CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SCHOLARLY WORK CAREER PREPARATION Inside Tusculum from the President the Refocusing on Three Strengths

Tusculum Fall 2016 The Magazine of Tusculum College CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SCHOLARLY WORK CAREER PREPARATION Inside Tusculum From the President THE Refocusing on three strengths ................................................................. 4 John F. Kennedy once said that “change is the law of life. And, those Students provide a day of service as part of enduring campus tradition ..... 5 who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” At Tusculum, we are in a state of metamorphosis, evolving as we have been Organic Progression ............................................................................... 6 for more than two centuries to meet the educational needs of our students and communities. Throughout Tusculum’s history, she has continually Dr. Morris E. Katz recognized with Distinguished Service Award ...................................................... 9 transformed, including name changes when merging with other institutions, creating programs to meet the needs of adult students, adopting a unique Turner graduates with impressive resume of internship and hands-on career experiences .............. 10 focused calendar and even how we teach. Tusculum continues to adapt today to ensure that our graduates impact the world successfully, in new and Alumni maximize college experiences to thrive in local accounting firm........................................... 12 different ways. Faculty continue research outside classroom .................................................................................. 14 Through the years many have contributed to Tusculum’s ability to not only survive, but thrive. Generous benefactors like Nettie Fowler McCormick, Capstone projects top off end of studies for graduates.................................................................. 16 who became Tusculum’s first, and one of our most generous, benefactors helped the College to grow and flourish. Her generosity included five campus buildings: McCormick Hall, Welty-Craig Hall, Virginia Hall, Rankin Hall and Haynes Hall. We recognize and honor her each fall with Nettie Fowler McCormick Service Day, or “Nettie Day,” in which our students give Pioneer News and Notes thousands of hours of service work to non-profit agencies, people in need Tusculum benefactor Verna June Meen remembered for 'Pioneering Life' .......................................... 17 and local schools. Tusculum has also been the recipient of the generosity Tusculum helps Liggett find new life pathway .................................................................................. 18 from Dr. Scott Niswonger '87 H'06. His philanthropy is reflected in activities designed for school children at the Doak House, in state-of-the-art Paul Lawless recalls life at Tusculum in the late ‘60s ....................................................................... 20 athletic facilities, the support of academics, scholarships, and the new band Alumni donations help tell the story of Tusculum College ................................................................ 22 program. His influence urges us to strive for quality in everything that we do, to focus on the whole student, one who will leave here not only academically prepared, but prepared to be a servant leader in his/her community, to share what they Meen Center continues to take shape ........................................................................................... 23 know with others and to give to those in need. From the beautiful facilities that his generosity has provided to the work Arboretum created on Tusculum campus ............................................................................................. 24 of the Niswonger Foundation serving all of East Tennessee with its focus to “Learn, Earn and Return,” it is easy to feel his influence. Our most recent benefactor, the late Mrs. Verna June Meen, has contributed greatly to the construction of the Kramer, Morse named to Tusculum Board of Trustees ...................................................................... 25 Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math, as well as an endowed scholarship program for deserving, Alumni Association recognizes four during Homecoming 2015 ...... 26 academically successful accounting students and an endowed distinguished professorship in chemistry. Her generosity will OFFICE OF MARKETING AND impact students and faculty for generations to come. Tusculum ranked as top college by The Economist .......................... 26 COLLEGE COMMUNICATIONS Recent graduates have proven that the Tusculum faculty members excel at providing a top quality education. These LeAnn Hughes include Joseph Elphingstone ’15, who has completed his graduate program in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine Jamie Hamer ’96 ’98 at the University of Southern California and who is planning to pursue his doctorate there; Bo Cordell ’13, regional Suzanne Richey ’14 sales manager at Landair Transport; Vinton Copeland ’13, an ordained minister with a master’s degree in divinity from Eugenia Estes ’04 the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University; Dr. Brittany Bible NeSmith ’10, a pharmacist; Ryan Barker ’15, Athletics Laralee Harkleroad communications specialist at Presbyterian College, among many others. Doug Jones named director of athletics ............................................... 27 Brooke Wedding ’10 We are committed to keeping Tusculum FIRST, and I hope that you will, in the last year of the Tusculum First Travis Crabtree Campaign, join me in ensuring that our students have affordable access to the best and most relevant education possible. Torres consensus National Pitcher of the Year ................................. 28 Please consider giving right now in order to help us meet the challenges of today’s educational environment and ensure our CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Seven Pioneers named Academic All-American® ............................... 28 Dom Donnelly graduates continue to be the best of the best. Your gift will change a life. Let us know that we can count on you to ensure New coaches named in football, tennis and women's basketball .......... 29 Jonathon Dennis Tusculum College is strong and ready for the next 222 years. Madelyn Elliott ‘16 Three inducted into Sports Hall of Fame last fall ................................. 30 Kayla Freeman Sit Lux, Nancy B. Moody Suzanne Richey ’14 Stephanie Turner ‘16 ........................................................................ 31 Class Notes MAGAZINE DESIGN Dr. Nancy B. Moody, Ph.D. On the cover: Endi Torres '15 and fellow graduates Eugenia Estes ’04 during December 2015 Winter Commencement 2 3 CI ON VI TI C A E R N A G P A E G CIVIC R E P M E R N E ENGAGEMENT T E R A C HE T Students provide a day of service K R S O C W H Y O L L R A as part of enduring campus tradition Tusculum College students, faculty, staff and alumni demonstrated the College’s commitment to both learning and serving in September, as they Refocusing on three strengths spent the day helping others and improving the community. All freshmen and first-year transfer students participated in Nettie Fowler McCormick Service Day as part of the Tusculum Experience course. Many part of the re-accreditation process with other students, faculty, staff and alumni also volunteered. Nettie Fowler the Southern Association of Colleges McCormick Service Day, now often referred to informally as “Nettie Day,” As is one of the longest-held traditions on the Tusculum campus and involves and Schools Commission on Colleges, Tusculum students spending time in service to others. College must find some aspect of the college it “Community engagement is a key element of the Tusculum College can improve in a systematic, measureable way. experience,” said Ronda Gentry, director of the Center for Civic To meet this challenge, Tusculum developed a Advancement and coordinator of the event. “Nettie Day serves as an introduction to our new students and a reminder to our entire community of Quality Enhancement Plan, which is an ongoing, the importance and value of community involvement.” community-based effort to improve its students’ Students hosted a “fun field day” for local elementary school students educational experiences and opportunities. in the morning. The day was complete with water balloons, limbo games, jump ropes and hula hoops. In the afternoon volunteers worked to spruce According to Dr. Michael Bodary, assistant professor of Robin Lay, left, director of career services, works to up the campus, mending fences at the Doak House Museum, painting in the English and the current QEP director, the original QEP, provide opportunities for students to connect with residence halls and house and landscaping across campus. “Problem Solving with Reflective Judgment,” started in 2010 potential employers, including this trip in April to the This year, Nettie Day was held as part of the Orange Rush activities on after nearly two years of focused discussions among faculty, Home Depot headquarters in Atlanta. campus, which included a variety of activities to engage new students and administrators, students and trustees. What emerged was a encourage them to get involved on campus and in the community. Service ‘scholarly work’ better encompasses both the traditional two-part plan that spanned 10 years. activities were conducted at the Greeneville, Knoxville, Morristown and research and the artistic endeavors of our students.” The first phase of the QEP involved making changes Kingsport sites. Nearly 600 volunteers

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