Fourteen members of the Class of 1962 returned to campus to celebrate the milestone of the 50th anniversary of their graduation with a series of special events.
The newest Golden Pioneers, the Class of 1962, was part of the commencement procession on Saturday morning. In their gold cap and gowns are, from left, Ed Ramm, Jack Fowler, Bob Riser, Ron Van Essen, Bob Nielson, Linda Clowers Nielson, Joe Howard, Peggy Hayes Ottinger, Tom Light, Gary Meier, Al Taynai, Jane Rausch Battle, Lynn Battle and Hal Pruitt.
Tusculum President Nancy Moody speaks to Ed Ramm and his wife, Anna Mae, at the reception at the President's House.
The special events, coordinated by Tusculum’s Office of Alumni Relations, began with a reception on Friday at the President’s House for the Golden Pioneers, their spouses and some friends from other classes.
The alumni, some of whom hadn’t seen each other in several years, reminisced about old times and learned what has been happening in each other’s lives.
Dr. Nancy B. Moody, Tusculum College’s president, presented medallions to each of the Golden Pioneers at the reception. The members of the class wore the medallions with their golden robes during the commencement ceremony Saturday morning.
The evening ended with even more camaraderie at dinner at the Farmer’s Daughter, a popular family restaurant near campus.
Dr. Moody presented the Golden Pioneers their medallions at the reception. Front row, from left, are Jane Rausch Battle, Phyllis Brooks Stansfield, Peggy Hayes Ottinger and Linda Clowers Nielson; second row from left, Lynn Battle, Gary Meier, Bob Riser and Jack Fowler, and back row from left, Joe Howard, Hal Pruitt, Al Taynai, Ed Ramm, Ron Von Essen and Bob Nielsen
Brief rain showers did not dampen anyone’s enthusiasm on Saturday morning as activities began with a breakfast at Pioneer Perk. After enjoying pastry and fruit, the Golden Pioneers were fitted with their gold caps and gowns and prepared for the commencement processional.
At 10:30, the group marched into the Pioneer Arena as part of the processional and sat between the faculty and soon-to-be graduates. During the ceremony, each person was recognized and the group received much applause from the audience. The class members also joined the faculty members in the “gauntlet” at the end of the ceremony. The gauntlet is a Tusculum tradition in which the faculty members form a gauntlet and applaud the graduates as they leave the arena.
Looking at a scrapbrook from their time at Tusculum are from left, Muriel Hunter Meier '65, Joe Howard '62, Gary Meier '62 and Peggy Hayes Ottinger '62.
After the ceremony, the class members enjoyed lunch in the Perk and visited some more. And while the official activities ended there, many of the members of the class and friends gathered for dinner at Monterey’s Mexican Restaurant in Greeneville.
To see more photos of the Golden Pioneer activities, please visit Tusculum’s page on Pinterest and on facebook.