NEWS & CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

Tusculum College students Brittany Connolly, Elizabeth McDonnell, David Roncskevitz and Ben Sneyd are the winners of the 2011 Curtis and Billie Owens Literary Awards, annually given to recognize the literary achievements of the college’s creative writing students.

Brittany Connolly was the award recipient in the scriptwriting category with an excerpt from “Chateaux en Espange.” Connolly, a junior from Greeneville, Tenn., is majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing.

Elizabeth McDonnell was named the award recipient in the non-fiction category with “Little Ballerina.” McDonnell, a junior from Memphis, Tenn., is majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing.

David Ronckevitz received the award in the fiction category for his story, “Should Dogs Have Dreams.” This is third year that Roncskevitz has been recognized with one of the literary awards. Previously he has been the award winner in the poetry and scriptwriting categories. Roncskevitz is a senior from Franklin, Tenn., majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing.

Ben Sneyd was the recipient in the poetry category for his work, “Subterranean Homesick Blues.” Sneyd, a junior from Unicoi, Tenn., is majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing.

The literary award was named for Curtis Owens, a 1928 graduate of Tusculum College who went on to a teaching career at what is now Pace University in New York.  He and his wife established the Owens Award at his alma mater to encourage and reward excellence in writing among Tusculum College students.

The announcement of the winners was made during a reading by award-winning poet John Hoppenthaler, who served as the judge for the final round of competition. The reading was part of the annual Humanities Series, sponsored by the Tusculum College English Department.

Hoppenthaler, an assistant professor of creative writing at East Carolina University, read poetry from his two books of poetry, “Lives of Water” and “Anticipate the Coming Reservoir.” He also read some newer works.

His poetry appears in a number of publications, and he is an editor of poetry anthologies. Hoppenthaler has received numerous awards and honors, including an Individual Artist Grant from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, grants from the New York Foundation on the Arts and New York State Council on the Arts and residency fellowships from the MacDowell Colony and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.

Tweet This Post

Tusculum College student Elizabeth Wright will be among the presenters this Friday (March 25) at the Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference.

Wright, a sophomore from Powell, Tenn., majoring in mathematics with a concentration in computer science, will make a presentation about “Secure Programming in Python” during the conference, hosted this year by Maryville College.

Python is a commonly used program language and in her presentation, Wright focuses on ways to make programs written in the language more secure. She is exploring the use of pre-conditions and post-conditions on each function to make the determination if it is functioning properly. She also will be investigating the use of loop invariants, which are logical properties relating to the data that should be true at each repetition of the statements within the program as it loops.

The Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference is designed to encourage undergraduates in colleges in the Appalachian region to conduct research projects by providing a high-quality, low pressure forum for presentations. More than 80 undergraduate students from eight colleges in East Tennessee and Kentucky are expected to attend the 2011 conference. Approximately 60 separate presentations are planned.

Tweet This Post

Dr. Cecil Mills, above, describes how difficult life was for African-Americans in the segregated South on Thursday evening at Tusculum College. Dr. Mills, assistant district attorney general in the state’s Third Judicial District and pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Greeneville, spoke prior to the showing of the film, “The Great Debaters,” an event co-sponsored by the Andrew Johnson Debate Society and the Black United Students campus organizations. Dr. Mills shared the history of “Jim Crow” laws and described how Jim Crow extended into an etiquette dictating how the races interacted. It was difficult for the debating team from the African-American college depicted in the film to face teams from white colleges, he said, because according to “Jim Crow” etiquette, African-Americans were not show a superior intellect or knowledge over whites. As a youth growing up in Greeneville, Dr. Mills said there were not “white only” signs to be seen, but prior to integration, he knew that something was not right because his school textbooks were not in good condition and he and his friends always had to sit in the balcony of the movie theater. The struggle for racial equality was worth it, he said, as evidenced by the group of students of both races gathered to see the film. He encouraged the students to look for small acts of courage and heroism depicted in the film that show how individuals took steps toward seeking racial equality.

Tweet This Post

JohnDavid “J.D.” Howard, a senior accounting and economics major from Perry, Ga., has been named “Student of the Block” for the Fifth Block of the 2010-11 academic year at Tusculum College.

The Student of the Block Award is presented each block by the Office of Student Affairs to recognize students for academic achievement, leadership on campus and contributions to the college community. A plaque describing Howard’s accomplishments will join those describing past honorees prominently displayed in the Niswonger Commons and other campus buildings.

Howard has made an impact on the Tusculum College community, giving his best whether he is in the classroom, on the athletic field or serving in campus organizations.

“J.D. plays a vital role in the Tusculum community,” said Dr. Michelle Freeman, associate professor of business, in her nomination of Howard for the honor. “He represents the school so humbly and yet enthusiastically to those who visit through his dedication to the President’s Society. J.D. is a model accounting student as well. He is always prepared for class and participates in a lively and enjoyable manner, trying to keep it light under stressful times.

“He serves the Tusculum College Business Club as treasurer as well and participates in almost every event it sponsors. Moreover, he is a baseball player for Tusculum College and meets all of these demands responsibly. I am very proud of what J.D. accomplishes and all with a smile on his face an in his heart. Tusculum is very lucky to have him!”

Howard, a relief pitcher for the Pioneer baseball team, made the decision to come to Tusculum after a recruiting trip for baseball. “Just looking at the field and how it was taken care of, I knew this place was serious about giving its students and athletes the best it had to offer,” he said.

Expressing appreciation for those who have helped and supported him at Tusculum, Howard said, “The Tusculum College baseball coaching staff taught me what it means to work hard, not just towards your own goals, but for the betterment of the unit. I learned what it really means to be dedicated, the value of perseverance and teamwork. These coaches are a daily reminder that it’s not always about you, but how you can use your own talents to help bring out the best in others.”

Howard also noted that Dr. Antonio Bos, professor of business, and Dr. Freeman have challenged him in the classroom, expecting students to work hard to earn their grades, but also willing to work with them. “They are remarkable teachers and are truly caring individuals,” he said.

Tusculum’s Admission Counselors are another group that have helped Howard in his role as a member of the President’s Society, an elite group of students who serve as ambassadors for the college. Howard said the counselors have helped him become more comfortable in meeting new people and taking a leadership role to make sure prospective students have all they need to make the best decisions for their future.

The son of Steve and Bridget Howard, he counts his parents as major role models in his life. “They do not have glamorous jobs by any means, but they work harder than any two people you will ever meet,” he said. “The fact that they would sacrifice some of their wants and dreams to make sure I have every opportunity to achieve mine says a lot. The world would be a lot better place if there were more parents out there that cared as much as mine.”

Howard’s plans to continue his education in graduate school after earning his bachelor’s degree and seek employment in the financial field once he obtains his graduate degree.

Tweet This Post

Simon Holzapfel, a senior at Tusculum College majoring in sport science, had the opportunity recently to explore graduate assistantship opportunities at a recent regional convention.

Holzapfel, who is from Nuremberg, Germany, attended the 2011 Southern District American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD)/ North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NCAAHERD) Joint Convention in Greensboro, N.C., Feb. 17-19. Also attending the convention was Dr. Kirpal Mahal, professor of physical education at Tusculum.

Conventions such as this one are “tremendous opportunities for the students to expand their knowledge of their chosen field,” Holzapfel said. “They can learn about the many jobs available in their field and establish contacts to attend graduate school. When students attend these conventions they learn about the scope of Sport Management, Sport Science, or Physical Education, and what they can do with it. I wish students would attend conventions like this one. They would benefit from the sessions and the professionals present at conventions.”

As an applicant for admission to master’s degree programs in Exercise Physiology, Holzapfel met several faculty members of exercise science- and sport management-related university departments of southern universities and colleges. Specifically, Holzapfel met Dr. Darlene Kluka, interim dean of the School of Human Performance and Leisure Science at Barry University and Dr. Jack Rutherford, chair of the Department of Exercise and Sports Science at the Eastern Kentucky University. Both professors encouraged him to apply for admission to their programs and graduate assistantship positions, and the meetings gave him encouragement about assistantship opportunities.

In addition, Holzapfel talked with several other faculty members from universities all over the country, which helped him gain deeper insight into graduate school programs and other opportunities. Sessions and presentations on several topics related to Physical Education, Exercise Science and Sport Management helped him broaden his knowledge and further his professional development.

Holzapfel also expressed appreciation for faculty members, such as Dr. Mahal, who concern themselves with the professional development of their students and work to make these valuable opportunities available.

Tweet This Post

Theatre-at-Tusculum returns to the stage this month to present “A … My Name Is Still Alice,” the sequel to its crowd-pleasing spring 2010 production.

Exciting, hilarious, thought-provoking, touching and zany are all apt descriptions of some of the 14 skits and musical numbers included in the “A … My Name Is Still Alice” musical revue. The production will be performed on 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 18-19 and 25-26. Sunday matinees will be performed at 2 p.m. on Feb. 20 and 27. All performances will be in the Behan Arena Theatre on the lower level (side entrance) of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building on the Tusculum College campus.

The show’s numbers address a variety of  women’s issues, both positive and negative, including weight problems, chauvinism, aging and stereotyping, through a series of skits and musical numbers, a format shared with the first show in the series, “A … My Name is Alice,” which Theatre-at-Tusculum performed last spring. With the mature nature of some of the numbers, this show is not recommended for children, but is aimed at community adults, Tusculum faculty, staff and students and perhaps a few sophisticated high school students.

Written originally for six actresses in an off-Broadway production, Theatre-at-Tusculum’s show has been expanded to include 21 women and seven men.  Seventeen of the cast members are Tusculum College students and 11 are well-respected community actors such as Doug Presley, Brian Ricker, Angela Bride and Sandy Nienaber.  Not only are 17 of the cast members Tusculum students, but 11 work-study students from the college are also helping to build the set, work the box office and serve as back stage crew for the shows.

The musical revue is directed by Marilyn duBrisk, Tusculum’s artist-in-residence and director of the Arts Outreach program. The production crew also includes vocal director Angie Clendenon, accompanist Susan McNabb, costume director Barbara Holt, set designer Frank Mengel and stage manager Suzanne Greene.  Jennifer Hollowell is in charge of the box office.

Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for seniors 60 and over.  For more information, contact Tusculum College Arts Outreach at 423-798-1620, e-mail jhollowell@tusculum.edu or visit http://arts.tusculum.edu.

Tweet This Post

As part of Tusculum College’s emphasis on the civic arts, students are involved in service to others as a way to learn the importance of becoming an active citizen in the community once they graduate.

Serving others for some means traveling to another country to help meet basic needs as food and shelter and for others, it means assisting people with those same needs at home.

The latter was the case for 14 students in a recent “Service Learning in Northeast Tennessee” course who learned about homelessness in this region and served them at a variety of agencies.

Students spent three-and-a-half weeks serving at the Melting Pot soup kitchen, the Salvation Army, the Appalachian Coalition for Homelessness (ARCH) office and the Manna House, a transitional home for the homeless, all in Johnson City. The students also helped in conducting last month’s “Point-in-Time” survey, an effort to count the homeless in the eight counties in Northeast Tennessee served by ARCH.

One of the students, Daniel Vick, a junior pre-medicine/pre-physical therapy major from Morristown, described his service at the Melting Pot and helping conduct the Point-in-Time survey as a “good experience.”  At the Melting Pot, the students helped prepare for the lunch meal and served meals to the homeless.

The Melting Pot has seating for 96 in its dining room and the students found that it was typically full with people standing around the walls as well.

For the Point-in-Time survey, students were sent to various parts of Greene County and helped with the surveys conducted at the Melting Pot. In their search for the homeless, Vick said his group did come across two individuals, one who was willing to take the survey and one who did not want to answer any questions.

“Interviewing someone on the street was a new experience,” he said. “It felt invasive to step into their world and ask them questions about their lifestyle.

“It was eye-opening. We are really blessed. I can only imagine what they experience.”

ARCH staff member Aileen Carter said that volunteers, such as the Tusculum students, are vital to a successful count, which is coordinated by the agency. Another class at Tusculum College also participated in the count.

Carter said that the students’ experiences with some homeless individuals who are not willing to take the survey are not uncommon as some homeless individuals have had experiences or mental health issues that make them distrustful of others.

In addition to Tusculum students, Carter said there were student volunteers from East Tennessee State University and Milligan College as well as volunteers from the community who participate each year.

The number found in the count is used as a basis to determine the amount of federal funding that comes to the eight counties in Northeast Tennessee that ARCH serves. That funding is channeled to various agencies that provide services to homeless individuals.

Some of the students in the class served in the ARCH office. William Hogg, a junior from Pikeville, Ky., majoring in political science, said he and the other students did a great deal of paperwork at the office, much of it in preparation for the Point-in-Time survey.

“I learned that homelessness is something that can happen to anybody,” Hogg said. “Regardless of what class status you might have, you can be homeless the next day.”

As a culmination of the class, the students hosted a “Homeless Information Fair” for their fellow students on Thursday with creative displays illustrated with information about homeless and their service activities during the class. To involve their fellow students, there were a trivia challenge and quiz with questions related to homelessness. Videos also gave a glimpse of their service, the places they served and some of the people they encountered.

Ivis Bryant, a film and broadcasting major from Maryville, put his talent to use in creating a professional video for the fair that mixed information about the students’ service, the Manna House and interviews with some of the residents there.

Bryant said his experiences have made him more willing to help a homeless person. Prior to taking the course, Bryant said he had witnessed a panhandler in Knoxville who would go from parking lot to parking lot, telling different stories seeking donations from people, an experience which gave him a negative view of homeless people.

“I learned that not all the homeless are like him,” he said. “After taking this course, I am willing to help the homeless. It could happen to anybody. Anyone can fall on hard times.”

Tweet This Post

Adriana Vizcarrondo, a senior business management major with concentrations in general management and economics with a minor in international business, has been named “Student of the Block” for Block Four of the 2010-11 academic year.

The Student of the Block Award is presented each block by the Office of Student Affairs to recognize students for academic achievement, leadership on campus and contributions to the college community.

During her time at Tusculum, Vizcarrondo, a native of Anaco, Venezuela, has amassed a stellar resumé of achievements and as a member of the Pioneer Golf Team personifies the ideal student-athlete. She maintains a 3.66 grade point average, has been listed on the college’s Dean’s List and Athletics Director Honor Roll for the past four years and has been named a South Atlantic Conference Scholar All-American and to the National Golf Coaches Association Division II All-Scholar Team for the past three years.

Vizcarrondo has served as president of the Tusculum College Business Club and was a member of the Pioneer Student Athletic Advisory Council in 2009-10. She volunteers for the Gifts for Kids program at Landair Inc. and is a mentor at Chuckey-Doak High School.

Vizcarrondo was nominated for the award by Dr. Antonio Bos, professor of economics. “Adriana is a dedicated and capable student, as demonstrated by her high grade point average and honor roll membership,” Dr. Bos wrote in his nomination.

“Her international background and experience enrich the courses and the lives of fellow students,” he continued. “Her dedication, energy and positive attitude motivate, and probably without realizing, she becomes a leader and a role model in the classroom. She had a significant impact within the Business Administration department, given her participation and leadership in the Business Club.

“Most significantly, she personally and explicitly challenged me to break from conventional, stale, textbook-based teaching and, instead, she urged me to develop innovative teaching methods and assignments.  … Her challenge re-energized my own approach to teaching and it allowed me to recall, very clearly, the purpose and the sheer joy of being a teacher.”

Vizcarrondo’s older sister, Mary Ann, is a 2010 graduate of Tusculum and was also a member of the golf team. To be close to her sister is one of the reasons that Vizcarrondo chose to attend Tusculum. She take prides in what she has been able to accomplish in college. “It has not been easy to be away from my family, but thanks to the staff, faculty and students at Tusculum College, the transition has been smooth and I have been able to accomplish my goals,” Vizcarrondo said.

Classroom experiences in her business courses are among what she counts among her favorite memories of her time at Tusculum. She particularly enjoyed business law and ethics, international business and international economics under her favorite professor, Dr. Bos, who is also her advisor and mentor. “His perspective on business has broadened my knowledge and helped me understand the difficulties of economics and business.”

“Dr. Michelle Freeman (associate professor of business administration) is also one of the nicest professors I’ve ever had and at the same time one of the most challenging,” Vizcarrondo continued.

Also having a great influence in her life have been Golf Coach Bob Dibble and Brandon Conner, director of freshman services and student success. “He (Coach Dibble) has been a person who I can count on no matter what situation I am in,” Vizcarrondo said. “I consider him my dad in the United States and Brandon has been a great influence in my life - he was my supervisor for my internship in the Office of Admission, is the leader of the church on campus I attend and is a great friend of mine who has helped me excel not only academically and pursue my career but also spiritually.”

Her dedication and hard work in the classroom is matched by her zeal for knowledge and greatness on the golf course. “I am honored to play a collegiate sport and be a part of the Tusculum College Golf Team,” she said. “The efforts I have put forth since a very young age are worth every single minute. If it wasn’t for my participation in this sport, I would have never gone to Tusculum. It has not only financially benefited me to play a collegiate sport, but it has also allowed me to meet a lot of great teammates and other golfers in the South Atlantic Conference. We are so blessed to play amazing golf courses all over the region, including one of the best golf resorts in the world, Kiawah Island.”

Vizcarrondo counts among her role models, her parents and her aunts and uncles, including her uncle Juan Ronderos, who works for the World Bank and influenced her decision to enter the business field.

With her intense work ethic and goal-setting, she has become a mentor and role model to many others in the Tusculum community. Her advice to other students in achieving her goals and dreams is “to get on task right away, don’t wait for someone else to take the first step for you” when in pursuit of a goal and also to strive to discover what it is “that you have a passion for … what you love. Life will be much easier when you do something you enjoy.”

At Tusculum, Vizcarrondo has built many relationships that she will cherish for the rest of her life. “My friends have been there for me not only for the good times, but also for the hard times, and the golf team has always been there for me,” she said. “It’s such a great feeling to have that sense of comfort that comes from knowing that I have people to be with me in the darkest times.”

Vizcarrondo will graduate from Tusculum in May. Her long term career goal is to pursue a master’s degree abroad in international business and help improve relations between countries and increase globalization.

Tweet This Post

Simon Holzapfel, a senior majoring in sport management and exercise physiology, has been named “Student of the Block” for Block Three of the 2010-11 academic year.

The Student of the Block Award is presented each block by the Office of Student Affairs to recognize students for academic achievement, leadership on campus and contributions to the college community.

Hailing from Nuremberg, Germany, Holzapfel has been motivated to be involved and engaged as a Tusculum College student, giving his best to the student body through his involvement in the Student Government Association, President’s Society, Peer Tutor, Resident Assistant (currently a member of the senior leadership team), as founder of the Track and Field Club, Pioneer Green Team, Alpha Chi Honor Society and as the vice president of the Pioneer Student-Athlete Advisory Council.

He has also participated in various community-oriented service programs such as annual campus clean-ups, set building for the Theatre-at-Tusculum program, raising funds for the Pioneer Club, cleaning the Harmony Cemetery, volunteering at the Greene County Field Day and assisting in administering fitness tests for students at Chuckey-Doak Middle School.

Holzapfel was drawn to Tusculum because of the majors offered in the Physical Education Department.  ”I wanted to study exercise science as I am interested in the physiological factors that determine the level of performance and fitness of the human body.” he said. “I thought sport science was the same thing as exercise science but it incorporated more administrative management of sports and legal coursework, which I enjoy.”

Boasting a 4.0 G.P.A. throughout his career, Holzapfel’s many academic

accolades include President’s List, Charles Oliver Gray List, Dean’s List, Duffield Award (awarded to the upperclassmen student- athlete with the highest grade point average), Freshman Student Athlete Award and the Alpha Academic Excellence Award. He was recently was honored with the James E. Ward Outstanding Major award from TAHPERD (Tennessee Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance), the first Tusculum student to receive the statewide award.

Taking his role as a student-athlete very seriously, he has excelled as a cross country team member and academically in the classroom. As a result of his self- discipline and hard work, Holzapfel is a two-time South Atlantic Conference Championship race winner (2009, 2010), the 2010 South Atlantic Conference Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year, SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, and two-time Academic All American (2009, 2010). He also holds the records for the top 11 8,000-meter running times in school history and 14 of the best 20 in school history. He holds 16 career individual titles and a two time SAC Runner of the Year recipient (2009, 2010).

Holzapfel notes that many faculty and staff members have been influential and instrumental in his success at Tusculum.

Among his many memories of his time at the college are the cross country trips on vans to various meets, attending women’s volleyball and basketball games, and all of the good times with friends. “I am proud to have many amazing friends and that I have been able to keep more than a handful of them over so many years,” he said. “My mom always told me that if you have one true friend in life, you are rich. Friends are those people that you do not have to be ashamed of to ask for a favor… they will be there for you when nobody else will, like my friends have proven.”

Holzapfel looks toward his journey after college which is to pursue masters and doctoral degrees in exercise physiology. “My career goals include the conduction of research in the area of exercise physiology in order to contribute valuable findings for the advancement of the field,” he said. “It is my desire to become a research and/or teaching faculty member for exercise physiology.”

Tweet This Post

Tusculum College student Brooke Haymaker, a senior from Kettering, Ohio, leads students from Greeneville Middle School in an activity to illustrate the meaning of the Kinara candles in the Kwanzaa celebration during a recent holiday program for the GMS students at the college.  The Center for Civic Advancement hosted the holiday program that was coordinated by five students, Brittany Connolly, a senior from Greeneville; Trevor Lund, a sophomore from Andover, Conn.; Samantha Lyons, a sophomore from Rogersville; Jessica Shipley, a senior from Greeneville, and Haymaker, who are members of a service-learning course taught by Robin Fife, associate professor of social science at Tusculum. The GMS students are part of the GAME (Greeneville After-School Mentoring and Enrichment) Program, with which Tusculum students work on a regular basis. The Tusculum students shared information about the holidays of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas with the GMS students and led them through activities, crafts and games related to each of the holidays. The students also enjoyed some holiday-related snacks. The event ended with the GMS and college students playing basketball together in the Pioneer Gym.

Tweet This Post