NEWS & CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

The Corporation for National and Community Service has honored Tusculum College with a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to America’s communities.

“Tusculum College is proud to have been recognized for the efforts that our staff, faculty and students put into the Civic Arts and community service projects,” said Tusculum College President Nancy B. Moody.

She added that service projects and service learning experiences are part of the core of Tusculum College’s mission that includes the Civic Arts and service to others as part of its overall mission.

Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement. Honorees for the award were chosen based on a series of selection factors including scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.

Poverty, homelessness and hunger were among many of the issues addressed by the most recent group of students participating in service projects in the East Tennessee region. Students have worked with the George Clem Multicultural Association, Greeneville-Greene County Community Ministries, Greene County Habitat for Humanity, the Greeneville and Greene County school systems, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Mission Soup Kitchen at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church and many other groups.

In addition, numerous projects have been completed by staff, faculty and other volunteer groups associated with Tusculum College.

The Honor Roll is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is presented during the annual conference of the American Council on Education.

“Congratulations to Tusculum College and its students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities. We salute all the Honor Roll awardees for embracing their civic mission and providing opportunities for their students to tackle tough national challenges through service,” said Patrick A. Corvington, chief executive officer of CNCS.

This is the fifth time Tusculum College has been named to the Honor Roll.

For more information, go to www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll.

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A Lakeway Area Career-Builder Open House for displaced workers or those looking for a career change will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22, at the Tusculum College site in Morristown.

The event targets displaced workers and those looking for a career change and is sponsored by Tusculum College and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Career Coach program.

A variety of workshops will be held to assist those in the job market. Workshops will include sessions on resume and cover letter preparation, job search skills, interviewing techniques and various educational opportunities.

The event is free and open to the public.

“We hope that anyone in the Lakeway Area who is looking for employment or considering a career change will come by and take advantage of the sessions being offered,” said Jamie Hamer, director of marketing and associate director of enrollment for the Graduate and Professional Studies program of Tusculum College.

“A variety of experts will be on hand to cover everything from preparing a resume to interview skills,” he added.

The Tusculum College Morristown Center is located at 420 West Morris Blvd. in Morristown, inside the Medical Arts Center.

For more information on the event, call 888-488-7285, or email Hamer at jhamer@tusculum.edu.

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Capt. Sam Doak USN (Retired) and his wife, Emily, were presented the Distinguished Service Award during the annual Tusculum College President’s Dinner on Friday, May 20. The Doaks were recognized for their continual service and multi-faceted support of Tusculum College.

Capt. Doak, a 1949 alumni of the College, is a current member of the Tusculum Board of Trustees and is a direct descendent of the founders of the college. Emily Doak has been a tireless volunteer for the Museums of Tusculum College and the Andrew Johnson Heritage Association. The couple attends most of the arts events and public lectures on campus as well as a number of athletic events.

Tusculum President Dr. Nancy B. Moody and Dr. Kenneth A. Bowman, chair of the Board of Trustee and 1970 alumnus of the college, presented the award to the surprised, but appreciative couple.

The Distinguished Service Award is given each year to an individual or individuals who have a long history of outstanding and multi-faceted support of Tusculum College. The award is presented at the President’s Dinner, which honors the College’s major donors, Heritage Club members and consecutive givers.

At the presentation, Dr. Moody read the text of the award, which is as follows:

“As committed supporters of Tusculum College, Captain Sam and Mrs. Emily Doak have throughout the years distinguished themselves, Tusculum College and the community. Through service, leadership and lifelong support of the College, the Doaks exemplify the Civic Art values that Tusculum College has promoted for 217 years.

As a 1949 alumnus of Tusculum College and the United States Naval Academy, Captain Sam Doak also distinguished himself as a member of the United States Navy. As a member of the Tusculum College family, he has served as director of alumni affairs and as a valued and influential member of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees. Sam is the great, great, great, great grandson of Samuel Doak, who founded Washington College Academy, and the great, great, great grandson of Samuel Witherspoon Doak, who founded Tusculum Academy.

Mrs. Emily Doak is an Epsilon Sigma Alpha DIANA award winner and an active member and supporter of the Andrew Johnson Heritage Association, where she served as membership chairman. She has also served on the Board of the Greeneville Community Concerts Association and has served as hostess at the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library and the Doak House Museum. Both she and Captain Doak are active and dedicated members of Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church and maintain a relationship with First Presbyterian Church of Greeneville.

As friends, supporters and neighbors of the College, their presence on campus is continually felt, as they are frequently seen supporting art programs, athletic events, lecture programs and other outreach programs of the College. Sam and Emily have been generous contributors to Tusculum College throughout their lives, supporting the growth, expansion and mission of the College at the highest levels. These gifts have impacted the lives of thousands of students who lead better lives today because of their time spent at Tusculum College.

In recognition of all they mean to Tusculum College, the 2011 Distinguished Service Award is presented to Captain Sam and Mrs. Emily Doak on behalf of a grateful Tusculum College community on the occasion of the President’s Dinner, May 20, 2011.”

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Kiarra Ervin of Chattanooga was honored as the “Student of the Block” for Block Eight at Tusculum College for her academic achievements and contributions to the campus community.

Ervin, who graduated in May with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting and a minor in business administration management, was described as an individual with perseverance, motivation and ambition in the award presentation on May 3.

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 honoring Ervin’s accomplishments will be displayed in the Niswonger Commons and other campus buildings.

Ervin chose to attend Tusculum because of its block schedule and the desire to attend a small school that was away from home, but not too far. Wanting to experience the college community, Kiarra became involved on campus. She was a peer tutor for the Tusculum College Tutoring Center, helping her fellow students with accounting, business, economics, algebra and sociology courses. She was also a mentor and member of the Student Support Services, and the president of HerStory, a student organization she founded.

She excelled academically, maintaining a 3.77 grade point average and was consistently named to the college’s academic honor lists. “I am proud of becoming a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society because it shows that my hard work in the classroom paid off,” she said. “I have worked hard to keep my grades high and to know that I am a part of a nationally recognized organization is rewarding.”

She credits Tusculum with teaching her the skill of time management with the challenging block schedule, learning about different cultures through the diverse student body and having faculty and staff members who care about students as individuals and encourage them in their ability to accomplish their goals.

Dr. Michelle Freeman, associate professor of business and faculty moderator, Bonnie Weston, senior student life coordinator, and the staff of Student Support Services are noted by Ervin as influential people in her time at Tusculum.

Recognizing her intellectual ability, Dr. Freeman encouraged Ervin to major in accounting. “Dr. Freeman is a very intelligent and caring woman who has given me advice and many kind words I greatly appreciate,” Ervin said. “This past year, I lost a family member and she was very understanding of the situation and how it affected me. I really appreciate her for what she has done for me.”

Ervin met Bonnie Weston on her very first day of campus. “She has really been an encouraging person in my life, both personally and professionally,” Ervin said of Weston. “She has given me advice on issues that have come up in my life. She has encouraged me to break out of my shell and become a leader. She knew that I had potential and she brought it out of me by encouraging me to create an organization, HerStory. She is helping me with my goals and plans for my life after Tusculum College. I think she will be an important person in my life after I graduate.”

The staff members of Student Support Services helped Ervin learn to be a mentor and a role model, she said, by giving her the opportunity to show her leadership and problem solving skills by being a mentor to about 10 students for the entire academic year. “It was such a rewarding experience because I could help an underclassman become more comfortable in the transition from high school to college,” she said.

The daughter of Darlene Mitchell and sister of fellow Tusculum student, Karnika, who also graduated in May, Ervin credits her mother as a strong influence on her life as a single parent who worked hard but still had time for her children’s extracurricular activities. Ervin’s grandparents, Bobby and Ramona Goines, have also been an important part of her life.

Ervin’s mentor, “Coach” Lurone Jennings, Sr., “has been in my life since I was a little girl,” she said. “I grew up attending a summer literacy program that he directed, and he has been at every milestone in my life. He allowed me to work in the same program I attended, giving me the opportunity to give those students the same inspiration and motivation that he gave me growing up.”

A high school teacher, Anquia Bowden, has also been a major influence in Ervin’s life and a continuing source of encouragement.

Ervin’s future plans include continuing her education to obtain a master’s degree in accounting. Her goal is to become a certified public accountant and open her own practice.

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The Tusculum College Board of Trustees voted to extend the contract of current president, Dr. Nancy B. Moody, during its meeting on Saturday, May 21.

Dr. Moody is in the second year of a three-year contract. The contract extension is for three years.

“Tusculum College is at a very exciting time in its history. I am extremely pleased to have the support of the Board of Trustees as we move together toward long-term planning, the growth of our academic programs and continued and expanded success of our graduates,” said Dr. Moody.

Dr. Kenneth A. Bowman, chair of the Board of Trustees, praised Moody’s efforts in directing the college. “Dr. Moody has already made a significant positive impact on the college with her visionary leadership, and the Board is pleased that it was able to express its appreciation for those efforts with the contract extension.”

Since assuming the college presidency in April 2009 as the first female in Tusculum’s history to hold the position, Moody has faced several challenges. She led the college through a successful reaffirmation of accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)-Commission on Colleges (COC) and guided the college towards greater financial stability in a time of economic uncertainty.

Dr. Moody praised the efforts and support of Tusculum College faculty and staff noting that the key to success is having quality people working toward common goals who are constantly striving to improve.

Under Dr. Moody’s leadership, new academic programs have been offered to both students in the Residential College program and those in the Graduate and Professional Studies program for working adults. A new minor in theater arts has been established and the expansion of additional academic programs is underway.

Dr. Moody was a driving force in the beginning of the Pioneer Band and Music program which has grown to include a pep band, marching band, concert band, jazz band and handbell choir. The band programs now include more than 50 college and high school students as well as faculty, staff and members of the community.

In the Graduate and Professional Studies program, three new degree programs have been added, a bachelor of business administration degree, a bachelor of psychology degree with a concentration in behavioral health and a master of arts in teaching degree. In addition, two new degree concentrations have been created in applied information technology and financial management. The new concentrations are optional for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration or organizational management in the adult program.

Dr. Moody came to Tusculum from Lincoln Memorial University (LMU), where she served as president. She had begun her career in higher education at LMU where she served as an instructor of nursing. She subsequently served in several roles at LMU, culminating as the dean of the School of Professional Studies before joining the faculty of East Tennessee State University where she was tenured and served as department chair. She served as an associate professor at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville before returning to LMU to assume its presidency. In terms of leadership, Dr. Moody has served as executive director of the Tennessee Center of Nursing, which was funded initially through a grant that she co-authored.

She is a member of the NCAA Division II Presidents Council, the South Atlantic Conference, and an active participant on the boards of the Appalachian College Association and the Tennessee Center for Nursing, Inc. Dr. Moody is the past chair of the executive committee for the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association.

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The Tusculum College Board of Trustees met on Friday and Saturday, May 20-21, and voted to move forward on expanding academic program offerings at both its residential college and in the Graduate and Professional Studies program.

At the recommendation of the Academic Affairs Committee, chaired by Dr. Jerry Ward, the board conceptually approved three new academic programs, pending completion of feasibility studies for each.

The resolution calls for exploration of new academic programs in criminal justice and nursing in the residential college curriculum and conversion of the master’s of arts in organizational management in the Graduate and Professional Studies program to a master’s in business administration.

“The Board of Trustees at Tusculum College is extremely supportive of the faculty’s efforts to develop new academic programs in keeping with the mission of the college that will propel Tusculum College through its third century of operation,” said Dr. Kenneth A. Bowman, chair of the Board of Trustees.

Also approved at the recommendation of the Academic Affairs Committee was a recommendation to proceed with School of Education program development and delivery at a new site in Madison County, N.C.  The resolution authorizes the Office of the Provost to move forward with the submission of a self-study to the State of North Carolina and a substantive change request to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-Commission on Colleges, both required steps to assure the programs will be adequately accredited.

Upon the recommendation of Dr. Moody, the Board of Trustees passed a resolution allocating any end-of-year revenue above expenses toward salary increases and benefits for full-time faculty and staff.  The Board of Trustees approved the resolution pending the outcome of the annual audit in September.

Preliminary approval was given for the 2011-2012 annual operating budget, set at $27,802,091, up just over $500,000 from the current year’s budget.

In other action the board reviewed and accepted the audits of the employee retirement plan and the employee benefits plan. The board also approved contract extensions for property and casualty insurance and for dining services.

Also introduced at the board meeting were Ms. Heather Patchett, newly named vice president for the Office of Institutional Advancement and Dr. Thomas Stein, newly named vice president of enrollment management.

In addition, during Friday’s meetings, two former members of the Board of Trustees were granted Life Trustee status.

Dr. Robert H. Bailey of Greeneville is a Tusculum graduate of 1948 and has served the college as a past chair and treasurer of the Board of Trustees and was honored with an honorary Doctorate of Law degree in 1984.

Frank Brogden, a Tusculum graduate of 1950, served as a member of the Board of Trustees, as well as beginning his career at the college after graduation. The Kingsport resident has been a dedicated alumnus and has served diligently on many committees over his more than 50 years of service to the college.

Angelo Volpe, chair of the Institutional Advancement Committee, presented a resolution to the Board to establish funding levels for future named endowments. The Board approved the resolution, creating levels for Endowed Chair- $1,500,000; Endowed Professorship-$1,000,000; Endowed Faculty and Professional Development Fund-$250,000; Endowed Scholarship-$25,000; and Unrestricted Endowment-$10,000.

Four members of the faculty were approved for promotion to full professorship, including Dr. Brian Pope, professor of psychology; Dr. Melanie Narkawicz, professor of research; Dr. Greg Church, professor of biology, and Dr. Tom McFarland, professor of business administration.

Dr. Pope has been with the college since 2003 and is chairman of the psychology department. He has a Ph.D. in biopsychology from the University of Georgia, a master’s degree in experimental psychology from the College of William and Mary and a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Dr. Narkawicz began teaching at Tusculum College in 1994 in the Graduate and Professional Studies Program. She has an Ed.D. degree in educational administration and supervision in the post secondary private sector research from East Tennessee State University and has a bachelor’s degree in English from Florida Southern College.

Dr. Church has been at Tusculum College for the past 18 years. He has a Ph.D. in biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He has a master’s of science degree in environmental health and a bachelor’s of science degree in biology from East Tennessee State University

Dr. McFarland joined Tusculum College in 2003 and currently is director of the School of Business. He has a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Florida, an M.B.A. with finance emphasis and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Colorado.

Also approved for promotion was Dr. Chris Kauffman, who was named associate professor of economics. Kauffman is currently chair of the organizational management department in the Graduate and Professional Studies program.

The board also approved Frank Mengel, a staff member since 1998, as faculty instructor. Mengel is currently Theatre-at-Tusculum’s technical director and state manager and teaches several theater classes including introduction to theatre and stagecraft.

In other business, during the Friday portion of the two-day meeting, Joyce Doughty, director of the Center for Civic Advancement, and Bette Dowd, assistant certification officer and Charles Oliver Gray Office Supervisor, were recognized and commended for their years of service to the college. Both Doughty and Dowd retired at the end of the spring semester.

The next meeting of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees is September 22-23, 2011 in conjunction with Homecoming 2011.

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Tusculum College has named a new member to the Board of Trustees, a former member of the initial Advisory Board for Continuing Education of the University of Virginia at Charlottesville. Anna B. Gamble was named to the Tusculum College Board of Trustees following the Board’s vote of approval at its May meeting on Saturday, May 21.

Gamble, who is from Duffield, Va., has been a supporter of Tusculum College since Dr. Nancy B. Moody was named its 27^th president in 2009.

Mrs. Anna Gamble

Before her retirement, Gamble progressed through her career culminating as a manager of a large dental office. She and her husband, Bill, currently live in Kingsport, Tenn. and both have been lifelong supporters of music and the arts.

“We are very pleased that Anna has accepted our invitation to join the Board of Trustees,” said Chair of the Board Kenneth A. Bowman, a 1970 graduate of Tusculum College. “Anna has been a supporter of higher education throughout her life, and we look forward to her input and influence to help the college grow in its endeavors.”

Gamble will attend her first full Board of Trustees meeting in September.

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Students, faculty and staff unveiled new entrance signs at both the Gilland Street and Shiloh Road entrances to Tusculum College’s Greeneville campus on Friday, May 6. The updated signs were a gift from the Class of 2011.

The graduating Class of 2011, represented by the Senior Class Gift Committee, chose to leave their mark on the Tusculum campus by giving the entrance signs an updated look, according to Senior Class Gift Campaign Co-Chairs Marci Moore of Parrotsville and Nikki Taylor of New Tazewell.

The entrance signs which have greeted faculty, staff, alumni, students and friends of the college since 1968, had more than 40 years of exposure to the elements which had taken a toll on the signs. The campaign committee raised funds to update the lettering and give the signs a modern appearance.

The students presented a check for $500 to Tusculum College President Nancy B. Moody during the unveiling ceremony, attended by more than 30 people.

According to Cody Greene, coordinator of the Tusculum Fund, the 2011 Senior Class Gift Campaign provided a new way for students to participate in the senior gift.  Thanks to GreenBank, all participating seniors received a piggy bank in which to collect donations for the campaign.

The students collected change in their banks and returned them on several collection days throughout the spring semester.

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There was much to celebrate on Saturday, May 7, for 262 individuals who received degrees during Tusculum College’s spring commencement ceremony.

Ninety-six students earned Bachelor of Science degrees in organizational management and 129 earned Bachelor of Arts degrees. In addition 37 earned Master of Arts degrees.

Walking with this spring’s graduates were representatives of the Tusculum College Class of 1961 who are celebrating their 50^th anniversary year. Representatives walked in the procession, clothed in golden caps and gowns and were recognized during the ceremony by Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of Tusculum College.

The new graduates were addressed by Moody, who recognized the commencement ceremony as “an occasion of celebration and completion.” Adding, “Each of you have made sacrifices, adjustments and also made tough decisions. This is a testament to your own efforts and also to your persistence. Today is your reward. Be proud of yourself and your accomplishments.”

Simon Holzapfel, a sports management major from Nuremburg, Germany, addressed the crowd as a representative of the Residential College program. Holzapfel has been accepted to the graduate program at Eastern Kentucky University.

He told the group, “I am deeply indebted to some of the faculty members. Each one of them has taught me valuable lessons, may it be through classroom lectures or outside of the classroom. Many have pushed me beyond my comfort zone and by doing so extended it.”

In particularly he singled out Dr. Kirpal Mahal, professor of physical education.

“He has taught me so much about the physical education and sports science professions, about people and about life in general that I don’t know anymore what I have learned from him. I have absorbed countless hours of conversation, mentoring, and counseling with him to the point where I cannot tell the difference anymore between what I already knew and what he has taught me,” said Holzapfel.

Robin Moore of Gatlinburg spoke on behalf of the college’s Graduate and Professional Studies education program. Moore talked about finishing her degree and the confidence it has instilled in her that was not there before.

“I know that, without this experience, I would still doubt myself. I would still see that academic misfit that just never quite could make it in school. Instead, I can look back upon my life’s experiences and know that they have made me the person I am today,” she said.

Amanda Bunch of Knoxville spoke on behalf of the Graduate and Professional Studies program in Organizational Management.

She told her fellow graduates, “I want you to look back on all of your hard work and dedication and use all these skills to tackle any challenges you may face in the future. You now know you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.”

Clyde Shumate of Johnson City spoke on behalf of the master’s of education program. He spoke to his peers in the teaching profession, encouraging them to always do what’s best for their students.

“Doing what’s best requires teachers to plan, evaluate, teach and engage the students in the learning process. This takes hard work from both sides and many children will resist hard work, which is why we must motivate them. Every day teachers are in a battle to engage every child, to educate and graduate them as productive, responsible citizens. That’s the goal-that all will graduate and become successful.”

Representing the master’s program in Organizational Management for the Graduate and Professional Studies program was Belinda Kenny of Friendsville. Kenny talked about the difficulty of returning for her master’s degree 23 years after completing her bachelor’s degree.

“My family has endured a dirty house, uncooked dinners, limited time for family events, and even a little testiness as I attended class every Wednesday night in Morristown for one and a half years,” she said.

“Being an adult learner in a graduate program has taught me about commitment, faith and determination. It has taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to do as long as I commit to doing my best and working hard…as long as I keep my eyes on my goal and not the pressures of the day…as long as I believed that the God who got me in this mess would get me out of it.”

Also speaking was Mark Stokes, director of religious life, church and community relations. Stokes presented a sermon titled, “Simple Words.” He encouraged the graduates to use thank you notes to express their thanks to everyone in their life that has made an impact.

“Especially on this day,” he said, “You know there have been many who have assisted you. Use simple words to express your thanks.”

In addition to the presentation of the undergraduate and graduate degrees, two faculty awards were presented.

Receiving the Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership award for the Residential College was Jane Sandusky, assistant professor of athletic training. Receiving the award for the Graduate and Professional Studies program was Dr. Stella Schramm, professor of management.

Also on the program was a presentation by the graduating class from the Residential College. Marci Moore, a business education major from Parrotsville, presented a check for $500 to Dr. Moody on behalf of the Senior Class Gift Committee. The money was raised to pay for the new entrance signs at the Gilland and Shiloh road entrances to campus.

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Six students from Tusculum College recently explored the culture, natural diversity and educational system of Belize.

Four biology students and two education students traveled to the region around San Ignacio in Belize during March to immerse themselves in the diverse culture and natural environment of the Central American nation.

“Sometimes you go with a plan, but it doesn’t go that way and sometimes it is way better than you planned,” said Rebecca Hunley, one of the education students. “This trip was like that.”

Hunley, who is in the master’s degree program at Tusculum, worked at the Bullet Tree Primary School with teachers and administrators. “The school was in the middle of nowhere,” she recalled during a presentation about the trip. “There were no lights in the classroom.”

Students were packed into the classrooms and there was a lack of basic resources, she said, but the school had been able to create a small computer lab.

It was in the computer lab one day that she had an unexpected reminder of home. Going into the lab, she was surprised to see the teacher there instructing the students about low and high tides using her district’s website.

Hunley is a biology teacher in the Jefferson City School System. “Our district’s website is known nationally, but I did not know it was known internationally.”

During her presentation, Hunley noted that the educational system is very different in Belize than in the United States. Students must pay some fees to attend primary school for supplies, she explained. However, to attend school past the primary level, students must pay tuition of $1,500 a year, which many families cannot afford.

If a child cannot continue their education, they enter the workforce, she said.

As a biology teacher, Hunley said she received an additional benefit as she accompanied the biology students on some of their activities.

The four biology students, accompanied by Dr. Greg Church, associate professor of biology, explored a variety of habitats while in Belize.

The group also visited a Mayan temple ruin. “We were driving in the city,” said Morgan Baese, of Chattanooga, said, “and all of the sudden we turned onto a road that looked like we were entering a forest and it was right there.”

The students visited the Iguana Conservation Project, in which they were able to learn more about the species, handle some of the lizards and closely view some of the exotic bird species that live in Belize.

How close they were able to get to the animals was also surprising during the students visit to the Belize Zoo, said Ben Hale of Morristown. The animals were used to people and would come up to the fence of their enclosures, he said, adding that the students got to go into some of the bird habitats.

Visiting the Belize Botanical Gardens, the students explored the lush vegetation that grows in the country and also tried many of the different type of fruits that grow there.

The students spent two days caving, which included exploring the beautiful rock formations inside St. Herman’s Cave, which is part of the Blue Hole National Park, and learned about ecology of life along the river during a long kayaking trip.

In the evenings, the students immersed themselves in the culture of Belize. They attended a local fair, tried local cuisine and saw a performance of Garifuna drummers.

Tusculum’s Center for Global Studies is planning international study trips for the next academic year, which includes a possible trip by a service-learning class to Belize.

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