‘Dinner with 8 Pioneers’ program provides a new way for interaction between alumni and current students

Connecting alumni to current students and providing students the opportunity to learn from Pioneers past is the goal of a new program of the Tusculum College Office of Alumni Relations.

The first “Dinner with 8 Pioneers” was held in January and was hosted by alumni Bill and Jane Pilloni ’60 ’59 in their home. The Pillonis welcomed the opportunity to engage with Tusculum’s current students, and the students, members of the Tusculum College Student Alumni Association, enjoyed the opportunity of the insight into Tusculum’s past as well as advice for their future.

“With the success of the first dinner, the Office of Alumni Relations hopes this will become a regular event, with alumni and friends of the College stepping forward to be hosts in this program that benefits both the Student Alumni Association and those who host the dinners,” said Cody Greene ’08, coordinator of alumni and parent relations.

“The idea is to bring together students and alumni in a small dinner party setting, as a way to make new connections among the two groups who already have something in common – their Alma Mater,” said Greene. “It makes the Tusculum experience just a little bit more personal.”

The gatherings can be as formal – or as casual – as the host desires, and can take place in the alum’s home, outdoors or at a restaurant.

Greene, who is coordinating the Dinner with Eight Pioneers program this year with the Student Alumni Association, believes the dinners can provide the feeling of extended family for students away from home, and the dinner setting provides a nice evening out and an easy way to get to know one another.

If you would be interested in hosting a “Dinner with 8 Pioneers,” please contact Greene at 423-636-7303 or e-mail him at ccgreene@tusculum.edu.

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