King University

08/27/2026

🌪️ RUN, WALK & CELEBRATE KINGFEST! 👟

Gather your family and friends and join us for the KingFest Twister Trot 5K on Saturday, October 3 at King University!

This fun, family-friendly event is a great way to kick off your KingFest weekend while getting active and connecting with the King community.

📍 King University
🕖 7:00 AM check-in | 8:00 AM race time
💙 Only $10 for community members!

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni will receive a special discount code by email, so be sure to check your inbox!

Whether you’re racing, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, we’d love to see you there. Register today and join us at the starting line! 🌪️🏃‍♀️

https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Bristol/DogwoodDash5KMiniDash

08/26/2026

Renewing Our Minds with Wisdom

President Andy Tooley, Ph.D., opened the academic year at King University’s Opening Convocation with a reflection on this year’s university Scripture, Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

President Tooley challenged our students to resist the pressure to be shaped by the patterns of the present age and instead allow God to renew both their minds and hearts through scripture, prayer, academic study, and Christian community.

Drawing from the examples of Joseph, Daniel, Esther, the early Church, and William Wilberforce, he emphasized that faithful presence means neither withdrawing from the world nor being shaped by it, but living within it with wisdom, courage, and conviction.

As we begin a new academic year, may we remain rooted in Christ, love God and our neighbors, and faithfully serve wherever He has placed us. Our calling is not simply to be effective, but to be faithful—and to point others toward Christ in all that we do.

08/25/2026

🩺 Run for the Scrubs 5K — Run for Future Nurses! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

King University is proud to sponsor the 2026 Run for the Scrubs 5K, and we’d love to see our King community out there supporting an incredible cause!

This timed 5K raises scholarship funds for future nurses at King University and other local nursing programs.

This cause is especially meaningful to us at King. Students from our nursing program have benefited directly from scholarship funds raised through this race!

📅 Saturday, September 19, 2026
🕘 9:00 a.m.
📍 Victor Ashe Park | Knoxville, TN
🏃 Timed 5K — walk, jog, or sprint!
👟 Virtual 5K option available
👕 Register by August 31 to guarantee your choice of race T-shirt or ladies’ racerback tank.

Every step helps support the next generation of nurses and makes a real difference in students' educational journeys.

👉 Register here:
https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Knoxville/RunForTheScrubsBurstingWithColorBackingFutureNurses

Come run with us, cheer on future nurses, and help us back the future of nursing! 🩺

08/24/2026

It’s the FIRST DAY OF CLASSES at King University! 🌪️📚💙

The excitement is here! Campus is buzzing, classrooms are filling up, and our students are officially beginning a brand-new academic year.

Today marks the start of another year filled with opportunities to learn, grow, build meaningful friendships, discover purpose, and deepen our faith. We’re especially grateful for the faculty and staff who will walk alongside our students, the families who support them every step of the way, and the King community cheering them on.

Our prayer: Heavenly Father, we pray over our students, faculty, and staff as this new academic year begins. Give our students wisdom in the classroom, courage when challenges come, and joy in the everyday moments. Help us build a community rooted in Christ, encourage one another, and use our gifts to serve others. Guide King University throughout this year and let everything we do bring glory to You. Amen. 🙏

Here’s to a year of learning, growing, serving, and making memories. Welcome to a new year, Tornado! 🌪️

08/23/2026

DAY 3 OF LAUNCH 2026: COMMUNITY IN ACTION.🌪️💙

Saturday gave our students a little bit of everything that makes the King experience special.

They served throughout Bristol, gathered together for a water balloon fight, and ended the evening gathered together for Church on the Dirt with The Altar Worship Band.

It was a day filled with laughter, teamwork, friendship and worship, and a pretty great reminder that community is built by showing up for one another!

Another Launch day in the books. Another group of Tornado getting rooted. 🌱🌪️

Want to keep up with life at King? Follow us () for student stories, upcoming events, university updates and more as we continue sharing what’s happening across our community.

08/22/2026

DAY 2 OF LAUNCH 2026: CONNECTION & CELEBRATION 🌪️💙

Friday was all about helping our newest Tornado find their place at King.

Students connected with their majors, spent time with their families, met their Launch groups and continued getting to know the community they’ll be part of throughout their King experience.

And then we headed downtown for the Bristol Block Party! 🎉

Seeing our students fill State Street with King spirit was the perfect way to end another incredible day.

Want to keep up with life at King? Follow us () for student stories, upcoming events, university updates and more as we continue sharing what’s happening across our community.

08/21/2026

DAY 1 OF LAUNCH 2026: WHAT A WELCOME HOME 🌪️💙

There’s something special about watching a campus come alive—and Day 1 of Launch was exactly that.

Our newest Tornado arrived on campus, moved into their new homes, met roommates, welcomed families and officially began their King journey. The day included our Opening Ceremony, time gathered around the table with families and the first Launch group gatherings of the week.

But Launch is about more than a move-in weekend. It’s the beginning of a community where students will build meaningful friendships, discover their calling, grow in their faith and learn what it means to live with purpose in Christ. ✝️

The residence halls are full. The community is growing. The energy is HIGH. And a brand-new class of Tornado is officially home. 🌪️💙

Day 1 was just the beginning. Welcome to King—we’re so glad you’re here!

Want to keep up with life at King? Follow us () for student stories, upcoming events, university updates and more as we continue sharing what’s happening across our community.

08/19/2026

Our hearts and prayers are with the Milligan University community today. We extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, teammates, coaches, faculty, and staff who are grieving this heartbreaking loss during this sorrowful time.

We are with you.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
— Matthew 5:4

We are profoundly shocked and saddened to share that members of our cycling team were in an accident involving a vehicle this morning while cycling in Hampton, TN. Sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers were killed in this accident. Multiple other Milligan cyclists were also seriously injured and are currently receiving treatment at the Johnson City Medical Center. There are no words to adequately describe this level of loss. Our prayers are with all those impacted by this tragedy. Please keep the Milligan community in your prayers.

08/18/2026

LAUNCH Starts This Thursday! 🌪️

We’re almost ready to welcome our newest students to campus! LAUNCH begins Thursday, August 20, and we’ve got an exciting first day planned for both residential and commuter students.

📦 Thursday, August 20

9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. | Residential Move-In
📍 Assigned residence hall

9:00–11:00 a.m. — Last names A–M
📍 Check-in at the Student Center Complex

12:00–3:00 p.m. — Last names N–Z
📍 Check-in at the Student Center Complex

👕 Pick up your LAUNCH T-shirt at the check-in station!

🏠 Housing questions? Email [email protected].

4:00–5:00 p.m. | Commuter Check-In
📍 Student Center Complex

5:00 p.m. | Opening Ceremony
📍 The Oval

6:30 p.m. | Family Dinner
📍 The Oval & Dining Hall

8:00 p.m. | LAUNCH Group Meet-Up
📍 The Oval

And that’s only Day 1! 🎉 Throughout LAUNCH, August 20–23, students will make new friends, explore Bristol, serve the community, enjoy the Bristol Block Party, compete in Floor Wars, experience Doe River Gorge, and more.

👨‍👩‍👧 Families, you’re invited! Join us for the Opening Ceremony, Family Dinner, and Friday’s Family Lunch with President Tooley and Family Celebration Ceremony as we celebrate this exciting new chapter.

🚙 Arriving on campus? Enter through the Carmack Gate and follow directional signage and staff instructions. Both residential and commuter students will check in at the Student Center Complex.

📱 Stay connected: Follow for LAUNCH announcements and updates.

We can’t wait to welcome you home, Tornado! 🌪️💙

Questions before you arrive? Contact [email protected] or call 423.652.4861.
Learn more about Launch and see the full schedule at Launch.king.edu

08/17/2026

At King University, we believe education is about more than preparing students for a career, it’s also about helping them discover how their gifts, passions and faith can shape their calling.

This weekend, students and faculty participating in the Vocation Across the Academy grant gathered in the library for a seminar focused on calling and discernment. The group shared about their individual journeys, discussed the idea of God’s will and explored what it means to thoughtfully discern where God is leading.

Many of the students will soon serve as upper-class mentors on our DC trip, giving them the opportunity to carry these conversations into meaningful relationships with new students.

We’re grateful for spaces like this where faith, learning and community come together. 💙