Alumni return to campus for Homecoming 2010 weekend

homecoming_kingandqueenApproximately 300 alumni and friends of Tusculum College returned to campus for Homecoming 2010 activities October 8 and 9.

Homecoming activities included a parade, a tailgate party, an alumni dinner and dance, Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a memorial service and the annual Alumni Association meeting.

In addition, this year’s festivities included the Inauguration of Dr. Nancy B. Moody, Tusculum College’s 27th and first female president, and related events. Alumni representing almost each class beginning with the class of 1940 marched in the processional for the ceremony, and Dr. Robert Pollock, a member of the class of 1965 and president of the Alumni Association, spoke during the ceremony on behalf of the alumni. (Please see related article in the newsletter).

homecoming_60clasgiftAt half-time of the football game, seniors Jerwayne Gunn and Amber Sharp were crowned Homecoming King and Queen. Gunn is a graphic design major from Antioch, Tenn., and a student assistant with the Lady Pioneers women’s basketball team and a peer mentor for the Quest group. Sharp is an athletic training major from Tazewell, Tenn., who is the president of the Bonner Leaders program and a member of the President’s Society, the Student Alumni Association, Athletic Training Student Society and Iota Tau Alpha.

doscher_awardDuring the annual Alumni Association meeting, members of the Class of 1960 presented a class gift of $2,000 to Dr. Moody in honor of their 50th anniversary. The gift was used to purchase a defibrillator for use by campus safety.

Also during the meeting, awards were presented to a distinguished alumnus and a long-time professor and staff member. Recipients of the awards are nominated by alumni.

Howard Doscher of East Hanover, N.J., a member of the class of 1960, was the recipient of the Pioneer Award, the highest honor presented by the Alumni Association for exemplifying the Pioneer spirit of excellence and service to others. A veteran of the U.S. Army and the New Jersey National Guard, Doscher had a 33-year distinguished career at Chubb Life Insurance Company, holding various leadership positions. He later founded the Economic Management Group, a specialty insurance consulting firm.

bow_awardDoscher is deeply involved in his community, serving on the East Hanover Environmental Commission, coaching little league teams and helping teach his church’s confirmation class. He devotes considerable time to the Knights of Columbus and the Deer Lake Club, a family recreation center. Doscher has been a longtime supporter of his alma mater and served on Tusculum’s Board of Trustees in the 1980s.

Honored with the National Living Faculty Award was Dr. David Bow, professor of physical education, who has been a leader and positive influence in the classroom and on campus for more than 20 years.  Dr. Bow teaches a variety of classes in both the Residential College and Graduate and Professional Studies programs. He has served in several leadership positions including coordinator and chairman of the Physical Education program, director of athletics and a coach. His work for the athletics department has been recognized by his induction into the Tusculum College Sports Hall of Fame. Dr. Bow is a member of several professional physical education organizations and has served as president of the Tennessee Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

stokes_awardReceiving the National Alumni Recognition Award was Jeanne Stokes, director of the federal TRIO Program at Tusculum College. Stokes has positively touched hundreds of lives in the East Tennessee region through her work with the programs that provide enrichment activities to encourage prospective first-generation college students to continue their education after high school as well as provide services to students once they enter college. Stokes has been involved in the Tusculum TRIO Programs for 20 years at Tusculum, joining the staff as coordinator for the Talent Search program. She has been an instructor at Tusculum and Warren Wilson colleges and also worked as a teacher at Concord Middle School and EastView Elementary. At Tusculum, she also serves as a member of the Judicial Review Board, the Quality Enhancement Plan Steering Committee and as an advisor for students.

On Saturday evening, three new members were inducted into the Tusculum College Sports Hall of Fame.  This year’s induction class included All-Region women’s cross country runner Amanda Musick Hale, a 2004 graduate; All-Conference quarterback Caleb Slover, a 2003 graduate, and All-Region volleyball standout Deb Varney Zevetchin, a 1998 graduate.

Also presented during the ceremony was the Sports Benefactor Award, which recognizes an individual for their contributions toward the Pioneer athletic programs. The 2010 recipient was Larry Coughlin, a long-time supporter of Tusculum athletics. Coughlin is currently serving as the chairman of the 2010-11 Pioneer Club Campaign, which provides funds for scholarships for student athletes and program support.

The date has been selected for Homecoming 2011, which will be Sept. 23 and 24.

To view more photos from Homecoming activities, please see Tusculum’s Facebook page.

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