Alumni & Friends Newsletter ***November 2024 | |
Go Pioneers!
Scott Hummel, Ph.D.
“Pressing Forward”
– Philippians 3:14
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Tusculum's long and rich history has been punctuated by three American presidents. President George Washington gave one of Tusculum's first donations when he donated $100. Join President Washington by donating $100 or more to your alma mater (click here to donate). Before he was president, Abraham Lincoln joined Cyrus McCormick's legal team in the "Reaper" suit. Tusculum reaped some of the benefit when the McCormick's won the patent dispute and Nettie McCormick became one of Tusculum's greatest benefactors. The strongest presidential connection is with Andrew Johnson. Before Johnson became president he would go to Tusculum and listen to the debate team because he wanted to improve his speaking and persuasion skills. Johnson spoke at Tusculum as part of his effort to keep Tennessee in the Union. Today you can visit the Andrew Johnson's Presidential Library in Old College on campus.
Today, I am proud Tusculum has maintained its commitment to civic engagement. Not only through Nettie Day community service, but also through voter registration drives. At a time of increased polarization, at Tusculum you find informed but civil discussions about the most important issues facing our country. Our country needs more schools like Tusculum that educate and not merely indoctrinate students. A strong democracy relies on strong education and your alma mater is providing that education.
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I found it fitting to "spotlight" all four of our 2024 alumni award winners. Please join us Friday night at our Alumni Celebration and Dance as we honor all four very deserving Pioneers! | |
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Created in 1995, The Frontier Award goes to an outstanding alumnus or alumna for outstanding or meritorious advancement in that person’s career. The former student must have graduated between five and 15 years ago to be eligible, and judges take into account continuing and loyal service to Tusculum.
Since his graduation from Tusculum, Barker has obtained his master’s degree and is close to finishing his doctorate. But he has maintained ties to Tusculum by serving as an adjunct faculty member and as a member of the AEB. He has also served five times as a judge for the National History Day competition in the Northeast Tennessee district.
As part of his career development, Barker has given public lectures, moderated conference panels and served as an adjunct faculty member at Purdue University, where he is a doctoral student, and Franklin College in Indiana. He has published his research and reviewed books for multiple academic journals. He has received awards for his research, including the Southern Association for the History of Medicine and Science’s Robert Nesbit Award for the best graduate student research paper. In 2023, Purdue’s History Department nominated him for the Midwest Association of Graduate School’s Excellence in Teaching Award.
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The Pioneer Award was created in 1962 and is presented to an outstanding alumnus or alumna in recognition of outstanding or meritorious achievement in that person’s chosen field; distinguished service to his or her church, community, country and humanity; and continuing and loyal service to Tusculum.
Bowen is an author, motivational speakers and life/business coach. He launched his business career from the trunk of his car at age 23 and became the founder and president of Fanatics 101, a sports apparel and memorabilia store located in Johnson City and Asheville, North Carolina. He has also taken Tusculum’s commitment to civic engagement to heart, serving as board chair of the Chamber of Commerce for Johnson City, Jonesborough and Washington County and president of Good Samaritan Ministries as well as a former board member of Court Appointed Special Advocates.
He has been honored as a recipient of the 40 Under Forty Award by the Business Journal of Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia. He has also won three Kingsport Office of Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship awards, earned two Faith in the Future Awards and was recognized for having one of the top 50 stores in America in 2012. He won the Dancing with the Tri-Cities Stars competition, which raises money for Jeremiah School in Johnson City, in 2019.
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The National Living Faculty Award was created in 1996 and is presented to a Tusculum faculty member. The award’s purpose is to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Tusculum’s academic programs. To qualify the faculty members must have been a Tusculum employee for at least five years.
Dr. Henson-Ramsey teaches courses in anatomy/physiology, epidemiology, and environmental toxicology but is more than a faculty member. She came to Tusculum in 2019 to serve as dean of the College of Science, Technology and Mathematics and was promoted this summer to assistant vice president of academic affairs. In addition, Dr. Henson Ramsey has served as Tusculum’s coordinator of career services since 2020. She has been a major promoter of Tusculum’s extensive undergraduate research program and has spearheaded multiple agreements to help students in their applications for pharmacy and physician assistant programs.
She practices part time as a veterinarian at Greene County Veterinary Medical Center and co-leads the cadettes for a local Girl Scouts troop. When she graduated from North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, she received special recognition for her work in wildlife and zoological veterinary medicine. This summer, she graduated from the Senior Leadership Academy offered by the Council of Independent Colleges and the American Academic Leadership Institute.
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The Honorary Alumni Award dates to 1996 and goes to an individual connected with the university who did not attend the institution but has made outstanding contributions to Tusculum and the community. The recipient must have an active relationship with the university for at least five years and excelled in their service to Tusculum by demonstrating a commitment and dedication to its students.
Coughlin has made a remarkable impact on Tusculum University and the Greeneville community through his decades-long dedication to service, support and leadership. He has been a 25-year athletic booster and has been pivotal in securing funds, resources and support for Tusculum student-athletes, ensuring the growth and success of the university’s athletic programs. His commitment earned him the prestigious Tusculum College Sports Benefactor Award. In addition, his contributions have extended to the university’s golf program and facilities.
His service to the Greeneville area includes 33 years on the Consumer Credit Union board of directors, participation with the Greeneville Exchange Club and leadership on the Laughlin Health Care Foundation Board. Coughlin is also a devout member of Notre Dame Catholic Church. Professionally, he retired in 2000 from Philips Consumer Electronics with 34 years of service, including 15 years with GTE Sylvania.
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SECOND NETTIE FOWLER McCORMICK SERVICE DAY
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Dr. Nick Davidson’s quick rise through the ranks at Tusculum University and his commitment to community service have earned him a place in a prestigious group selected by a regional business magazine.
The Business Journal of Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia has named Dr. Davidson, assistant dean of the Sport Studies Division, to the 40 Under Forty class for 2024. The magazine held a ceremony Saturday, Nov. 2, to honor him and his classmates and will feature them in the publication’s December edition.
“I am grateful to The Business Journal for honoring me in such a meaningful way,” Dr. Davidson said. “Tusculum is an excellent university, and I enjoy serving there to help students develop the skills they need inside and outside the classroom. I am fortunate to work with fellow professors, staff and administrators, who are experts in their fields and inspire me. I also welcome the opportunity to assist the Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department with high-quality programs for the community.
“I am excited about the future and the ability to continue serving students and the community.”
Dr. Davidson joined the Tusculum family in 2021 as assistant professor of sport management. A year later, the university promoted him to chair of the Sport Management Department and its bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. In August, Tusculum elevated him again to assistant dean, where he added oversight of the university’s sport science programs to his leadership portfolio while retaining supervision of sport management. He has also served since 2023 as the university’s faculty athletic representative to the NCAA and South Atlantic Conference.
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Director of athletic development earns the President’s GEM Award
Robert Zirkle, who has served as our director of athletic development for 16 months, has already proven to be a valuable Tusculum family member. Now, his commitment to Tusculum has been recognized as the recipient of the October President’s GEM Award.
Dr. Hummel presented Zirkle with the GEM. We congratulate Zirkle and thank him for his enthusiastic approach to serving at Tusculum!
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Tusculum Board of Trustee member meets with fellow alumnus |
Kelly Vogt, left, spends time with Karl Juelch. Photo from Kelly Vogt
Recently, Kelly Vogt, a member of Tusculum’s Board of Trustees and an alumnus, visited with another former student.
Vogt met with Karl Juelch, a 1953 Tusculum graduate, and learned about some of the old times at Tusculum. The visit had particular meaning for the two men because Juelch was a classmate of Vogt’s father, who was also a Tusculum alumnus. Vogt also met Juelch’s wife, Anita.
Juelch, now 95, shared how he traveled with the Tusculum basketball team as the scorekeeper. At that time, the team rode in cars because it did not have a bus or a van. The team won the Smokey Mountain Conference championship in 1953.
“We went through the ‘53 yearbook, and I showed him Facebook,” Vogt said. “His history is rich and he was a joy to spend time with. It’s great to make a new friend. It’s a joy to a Tusculum Pioneer.”
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A public reception for a Johnson City artist whose contemporary exhibit is now on display at Tusculum University has been rescheduled for November.
The community is invited to a closing reception for “The Great Southern Box Show” Thursday, Nov. 7, from 5-7 p.m. in the Clem Allison Art Gallery. The exhibit, developed by artist Katie Murphy, is also available for viewing from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays through Friday, Nov. 8. The reception and closing dates occur during Tusculum’s Homecoming celebration.
Originally, the reception was scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 10 and the exhibit was slated to run through Friday, Oct. 25, but both were moved to the November dates in response to Hurricane Helene.
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Open a door that was once opened to you! Consider making a gift to Tusculum through your estate. To learn more about how your bequest can open doors, contact our volunteer Planned Giving Specialist Dr. Richard Raum at rdraum2@gmail.com or by phone at 701-226-2084.
Richard D. Raum
PCUSA Pastor, retired
Planned Giving Specialist, Tusculum University
rdraum2@gmail.com
701-226-2084
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Tusculum working to create two new endowments to support students | |
Seeking to provide additional financial support for our students, individuals at Tusculum are working to create two endowed scholarships.
The Office of Institutional Advancement is collaborating with the College of Science, Technology and Mathematics and family members of Ron Conley to establish one scholarship in his name. Conley was a faculty member for 30 years and former chair of the Mathematics Department.
In addition, Institutional Advancement is coordinating with an anonymous donor to start a scholarship in the name of Marion Edens, a 1932 Tusculum graduate, who was heavily involved in our Athletic Department and student recruitment.
Everyone involved is raising the $25,000 necessary to create these endowed scholarships, and your donation is welcome.
To donate to the Conley scholarship, please visit https://giving.tusculum.edu/the-ronald-conley-memorial-scholarship-fund. To support the Edens scholarship, please visit https://giving.tusculum.edu/the-marion-edens-scholarship-challenge. If you would like more information, please email Edward Roberts, vice president of institutional advancement, at eroberts@tusculum.edu or Cheryl Fehl, senior director of grants and development, at cfehl@tusculum.edu or call 423-636-7303.
You can read more about these endowed scholarships in this news release.
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A Message from the Division of Education
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The Education faculty and students are half way through the fall 2024 semester. While the weather and foliage are beautiful, we all experienced the detriments of Hurricane Helene a few weeks ago. I’m proud of our faculty and staff, as well as our students, for their dedication to teaching and learning. Some of our students needed to relocate due to having no water on campus or in the Greene County area. Everyone carried on their teaching and learning through online synchronous Zoom learning for a couple of weeks. Our faculty were in frequent contact with all of our students. I cannot express how proud I am of the perseverance and faith demonstrated through this difficult time by our Education faculty, staff, and students along with our TU administrators, faculty, staff, and students across all TU departments and programs. We come together very efficiently and effectively to take care of our students, our colleagues, and our community. As the clean-up and repairs continue across our region, we continue to lift those in need up in prayer daily and continue to make ourselves available to support.
As a result of Hurricane Helene, the annual Learning Together Day across Eastern Tennessee had to be canceled at the last minute this year due to the significant damage many of the schools experienced during this storm. Therefore, Dr. Peggy Rochelle and Dr. Miriam Stroder did not get the opportunity to present at that event this year. We are looking forward to the honor and fun of providing this professional development to teachers north east Tennessee school districts during the next 2025 Learning Together Day coordinated by the Niswonger Foundation. Both Dr. Rochelle and Dr. Stroder enjoy this event as a time to provide career enhancing experiential learning to licensed teachers in our area, and as a time to reconnect with many of our former TU Teacher Education graduates.
Dr. Rochelle, Dr. Stroder, and Dexter Lim participated in the annual 2024 Teachers Night Out event sponsored by 98.5 WTFM at the Holiday Inn in Johnson City with Paul Carney, Canaan Loope, and Jim Wozniak. Our Teacher Education faculty enjoy this event tremendously because it is a fun time to recruit for our graduate programs and TU as a whole, and we are delighted to reconnect with many of our TU alumni currently teaching in east Tennessee school districts. Attendees eat delicious food, play games, and visit vender and graduate program booths. This year, our Education faculty were so happy to be accompanied by several TU Admissions and Recruitment staff. This was a pleasurable evening where TU made meaningful connections.
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(Left to Right) Canaan Loope, Dexter Lim, Dr. Miriam Stroder, Dr. Peggy Rochelle, and (far right) Nicole Bailey (TU alumnus and Carter County Science and Robotics Teacher)
On Friday, November 8th, the Teacher Education department will host its annual Why Teach? event for Greene County Schools’ Juniors and Seniors. Greene County high school students will come to Chalmers on the TU campus to learn more about careers in teaching, while engaging in fun interactive activities with Greene County educators, TU Education faculty and administrators, and Tusculum Teacher Education alumni. After exploring their teaching interests and considering the diverse perspectives of the educational field shared by educators from many roles, Greene County students will eat lunch in TU’s Cafeteria and take a tour of Tusculum University’s fall resplendent campus.
Education will celebrate the academic excellence of students in all of our fall 2024 Virtual Honor Awards Convocation held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, November 20th. We invite alumni to join President Hummel, Provost Cook, Education faculty, along with the family and friends of our honored students in this celebration their accomplishments and academic excellence using the Zoom link: https://tusculum.zoom.us/j/81152633727
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Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony held
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Tusculum’s Athletic Department celebrated the legacies of four individuals who made a strong impact during their years at Tusculum during the recent Sports Hall of Fame ceremony on campus.
This year's Hall of Fame class consisted of football All-American Justin Houston, former head baseball coach and athletic director Doug Jones, women's tennis All-American and Academic All-American Annie McCullough and men's basketball standout Dante Owens. They were honored during a ceremony Saturday, Oct. 26, in the Brotherton Boardroom.
We will always remember their greatness and are grateful we were able to witness them in action. We congratulate this quartet on this prestigious honor!
| Left to right are Hall of Fame inductees Dante Owens, Annie McCullough, Doug Jones and Justin Houston. Photo from the Office of Athletic Communications | | | |
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We congratulate Billy Taylor, Tusculum’s head football coach, for earning his first victory with the Pioneers. The team defeated Anderson University 30-28 Saturday, Oct. 26, at Pioneer Field.
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Graduate student Jenna Kallenberg keyed the women’s basketball team’s victory over the men’s team in the 3-point contest during Pioneer Madness Tuesday, Oct. 22. It was the women’s fourth straight victory over the men. Photo from the Office of Athletic Communications | |
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Junior DJ McDonald captured the slam dunk competition title during Pioneer Madness Tuesday, Oct. 22. Here, he goes for a slam as junior Jackson Owens captures the moment on his phone in the background. Photo by the Office of Athletic Communications
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Devin Vital, left, goes for the header against Catawba College as Enoch Brako, right, watches. The men’s soccer team had a scoring outburst in a 5-1 win against Emory & Henry University. Photo from the Office of Athletic Communications
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Question: How many volumes are in the Charles Coffin book Collection? This collection includes 16th, 17th, and 18th century imprints from renowned European publishing houses as well as from the early American colonial press. These volumes currently reside in TU's Andrew Johnson Library.
Question & Photo Credit: Cheryl Fehl
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Last Month's question: In 1901, there were only 3 buildings in the south designed by architect Louis Sullivan Built and is a historic part of the TU campus. Can you name that building?
Answer: Virginia Hall
Photo Credit: Cheryl Fehl
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Follow the Alumni Facebook page to stay up to date on alumni
related events, news and happenings, both on and off campus.
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Share news about new jobs, promotions, graduate school success, weddings and births with your fellow alumni by submitting a Class Note through alumni pages on the Tusculum website.
We are currently collecting TU alumni class notes to be included in the next edition of our magazine.
Please click the orange button above to update your contact information and the orange below to submit a class note.
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Thursday, November 7th
9:00am - 11:00am registration -Niswonger Living Room
6:00pm Student Government Association & Alumni Bonfire
Friday, November 8th
8:00am Pastor's Prayer Breakfast
9:00am - 11:00am registration -Niswonger Living Room
6:30pm Alumni Celebration at Hackler Hall
Saturday, November 9th
8:00am - 11:00am registration -Niswonger Living Room
8:00am Memorial Service
9:00am Alumni Meeting
Decade photos will be taken after the meeting.
10:45am Tailgate Begins
11:00am Parade/Pioneer Walk
1:00pm Football game against Carson-Newman
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Dear Alumni and Friends!
Hello friends,
I cannot believe that is has been 5 weeks since Helene devastated parts of our region and caused us to make the decision to postpone homecoming. I am thankful that we have the opportunity to hold homecoming this week. What a wonderful blessing that our campus is intact and ready for alumni visitors.
I am so excited to meet you in person during the many activities that will take place . And for those of you I already know, I am equally as excited to see you again. It's great to be a pioneer!
I had the pleasure of enjoying time with two Tusculum alumnae a couple of weeks ago. We enjoyed lunch in the cafeteria, toured campus, and shared college stories. While some things have remained the same, of course, many things were new for them. What a privilege it is for me to listen and learn from my fellow Pioneers.
If you plan to come to Greeneville for a visit, call me. I would love to take you on a tour of your alma mater.
As always, please feel free to email me at jhawk@tusculum.edu or call at 423.636.7407.
Kind Regards,
Jolin Hawk '05 '11
Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations
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Sunday, November 10th
TU day at First Presbyterian
Dr. Hummel will preach at the 11:00am service.
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Doak Elementary School celebrated its 100th birthday on October, 22nd. Picture above shows before the mural unveiling occurred.
The picture to the right is a Doak family photo and family tree. Education has always been very important to folks in the Tusculum area.
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