Tusculum College’s President’s Society closed out the year with a number of successes in building student leaders in the civic arts culture of practical wisdom and service to others.
Tusculum College President’s Society is a student ambassador team focused on being a positive representation of the student body by demonstrating the embodiment of the civic virtues. They provide campus tours and student-to-student contact with prospective students of the college.
Sponsored by the Office of the President and advised by the Office of Admission, students are tasked with working group visit days and open houses, providing tour assistance on a Saturday rotation and assisting as needed for special campus events such as commencement and arts and lecture events.
This past year 10 students were part of the organization, hosting student tours, assisting with college recruitment efforts and serving as hosts at campus events.
Students included David Cooper, business major from Chuckey; Jenny Grant, psychology education major from Franklin; Jade Bussell, psychology major from Harrogate; Julia Newman, accounting major from Sweetwater; Vinton Copeland, political science major from LaGrange, Ga.; Owen Hensley, athletic training major from Nashville; Cierra Ockstadt, business major from Portland; Sandy Salmons, museum studies major from Irondale, Ohio; Jordan Ottinger, accounting major from Newport, and Alicia Jones, chemistry major from Murfreesboro.
“These kinds of opportunities will hopefully prepare the students for the future and help them with the career choices and job searches in the future,” said Nick Mitchell, co-advisor for the President’s Society and Pioneer Ambassador programs for the college’s Office of Admission.
“We have a very structured process for recruiting students to the President’s Society,” said Mitchell. “Students must be nominated to be considered and are then selected based on demonstrated leadership skills, participation in campus life and ability to communicate with others.”
Nominations for candidates for 2013-2014 are currently being accepted.
Mitchell said that in addition to their duties as ambassadors and hosts for the college, the students receive college credit for the training courses they are required to attend. These courses include leadership skills, ethics, communication skills and business etiquette programs.
Students also participate in a team-building and goal-setting retreat and take a learning trip to explore business, government or cultural aspects of an area. Last year’s group travelled to Nashville, as well as participated in a career preparation workshop.
The group was also treated to dinner with President Nancy B. Moody where they were thanked for the hard work throughout the year.
Co-advisors to the President’s Society are Mitchell and Savannah Ewing, who are both admissions representatives for the college.
Members of the 2012-13 President’s Society and Tusculum staff support are, front row from left, David Cooper, Jenny Grant, Jade Bussell, Julia Newman, Savanah Ewing and Nick Mitchell. Back row from left are Dr. Tom Stein, Vinton Copeland, Owen Hensley, Cierra Ockstadt, Sandy Salmons, Jordan Ottinger, Dr. Nancy Moody and Alicia Jones.