Colbaugh named ‘Student of the Block’ at Tusculum College
Tiffany Colbaugh, a senior majoring in biology, has been named “Student of the Block” at Tusculum College.
Colbaugh earned the honor for the Second Block of the fall semester. 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 the award presentation on Nov. 4, Senior Student Life Coordinator Stephanie Rhea described Colbaugh as an individual who exemplifies the civic arts mission of Tusculum College - a person who excels academically, is actively involved in campus life and is committed to the service of others.
Active in a variety of organizations in high school, Colbaugh has continued her commitment to service and civic engagement at Tusculum as a Resident Assistant, a Student Support Services mentor, a mathematics tutor, an orientation leader and an active participant in the Voices Against Violence organization and the campus Relay for Life effort.
She served as president of the Student Government Association during the 2009-2010 academic year and has also served the student governance organization as secretary/treasurer.
“Each activity … made me the person I am today,” Colbaugh said. These activities “influence me not to stand back, become involved, step outside of my shell and help others succeed in life.”
Colbaugh chose to attend Tusculum to continue her education with best friend, Danielle Armstrong, a senior English major who was honored as a “Student of the Block” during the past academic year, as well as stay close to home.
“My first impression of Tusculum College was that people were extremely friendly,” she said. “I wanted to go to a school where people were friendly and care about me. I wanted to go to a small school, which reminded me of my high school.”
As an entering freshman, Colbaugh was at first quiet, shy and uninvolved in many activities, but that quickly changed as became a work-study student in the Office of Student Affairs and then became active in other activities on campus.
In her position as president and secretary/treasurer for the Student Government Association, Colbaugh worked tirelessly for the student body on issues such as purchasing additional picnic tables for student usage around campus, organizing and streamlining the process for allocation of funds to student organizations to make it a more fair system and obtaining new furniture for residence hall common areas.
Colbaugh fills the senior leadership position as a resident assistant, working with other resident assistants to make the residence hall environment a positive educational experience for the residents.
As an Student Support Services mentor, Colbaugh works with other mentors to create community service programs, serves as a resource to students about various issues and accompanies groups on spring break excursions that have included trips to New Orleans, New York, Pennsylvania and Orlando.
Academically, Colbaugh has enjoyed the courses she has had with Dr. Robert Davis, professor of biology, for whom she has high praise. “He gives one-on-one attention, always is in a great mood, is very entertaining, is ready to listen and is always available to students, even if he is not a particular student’s advisor,” she said.
Colbaugh initially chose biology as her major as an initial step to becoming a doctor, but has since discovered her real passion does not lie in medicine. She is considering entering a police academy after graduation after seeing her stepfather’s volunteer work with a local law enforcement agency and hearing the stories of helping others.
Completing her degree and becoming the first in her family to earn that degree immediately following high school is an accomplishment in which Colbaugh takes pride.
When asked about her role model, Colbaugh quickly answers it is her mother. “She was a teen mom who quit school to parent my brothers and me, but she still managed to finish high school, get her associate degree in phlebotomy and is working on her master’s degree in social work. I call her ‘Super Mom’.”
![[Post to Twitter]](http://www2.tusculum.edu/news/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt.png){kind=icon}