More than 250 alumni could be found rediscovering campus and renewing friendships during Homecoming 2016, October 21-22.
The campus had a warm welcome for alumni who have the opportunity to visit often and those who had not been back to Tusculum in decades. There were campus tours Friday to reacquaint alumni with the campus and share with them the changes since they graduated. The Museums of Tusculum again hosted their popular “Memory Lane” display of yearbooks and memorabilia, helping alumni remember times and places of yesteryear.
Tusculum President Nancy B. Moody, right, congratulates members of the team that won the "net division" of the golf tournament. From left are Greg Pielich '69, Bob Sobas '74 and Tom Heffernan '76. Not pictured is Mike Currens '77.
Alumni had a chance to interact with some of the student leaders on campus at the “Lunch with Students.” Although rain was in the forecast, the precipitation held off to allow for an afternoon of friendly competition on the links for the annual golf tournament.
An ice cream treat was enjoyed by several as they learned about the new alumni travel program. Lynn Battle ’62 shared some of his experiences on a Viking Cruise and gave some tips for those interested in taking the Rhine River Cruise scheduled for April 2017. Kristin Small of Cruise Planners, who is working with Tusculum in the new travel program, also announced future trips that are being explored including a trip to the Antarctic region in 2018 and Italy in 2019. The Museums of Tusculum hosted a reception for its new exhibit about the political life of Andrew Johnson prior to the presidency. The professional-quality exhibit has been created by students in the Museum Studies major.
Tusculum President Nancy B. Moody presents a trophy to Matt McKeever '12 '13, whose team won the "Gross Divsion" of the golf tournament. His team members included Bob Leonard, David Konieczny '95 and Doug Fezzell.
The evening activities included dinner at Link Hills Country Club. Alumni were also invited to join students for a pep rally and telling of ghost stories in the old gym.
Saturday morning’s activities began with a Memorial Service honoring the memory of alumni and friends of the College who have passed away over the past year. This service was followed by an alumni breakfast.
Recognition of alumni for their accomplishments followed as part of the Sports Hall of Fame Induction and the annual Alumni Association meeting. Chase Carroll ’09 and Ashley Moreira ’07 were inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame and Athletic Trainer Chris Lenker was recognized with the Sports Benefactor Award.
Chase Carroll and Ashley Moreira were inducted Saturday into the Tusculum College Sports Hall of Fame.
Carroll accounted for one of the best golf careers in program history. From 2005-2009, he posted a 74.29 career scoring average, which was a school record upon his graduation in 2009 and is currently the second lowest stroke average ever by a Pioneer. For his career, he finished in the top-20 in 28 tournaments, including 21 top-10 finishes and 13 times in the top-five including a school-record six medalist wins. Two of those victories including the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Tournament titles in 2007 and again in 2009. The Knoxville, Tennessee native earned All-South Atlantic Conference honors on three occasions, including All-SAC second team accolades as a sophomore and All-SAC first team plaudits in his junior and senior campaigns. Carroll also shined in the classroom and in the community as he was named to the 2009 Academic All-America® First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Carroll is a professional golfer and has played on several professional golf circuits including: Web.com Tour, PGA Latin-America Tour and the Swing Thought Golf Tour. He is married to the former Whitney Hensen of Knoxville and the couple resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Athletic Director Doug Jones presents the Sports Benefactor Award to Chris Lenker, head athletic trainer at the College.
Moreira was the defensive leader during one of the most successful four-year periods of the Tusculum women’s soccer program. A product of London, Ontario, Canada, she led the Pioneers to a combined 55-18-7 record during her four years with the program, which included one SAC Championship, two SAC Tournament titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances including 2006 as Tusculum captured the Southeast Region championship and advanced to the national quarterfinals for the first time in school history. She amassed 31 career assists which are tied for the most in program history while her 79 career starts are tied for 10th in the Tusculum record book. She also contributed five career goals including a pair of match-winners. Moreira also excelled in the classroom where she majored in English with a literature concentration and was named to the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-District third team. In her senior year, she was the 2007 recipient of the Tusculum President’s Award. Moreira is currently teaching world literature at the Greenville Tech Charter High School in Greenville, South Carolina.
Lenker was recognized for going above and beyond his duties as head athletic trainer for Tusculum student-athletes. He has served for head athletic trainer for 13 years and has been at the College for 17 years. An avid and talented photographer, Lenker has taken hundreds of photos of student-athletes at the request of the students or family members and provided those to the students at no cost.
Four awards were given during the Alumni Association meeting.
Dr. Ken Bowan '70, chair of the Tusculum Board of Trustees, presents the Pioneer Award to Dr. Larry Brotherton '70.
Dr. Larry Brotherton ’70 was presented the Pioneer Award, which is presented each year to an outstanding alumnus or alumna, in recognition of outstanding or meritorious achievement in his or her chosen field; for distinguished service to church, community, country and humanity; and for continuing and loyal service to Tusculum College. “His excellence in science and industry enhances the educational reputation of Tusculum College and his character and generosity exemplify the Civic Arts,” said his long-time friend Dr. Ken Bowman ’70, in presentation of the award. Dr. Brotherton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Tusculum and went on to the University of Tennessee, where he received a doctorate in chemistry in 1974. He has had a successful career as an industrial entrepreneur, research chemist and businessman. He founded and leads Ortec, Inc., a custom chemical manufacturing company he created in 1980 and also Ortec Racing, LLC, which serves the NASCAR market. Dr. Brotherton has given generously of his time to professional and civic boards and to the Tusculum Board of Trustees. During his tenure on the Board of Trustees, he has severed on the Audit Committee, the Finance and Investment Committee, the Buildings and Grounds Committee and the Executive Committee.
Dr. Ron May '68, left, is presented the National Alumni Living Faculty Award by Angelo Botta '75, president of the Alumni Association.
Dr. Ron May ’68 was the recipient of the National Living Faculty Award, which is presented each year to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the College’s academic programs. Dr. May is currently serving as vice president of academic affairs at Tusculum . His distinguished career in higher education includes serving as president of Ancilla College in Indiana and Louisburg College in North Carolina. In his career he has taught public school, as well as served as a college professor, department head, dean, vice president in addition to college president. In his career, Dr. May has been recognized by numerous organizations, including by the Leadership Marshall County program with their Leader of the Year Award in 2011. He served his Alma Mater as dean of faculty from 1985 to 1988. He also served for a time as the president of the Tusculum College Alumni Association. Although he had retired from the presidency at Ancilla, he returned to higher education to serve as interim vice president of academic affairs in June 2014 and guide Tusculum through a challenging time in its history.
Justin Jeffers '04 receives the Frontier Award from Ryan Barker '16, a member of the Alumni Executive Board.
Justin Jeffers ’04 was presented the Frontier Award, is honoring an outstanding alumnus or alumna who have graduated at least five years but no more than 15 years from the College, in recognition of outstanding or meritorious advancement in his or her career. Jeffers earned his degree in Business Administration and was an All South Atlantic Conference performer on Tusculum’s golf team. He received his funeral directing and embalming license in 2007 after graduating from John A. Gupton College. Mr. Jeffers is the director from the east for the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association, is on the Executive Board for The Independent Funeral Group, the Board of Directors for the Laughlin Foundation, and a longtime committee member and committee captain the past two years of the annual Pioneer Club Campaign. He has also served as the play-by-play commentator for the Tusculum Women’s Basketball games for the local radio station. Justin is a Mason and member of The Greeneville Kiwanis Club.
Athletic Director Doug Jones, who is also head baseball coach, receives the National Alumni Recognition Award from Jackie Rose '75 of the Alumni Executive Board.
Tusculum Athletic Director Doug Jones received the National Alumni Recognition Award, which recognizes an individual for his or her contributions to the Tusculum community. Jones has served as Tusculum’s athletic director since 2015 and continues in the dual role as Tusculum’s head baseball coach, a position he has held since 1998. Jones is in his 20th season guiding the Tusculum baseball program and is the winningest coach in school history. He has guided Tusculum to 15 consecutive winning seasons, while posting 622 victories in his 19 campaigns in Greeneville, including last year’s 10-4 club. Coach Jones has proven over the years to recruit student-athletes who perform well both in the classroom and on the field. He has high expectations for himself and for those around him including other members of the athletic staff, students and other people who he works with.
The award winners were among the participants in the Homecoming Parade. The Golden Pioneers served as marshals for the parade, which featured the student Homecoming Court, student organizations and the Tusculum Marching Band.
Scrumptious barbecue and all the fixings were enjoyed during the Pioneer Tailgate prior to the exciting football game. Recognized prior to the game were the 2006 Women’s Soccer Team and returning baseball alumni. Three alumni games were played over the weekend – softball, baseball and men’s lacrosse, bring many former student-athletes back to campus.
Homecoming activities wound down with dinner, music and fellowship Saturday evening at the General Morgan Inn.
Make plans now to join in the fun next year – Homecoming 2017 will be October 20-22.
For more photos from Homecoming, visit the album on Tusculum’s facebook page.