tech. Prospective students and their families who are planning a visit to campus will be paired with a Trailblazer to lead their tour of campus. With the diverse group of students that make up Tech’s Trailblazer class the university aims to personalize the campus visit experience of each prospective student, focusing on their individual interests and intended major.
In addition to leading one-on-one campus tours, Trailblazers interact with prospective students at various campus events throughout the year. Prospective students can also interact with Trailblazers through social media, @tntechtrailblazers on Instagram.
Prospective students interested in connecting with Trailblazers can visit www.tntech.edu/trailblazers to see profiles for the student tour guides. To schedule a tour, go to www.tntech.edu/visit email visit@tntech.edu or call (931) 372-6104.
Tennessee Tech is ranked as a “Best National University” by U.S. News & Report and offers more than 200 programs of study. Based on total cost and alumni earnings, Tech provides students with the highest return on investment for any public university in Tennessee, according to PayScale.
Zak Henson
