Athletic teams, organization complete service projects

The Tusculum College Pioneer Student Athlete Advisory Council and the Tusculum volleyball and women’s basketball teams have completed service projects to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and a local school program.

The Tusculum College Pioneer Student Athlete Advisory Council (PSAAC) raised close to $600 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® during the annual “ Pack the Arena Day.” No admission was charged to either the men’s or women’s basketball games on Saturday, Jan. 14, and those attending the game were encouraged to support the PSAAC by participating in a raffle for a high-definition television.

The group raised $597 in the raffle, moving the group’s total up to $1,472.05 for this academic year, which will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, the organization’s chosen philanthropy. The organization, the student athlete advisory committee for Tusculum’s 14 intercollegiate sports, has collected funds at home athletic events, while also holding theme- based fundraisers for this worthy cause.

PSAAC has already surpassed last year’s total of $1,146.68 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

The Tusculum College volleyball team raised close to $1,500 for breast cancer awareness through the “Dig For the Cure” program. The Pioneers raised $1,465 through its “Dig For the Cure” match with Carson-Newman College in October, along with other events and have donated the proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

During the past five years, the Tusculum volleyball team has donated over $5,000 to the Foundation.

On Feb. 3, the Tusculum College women’s basketball team performed a community service project at the Thomas McNeese Educational Center in Greeneville.

The women's basketball team spent a day of service at the Thomas McNeese Educational Center recently.

Members of the team spent time on an individual basis with female students, talking with them and providing a positive role model to at-risk girls. “Our girls spent two hours talking one-on-one with young girls that have made poor decisions and need guidance,” said Pioneer head coach Adell Harris. “It was a mentoring opportunity for our players and hopefully a support system for young girls that need it.”
The Thomas McNeese Educational Center was opened in 1995 as a joint effort between Greeneville City and Greene County Schools. The building has evolved into a transitional facility, housing programs that transition both city and county students from ages three to adult. This cooperative effort presents many unique learning opportunities for our students and teachers alike.
The director of the center is Angelo Botta, a 1975 Tusculum graduate who served as Pioneer head women’s basketball coach from 1984-85 to 1994-95.