NEWS & CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

Inaugural and Homecoming week activities continue on Tuesday with the Faculty and Staff Inaugural Breakfast, the Presidential Portrait Unveiling Ceremony and an Inaugural Presentation about the roots of Tusculum College’s civic arts curriculum.

Please join us for these events to celebrate the Inauguration of Tusculum’s 27^th and first female president, Dr. Nancy B. Moody, and welcome the guests who will be visiting campus for these special events.

Come visit with Dr. Moody and your fellow faculty and staff members during the Faculty and Staff Inaugural Breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the Thomas J. Garland Library.

At 8 a.m. in the Reading Room of the Library, there will be a Presidential Portrait Unveiling Ceremony. A portrait of Dr. Moody will be unveiled during the ceremony. Dr. Moody’s portrait will be displayed as part of the special Presidential Portrait Exhibit along the Running Track of the Library. Visit the exhibit and learn about the previous 26 presidents of the College. The exhibit is open during regular hours of the Library.

Tuesday evening is an Inaugural presentation and Acts, Arts, Academia/Cicero lecture, which will explore the roots of Tusculum’s civic arts curriculum emphasis. Dr. Bill Garris, assistant professor of psychology, will explore the ties between Tusculum College and the Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero in a presentation at 7 p.m. in the Behan Arena Theatre in the lower level of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building. The cost of the lecture is $6 per person. Staff, faculty and students are admitted free with ID.

Thanks to all those who participated in the Homecoming Chili Cook-off this morning in the Chalmers Conference Center. Six different departments offered some very tasty chili for the judges and students, faculty and staff who sampled and voted for their favorites. Congratulations to the two winners - chili representing the Thomas J. Garland Library won for best tasting. The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment won best showmanship with their “Wizard of Oz” themed presentation.

The Inaugural Student Art Exhibit opened in the Allison Gallery in the Rankin House on Monday with an opening reception. If you did not get a chance to visit the exhibit on Monday, you can still visit the gallery and see representative samples of the quality work done by Tusculum’s art students. The gallery is open weekdays from noon to 4 p.m.

Below are photos of Fagundes serving chili during the chili cook-off and the “Wizard of Oz” dressed staff members from the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment as well as a photo from the reception at the Inaugural Student Art Exhibit.

Tweet This Post

The much anticipated week of Inaugural and Homecoming festivities begins on Monday, October 4. Please come and enjoy these special activities and welcome the guests who will be coming to campus for these activities celebrating the Inauguration of Tusculum College’s 27^th president, Dr. Nancy B. Moody, and Homecoming 2010. The theme of both events is “A Tapestry of Pioneer Leadership.”

Monday’s events include:

Homecoming Chili Cook-off - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Chalmers Conference Center

Come enjoy the work of some of the best faculty and staff cooks on campus. Taste the chili recipes prepared by various departments and offices on campus and vote for the best tasting and the best showmanship.

Inaugural Student Art Exhibit Opening Reception - 3:30 - 6 p.m. in the Allison Gallery inside the Rankin House

View the best works of Tusculum College students from the past academic year in the Inaugural Student Art Exhibit. On display will be works completed by students during the past academic year in a variety of classes, including Drawing I and II, Painting II, Printmaking I and II, Ceramics I and II, Sculpture I and II and Basic Design. The exhibit actually begins outside the Rankin House with the number of metal sculptures displayed on the front lawn. If you are not able to make it Monday afternoon, the exhibit will be available for viewing from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday during the month of October.

Tweet This Post

What is the relationship between an ancient Roman philosopher and statesman and a small, private college in East Tennessee?

That question will be answered in a lecture Tuesday, Oct. 5, at Tusculum College in a presentation by Dr. Bill Garris. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in the Behan Arena Theatre in the lower level of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts building on campus.

The presentation is part of Tusculum College Acts, Arts, Academia/Cicero Lecture Series and is also one of the activities celebrating the Inauguration of Dr. Nancy B. Moody, which will take place on Friday, Oct. 8.

The lecture by Dr. Garris, assistant professor of psychology at Tusculum, is fittingly part of the Inauguration celebration schedule of events as it looks at subjects at the core of Tusculum’s curriculum and history. With a dynamic approach, Dr. Garris will explore the themes and values present in Cicero’s life and explain how they form the foundation of a Tusculum education.

Tusculum College is named for a hilltop city in ancient Rome, that has a history intertwined with the lives of its residents.  Two thousand years ago, one of its most notable residents, Marcus Tullius Cicero, found in Tusculum a sanctuary where thoughtful statesmen could find refuge, study, and write, while governmental breakdown and societal dissolution ravaged the population centers of Rome.

Although the original buildings and amphitheater of ancient Tusculum lies in ruins, Tusculum College carries forward the spirit of refuge, study and civic engagement as it develops students in Cicero’s virtues and practical wisdom.
Dr. Garris has been an active part of the Tusculum community since joining the college in 2008. He is the director of the college’s Quality Enhancement Plan to improve student learning in the area of problem solving with reflective judgment, which was reviewed by a committee from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - Commission on Colleges last spring without any recommendations for changes.

Dr. Garris received his doctorate in human development and family studies from Iowa State University, a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Reformed Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wofford College.
Admission is $6 per person and can be paid at the door (cash or check only please).

For more information, please call Tusculum College Arts Outreach at 423.798.1620, e-mail jhollowell@tusculum.edu or visit http://arts.tusculum.edu.

Tweet This Post

The 2010-2011 academic year was officially welcomed Thursday, September 2, at Opening Convocation, an annual ceremony that marks the beginning of the new year.

The auditorium in the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building was packed with students, faculty and staff for the ceremony that begins with an academic procession of the senior class and the faculty members.

Tusculum President Nancy B. Moody welcomed new and returning students. Reminding them of Tusculum’s rich history as a first in many areas, she challenged the students to make the most of their opportunities during the coming year.

Two faculty members, Dr. Bill Garris and Dr. Melanie Narkawicz, addressed the students. Both had received the Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award for 2009-2010.

Dr. Garris, assistant professor of psychology, compared Tusculum to a base camp for a mountain-climbing expedition. Like a base camp, Tusculum gives its students the skills and tools they will need for wherever their life journey takes them, he said.

Dr. Narkawicz, associate professor of research and director of research for Graduate and Professional Studies, told of the many things that surprised her about Tusculum from its history to where education had taken some of its graduates, challenging the students to discover what the College had to offer.

Erika Witt, a junior majoring in museum studies from Roanoke, Va., was installed as president of the student body by Dean of Students Dr. David McMahan. Speaking after the installation, Witt challenged the new students to get involved on campus whether it was in various clubs and organizations or in the Student Government Association.

New faculty members were introduced by Dr. Kim Estep, provost and academic vice president. The new faculty members include John Branscum, associate professor of English; Suzanne Byrd, visiting assistant professor of physical education; Eva Lynn Cowell, assistant professor of management; David Frazier, visiting assistant professor of computer science; Chris Jacek, assistant professor of film and broadcasting; Jason Jones, visiting assistant professor ofphysical education, and Clay Matthews, assistant professor of English.

A number of faculty, staff and administrative personnel were recognized with longevity awards.

Dr. Bob Davis, professor of biology, was recognized for 40 years of service to the College with a certificate and gift. A native of East Tennessee, he has taught field and pre-medical courses since joining Tusculum in 1970. Dr. Davis grew up on the family dairy farm in Jonesborough and he currently farms a 150-acre beef operation known as Grandview Farms. He enjoys observing the dichotomy between practical, real-life problem solving techniques in agriculture and the hypothetical techniques practiced in academia, as well as sharing these with his students. Dr. Davis said it has been his honor to be associated with an institution such as Tusculum for 40 years and he was looking forward to many more years with the College.

Dan Barnett, associate professor of chemistry, was recognized for 25 years of service to the College.  During his tenure at Tusculum College, Professor Barnett has focused on environmental chemistry, water and air quality as his main interests in teaching and research. He has also served as faculty moderator and on several other faculty governance committees. In the classroom, Dan has embraced the active learning culture of the block program at Tusculum College and is often mentioned by graduates as being an important influence on their future career plans and on their life.

Recognized for 20 years of service were Dr. Melinda Dukes, professor of psychology and associate vice president for academic affairs; Jeff Lokey, assistant professor of management and director of the commons program; Jack Smith, director of the Thomas J. Garland Library; Jeanne Stokes, director of the TRIO programs, and Mark Stokes, director of facilities and church relations.

Those recognized for 15 years of service included Deborah Davis, associate athletic director; Jill Jones, director of academic advising; Dr. Kirpal Mahal, professor of physical education, and Dr. John Paulling, professor of mathematics and chair of the Department of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science.

Ten-year honorees were  Geri Aguilar, payroll clerk; Sandi Bible, high school educational advisor in the Talent Search program; Lora Bryant, academic advisor for the Graduate and Professional Studies program; Dom Donnelly, athletic media relations director; Robin Fife, assistant professor of social science; Karen Hartman, assistant director of the Upward Bound program; Chris Lenker, head athletic trainer; Betsy Long, academic support coordinator for the Graduate and Professional Studies program; Tonya Moreno, advisor in the Talent Search program; Dr. Rhonda Smith, director of the School of Business and professor of management, and Jane Sandusky, assistant professor of athletic training.

Recognized for five years of service to the College were James Archer, warehouse specialist; Jonathan Ballinger , coordinator of library tech services in Knoxville; Dr. Geir Bergvin, associate professor of marketing; James Boone, head men’s basketball coach; Lillian Burchnell, faculty clerical assistant;  Bobbie Clarkston, coordinator of student records; Bette Dowd, assistant certification officer and COG office supervisor; Colleen Everett, director of Bachelor of  Arts in Education program and coordinator;  Dr. Dale Gibson, professor of physical education;  Robert Hall, housekeeper;  Keith Herrin, assistant professor of art; Rondon James, head cheerleading coach; Dr. David McMahan, dean of students;

Kathy Munson, clerical assistant; Larson Norton, housekeeper;  Gary Quinton, instructional technology specialist; Lynn Reeves, assistant professor of economics; Michael Robinson, head volleyball coach;  Caleb Slover, assistant football coach; Teresa Smith, administrative assistant; Kimberly Squibb, enrollment representative for the Graduate and Professional Studies program; Pat Stansberry, faculty clerical assistant; Wayne Thomas, assistant professor of English; Hollie Toth, communications coordinator;  Dr. Joel Van Amberg, assistant professor of history; Amanda Waddell, director  of career development; Bonnie Weston, senior student life coordinator, and Kevin Weston, assistant football coach/defensive coordinator.

Tweet This Post

Professors and staff members of the School of Education spent Monday morning removing brush, trimming trees and spreading mulch to clean and beautify the porch at the side of COG North and ready it for use. The porch area will be available for use by faculty and students for a quiet place to study or work or for classes to meet outside to enjoy nice weather. Participating in the project were, above from left, Dr. Lisa Johnson, director of the School of Education and assistant professor of education; Bette Dowd, assistant certification officer and COG office supervisor, and Pauletta Johnson, assistant professor of education and director of field experience.

Tweet This Post

Jacquelyn D. Elliott, vice president for enrollment management, recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Saudi Arabia where she was one of four American presenters at conferences for various universities over a four-day period.

Elliott was selected to be a presenter at  “The Essential Academic Leader II” a conference sponsored by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Higher Education and the Academic Leadership Center, which is under the auspices of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

The Academic Leadership Center was formed to help build a high level of quality academic leadership in Saudi Arabian universities. The Middle Eastern country has experienced rapid growth in higher education in the past decade with the creation of new schools as well as expansion of existing universities.

The stateside equivalent to the Academic Leadership Center is the American Council on Education. “One reason that I may have been selected to be a presenter is the work I have done with the American Council on Education’s Office on Women in Higher Education,” Elliott said.

The group of four was led by Dr. Jeffrey L. Buller, dean of the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College at Florida Atlantic University. The group also included Dr. Jacqueline Fewkes, assistant professor of anthropology at the Wilkes Honors College at Florida Atlantic, and Dr. Timothy Hatfield, professor of counselor education at Winona University.

On their first day in Saudi Arabia, May 15, all four participated in a Discussion Forum on the Academic Leadership Center Roadmap. Following keynote addresses, Fewkes and Elliott served as facilitators in a breakout sessions in discussions about what the center’s future role should be and what programs and services it should provide.

At the forum, Elliott had the opportunity to meet the Saudi Minister of Education and the Princess of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Aljoharah Fahad M. Al-Saud, who is the rector of Princess Nor Bint Abdulrahman  University. A rector’s position corresponds to that of a president of an American college or university.

The forum took place in Riyadh and would be the last time the group of four would be together during the trip. The men went to one set of universities for conferences for Saudi male higher education administrators, and the women presented at conferences for Saudi female academic leaders.

Elliott and Fewkes traveled to Jeddah for a two-day conference at King Abdul Aziz University on May 16 and 17. On May 18, Elliott was  in Taif for the Taif University conference that was held at the local Awaliv Hotel. Elliott’s  last destination was a conference at Umm Al-Qura University in Mecca on May 19.

The four presentations that Elliott made dealt with various issues faced by academic leaders. One was about effective communication in academic leadership. Another was called “Lifescripts: A Personal Approach to Office Success” that focused on such topics as mediation, conflict resolution and difficult human resource issues.

A third was called “Leading Change in Higher Education: Creating Energy through Strategic Planning and Goal Mapping.” And a fourth was called “Coping with the Stress of Academic Leadership.”

The presentations included an overview by Elliott on each topic and breakout sessions that allowed the attendees to work together as teams on projects and planning for their own institutions. A translator and interpreter accompanied Elliott for a few of the sessions to translate her presentations into Arabic and help convey her English meanings into a corresponding Arabic word or idea.

The Saudis were receptive to what she presented, Elliott said, and she has been contacted by some of the attendees since she has returned home. Mentoring of new leaders by experienced leaders is a concept being encouraged by the Academic Leadership Center, and Elliott has been asked by a Saudi administrator in enrollment to be her mentor. She is also working with another Saudi administrator to write an article for journal publication.

A packed schedule of presentations and travel did not leave much time for Elliott to sightsee during the trip, but she learned much about the Saudi culture through her experiences in the conferences and from the attendees.

A difference between Saudi and American is evident in the photos that Elliott brought back from the conference. Throughout their time in Saudia Arabia, Elliott and Fewkes dressed in hijab and abayas, the traditional long loose-fitting outer garment and head coverings required to be worn by all women, even in the 110-plus degree weather they experienced while there.

They also had to be accompanied by a male chaperone in public, Dr. Yasser Fallatah. He also coordinated their driver since women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world that does not permit the practice.

The prominence of the Islamic religion in the fabric of daily life in Saudi Arabia was evident during the presentations. Elliott said the attendees would refer to their religion often, saying, “Our prophet Mohammed.,. peace be upon him said …” in discussions of an issue.

The women were eager to talk about their beliefs with Elliott, telling her that Christianity and Islam share many of the same teachings about how to treat others. The Saudi women also wanted Elliott to know they were different than a common western perception that all Muslims are like the small minority of extremists.

The Saudis were warm and gracious people, Elliott said, and told her that they in turn, found Americans to be a warm and friendly people.

Elliott said she found Saudi Arabia to be a more conservative culture than the other Islamic countries she has visited in the past such at Turkey and Egypt. She noted that the city of Jeddah is considered to be “progressive ” in Saudi Arabia as women there are known to walk and exercise in public while wearing their traditional dress.

Saudi Arabia is also a country of varying geographical regions. She traveled from the seaside to the mountainous region around Taif, which is world famous for their roses.

During their trip, the presenters stayed in comfortable hotels, she said, and the “food was amazing.” There was much fresh fruit and vegetables and for breakfast, they were treated to honey still dripping from its honeycomb.

The comfortable accommodations were a plus in the busy days. The women’s days began at around 5:30 a.m. to eat breakfast and prepare for the day before leaving to travel to the conference site. The conferences lasted from 8:30 until around 2:30 p.m., when they took a break for lunch with the attendees. Around 3:30 p.m. they traveled back to the hotel to pack and then travel to the next destination. Elliott recalled that they would arrive at their next destination in later evening, and their hosts would take them out to see the town for a few hours.

With the tight schedule, there was some time to sightsee as they were able to visit the Taif Museum after-hours and visited the world’s largest fountain at Jeddah.

Tweet This Post

Do you have any kind of woodwind, brass, percussion, string or keyboard instrument that you no longer use?

Although you might opt to try to sell an outgrown or unused musical instrument, this process can be time consuming. In the end, you may not even recover the cost of your initial purchase. Why not donate your musical instrument instead?

As you may know, Tusculum College is in the process of developing a band program. Last year the College began with the Pioneer Pep Band. The pep band finished the year with eight returning members. Mr. David A. Price, the College’s new director of special events, has also agreed to serve as band and music director beginning July 1. Mr. Price and staff of Institutional Advancement are working Advanced Registration Day events during the summer to generate interest in not only the pep band, but also a concert band that Mr. Price would like to get in place this upcoming academic year. In addition to the pep band, it is hoped the program will grow to include not only a concert band and drum line, but also potentially a jazz band, other small ensembles and eventually a full marching band.

As we grow, there are a few things we could use your assistance with, beginning with the donation of instruments. Donating a musical instrument offers you an opportunity to help Tusculum College build a program, while helping to bring music to students who might not otherwise be able to participate. We would appreciate the donation of any instrument form the smallest percussion instrument to a large sousaphone or string bass that you may happen to have. We will likely be able to make use of most any instrument donated. If you have an instrument that you do not feel you can donate, but would need to sell, we would appreciate you making us aware of that as well. If you are interested in donating or selling an instrument, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 423-636-7303.

If you do not have an instrument to donate, but would still like to contribute to the program, you may make a gift online at https://www.tusculum.edu/giving/gift.php. Indicate “music and band program” in the box labeled “Designate my gift to.” You may also make a gift by calling the Office of Institutional Advancement at 423-636-7303.

Tweet This Post

Dr. Bill Garris, assistant professor of psychology, was honored as this year’s Faculty Mentor of the Year by the President’s Society at its year-end banquet hosted by Dr. Nancy B. Moody on Tuesday, May 4. During the “Reading of Celebration”, Dr. Garris was recognized as one who exemplifies the true meaning of the faculty role outside the classroom. The President’s Society recognized Garris for his countless hours spent in helping the College complete the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-Commission on Colleges as the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) director while honoring his teaching responsibilities.

Dr. Garris was also recognized for his efforts to personally educate each member of the President’s Society about the reaffirmation of accreditation process and the QEP, problem solving with reflective judgment. Due to his dedication, the President’s Society members were able to play a key role in the reaffirmation of accreditation process. His knowledge, along with his positive spirit and uplifting attitude, helped bolster and fortify the Society’s role as campus leaders.

The President’s Society is an elite student organization dedicated to promoting and fortifying the mission of the College. The students serve as ambassadors for the College, serve as hosts for campus visits, participate in leadership and ethics training and assist with campus events.

Tweet This Post

Student excellence in academics and service were recognized during Tusculum College’s annual Honors Convocation Thursday, April 29.

The two top honors for students presented by the College are the President’s Award and the Bruce G. Batts Award. Jarrell NeSmith of Russellville, Ala., was presented the President’s Award and Estefania Chavez, a native of Honduras, was presented the Bruce G. Batts Award.

Nesmith, who graduated in December with a bachelor of arts degree in pre-medicine, had one of the most decorated athletic and academic careers in Tusculum history. He graduated with a 3.87 grade point average and was named to the Tusculum President’s List, Dean’s List and Charles Oliver Gray Scholars List, which recognize academic achievements per semester, throughout his Tusculum career.

The 2008-09 recipient of the South Atlantic President’s Award, NeSmith was only the second football player in the history of the award to earn the conference’s most prestigious honor. He was also named the South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athlete for Football for three straight years, the first three-time recipient in conference history.

This past December, NeSmith was named to the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Team and was one of the 16 national finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. He was the only Division II player among the honorees.

NeSmith earned ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American honors for two years and is only the second Pioneer to be a two-time Academic All-American. On the athletic side, he earned All-America honors in 2008 from three organizations for a year in which he posted 67 receptions for 635 yards and seven touchdowns.

He was a national semifinalist for the American Football Coaches Association’s Good Works Team. His service to others during his college career including mentoring students at a nearby elementary school and working with Habitat for Humanity.

Presented in memory of a beloved educator at Tusculum who helped define the college’s civic arts curricular focus, the Bruce G. Batts Award is presented to a student who clearly demonstrates the qualities that reflect the civic arts ideals. This year’s recipient, Estefania Chavez, is a senior political science major with minors in international business, economics and civic engagement. Her commitment to serve others is evident in her campus activities as well as her academic aspirations. Chavez’s aspiration is to become an attorney and work internationally, and she is currently serving as an intern in the state District Attorney General’s office in Greeneville.

Chavez is serving as co-president of the Bonner Leader student service organization this year. She is a dedicated member of the Bonner Leaders, a nationally recognized program that requires all participants to serve at least 100 hours of community service per semester. As a Bonner Leader, she has worked on a project to reduce truancy and drop-out rates in at-risk students and implemented the Bonner mentoring program to work with at-risk middle school students. She has also worked with the English as a Second Language program and tutored Spanish-speaking elementary students.

She has been active on campus in the Student Government Association, serving on several committees to enact change to better campus. She has served as secretary/treasurer of Tusculum’s chapter of the Alpha Chi national honor society and is  a member of the women’s cross country team.

Also presented were faculty, staff and community awards whose recipients were selected by a student vote. Receiving the Outstanding Service to Students Award, a faculty honor, was Leslie Hanneken, an assistant professor of physical education.

In presenting the award, Randy Rumbley, chairman of the board of the Greene County Partnership, said that Hanneken has been described as a “gift to students. A nurturing and supportive educator, counselor and mentor, she has worked diligently to raise the quality of work from her students across all levels. She is admired and respected by her students for her genuine interest in their success, but is a firm believer in accountability in all students. In her three years with the College, she has worked for and with her students in numerous ways, including service projects with the local schools and other community activities that give back, while giving her students an opportunity to practice their classroom-learned skills. She is dedicated, caring, supportive and loved and admired by her students.”

The Staff Award was presented to Chris Lenker, who is head athletic trainer for the college. Lenker directs the overall operation and medical treatment of the student-athletes in the 14 intercollegiate sports offered by the college. “Chris is a role model to students as he demonstrates hard work, dedication and a strong desire to be great at his job,” said Tiffany Colbaugh, president of the Student Government Association, in presenting the award. “He is a mentor to students considering athletic training careers and a key adult influence for many of the student-athletes he works with as they train and deal with injury.”

The Community Award for exemplary service to students was presented to prominent Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott M. Niswonger.  In presenting the award Brooke Haymaker, who is vice president of the Student Government Association, noted that Niswonger, a 1987 graduate of Tusculum College, is a leader in philanthropy across the region and the country and has faithfully supported Tusculum College both financially and with the investment of his time in providing leadership and guidance at the highest levels as a respected member of the Board of Trustees.

“His investment into education is unparalleled, and students at Tusculum College, past, present and future are impacted by his choice to support the College, its mission, and in particular its students,” Haymaker said. “With his support, students have access to some of the best academic, residential and athletic facilities in the nation. He led the efforts to revitalize both the student center and the library, to push forward the construction of the student apartments, and his generosity led to the construction of the finest sports facilities in the South Atlantic Conference and beyond.”

Academic Honors
Senior Honor Key Awards were presented to students who have earned a 3.25 grade point average or higher in their major, shown achievement and aptitude in the major, and possess strong character.  The following are the award recipients and their degree programs:

Accounting – Henrique Alves Rodrigues of Salvador, Brazil
Biology  – Brittany Bible of Talbott, Tenn., and Glenn Vicary of Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Environmental Science – Rachel Burchnell of Greeneville, Tenn.
General Management – Tabatha Smith of Greeneville, Tenn.
History - Lynnsey Jett of Jefferson City, Tenn.
K-3 Education – Brittany Barnett of Johnson City, Tenn.
K-6 Education – Candace Babb of Greeneville, Tenn.
Mathematics – Kelsey Longwell of Johnson City, Tenn.
Physical Education K-12 – Whitney King of Sevierville, Tenn.
Political Science – Estefania Chavez of Honduras
Psychology – Lena Eidson-Kelly of Odenville, Ala.
Secondary Education – English 7-12 – April Jones of Kingsport, Tenn.
Special Education – Chris Young of Ringgold, Ga.
Sport Management – Vanessa N. Fyffe of Bellbrook, Ohio
Sport Science – Katherine Shelton of Dandridge, Tenn.
Visual Art K-12 – Katie Bible of Newport, Tenn.

Recognized as Honor Students for having the highest grade point average of their class (all have a 4.0 grade point average) were:
seniors – Danielle Armstrong of Blountville, Tenn., and Simon Holzapfel of Nuremberg, Germany
junior –  Storm Vance of Elizabethton, Tenn.
sophomores – Weston A. Gantte of Dandridge, Tenn., and Derek Murrell of Bulls Gap, Tenn.
freshmen – Jessica L. Britton of Greeneville, Tenn.; Courtney A. Conley of Bristol, Tenn., Kayla N. Durden of Taylor Mill, Ky.; Don D. Maples of Lenoir City, Tenn., and Luis C. Zamora of Santiago, Chile.

Senior members of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society were also recognized. Upperclassmen who are ranked in the top 10 academically of their classmates are invited to join the honor society. Recognized were:
Candace Babb of Greeneville, Tenn.
Eric Barclay of Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Brittany Bible of Talbott, Tenn.
Estefania Chavez of Honduras,
Lena Eidson-Kelly of Odenville, Ala.
Micah Haney of Union Grove, Ala.
Kelsey Longwell of Johnson City, Tenn.
Henrique Alves-Rodrigues of Salvador, Brazil
Ashley Shoults of Newark, Ohio
Glenn Vicary of Oak Ridge, Tenn.

The Alpha Chi Academic Excellence Award presented to the highest academically ranked member of the junior class was presented to Danielle Armstrong of Blountville, Tenn., and Simon Holzapfel of Nuremberg, Germany.

Students who were chosen for the Curtis and Billie Owens Literary Prizes were honored. Students submit original, creative works in the annual writing competition, which were judged this year by award-winning author Patrick Madden. The winners were poetry – Philip Dean of Whitesburg, Tenn.; fiction – Andy English of Greeneville, Tenn.; creative non-fiction – Danielle Armstrong of Blountville, Tenn.; and scriptwriting – David Ronsckevitz of Franklin, Tenn.

The Dr. Shirley Beck Award for an outstanding Master of Arts in Education major was presented to Aundrea Gunter of Afton, Tenn., a teacher at West Greene High School.

The Outstanding Education Student Award was presented to Jonathan Bewley of Morristown, Tenn.

The E.H. Sargent Award in Science was presented to Nate Binder of Maidstone, Ontario. In choosing the recipient, science faculty members consider overall grade point average, total hours in science and variety of areas covered in the sciences.

The Doug Ratledge Environmental Science Scholarship, which is presented to an outstanding Environmental Science or Field Guide/Naturalist major, was given to Jessica Shipley of Greeneville, Tenn.

The Warren Lynn Drain Award was presented to Will Loggins of Crossville, Tenn. A graduating senior determined most outstanding in Business and Economics is presented the award and GPA and achievement are the criteria for the choice of recipient. Loggins was also the president of the college’s Business Club this past year.

The Theatre Award was given to Brian Ricker of Greeneville, Tenn. for his participation and dedication to the theater program at Tusculum College. Ricker has performed as part of 16 Theatre-at-Tusculum productions since high school and is recognized for his abundance of acting talent.

The David Behan Award was presented to Nora Ramsey of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for her support in advancing theater at Tusculum. Ramsey has been involved in many aspects of the theater program. She has worked backstage helping with sets, manned the box office for numerous performances and assisted in office tasks.

Simon Holzapfel of Nuremberg, Germany, received the TAHPERD (Tennessee Association Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) Outstanding Major Award. The award winner is also recognized at the association’s annual convention.

Vanessa N. Fyffe of Bellbrook, Ohio, was presented the NASPE (National Association for Sport and Physical Education) Award. The award winner is also recognized at the national convention.

The Pinnacle Award for highest scores on annual comprehensive examinations taken by athletic training education majors was presented to Kimsie Hall of Cleveland, Tenn.

Service Awards
The Service-Learning Award was awarded to students in a Service-Learning Immersion class that traveled this spring to New Orleans to help in the rebuilding efforts in the Lower Ninth Ward. As part of the trip, the students had the opportunity to meet some of the homeowners they were helping and hear their stories. The students learned about patience, the importance of teamwork and carpentry skills such as how to hang dry wall. The award recipients were Ashley Bradford of London, Ky.; Jillian Cunha of London, Ontario; Kimsie Hall of Cleveland, Tenn.; Katrina Larkin of Kingsport, Tenn.; Kelsey Longwell of Johnson City, Tenn.; Elizabeth McDonnell of Memphis, Tenn.; Victoria Neal of Ellenwood, Ga., and David Roncskevitz of Franklin, Tenn.

The Bonner Leaders Program Award was presented to Jaime Sizemore of Greeneville, Tenn., for her high level of commitment to the Bonners program, for her personal integrity and character and for her dedication to serving others whether on the Tusculum campus or in the community.

Sizemore has been an enthusiastic member of the Bonner Leaders. She has worked with Rural Resources, helping to organize and archive the documents and files recovered from a fire that destroyed the organization’s offices as well as classroom and kitchen space. She organized the Service on Saturday program for this academic year and stepped in to help in other programs when needed such as the mentoring program with at-risk students at Greeneville Middle School.

Tweet This Post

A Tusculum College vice president and professor brought back new insights about the Holy Land from a recent trip to the Middle East as well as ideas of how similar trips can be planned for Tusculum students in the future.

Jacquelyn D. Elliott, vice president for enrollment management, and Dr. Angela Keaton, assistant professor of history and the commons, spent three and a half weeks earlier this year in Israel and Jordan visiting Biblical, historical and religious sites, such as the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Dome of the Rock mosque in Jerusalem and Petra in Jordan. The two gave a presentation about their trip on March 24.

The two were “podded” with a class from Bridgewater College during the trip. Elliott explained that “podding” is a new concept whereby faculty or staff from a college or university participate in an international trip of another institution to learn about the logistics of planning such a trip and how it can be integrated academically into a course or program.

Elliott, who previously worked at Bridgewater College, said that college’s chaplain contacted her about the trip because it seemed to fit Tusculum’s curriculum and mission.

During the trip, Elliott and Keaton did the same coursework as the 15 students in the Bridgewater class, completing daily readings from the Bible and other texts as well as written assignments and journaling.

The trip’s fast-paced itinerary, which included as many as five sites a day, featured many of the sites in the Holy Land associated with Jesus’ life and ministry.

Visiting the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the group was also able to see the remains of a home from the 1st Century recently discovered by archeologists. “We were very lucky to have a glimpse of it,” Elliott said.

The Church of the Annunciation, built on the alleged location where Gabriel appeared to Mary, is representative of many of the sites in the Holy Land whose claim to be a Biblically related site cannot be positively verified, Keaton explained.

The church is also representative in that it marks a notable Biblical site. “You know you have found a significant site if there is a church built on top of it,” Keaton said. “Churches were built on everything whether the site was legitimate or not.”

One of the legitimate sites that the group visited was the House of St. Peter, a church built over what is believed to be the dwelling of the apostle. Archeologists consider this a legitimate site, Keaton explained, because the house dates back to the 1st century, fish hooks were found and graffiti had been written on the walls indicating that Jesus had been there.

During the trip, Elliott and Keaton said they discovered that some of the common western perceptions of Bible stories differ from what conditions were like in Jesus’ time. For example, Elliott said, there is common perception that Mary and Joseph were alone when Jesus was born, but in the Jewish culture of the time, they were probably surrounded by people to help, especially since many others would have returned to Bethlehem for the census.

The class crossed over into Jordan for a few days. They visited the Jordan River, which now flows at about 10 percent of what it did in Jesus’ time, Keaton noted. One of several small lagoons off the main flow of the river was probably the location of Jesus’ baptism by John, she added.

In visiting Jordan, Elliott said they noted the difference in resources between that nation and Israel to preserve and maintain the historical sites. In visiting Jericho, the ancient remains are “literally melting” because they are made of mud-brick, Keaton added. The city of Petra, another popular site for tourists, is also suffering a similar fate as it is slowly eroding from the elements.

In addition to the fast-paced itinerary, it was also a challenge to keep names straight. “Everything there has multiple names,” Elliott explained. But, there was not a language barrier, she continued, as all signs were written in English, Arabic and Hebrew.

Jerusalem presented a challenge as well. “One of the most difficult things was keeping the chronology straight,” Keaton said. “You have the Canaanites, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Israelis, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Arabs again, Turks, British, Jordanians and then modern Israel all stacked on top of each other.”

In Jerusalem, Elliott and Keaton spent time in the Arab market, Jewish quarter and Armenian quarter. During their free time, the two had the opportunity to talk to people in the different areas, all of whom were warm and open.

While in Palestinian-controlled areas, Elliott recalled, she asked some direct questions about what the people there thought about America. “They said they loved Americans, but were not quite as sure about the American government,” she said. Keaton added that in Jerusalem they were told by people that they “wished that Americans were not so shallow – that they would read a book now and then.”

Visiting the Mount of Olives, the class discovered that adjacent to an Arab settlement, but Elliott and Keaton noted that in walking the streets in the settlement, called Silwan Village, they encountered no problems and that the people groups are not as separated as a westerner might perceive from watching media reports.

The Church of All Nations is built adjacent to the Garden of Gethsemane on the rock on which Jesus prayed. It is believed that Jesus most likely was in the garden there, Keaton said, because of the age of the olive trees around the church. The olive trees are old enough to be from the 1st Century and are the only ones of age preserved in the garden, she further explained.

The class also visited the Temple Mount, regarded as one of the most holy sites in Jerusalem by both Jews and Muslims. The Temple Mount is revered by Jews as the location of Solomon’s temple and later Herod’s temple. It is now the site of two mosques, the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, and is considered the third holiest site in Islam.

The class was not permitted to go into either mosque. “The only Christian to go into the Dome of the Rock was the individual who did the tile work,” Elliott noted.

The group visited the Wailing Wall, the western wall of the Temple Mount. “It was one of my favorite places,” Keaton said. “It is important to Jews because the wall was the closest to the Holiest of Holies in the temple. The Jews believe that it is as close as they can get to the Holiest of Holies.”

The group waited in line for 15 minutes to approach the wall. “You could literally feel the movement and rhythm from the sound of all the people praying,” Elliott said. “It was a very interesting experience to see how dedicated they are to prayer.”

Asked about the mix of the old world and modern, Keaton said conditions depended on where you were – the group encountered everything from Bedouin camps to skyscrapers. “At one point, we saw a Bedouin boy riding a donkey with an iPod,” she said. “Everybody had cell phones. In Jerusalem, you can travel to the remnants of the ancient city of David, but nearby find a modern mall with Abercrombie & Fitch.”

To a question about how the trip had affected her faith, Elliott responded that reading Scriptures is different now as she can picture the places she has visited while reading about them in the Bible. “I have a much deeper appreciation and a better understanding,” she said.

Keaton said she appreciated the academic-side of the trip, which introduced questions about the Bible and men’s religious traditions. “When you keep questioning, searching and pondering, there is always something to learn,” she said. “You also need to remember that questioning does not mean rejection of a belief.”

The two said a similar trip would be a fit for Tusculum’s curriculum and students, and an itinerary could be determined to match what a particular class was studying or wanted to see.

Tweet This Post