Jonathan Nash, a senior from Talbott, has been honored as “Student of Block” for Block Three at Tusculum College.
Nash, who is majoring in journalism with minors in digital media and creative writing, was recognized Tuesday in a brief ceremony in the Niswonger Commons. The “Student of the Block Award” is presented by the Tusculum Office of Student Affairs and was established to recognize individuals who excel in their academic endeavors, campus involvement and/or athletic performance. The award is selected from nominations made by faculty and staff members and plaques telling about the honorees are displayed in the Niswonger Commons and other campus buildings.
Jonathan Nash was selected as “Student of the Block” for Block Three at Tusculum College upon the nomination of several professors in the English Department. From left at the award ceremony are Dr. Michael Bodary, assistant professor of English; Dr. Desirae Matherly, assistant professor of English; Nash; Wayne Thomas, associate professor of English and chair of the Fine Arts Department, and Dr. Clay Matthews, assistant professor of English.
He was nominated for the award by several English professors. Dr. Desirae Matherly, assistant professor of English, commended Nash for his writing talent, his hard work and his leadership in the journalism program. She noted that he was made the editor of the sports section of the student newspaper, a position rarely held by an underclassman. His leadership was instrumental in the transition from the student newspaper to the Frontier Magazine, she continued. Nash has served as editor for the student magazine for the past two years.
Wayne Thomas, associate professor of English and chair of the Department of Fine Arts, said that in addition to his writing talent, Nash has a curiosity about the world around him and wants to learn new things. Nash also looks at his college education as a valuable opportunity and has worked to make the most of his experiences, Thomas added.
“Journalism has always been a passion of mine,” Nash said of his major, “and my tenure at Tusculum College has given me new skill sets and outlets for career options within the field.”
In addition to his major courses, Nash has excelled in all his classes and has been named each semester to the college’s academic honors list. He was inducted this semester into Tusculum’s chapter of the Alpha Chi national honor society, an honor for which only the top 10 percent of each class is eligible.
His fellow English majors recently elected him president of the English Student Organization. Nash has also volunteered in the community with ASafeHarborHome and Charity Treasures thrift store.
When asked about his experience at Tusculum, Nash said that the college community has given him an outlet to flourish on both personal and academic levels. “The knowledge that I have received from Tusculum has laid the foundation that I will need for any of my future career choices,” he said. “I will always appreciate the Tusculum community for all of its opportunities to allow me to grow as an academic and as a person.”
His favorite memories of Tusculum are its people. “The people that I have met here are irreplaceable in my heart. … I will always cherish the time spent with these lifelong friends. I greatly appreciate all of the professors who truly took the time to benefit their students in any way.”
The son of John and Joann Nash, Nash was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., but spent most of his childhood in Cape Coral, Fla., before his family moved to the Morristown area, where he graduated from Morristown West High School. “Throughout my entire life, I have always looked up to my parents for all that they do for our family,” he said. “I accredit every bit of my success, on both personal and academic levels, to my parents.”
When he graduates next May, Nash will be the first member of his immediate family to earn a college degree. His future aspiration is to work in sports media, journalism or broadcasting. His advice to future Tusculum students is to not settle on a goal that does not suit their ambitions. “Tusculum allows students to fulfill their goals, always push to achieve yours,” he said. “Staying focused on my path to graduation allowed me to best utilize every outlet of Tusculum College.”