Pioneer Club kicks off 2009-2010 campaign

pckickoff2The 2009-2010 Pioneer Club Campaign began with a kick-off celebration on Tuesday, August 11, at Pioneer Park on campus that featured food, games and some fun surprises.

The Pioneer Club is the College’s vehicle to provide athletic scholarships and program support to all athletic programs. The program began in 1991, and with the help and support of friends of the College, each year the goals have been met and exceeded in both membership and dollars raised.

The goals for the 2009-2010 campaign are 400 members and $130,000. Members of the Pioneer Club are invited to tailgates, hospitality suites or other special events prior to selected home games, matches or tournaments. Depending on giving level, members may also receive discounts at the Tusculum College Bookstore, game passes and public address announcement recognition during games.

Individuals who have been members of the Pioneer Club in the past were invited to the kick-off event, and attendees were treated to a dinner with special servers, Pioneer coaches. Volunteering to serve as a way to say thank you to the Pioneer Club supporters were Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach Katie Baldwin, Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach Bob Dibble, Head Softball Coach Fred Gillum, Head Women’s Basketball Coach Adell Harris, Head Baseball Coach Doug Jones and Assistant Softball Coach Jessica Peterka.

During a brief program, the attendees were thanked for their support of student athletes and the athletic program by President Dr. Nancy B. Moody; Frankie DeBusk, athletic director and head football coach; John Gregory, a member of football team, and Dr. Craig Shepherd, who is serving as chairman of this year’s campaign. Shepherd, who is also a member of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees, is leading the campaign for the third year. Co-chairman are Larry Coughlin and Mike Hollowell.

The event also included games for the young and young at heart. A weekend getaway to Pigeon Forge, including accommodations and tickets for several attractions, was given as the grand prize drawing, and Imogene Dobson ’66 was the winner. Individuals who joined the Pioneer Club prior to the event were eligible for the drawing for the getaway.

For more information about the Pioneer Club, visit its Web page at http://www.tusculum.edu/athletics/pioneerclub/ or contact Kim Kidwell ’99 at 1-800-729-0256 ext. 5303 or at kkidwell@tusculum.edu.