Tuxes, dresses, evening gowns, UT gear and costumes are but a few items students will be wearing as they jump into the outdoor pool at the TRECS this Sunday for the second annual Nathan Boals Memorial "Polar Bear Plunge." An estimated 100 people will show up for the event held in Boals' honor.

Nathan Boals was a Communication Studies student at UT who died unexpectedly while on a study abroad trip. To keep his memory alive, the Communication Studies club hosts a "Plunge" to get a crowd together for Boals' parents.

Adam Deitz, president of the Communication Studies Club, said the event "brings his [Boals'] parents to tears every year. This is really the closest thing they can get to any kind of closure, and that's what makes it so important to keep his memory alive in the degree."

So we decided to do something more fun just like he would have wanted, but still at the same time bring the whole degree together and provide a good scholarship for students. Adam Deitz, president of the Communication Studies Club

The Communications Studies Club and jumpers are collecting monetary donations from students, faculty and their families to fund a Communication Studies scholarship. Called the Nathan Boals Memorial Scholarship, all proceeds from the event will go directly to the scholarship. Local businesses also participate in the event.

"They're really quick to donate products and gift certificates because it's a good event and they know it's going to a good cause," Deitz said. "It is a fun and interactive way to get the whole degree involved, and not to mention, Nathan was a fun-loving guy and he wouldn't like the whole degree getting dragged down for a really somber event once a year. So we decided to do something more fun just like he would have wanted, but still at the same time bring the whole degree together and provide a good scholarship for students."

Deitz encourages students to participate and bring friends to the event.

"Anybody and everybody is welcome. We really want to put on a big show for Nathan's family. Spectators get to watch people jump in the pool and look really dumb and cold in the process," Deitz said. "But also there is a lot of free stuff given away: autographed paraphernalia from the basketball and football teams, Xbox games and anything else you can imagine, even down to free haircuts. Also, seeing the faculty jump in, or at least the prospect of the faculty maybe jumping in, really brings out a big crowd, or at least we're hoping."

Andrew Griggs, junior in communication studies, is jumping in the UT Spirit category. "I think this is a great program. It makes communication studies majors feel more like a family than just a major," Griggs said. "I have invited a lot of people. Whether or not they will dive, I do not know. But they are definitely invited to watch."

There are eleven categories of jumps: Business/Professional plunge, Belly flop, UT spirit, Best dive, Costume plunge (Halloween costumes), Celebrity look-a-like plunge, Couples plunge, Formal wear (old prom dresses), Holiday plunge (elves, Easter bunny, cupid, etc.), Decades plunge (60's, 70's, etc.) and Group plunge.

The event will be held at the TRECS outdoor pool on Nov. 22 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Those who would like to jump should contact Adam Deitz at adeitz@utk.edu before Nov. 21.