Tusculum’s Arbogast wins Virginia Carter Smith Scholarship to persuasive development writing conference

Michelle Arbogast, associate director of foundations and corporate relations at Tusculum college was one of five national winners of the Virginia Carter Smith Scholarship to attend a national persuasive development writing conference in Denver, Colo.

Arbogast will attend the event, sponsored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, in early June.

The conference is a hands-on training workshop designed to strengthen fundraising skills for professional education development staff. Featured training will include revision and review of writing samples, strengthening writing skills and an opportunity to expand writing resources networks.

“This is an amazing opportunity to hone my writing skills to and improve our future applications for grants that go a long way in helping the college meet its goals. Many of the grants we receive provide scholarships or program support for a wide variety of academic and co-curricular programs,” said Arbogast.

According to Heather Patchett, vice president of institutional advancement for Tusculum College, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education is an excellent resource for fundraising and development professionals.

“Having the opportunity to have one of our staff attend this reputable professional development experience is incredibly valuable,” said Patchett, and particularly well-timed as we are moving full-speed into our Tusculum First Campaign efforts.”

Tusculum First is designed to address the college’s areas of greatest need including a new center for science and math, growth of academic programs, endowed scholarships, student life improvements, technology, an environmental resources and facilities center and support to the Tusculum Fund.

The campaign, which follows the college’s long line of firsts, “was initiated to improve and expand Tusculum College and its programs for the benefit of both the internal and external community. It is designed to improve the areas that most affect student success and inspire them to be contributing members of society,” said Patchett.