Alumni, friends of the College, students, parents, faculty staff and the community are invited to campus this week for two special events: a presentation by motivational speaker and former University of Tennessee student-athlete, Inky Johnson, and “Tusculum College Night at the Astros.”
Thursday, Aug. 25, is also “Tusculum College Night at the Astros,” and alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff are all invited to enjoy an evening at the ball park.
Each Tusculum alumnus, parent, faculty member and staff member to RSVP will receive free tickets to the Greeneville Astros baseball game that night at Pioneer Park on campus (limit two per family). Additional tickets will be available at a discounted rate, $4 per person. Admission for Tusculum students is free with a student ID.
The Astros will be taking on the Danville Braves at 7 p.m. in Appalachian Minor League conference play. The Astros will have a special promotion that night – $1 Dog Night, Thirsty Thursday – Hot dogs are only $1.00. Discounted souvenir sodas are available at concessions stands.
Please RSVP for “Tusculum College Night at the Astros” by Monday, Aug. 18, by calling 423-636-7303 or emailing jbparker@tusculum.edu.
Johnson’s motivational and inspirational program will be at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, in the Pioneer Arena inside the Niswonger Commons. Admission to the event is $10 per person and will be sold at the door on the day of the event beginning at 4 p.m. Tusculum College students, faculty and staff will be admitted free. Students, faculty and staff in the Greeneville and Greene County school systems will also be admitted free. The event is co-sponsored by Mortgage Investors Group – Office of Nick Hirschy (NMLS Unique Identifier # 491929, TN License # 124766) and South State Contractors, Inc. The presentation had originally been scheduled for Thursday but had to be changed due to some unforeseen scheduling conflicts.
Inky Johnson’s Background
September 9, 2006, started as a normal college football game at UT’s Neyland Stadium. For Inky Johnson, though, the game changed his life as a routine tackle turned into a life-threatening injury. Nothing has been normal for Inky ever since. Not with a paralyzed right arm. Not with daily pain. Not with constant physical challenges.
His dream had always been to play professional sports, and one might imagine that his injury would have crushed his spirit. But it didn’t.
Inquoris “Inky” Johnson could be described as the survivor of an underprivileged past. He could be described as a refugee of poverty and violence. He could be described as a success story stained by tragedy.
But look deeper and discover something else. Discover a man who asked, “Am I really failing, or is God prevailing?” Johnson is a a man gripped by the promise that God has purposes and plans far beyond our own. Audiences have found inspiration from his story and his relentless determination.
Johnson has a master’s degree in sports psychology from the University of Tennessee. He devotes much of his time to mentoring athletes and underprivileged youth.